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INTRODUCTION
The Board of Health is charged with protecting the public health and safety of the citizens of Randolph. Some important Board of Health functions include: Food Inspection; Swimming Pools, Recreational camps; Housing; Trash; Hazardous Waste; communicable diseases and other Public Health nuisances. The following is a summary of the functions this indispensable department has performed throughout the year. The Infectious Disease Committee was formed to help with public health emergencies. Our town-wide MRC (Medical Reserve Corps) for Public Health Emergency volunteers assisted with flu clinics. The Town is still actively seeking volunteers in this area. We will soon be regionalizing the MRC with surrounding towns including Holbrook, Stoughton and Avon. If interested, please contact the Board of
Health @ (781) 961-0924. The Board of Health received approximately $15,000.00 in grant monies from State & Federal sources to aid the Medical Reserve Corp. We await the new Town Government change in January 2010 and wish the best for the new government in the years ahead.
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION
REFUSE COLLECTION & DISPOSAL: On July 1, 2009 we entered into our third year of a three year extension with Allied Waste who continues to be the Refuse Collection contractor for the Town of Randolph. SEMASS holds the contract for the disposal of the Town’s refuse and curbside recycling program. The Town disposed of approximately 10,013.26 tons of trash.
RECYCLING/CURBSIDE RECYCLING PROGRAMS: Curbside recycling, which commenced in August, 1994 continues to be very successful with the residents very cooperative and eager to participate. The town recycled approx.1,513.65 tons. The recyclables are picked up every other week on their regular trash day. If a resident needs additional bins, they may be picked up at the Board of Health Office presently at no charge. Newspapers, junk mail, magazines, catalogs, phonebooks, paperboard, cardboard (cut to 3’x3’), white and colored paper, can be collected together. Glass bottles and jars, plastic containers (all numbers, except bags), metal cans and trays may be recycled in a bin. In addition, the town was able to dispose of 3,380.56 tons in yard waste; 80 tons of wood; 2,710.83 tons of mercury
items; 1,822.50 tons in white goods et al. Residents may call the “Recycling Hotline” at 1 (781) 289-0500 with any questions or visit our website @ www.randolphboardofhealth.com.
The disposal of “white goods” (stoves, refrigerators, washers/dryers, etc.) remains the same. Residents must schedule a pickup for all appliances by going directly to the Board of Health office and purchasing a sticker @ $20.00 fee per item to place the item out for curbside pickup or using private companies available.. Items must be placed curbside in order to have them picked up. Refrigerator doors must be removed.
The Year 2009 was the ninth year we have successfully operated at the landfill area for disposal of leaves and yard waste. Members of the Board of Health, due to the large demand of the Townspeople who had many more leaves than the two-week curbside collections would accommodate, negotiated for the site, the former landfill on Johnson Drive, off Canton Street. The landfill, of course, remains closed except for a small area in the front, which opens every other Saturday, 8:00 A.M. to 12 Noon for a limited time during the course of the year. Call the Board of Health office @ (781) 961-0924 to find out the dates and times. Unfortunately, the landfill is no longer free for the Town’s use and we must now cover the $40,000.00 cost.
The disposal site for televisions and computer monitors also continues to be successful. The State does not allow for the pickup of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT’s), aka computer monitors and televisions by trash haulers and instead requires these items to be properly disposed of by following state guidelines.
As such, the Board arranged for a CRT container to be placed at the site of the former landfill where the Town residents can bring these items to the site at a cost of $10.00 per unit under 27” and $20.00 per unit over 27”. Continuing with the trend, residents still have the option of bringing other electronics to the drop-off site at no additional cost. The site, as with the compost area, (same location) opens in the spring, summer and fall every other Saturday, 8:00 A.M. – 12 Noon. We were also able to extend the program for three (3) more Saturdays by purchasing a container housed at the Highway Dept. yard and offered the following dates: January 5th, 2009; February 7th, 2009, and March 7th, 2009.
2009 marked Randolph’s thirteenth Annual Household Hazardous Waste Day. The event, also involving the Town of Avon, was a success, with approximately 350 cars attending and disposing of large amounts of oil, paint, tires, batteries and adhesives being collected. In addition to the hazardous waste day, Mercury items, inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges, mobile phones and rechargeable batteries are all being collected at the Board of Health during regular business hours at no cost.
Randolph residents can continue to avail themselves of the use of our Mercury Waste disposal shed and resume bringing their mercury contained items, as well as fluorescent tubing or bulbs, rechargeable batteries, etc. to the Board of Health office for immediate disposal. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please call our office @ (781) 961-0924.
The Board of Health continues to work diligently to improve the solid waste program and pursue and procure any available grant monies for recycling.
Because of the extensive education by the BOH to the residents and businesses of Randolph, we have almost tripled our recycling percentage. Residents can continue to recycle their old clothes and shoes, which are picked up and recycled to a textile manufacturer by disposing of same at the Randolph High School parking lot and most recently at Bob’s Stores. The textile manufacturer, in turn, gives money back to the Randolph Public Schools to offset the high cost of athletic programs. It works out well for all! The Board of Health will continue to support this endeavor and wishes to thank the residents of Randolph for their continued recycling efforts and looks forward to expanding this program in the future.
The Board of Health was also successful in obtaining a $1,067.00 Tobacco Compliance Enforcement Grant designed to stave sales of tobacco products to minors.
Any questions, please call the Board of Health @ 961-0924.
PUBLIC HEALTH COMPLAINTS: Hundreds of complaints were received for possible health nuisances and hazards which were investigated and resolved during the year.
SWIMMING POOLS: 16 permits, for public, semi-pubic and private pools were issued.
PUBLIC, SEMI-PUBLIC POOL INSPECTIONS: The State mandates that public/semi-public pools be inspected and brought up to code prior to issuance of annual license. This duty falls to the local Board of Health and, as such, over 24 inspections and re- inspections of public and semi-public pools were made by this office prior to issuing annual permits.
INSPECTION OF NURSING AND OTHER STATE-RUN HOMES: 2 inspections of 1 facility were made prior to re-licensing.
FOOD/LTD. FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS: 93 permits were issued to restaurants and other type operations serving food and/or drink for consumption on the premises. Some Inspections of all establishments have been carried out in excess of the two required by State Code and will continue to be monitored constantly.
FROZEN DESSERT: 3 permits were issued and are inspected on a regular basis.
MOBILE FOOD & TEMPORARY FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS: 3 permits were issued and are inspected on a regular basis.
RETAIL & LIMITED RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS: 60 permits were issued to retail & limited retail food establishments. All are being inspected on a regular basis.
CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS: 3 permits were issued to operate a catering establishment, which is also being inspected at regular intervals.
COLLECTION & DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE/GREASE: 7 permit(s) were issued.
REMOVAL, TRANSPORT, DISPOSE OF GARBAGE/OFFAL: 21 permits were issued.
TOBACCO PERMITS: 44 permits were issued for the sale of tobacco products.
SUNTANNING FACILITIES: 4 permits were issued and facilities inspected.
VAPOR BATHS:: 1 license was issued.
REVENUE PRODUCED
Permits & Licenses
(Including appliances; CRT’s &
stickers) $50,199.59
Grants 15,610.60
TOTAL $ 65,810.19
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. David Kaplan, Chairman
Thomas J. Fisher, Vice Chairman
Mark Kittredge, Member
John P. McVeigh, MBA, CHO, R.S.
Director of Public Health/Agent
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