Marion Health Director Lori Desmarais brought to the Marion Board of Health’s October 5 public meeting attention a conversation she had with Marion Building Commissioner Bob Grillo, who has received recent requests to install bathrooms in garages to be used for office space (not a residence.)

            “Right now, we don’t currently have anything that defines whether or not they need to do anything for the septic, or add anything or coming before the board,” Desmarais explained. “Just wondering for future discussion, defining what a bedroom is or what we want the process to be (should a contractor approach the board) in those situations.”

            Noting the considerable time such a subject could take, Board of Health Chairman Dr. Ed Hoffer said the subject will be on the board’s next meeting agenda.

            On September 28, the town held a drive-through flu-vaccine clinic for 140 preregistered patients at the Cushing Community Center. Prior to that event, Marion had distributed 312 vaccines with a visit that day to Little Neck Village and plans to continue with home visits and clinics at Tabor Academy and Sippican Elementary School.

            Desmarais said that 100 residents have responded to a survey indicating interest in the Moderna COVID-19 booster shot. She said the booster is now privately purchased and no longer free from the federal government. The cost to the town would be $115 per dose with a 10-dose minimum purchase, money that Desmarais said the Health Department has in its revolving fund. Reimbursement from Medicare would exceed that amount, and Hoffer suggested enough might be left over to vaccinate someone who is uninsured.

            Like the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna also arrives frozen and can be refrigerated for up to 30 days.

            Desmarais is working on an agreement that will allow Marion to distribute a shingles vaccine. $183.22 per dose (the vaccine requires two doses separated by several weeks.) Medicare coverage ranges between $129 and $183.

            Pneumonia and tetanus are also being considered.

            In other disease updates, Marion has had one mosquito among the 162 found in Massachusetts with West Nile virus, putting the town at moderate risk. There have been no human or animal cases among the 26 positive discoveries of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), leaving Marion at low risk. Most cases were found in Worcester County but some in Bristol County. “Until we have that first frost, there’s always obviously the risk,” said Desmarais.

            The owners at 618D Delano Road have proposed a 1,500-gallon septic tank with six, 500-gallon leaching chambers. However, noted Health Agent Shallyn Rodriguez in her report, because the dwelling has expanded from three to five bedrooms, the Marion Sanitary Code requires a tank capacity of at least 2,000 gallons.

            “With the increase in flow, I’m not sure he’s aware that now it has to be an alternative system,” she said, who was waiting on a response from the owner as she reported to the board.

            “So close and yet so far away from the sewer line,” noted board member Albin Johnson.

            Rick Charon of Charon Associates appeared on behalf of the owner at 406 Point Road where a new construction is planned, and he told the board a second page of his proposal was missed by the board’s consultant. That page, said Charon, demonstrated the proposal’s ability to comply with size regulations.

            Charon said the 8-acre property is dominated by wetlands and buffer zones. “We don’t really have a lot of room to work with,” he said, noting that the proposal includes the pressure-dose system that allows for a 50% area reduction.

            With that, the board voted to approve the system as proposed by Charon.

            In her report on monthly Innovative/Alternative treatment data (I/A), Rodriguez indicated successful treatment.

            Reporting on Chapter 2 housing-inspection and complaint updates, Rodriguez told the board that the main structure at 28 Pitcher Street has been redone all around, including the porch. Grillo visited the site to ensure the backside obstructions were properly boarded up.

            Regarding the trailer at 357 Point Road, Rodriguez said inspections were ongoing, and Desmarais relayed information from Grillo indicating that the process is nearing completion. The board voted to grant the trailer permit another two weeks.

            The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, at 4:30 pm at the Police Station.

Marion Board of Health

By Mick Colageo

Mattapoisett Water and Sewer Department Superintendent Henri Renauld has been largely assured that insurance will cover damage that the Water Treatment Plant sustained on August 8 when an EF-1 tornado ripped through a section of town north of Route 195.

            In his report to the Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission on Tuesday, Renauld said he had spoken with two or three vendors, gone through the prescribed steps and anticipates repair work to the area of trees, along with a fence and the rooftop. Having examined damage to electrical transfer switches, Renauld estimates between $60,000 and $80,000 of work.

