Board of Health

Click on one of the links below for more information about the Hanover Board of Health:

About the Board of Health

Current Board Members

Staff / Contact Us

Schedule

Applications, Fees & Forms

Processes & Procedures

Frequently Asked Questions

Regulations - Links

About the Board of Health

The Board of Health was established by state statue before the turn of the twentieth century. The Board is made up of three (3) elected members who volunteer their time to ensure compliance with federal, state and local regulations. These regulations maintain the safety of public health and the environment through field work, inspections, approval and permitting of regulated activities, public education and policy setting. Board members are elected for a three year term with no limit to the number of terms that they may serve. The board and it's staff administer the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Federal Government as set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the areas of wastewater disposal, solid waste, noise, odor, and hazardous waste regulations and the Department of Public Health (DPH) through its community sanitation program in the areas of food protection, lead abatement, camps, pools, housing, infectious waste, tanning, and infectious and contagious diseases and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the food protection program. Through public meetings, a Board of Health can enact reasonable health regulations (pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 111§ 31) and the office has local regulations concerning wells, body art, massage, catering, barns and stables, keeping of domestic animals, piggeries, local septic regulations, and infectious and hazardous waste. The Board sets fees and enacts policies and practices concerning not only human public health but also animal health.

Plans for new construction- septic, pools, camps, food, housing and building additions- are submitted to and approved by the Health Agent. Any variances from the codes and regulations require approval by the Board. The time frames stipulated for approval is designated in many regulations but generally ranges from 30 days to 45 days.

The Board is also responsible for the investigation and control of infectious and contagious diseases in humans, animals and insects. Our office provides vaccine to many of the medical practices in Hanover and partners with the VNA to offer adult immunizations clinics for flu, pneumonia and tetanus. The VNA also provides a public health nurse to provide follow-up to reports of infectious or contagious disease. We also partner with Roberts Animal Hospital to provide the annual Rabies Clinic for cats and dogs in the spring. We work closely with the Animal Control Officer to monitor the health of domestic animals, livestock and wildlife.

Current Board Members

Ms. Diane L. Edge – Chair
Mr. John D. Dougherty – Board Member
Mr. Walter Moran – Board Member

Staff / Contact Us

Acting Health Agent (full time): Anthony Marino, Building Commissioner (building@hanover-ma.gov)
Assistant Health Agent (part time):

Public Health Nurse: Nancy Funder, RN
Administrative Assistant (full time): Donna Tramontana
Administrative Assistant (part time): Kimberly Dixon
 

Phone:  781-826-4611

Fax:  781-826-5289

Address:

Board of Health, Suite 17

550 Hanover Street

Hanover, MA  02339

Schedule

The Board generally meets twice a month. Upcoming meetings dates and times are posted on the Town Calendar page.  Appointment are scheduled every fifteen(15) minutes.  Please contact the office for more information.

Processes & Procedures

The Board relies on the professional and the clerical staff to administer the permitting process. Many applications require field work or site inspections prior to submitting plans. Please contact the office for information.

Applications for approval for septic, wastewater treatment, food establishments, camps, semi-public or public pools and rental housing require four sets of plans, a plan review fee and an application fee. All other applications require two sets of plans. Those establishments that require an annual operating fee must submit the first year's fee at this time. All plans and applications must be complete before being processed.

Plans for new construction or remodeling and expansions- septic, pools, camps, food, housing and building additions- are submitted to and approved by the Health Agent. Any variances from the codes and regulations require approval by the Board. Time frames stipulated for approval is designated in many regulations but generally ranges from 30 days to 45 days.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Food Establishments

1. My friend makes great stuffed peppers. Can he just can them in his home and sell them to the public? State and Federal laws require that anyone who serves food to the public have a valid food permit from the local board of health. Although most of us prepare foods in our own kitchens daily, a higher standard of care is required when we prepare foods for the “public”. Potentially hazardous foods are not allowed to be prepared in a home kitchen and are required to be prepared in properly licensed commercial kitchens. All food served to the public must be labeled as to ingredients and place of origin to ensure that the food are safe for consumption.

