North Canaan Scheduled To Vote Feb. 13 on Oversight Of Public Health, Sanitation

NORTH CANAAN — A new approach to caring for public health in North Canaan will go to a public hearing and town meeting vote on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

The announcement by Dr. Bruce Janelli that he will retire after 20 years as the North Canaan Public Health Director prompted a look at how the town approaches those needs.

The Board of Selectmen is recommending that North Canaan join the Torrington Area Health District (TAHD), which takes care of the public health services of most other towns in the Northwest Corner.

First Selectman Douglas Humes noted Janelli’s years of workingwithout pay, and noted that Town Sanitarian Ralph Stanton has been on the job for 25 years. Torrington Area Health District also provides sanitarian services for towns, ensuring that, for example, businesses and restaurants meet state standards for cleanliness.

"Over the years, we have been fortunate to have people like Dr. Janelli and Ralph Stanton who could be counted on to do the job right, and we are grateful," Humes said.

But times have changed. Janelli’s decision, in part, came out of the Homeland Security Act’s increased demands.

"It is just too much now for a small town health director," Humes said. "Torrington Area Health District is the regional point agency for those issues, so it’s already covered. Pretty much every other town around here uses them."

If approved, North Canaan would join the 18 Northwest Corner towns that are already part of the district. Currently, the primary job of public health is inspections of commercial kitchens, septic systems and new developments, all handled by the sanitarian.

Preparation for and oversight during crises, such as a flu pandemic, would fall to the health director. Those services would be covered through TAHD, as would other services such as environmental testing and public information on the likes of Lyme disease and lead poisoning.

Joining the district would also save the town about $7,000 per year, according to Humes. The town’s budget currently allots $24,000, mainly to pay for the cost of inspections. The town also collected inspection fees, but even with that loss of revenues, it will come out ahead with TAHD.

The state health fepartment was consulted by the Board of Selectmen. It not only recommended TAHD, but also said that funding is available to towns toward membership costs.

"If there is a downside, it will be that Torrington Area Health requires all septic systems be engineered," Humes said.

Typically, residential systems are installed without a site-specific plan, but need approval from a sanitarian. Hiring an engineer will increase home building costs.

"It won’t be that big an expense, in light of everything," Humes said, "and it’s probably not a bad thing. One contractor told me it will level the playing field. Ralph [Stanton] was very strict about ground water protection, and I’d like to see that standard maintained."

The public hearing is set for Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The Town meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m.