The Cohasset Board of Health opened its Tuesday evening session with a heavy heart, dedicating a significant portion of the meeting to the memory of Pam Fehee, a long-time town employee and public health stalwart who recently passed away. Chair Paul Schubert shared moving reflections on Fehee’s decade of service, particularly her instrumental role in navigating the town through the COVID-19 pandemic. Schubert credited Fehee with establishing the town’s virtual meeting infrastructure and tireless contact tracing efforts, stating, I think she saved several hundred lives by preventing the spread.

Board members echoed the sentiment, painting a picture of a professional who operated with quiet effectiveness. Mary Goodwin, who worked alongside Fehee for seven years, noted that she came in every day with a positive attitude, while Marcia Lewis described her as a colleague who did everything with no fanfare and humility and great expertise. The board observed that her loss was a shock to the municipal staff and the wider community she protected during the health crisis.

Following the tribute, the board turned its attention to a peculiar sanitation concern at Sandy Beach. An anonymous letter submitted to the town alleged that on the afternoon of Sunday, August 17, an individual was observed burying human waste in the sand rather than using the available public facilities. The letter included a license plate number and a request for police intervention. While the board expressed skepticism regarding the unverifiable nature of anonymous reports, they took the potential health hazard seriously. Schubert noted that another child could easily dig into it or the tide could uncover it, emphasizing that such actions are both unhealthy and illegal.

Mary Goodwin suggested a cautious approach, noting, This is an anonymous letter and we don't really have any evidence that this really happened... As a public statement, everybody should be aware: please do not defecate on the beach. Public Health Nurse Joan suggested that the report could potentially stem from a neighbor dispute, adding that such behavior is rare during the height of the beach season. The board reached a consensus to send a formal letter to the Sandy Beach Association to remind visitors to utilize the provided restrooms and maintain beach hygiene.

In infrastructure business, the board addressed a bedroom count deed restriction for 34 Brewer Road. Under Title 5 regulations, the home’s nine-room layout would typically presume a four-bedroom capacity, but the property’s septic system is only designed for three. Carrie Johnson of K&K Construction, representing the homeowner, explained that a deed restriction was necessary to finalize the property’s closing that coming Friday. Motion Made by M. Lewis to approve the septic for 34 Brewer Road with the caveat that the deed restriction would be approved. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

The board also approved a septic upgrade for 296 North Main Street, where high groundwater had caused the existing system to fail. An engineer from Morse Engineering presented a plan to install a 1,500-gallon septic tank and a Geomat 3900 leaching field, an innovative alternative system designed for difficult site conditions. The engineer noted that the project involves no increase in flow or local variances. Motion Made by M. Lewis to approve the Geomat leaching system plan as presented by Morse Engineering for 296 North Main Street. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

Finally, Public Health Nurse Joan provided an update on the seasonal flu vaccine rollout. While delivery was slightly delayed this year, Joan confirmed that vaccines were expected to arrive by the end of the week. I've started to schedule some clinics at Wilcutt Commons, she told the board, noting that she would begin formal advertising once the doses were physically in hand. Chair Schubert noted that while the state now requires insurance coverage for these vaccines, the CDC's timing had caused a slight ripple in local availability.