2. When are food handlers required to use gloves in food establishments ? One of the primary route of exposure to a contagious or infectious disease is from someone hands to our mouths. Washing and covering hands while preparing ready-to-eat foods is the best way to prevent this type of contamination.  A ready-to -eat food is a food that will not be cooked again before being served to the public. Salads, subs, all fresh fruits and vegetables and cooked food items are all ready-to-eat items. Food employees handling these items must was their hands and wear gloves or use utensils while handling these items.  Vinyl gloves are recommended over latex gloves since latex can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Title V Septic

1. I am just selling my house to a relative. Do I need a Title V inspection? Under 310 CMR 15.00 if you are selling to a person and your name is not remaining on the title of the property, then the Title V inspection is required. If you are adding your relative's name to the property, the Title V inspection is not required by the Board of Health but may be required by the lending institution.

2. I am remodeling my house and adding a room to the back. Do I have to do a Title V inspection?
The regulations require an inspection if there are no records available to the Board of Health that show the location and capacity of the septic system. If our office has records, then the staff can determine if the proposed addition meets the required setbacks and if the septic system has the capacity to handle the additional design flow for the proposed addition. If that information is not available, then an inspection is necessary.

3. The 40 year old property we want to purchase has a Title V Certificate. What does that mean?
The Title V certificate is the septic equivalent of a home inspection. The septic system was located and assessed according to specific criteria. Although the system is forty years old, it works well at the time it was inspected. Septic systems typical lasted 25- 40 years and I would expect to repair or upgrade this system within the next few years.

4. We found our dream house but it failed the Title V inspection. Who's responsibility is it to repair the septic system ? The regulations require that the septic system be repaired or upgraded within two years of a transfer of title or a shorter time if it is considered an “imminent public health threat”. The regulations do not say who is responsible for the repair. If a mortage lenders does not require the system to be repair prior to the passing, they typically require placing up to 2.5 times the estimated cost of the repair in an escrow account.
 

Regulations - Links

Links to Massachusetts Laws & Regulations:

            Massachusetts General Laws (MGL)

            Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR)

State and Federal Regulations:

            Beaver Trapping (Ch. 111§ 31 & 31)
            Burial Permits (M.G.L. 111§ 46-48)
            Contagious Disease (105 CMR 300.000)
            Camps (105 CMR 440.000)
            Food Establishments(1999 Federal Food Code & 105 CMR 590.000)
            Frozen Foods and Desserts (105 CMR 561.000)
            Hazardous Materials (MGL 111 § 150B)
            Housing 105 CMR 400.0-419.000)
            Indoor Air Quality (310 CMR 7.00)
            Infectious Waste(310 CMR 16.06, 105 CMR 480.000)
            Lead Paint (104 CMR 460.400)
            Noise (310 CMR 7.00)
            Nuisance (MGL 111§ 122 &123)
            Odor, Dust Demolition (310 CMR 7.00)
            Pesticide application
            Pools (105 CMR 435.000)
            Solid Waste (310 CMR 16.00)
            Trash Removal(MGL 111 § 31A & 31B)
            Tanning 105 CMR 123.000
            Vaccination Programs (MGL 111§ 181-183)
            Wastewater, Septic (Title V) (310 CMR 15.00)

Local Regulations:  (These are LOCAL regulations adopted by the Hanover Board of Health)

Application Forms & Fees

Animal Regulations - adopted March 10, 2009, revised May 8, 2009
Body Art (Tatooing,Body Piercing)
Catered Functions
Floor Drain Regulations
Hazardous Materials Regulations
Infectious Waste Disposal Regulations
Pigs and Piggeries
Tobacco, Distribution of Products
Massage
Title V - Supplementary Regulations for Wastewater (Septic) - Effective October 28, 2009
Wells- Irrigation and Drinking - January 2009

Water Supply Protection