The rise of pneumonia among youth in the school district and the issues of homeowners in waterfront districts were the main topics discussed at last week’s Board of Health meeting.
The meeting was less than 30 minutes but Patrick Tropeano, representing an application’s engineering work at 38 Rocky Knook Lane, detailed issues the owners are having with their beach home.
Tropeano, a Board of Health member in Wareham, said such waterfront properties face many issues of this sort.
“This is a plethora of bad news for the owners of the property. They have a water table and wetlands that surround the property,” Tropeano said during a hearing for the owners’ plans for a septic system.
Tropeano also said the property has some poorly designed piping in the basement that also needs to be rectified.
“You can’t get any worse than what we have with this one,” Tropeano said.
The health board approved redrawn plans once the applicant receives clearance from the Conservation Commission.
Tropeano and the board talked at length about issues with flood zones in this area and how it is difficult for people to build and receive flood insurance in this area. Tropeano, citing his work on the health board in Wareham, discussed how the issue is growing among many South Coast communities.
Marion health officials acknowledged the issue and how it impacts those who own waterfront property.
The health board also discussed how COVID-19 and flu numbers have leveled out but that there has been an outbreak of pneumonia this year among school children.
The board still conducts vaccination clinics, however.
Health Director Lori Demarais said there are two doses of Covid and flu vaccines available through the health office.
The board approved a septic system on 99 Allen’s Point Road under the condition that plans are redrawn so that the water line for the home is further from the septic leaching field.
The board approved plans for Ansel’s Cafe’s proposed connection to Wareham water, which is nearby and more accessible for any firefighting needs. The board received a letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection about the plan.
Board members also reported that they are in discussions with a Westport representative on how best to use $5,000 in state grant funding through the Southcoast Public Health collaborative.
The board will meet next at 4:30 pm December 5 at the Marion Meeting house, 2 Spring Street.
Marion Board of Health
By Jeffrey D. Wagner