BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The year 2009 was yet another busy year for the Board of Health. In all, over 430 permits were issued or requested. This number reflects an overall slight decline as compared to 2008 totals.
Some land development related activity including new septic system applications increased somewhat as did food establishment activity and permitting despite the economy. Septic Haulers permits also continued to increase in number.
The following permits were issued by the Board of Health in 2009:
Body Art Establishment 1
Body Art Practitioners 3
Bottled Water 1
Day Camps for Children 2
Food Establishments 127
Food Establishment Transfers 4
Food Permit – Temporary 3
Frozen Dessert 6
Frozen Dessert Transfers 1
Indoor Ice Skating Rink 1
Milk & Cream 78
Milk & Cream Transfers 1
Mobile Home Parks 2
Hotel/Motel 3
Perc Tests/Soil Evaluations 5
Septic Abandonment Permits 25
Septic Haulers 66
Sewage Disposal Works Construction Permits 5
Sewage Disposal Works Installers 13
Stables 24
Swimming Pools 12
Swine 2
Tanning 6
Tobacco Vendors 26
Tobacco Vendors Transfers 1
Trash Haulers 15
Well Construction 3
The Board of Health continues to respond to complaints made by Town residents and others in regards to septic system failures, food service violations, farm animals, substandard living conditions, rubbish, illegal dumping, odors, pests, communicable disease and other nuisance complaints.
There were approximately fifty (50) Public Health related complaints made to the Board of Health Office; a significant decrease from 2009; although still substantial as compared to other years.
The Board of Health continues to participate in the Bristol County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition. This collaborative consists of twenty – four (24) communities. Raynham became the lead community in the organization when it assumed the chairmanship role.
The communities are working together so that all communities within the collaborative are able to handle possible public health related emergencies with far reaching implications not just related to bioterrorism, but also to flu pandemics (H1N1) and other emerging pathogens.
Through the participation with this organization, this office has developed a Public Health Emergency response plan that includes the proposed operation of two Emergency Dispensing Sites within the Town. If needed, one or both of these dispensing sites will go into operation as part of the Strategic National Stockpile.
In October, the Board of Health in conjunction with the Visiting Nurses Association of Southeastern Massachusetts and the Raynham Council on Aging conducted its annual flu clinic at the Raynham Senior Center. Many residents received the influenza vaccine. The Board greatly appreciates the hard work of both of these agencies.
The food service inspection program remains a top priority for the Board of Health. In addition to our routine inspection program, we have made a concerted effort to work with the Town’s merchants when dealing with food recall notifications in order to try to stay ahead of potential food borne illness outbreaks.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), along with West Nile Virus (WNV), was once again a major concern in Raynham and the Region. EEE was found in Raynham five (5) times during the month of September in mosquito species that typically bite birds.
The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project (BCMCP) continued an intensive spray program in the community to help keep the disease at bay. No human cases were reported. The Board fully appreciates and supports their efforts. So much so, the Board unanimously voted to forward a letter of support of the BCMCP to Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.
In order to stay abreast and up to date on many of these Public Health issues, the office staff participated in many different types of trainings throughout the year. This included H1N1, burial permits, septic/title V updates, housing inspection and regulatory food updates.
The ever changing food service community, Pine Hill Estates, emerging pathogens, EEE, WNV and flu pandemic planning will continue to be some of the major issues facing the Board and Town in the coming year.
I wish to thank the Board Members, Gail Santos, Louis Bousquet, Randall Buckner, Gordon Luciano, Marie Fahey and all Town employees for their valued help and assistance to the Board. I wish to express a special thank you to Barbara Sleezer who retired this past year. Mrs. Sleezer’s tireless support of this office and the always willing hand she extended us was unparalleled.
I encourage any citizen having a concern in the area of Public Health to contact us. The Board of Health Office is open during the daytime hours and from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday evenings.
Respectfully Submitted,
Alan D. Perry, REHS/RS
Health Agent
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