BOH Minutes

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Wellfleet Board of Health

 Minutes of Meeting of January 11, 2017

Senior Center, Duck Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
 

Present:  Ken Granlund Jr., Chair; Moe Barocas, John Cumbler, Janet Drohan, Gary Locke, Health Agent Hillary Greenberg-Lemos, and Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary

Chair Ken Granlund called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 

Business: Presentation on Alternative Septic Systems       

George Heufelder from Barnstable County Dept. of Health gave a PowerPoint presentation on innovative and alternative septic systems.  He explained traditional septic systems first.  Alternative systems are more expensive but have advantages for limited space.  They need to be maintained and monitored through a service contract for the life of the system.  He exhibited Advantex System and Fast System data charts from Wellfleet.  The data is available online at the Barnstable County Health website.  Composting toilets are a means of reducing wastewater.  Mr. Heufelder described newer passive denitrification efforts that might be feasible for Barnstable County.  More studies need to be done to determine optimal design for lingo-cellulose systems. 

The County is interested in finding Wellfleet homeowners willing to try out the experimental systems or a split between standard and experimental.  There will be grant money available to cover the costs.  Mr. Heufelder strongly suggested that the Board of Health encourage the use of the efficient new nitrogen removal systems.   Protection of Wellfleet Harbor is a big consideration.  

Board members were interested in getting a report from the Wellfleet Wastewater Committee to see what they are working on currently. 

Farm Animal Permit: Parent, 125 Duck Pond Rd. (Map 23, Parcel 84)

Health Agent Hillary Greenberg gave the nitrate results for Gerald Parent’s well at 125 Duck Pond Rd. and the McDonald’s property.  Both had gone down.   She also reported on the fluctuations in nitrate levels of the rental units on Fred Bell Way and at Paine’s Campground.   Mr. Parent said he has moved some of the female alpacas. The current permit request for 2017 is for 57 alpacas, 80 fowl and 10 pigs. 

The Health Agent had contacted alpaca expert Stephen P. Purdy, who responded by e-mail that the pasture space was adequate.  The shelters are now adequate for 59 alpacas.  They also discussed: alpaca waste, noise, the differences between males and females, shelter size, odor dust mitigation, and density. 

Abutters Randy and Liz McDonald asked that the Board of Health do something about the current situation.  Mr. McDonald played a tape of alpaca sounds and complained about the odors, noise and dust.  They said there was room on the Parent property to move the herd further back on his property and about relocating the McDonald well.

Gerald Parent said that anyone who has 5 acres or more in the Town of Wellfleet has a right to a farm according to Massachusetts General Law.  He compared his land use with his Housing Authority abutters who use 3-acres of their 5-acre property.  He said the farm is not operating beyond the normal noise or smell for a farm. 

Board members discussed what might be done to remediate the McDonalds’ concerns.  Mr. Parent said he had indicated when he got his original permit, he had said he intended to increase his herd.

The McDonalds asked that the fence be moved another 80 feet to the east.  They are willing to help pay for the fence if he is willing to do this.  They also requested that a number of animals be moved.  They would like to have their water tests continue annually. 

Mr. Parent explained the configuration of his pastures.  If he moves the first pasture away from the McDonald’s, he would have an 8,000 s.f. pasture that could not be used, he said. 

Health Agent Hillary Lemos said that moving the alpacas 100 feet away from the well is a reasonable request.  The original farm permit had been applied for after the fact, but if the Board of Health had considered the permit first, they would have specified that the animals be 100 feet away from the abutter’s well.  If moving the well is not possible, moving the animals is a viable option.  Ms. Lemos reviewed the previous farm permits granted for 125 Duck Pond Rd.

Gary Locke moved to modify the farm permit for 25 alpacas, 8 pigs and 45 fowl for the Parent Farm at 125 Duck Pond Rd.  with the condition that the animals be moved 100 feet from the McDonald’s well.  Janet Drohan seconded. 

Discussion followed regarding only moving the fence, but not reducing the number of animals.  The Health Agent said she agreed with moving the animals away from the McDonalds.  Mr. Parent said that moving the fence line doesn’t leave adequate space for his pasture. 

The motion did not carry 0-5.

Gerald Parent said the Massachusetts Cruelty to Animals had been to his property and had him put up a tarp for more shelter.  He said that he would like a number of alpacas that the McDonalds would be satisfied with.  Hillary Lemos reminded the Board that they are here to ensure public health. 

After discussing of the farm at meetings on September 14, 2016, October 12, 2016,  November 9, 2016 and December 14, 2016, the Board was ready to make a decision based on their ongoing considerations: consultation with an alpaca expert; the numbers and different kinds of animals in each pen; the additional aquaculture operation on the property; intensity of development at the site; the proximity of the animals in the first pen to the abutter’s well; the potential for nuisance to abutters and the public because of sounds, odor and dust; environmental concerns for the water supply and any other factors related to health and safety; tree cutting and buffering for abutting properties; animal welfare; composting practices; and previous permits. 

Moe Barocas moved to approve the farm permit for a maximum of 57 alpacas, 10 pigs, 80 fowl with the conditions that:

1.) the animals be moved 100 ft. from the well;

2.) 12-15 females be in the pasture closest to the McDonalds; and

3.) permanent fencing be installed by April 30, 2017. 

Janet Drohan seconded.  The motion carried 4-1. 

Minutes of 12/14/16

John Cumbler moved to approve the minutes of December 14, 2016.  Moe Barocas seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary 

 

The Board of Health approved these minutes at the meeting held March 8, 2017.

 

 

Public Records Material of 1/11/17

  1. Information sheet from Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center

  2. E-mail dated 1/2/17 from Stephen R. Purdy, DVM