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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 March COMMJNICABLE DISEASE ~ONTROL \ , I PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING VITAL STATISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HEALTH EDUCATION JEFFERSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 802 SHERIDAN PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. 98368 (206) 385-0722 HEALTH BOARD Minutes: March 15, 1988 BOARD MEMBERS: STAFF MEMBERS: B.G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member Rick Miklich, Director of Environmental Health Mary Catlin, Administrator Director of Nurses J. Peter Geerlofs, M.D. Health Officer CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND REPRESENTATIVE: Karen Chang *********************************************************************** ******************************************************************** The meeting was called to order by Chairman B. G. Brown at the appointed time. Commissioner Larry W. Dennison and Commissioner George C. Brown were present as were staff members Mary Catlin, Rick Miklich, Steve Rice, and Dr. Geerlofs. City Representative Karen Chang was also present and so was Janet Welch of the Water Quality Program. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of the February 23, 1988 meeting were approved as read by motion of Commissioner Dennison, seconded by Commissioner George Brown. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT: on the following: Administrator Mary Catlin reported Administrator's Job Description: Mary Catlin asked what the Board plans to do about a job description for the Administrator of the Department. Chairman B.G. Brown advised that a description still needs to be completed. Dr. Geerlofs suggested that a meeting be scheduled to work on it. Mary will prepare a draft that she feels is appropriate for a starting point based on the responsibility chart that was developed at the Retreat. Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 2 NURSES REPORT: Staffing: Mary Catlin reported that she has drafted a work schedule which CPS is currently reviewing. A full time Public Health Nurse can be accommodated in the budget with some rearrangement of duties from other programs. The final offer from CPS will be the decisive factor. Mary Catlin submitted a copy of the nursing statistics summary for the month of February. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Rick Miklich submitted the report of environmental health activities for February. Gwen Howard: Rick Miklich introduced Gwen Howard who is the new Food Service Inspector for the Department. Policy and Procedures Review: Rick presented four drafts of policy statements for the Board's review and approval. 1) Procedures for adopting administrative policies: This statement outlines the proper format for submitting policy statement and the adoption process for policy statements. 2) On-site Sewage Disposal: Enlargement of residential dwellings: Chairman B.G. Brown asked what problem this policy will address? Rick Miklich stated that this policy is an attempt to guide people when they plan to enlarge their house to make sure that the sewage system will accommodate that enlargement. Chairman B.G. Brown reported that there was a policy followed in the past for this situation even though it was not written down. Chairman B.G. Brown stated that he has always had problems with the way that the Health Department has to evaluate the size of septic system for a home by the number of bedrooms, but this is a Washington State standard that has to be used. 3) Food Service - Destruction of potentially Hazardous Foods 4) On-site Sewage Disposal - Pit Privies After everyone reviewed the policy statements discussion ensued as follows: Chairman Brown reminded those present that if the Board is to adopt these policies it must be done at a Health Board meeting, which should be stated in the policy. Mary Catlin suggested that internal technical operating policy could be approved solely by the Health Officer. Any policy that is signed by the Chairman of the Health Board, Chairman Brown reiterated must be adopted by the Health Board at their regular monthly meeting. Any policy that is signed by the Director of Nursing or the Health Officer is simply their policy. Commissioner Dennison stated that the main reason for the Board signing these policies is because they are ultimately responsible for the actions of the Health Department. The discussion continued regarding Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 3 the need to cite the Washington Administrative Codes in the policy statements. Dr. Geerlofs noted that the WAC's are cited to help guide new employees as part of their training process. Mary Catlin added that it helps to have them referenced in the policy to give employees a place to look for more information. Rick Miklich reported that the WAC's do not address most of the issues that are stated in these policies. Janet Welch added that the WAC's give a wide latitude to work within. The department's policy will help provide consistency. The policies can be changed but it will require an action of the Health Board to change them, so that no one person can arbitrarily change the policy. Commissioner Dennison stated that the idea for these policies is to make sure that everyone is operating in the same general direction. Dr. Geerlofs stated that he feels there is a