            “(The insurance company) is 90% sure they’ll cover it, but they need to see the smoking gun,” said Renauld, noting that three visits have been made with the electric company to assess the situation. “Is there a 10% chance they won’t (cover the damage)? Yes. Can we leave it the way it is? No, we can’t. I would like to move forward with this one; the electrical company is confident they’re going to find the problem. … The problem is … they need to get in behind and pull it out and see what’s broken.”

            Preliminary conclusions are certain among all stakeholders, but the insurance company needs to see the broken electrical component. The transfer switch, Renauld said, “took a beating” during the tornado. He said the switch is failing and will fail. Without repair, he said, it will fail to supply water during a storm event.

            Eversource would need to be present, and an individual would need to stand by and run the plant; a company, said Renauld, would be brought in to do the repair work.

            “They’re going to come out with a broken piece, I know they are, and insurance is going to cover everything, they told me they are,” said Renauld.

            Only recently was clearing accomplished that makes that access possible, and Renauld said repair will immediately take place pending the availability of parts.

            The MRV District Commission voted to spend the money to complete its investigation of the electrical issues at the plant.

            So far, the MRV has received approximately $74,000 in insurance coverage for tornado damage with a $1,000 deductible.

            In the Treasurer’s report, Renauld reported invoices totaling $102,091.70, including billing exceeding $12,000 (chemicals), $16,000 (solar) and quarterly charge from the Town of Mattapoisett ($48,983.)

            Jeff Furtado reported September balances on the MRV’s vendor account at $20,154.57, and the commission’s savings account at $345,033.91. Both had slightly increased over amounts from three months prior.

            The commission’s upcoming district budget to be produced by Budget Subcommittee members Renauld, Furtado brothers Vinnie and Jeff and Meghan Davis will try to supply Tata & Howard engineer Jon Gregory with a draft prior to the MRV’s November 14 meeting with a goal to finalize it in December. Secretary Ann Carreiro will join their effort.

            Gregory provided a Water Treatment Plant Upgrades project update.

            Tata & Howard is proceeding with procurement of the ultra-filtration equipment, and Gregory anticipates long lead times with designer Koch Separation Solutions. He pointed to the membranes themselves, several types of meters and instrumentation, along with blowers.

            Applications have been filed for SRF funding, and Tata & Howard is working with an electrical engineer subconsultant. Gregory said he is looking to schedule an update meeting with MassDEP to bring state up to date on progress and set up any bypass requirements.

            In his Tata & Howard Report, Gregory said MRV member town water employees will engage in Emergency Response Training will be held on Thursday, November 2, at the Music Hall in Marion across from Island Wharf.

            In his Water Treatment Plant Operations update, Renauld said the main meter was calibrated on October 23, that the plant would be hosting divers and vacuuming tanks. He said a compressor went down and that R.A. Mitchell Company was at the site to repair charging on the generator.

            In the Water Protection Advisory Committee meeting that immediately preceded the commissioners, John Furtado told the committee his Treasurer’s Report is being delayed by an ongoing but incomplete effort to reconcile the FY23 budget.

            “They don’t want to release any of the ledger for FY24 until FY23 is finished,” he said.

            Vinnie Furtado, the chairman of both the commission and the committee, said the FY24 allocation had just been received on October 5. But with special town meetings out of the way, he anticipates FY23 accounting will be up to date in time for the committee’s November 14 meeting.

            The committee voted to authorize Vinnie Furtado to pay three invoices led by $2,839.97 from Tata & Howard.

            Marion DPW engineer Meghan Davis is compiling an invitation list, including Wareham and Middleborough representatives for a regional meeting of member towns’ water officials. The meeting is anticipated for November.

            In his Tata & Howard Report, Gregory said graphs up through August 2023 are available with more to soon follow as information comes in from consultant Megan McCarthy.

            Tata & Howard bought another level logger and now has two spares. There are four originals still operating and in use.

            At Gregory’s suggestion, the committee will reach out to Rick Charon, who was not present Tuesday but had mentioned at the committee’s September committee that he was looking to have David Wong from MassDEP. The intention is to have Wong on the agenda for November 14.

            The next meetings of the MRV Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and Water District Commission are respectively scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm via Zoom.

MRV Water District Commission/Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee

By Mick Colageo