DALTON, Mass. — The Board of Health provided an update on the Community Recreation Association's (CRA) pool permit on Monday which is still in process until the CRA can resolve the combined chlorine discrepancies and can show that the drain covers have not expired in accordance to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. 

 

The pool is still open and the CRA has been testing the pool five times a day to keep a close eye on the combined chlorine discrepancies that it has been running into.

 

"Typically we're at point two, but occasionally, it's 2.4. It seems like it's around busier times when we have lots of people in the pool, and stuff like that. So try to make adjustments where we can," CRA Executive Director Alison Peters said. 

 

"We've been working on the issue since the inspection first started. We've been playing around with different combinations of humidity and temperature in the pool and things like that."

 

Currently, the pool is open with a combined chlorine of .2,  Peters said.

 

Health Agent Agnes Witkowski said she spoke to the state and was informed that if the CRA pool is over point two for more than 24 hours that the pool has to be closed to make a correction. 

 

Witkowski said the CRA has reached out to the drain-cover manufacturer and has been working to find a solution. The board suggested the association reach out locally to Imperial Pools & Spas to have someone come look at it to help find a solution. 

 

"I checked with state. Supposedly we're a gravity pool, but the state says all pools need it no matter what gravity, you have to have that so we need to know the invoice for that," Witkowski said. "To know if the manufacturers recommends a replacement."

 

The Stone Mill Condos gave the board an update on its pool violation corrections.

 

A temporary fix was made for the the fence barrier violation by blocking it off so that children cannot climb under it. The three ropes that needed to be replaced have been replaced. 

 

The water-depth markers have been obtained but the water has to be lowered so that they can be stuck onto the pool sides.

 

The board noted that there's a boundary line on the inside of the pool on the floor and said as long as the buoy liners dividers remain in the pool at all times, the pool can operate this year but the markers must be installed by next year. 

 

The cement walkway is uneven and there is a spot that can cause people to trip. The board asked that it be painted yellow to improve the visibility and caution signs, cones and mats be placed in the worst areas.

 

The walkway needs to be fixed this year before it can be approved for next year's permit. However, the coping trimming must be repaired now because it is peeling and could hurt someone's foot. 

 

Stone Hill asked if it could remove the peeling trimming and paint it. The board referred them to Imperial for that question because they are the pool experts. 

 

The step edges as you walk in also have to have contrasting. Stone Mill Condos mentioned that the waterproof stickers do not last long and that they may have to lower the pool to resolve this issue. The board referred them to Imperial to help find a solution to this. 

 

When these violations are resolved, Stone Hill can reach out to Witkowski for another inspection.

 

Silver Maple Farms does not have any violations and its pool permit was approved. 

 

In other business, the board denied Greenridge Variety's appeal for a tobacco violation

 

Tobacco manager for the Tri-Town Health Department Kate Fletcher presented to the board that Greenridge Variety failed a compliance check when a 16-year-old was able to purchase a package of Marlboro cigarettes.

 

The owner of Greenridge reached out to the board to see if the fine could be reduced because it was a first offense but was unable to attend the meeting due to being short staffed. 

 

The board deferred the question to Tri-Town Health Department that confirmed the state does not give any leeway to minimizing the fine.

 

"I just thought it was very steep for a first offense. But since we can't do anything to, you know, mitigate that or help them in any way, it's pointless. So it doesn't matter. It's a done deal," board member Alyce M. Kendrick said. 

 

Fletcher mentioned that Tri-Town works to provide these stores with education to prevent these mistakes from happening in the future.

 

"I really do work with the stores to make sure that they understand that the state is really serious about these fines. I review everything — what they're required to do in terms of, required state ID. I take a close look at their products to make sure that they are not selling flavors," Fletcher said.  

 

"And if they if I find flavors, which I ask them to remove them from the premises, but that is also a finable offense. But I can assure you that I am somebody who puts a lot of focus on the education aspect of this work. When it comes to a sale to a youth, there is really absolutely no wiggle room there."

 

Chair Andrew G. Perenick reiterated this sentiment and explained that these penalties are there for a reason.

 

"It's unfortunate, but sometimes there's penalties there for a reason. So that that along with the education, we don't want it to happen again."