fundamental concern about the creation of policies because it will decrease the flexibility of the department to help people. Chairman B.G. Brown added that decreasing flexibility isn't always bad, but sometimes a written policy can cause problems for someone in the field who has to try to follow them. A variance can be applied for in those situations, as in the past, Mary Catlin added. If latitude will decrease, Janet Welch responded, consistency will increase. Chairman B.G. Brown explained that his concern is that he does not know what types of problems will be created by the adoption of these policies. It is helpful for new employees to have a sense of what the rules are that they will be working under, Commissioner Dennison added. Keeping a historic perspective and consistency from employee to employee and elected official to elected official is necessary. The discussion continued regarding the soils evaluation process. Dr. Geerlofs advise that there a fundamental objective base lines in evaluating soils. Rick Miklich added that environmental health specialists spend time training on soils evaluation to remove the subjectivity. Soils evaluation is a science. Policies are to give assurance that everyone is treated in a like manner, Commissioner Dennison stated. Duke Shold stated that it is illegal to have a person go into a hole that is four feet deep and is unschored. This should probably be addressed in the County's policy. Commissioner Dennison went on record as being a proponent of written policies. Chairman Brown added that he knows that there has to be policies, but there is a question in his mind as to how explicit they have to be. A time will be set up at another meeting to review these policies. Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 4 Setback Variance for a Drainfield; Division 4 Lots 9 and half of 10 and 11 and half of 10, Bridqehaven; Mr. William F. Davies: Duke Shold handed out a written explanation of this request for a setback variance to place a septic system and drainfield on a lot along the bulkhead in the Bridgehaven Plat. Rick Miklich stated that a setback of 100 feet is required from surface water, which can be reduced to 75 feet by the Health Officer if "it can be demonstrated that the reduction will not have an adverse effect", WAC 248-96-100. Duke Shold then explained the issues involved on this site. Mr. Davies intends to buy three lots on the Bridge. spit and split them into two building sites. The lots were platted to be 120 feet deep but are actually only 109 feet from the bulkhead. If the setback was allowed to 80 feet from the bulkhead the system would be fine. The Health Department and Health Board have allowed setback variances to 75 feet from the bulkhead in this area, Mr. Shold stated. Most of the 32 homes in this area of Bridgehaven have been allowed a 75 foot setback from the bulkhead. Steve Rice who inspected the site, reported that the main concern for denial was the setback to the water. This plat is on filled soil which is composed of Type 2 sand. Mr. Shold explained that the Board has approved 75 foot setbacks in this area where the soil is sand, and the development is on a public water supply. Rick Miklich stated that he recommends that a variance be granted for this site if pre-treatment of the effluent is required. A pressurized drainfield, a mound or a sand filter system would allow the placement of this system within 75 feet of the bulkhead. Duke Shold stated that he feels this variance should be approved for a standard gravity fed system, especially since the Board of Health such a system in the same area last year. Rick Miklich reiterated that the pre-treatment is necessary for the effluent before it is allowed to go into the sand that is on the site. Steve Rice explained that since this is fill material it is hard to tell how it will receive the effluent. Dr. Geerlofs added that the 100 foot setback is a law that is designed with a margin of error, but a large a margin of safety needs to be maintained, especially on sites that are close to bodies of water such as this. Requiring pre-treatment of the effluent is creating an additional financial burden for this one homeowner which was not required for the thirty six that are already there, Mr. Shold noted. Commissioner Dennison said that a point can be reached where to many variances have been given. The Health Officer and the Health Board could be considered negligent and liable for a system that was granted a variance and later fails. Mr. Shold stated that this soil is the best soil for requesting a Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 5 variance of this sort. The request Mr. Shold clarified is for a six foot variance from the 100 foot setback or a 94 foot setback. Water Quality Specialist, Janet Welch, added that these systems will not show an indication of failure on the surface because they are in sand, but if they fail they will have a definite impact on water quality. Mr. Davis added that he is pleased that he has an extra lot which can be utilized as a part of his property for a septic system if it is necessary. Commissioner Dennison asked if pressurizing this septic system would be an unbearable burden for Mr. Davies? Mr. Davies stated that it would be a burden that they do not want to bear. The plot drawing shows 120 feet deep lots which he was surprised to find was only 100? feet actually. Duke Shold asked that the Board set some policy for