ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
This program area encompasses risk assessment, protection from potential and actual hazards, prevention of disease and injury, and the promulgation and enforcement of regulations. Priority areas include:
Food Sanitation and Food Establishments
Health Department Environmental Health Specialists routinely inspected all food establishments in Wellesley, with emphasis on those that presented the highest risk to public health. In FY08 152 food establishment, six-frozen food and 23 temporary food permits were issued. Three hundred fifty one inspections (including re-inspections) were conducted at these facilities. Nineteen complaints were registered and promptly investigated, and appropriate corrective measures taken. Four restaurants had their food establishment permits suspended, due to critical violations of the food code. Fourteen new licenses and 16 temporary permits were issued. There were 23 plan reviews of new food establishments, or renovations. Thirty-seven inspections of construction sites were conducted.
Housing
The Health Department staff continued to address the housing sanitation concerns of residents. In FY08, the Health Department received 65 calls related to housing issues. A total of 129 actions, including inspections and re-inspections, were taken to address sanitary code violations. Thirty-seven inspections of septic systems were conducted.
Swimming Pools and Beaches
The Health Department monitored the town’s swimming water quality (pools and beaches) to ensure compliance with state sanitary codes. In FY08 16 semi-public pool permits were issued. Ninety-five inspections and one re-inspection were conducted. Weekly water samples from Morse’s Pond were taken and analyzed to monitor E-coli levels. There were no closings of the Pond in FY08.
Camps
In FY08, the Health Department licensed 41 camps that provided recreational activities for approximately 7,700 children. A rigorous inspection process was conducted to ensure the safety of the children enrolled in camp activities. All camps were inspected at least twice. The Health Department held a seminar to educate camp staff on safe camp operations, and compliance with state camp regulations.
Mosquito Control and West Nile Virus
The Health Department and the Department of Public Works (DPW) collaborated with the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project to monitor and control the mosquito population thereby minimizing the risk of mosquito borne illnesses, such as West Nile Virus (WNV). In a seasonal plan to reduce mosquito breeding, DPW placed larvicide packets inside street catch basins throughout the town. In FY08, three birds were tested for WNV; all were negative. In addition, mosquito pools were tested on a regular basis; none were positive for WNV. Education on personal protection measures and elimination of mosquito breeding areas remained a primary focus of prevention efforts.
Rabies Control
The Health Department collaborated with the Wellesley Animal Control Officer on rabies control measures. By statute, any pet or farm animal that may have had contact with an animal suspected of carrying the rabies virus must be ordered confined by the animal inspector. In FY08, 10-day quarantines were issued to 12 dogs that bit people, 5 cats that bit people and~5 dogs that bit other animals. Longer (45-day) quarantines were issued to~three dogs and five cats. Six-month quarantines were issued to~two cats, three bats, one opossum and one woodchuck specimen were submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Virology Laboratory for rabies testing;~all were negative.
Sprague Field
The Health Department participated in a multi departmental committee, the Sprague Field Task Force, to develop a master plan for Sprague Field, as well as to provide a recommendation on the use of a synthetic field surface. To that end, the task force agreed to use a Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) infill product on the field.
A portion of the Sprague Field complex is the site of a former landfill where glass and metal objects have occasionally risen to the surface.~ This area is subject to a mitigation order by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Health Department worked with DEP, an environmental consultant and Town departments to ensure that the site will be appropriately capped in compliance with the order by 2009.
Additional Services
The Health Department issued annual licenses to facilities offering tanning and massage therapy. In FY08, five tanning inspections were conducted. Three individual and establishment applications were reviewed, and three inspections were conducted. As of December 28, 2007 the Wellesley Health Department no longer issued massage permits to individuals or establishments. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure appointed a Board of Registration of Massage Therapy. This board assumed responsibility for overseeing inspection, enforcement and permitting. The Health Department also monitored lead and asbestos abatement projects.
In FY08, 23 rodent inspections were performed as part of the Building Department’s requirements for the demolition of an existing structure. Several of these inspections involved the abandonment of existing subsurface sewage disposal systems. Four permits were issued for Title 5 related work, two for the installation of a new septic system, and two for repairs to existing systems. Four sets of plans were reviewed and approved for future septic systems. Three permits were issued for private wells; two were drilled for irrigation, and one for geothermal heating and cooling.
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