The Marion Board of Health met Thursday, March 6 in the Marion Town House with a long list of topics for review. The Chair, John Howard MD, was not present, though the Vice-Chair Albin Johnson III and Edward Hoffer MD were in attendance. The meeting began with a quick approval of septic systems for 99A Allen’s Point Road and a septic system conditions approval for 7 Upland Way.
Next up was the reappointment of Shallyn Carreiro to Health Specialist to Public Health Excellence Grant Southcoast Collaborative. Carreiro is not a city employee but has worked with the city through the Collaborative.
The Health Agent update was next discussed, with the top of food inspections first. It was mentioned that most citations have been corrected, though some are awaiting reinspection. The Thai restaurant, Cilantro, requires a hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) inspection as they would like to offer to-go frozen food.
The variance hearing for 80 Delano Road was held. The property, a part of the Stone Estate, is a four-bedroom home built in 1912. The representative from Great Hill Marion explained the water table on the property is “not s good” and that pumping has bee required multiple times. The proposed change would see the sewer line drain into a denitrification septic tank which will then flow into a pump chamber which will then be pumped to the leaching field. Two variances are requested, and both were approved by the board.
The next hearing was for 694C Mill Street and the request for a bedroom addition to a 2-bedroom house. A two-bedroom septic system was approved in 2023, though now a new owner seeks an additional bedroom. It was stated there were once two domiciles on the property, though one was removed around 2006-2007. The increased septic capacity would allow for an additional bedroom or an additional dwelling (ADU). The request was approved.
On the next item, it was recommended that new plans be submitted for work on Cross Neck Road, Map 7, Lot 21, due to new changes not being reflected in the board’s current plans.
For the Public Health Director Update, flu or influenza-like illness has peaked in the state at 11.86% though related visits are down to 8.12%. Due to new state regulations, a MAVEN backup person is required. Sue Griffith was nominated, and approved, to fulfil this posting.
For community EMS, Mondays and Thursdays are when home-visits will continue to be conducted. For the Public Health Excellence Grant (PHEG), it was stated there is much time and effort to fulfil the state’s grant-requirements including cost analyses.
The board is seeking a fill for its Health Agent job posting, though it was said no one with the necessary experience has yet applied. The lack of local programs focused on teaching students to fill this position was cited as a reason for this deficit.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health will be Thursday, March 20 at 4:30 pm in the Marion Town House Conference Room.
Marion Board of Health
By Sam Bishop