dealing with the lots in Bridgehaven so that he knows what to tell people in this area. Dr. Geerlofs asked that if a variance is granted on this site that a clear policy be developed for future requests. Chairman B.G. Brown reminded Dr. Geerlofs that each variance should be considered on its' own merits. Dr. Geerlofs asked for a policy on dealing with whether a variance should be considered. The discussion continued regarding the variances already issued in this area and the impact that may have in the future, the cost of a pressurized system, and the basis for the regulations. Chairman B.G. Brown asked whether the Board felt comfortable with granting this variance based on the information presented on this lot? Commissioner Dennison stated that he has no problem with granting the variance as long as the recommended conditions are met. Rick Miklich suggested that instead of requiring a pre-treatment system he would be willing to recommend that a pressurized system be required. Commissioner Dennison moved to grant a six foot variance for this lot with the condition that a pressurized system be installed to allow for equal distribution of the effluent. The motion was seconded by Commissioner George Brown for discussion. The issues such as the depth of the lot, the required setback distance, a system to be placed in a fill, are justification to say that a reduction in the setback requires some mitigative action, Janet Welch stated. Commissioner Dennison asked which is better pre-treatment or a pressurized system? Rick Miklich advised that a pressurized system would be adequate. The Chairman called for a vote on the motion. Commissioner Dennison voted in favor. The motion died for a lack of a majority vote. Commissioner George Brown moved to approve the variance without any mitigative condition. Dr. Geerlofs stated that he, as Health Officer, would not approve this variance without some mitigation to make this setback variance safer. The discussion continued regarding variances issued in the past in this area, the intent of the WAC with regard to setback requirements and Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 6 setback variances. Duke Shold asked that the Board make a site inspection. Commissioner George Brown retracted his motion. Mr. Davies asked when a decision might be made on this request? Dr. Geerlofs stated that if Mr. Davies is willing to spend the money on a pressure distribution system then a variance may be approved immediately. Mr. Davies stated that he feels that since he has the additional lot space, he feels his lot is in a better situation than others in the area for treatment of the effluent. A pressurized system will require that he hire an engineer to design it. Commissioner Dennison added that the Board can make some choices available to him, but he will have to make the decision on which one to use. The area for equal distribution is 30 feet long by ten feet wide, Mr. Shold added and he feels that distribution is not an issue, especially since this is only a six foot variance. Dr. Geerlofs outlined the following options for Mr. Davies: 1) Grant the variance with the condition that a pressurized distribution system be installed, 2) Have the Board discuss the matter further before a decision is made. Mr. Davies asked that the Board discuss this request further. No action will be taken on this request today. Dr. Geerlofs was directed to get the information he feels he needs to make a decision on this request before the next meeting, when it will be reviewed again. Damian Reed, Clark and Associates re Setback Variance Request; Section 31, Township 25 North, Ranqe 2 West, W.M.; Harold Welch: This property owned by Mr. Welch, was originally platted as an oyster farm, Damian Reed of Clark and Associates reported. Mr. Welch is requesting a 35 foot setback variance for the placement of a septic tank and pump chamber. The pressurized drainfield system would be located across Highway 101. This site includes 200 feet of tidelands along Hood Canal which run to a twelve to thirty foot bench. The bench area is the only place for a septic tank and pump chamber. Special design criteria have been used for this system. These will include interior water seal; two coats of asphaltic emulsion on top, bottoms and sides of tanks and the excavation will be lined with a 30 mil. PVC liner. The tanks will be filled with water and monitored for a period to determine that there is no water loss. The existing site has a sea wall to protect the bluff, which has a 75% slope and a high degree of ground cover, from beach erosion. The tanks are all accessible and the PUD will be monitoring the system per contract. This is a weekend home. Surface water will be prevented from getting into the tank by putting epoxy and grout on the riser and the PCV material being installed around the tank. Board of Health Meeting: March 15, 1988 Page: 7 Rick Miklich stated that the precautions are adequate but asked that an additional condition be required that all the pumping records be submitted to the Department. Commissioner George Brown moved to grant the variance as recommended by the Environmental Health Director with the condition as noted. Commissioner Dennison seconded the motion. The motion passed by a unanimous vote. Being no further business the meeting was adjourned. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH B. G. Brown, Chairman Larry W. Dennison, Member George C. Brown, Member