2012-09-18 Board of Health Minutes

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RECEIVED TOWN CLERK BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING READING, MASS. MINUTES September 18, 2012 All OCT 24 P 2: 35 The meeting of the Reading Board of Health came to order at 5:35 pm in the Berger Conference Room of Reading Town Hall. Present were Board members Barbara Meade, David Singer, Andrew Friedmann, staff Ruth Clay, Board of Selectmen Liaison Ben Tafoya and Town Manager Peter Hechenbleickner. Minutes Minutes of June 21, 2012 were approved unanimously as presented. Other business and items not reasonably anticipated at the time of posting Clay updated Board members that fifth human case of EEE and fifteenth human case of WNV have been found in Massachusetts. There are no immediate changes to current threat level in Reading. Updates will continue to be provided as they become available. Public Health Nurse reported there were 149 flu shots given at the Reading Fall Street Faire. Andrew Friedmann, who volunteered at the booth, said that the service was well received despite the location. Clay said she would request a different location next year. Medical marijuana treatment sites Clay advised the board of her activities during the summer prompting the Board of Selectmen to preliminarily place an article on the fall Town Meeting Warrant to amend the Zoning By -laws to eliminate "medical marijuana dispensing sites" as an allowed use in Reading. CPDC met to look at the language that would amend the definition and table of uses section of the zoning by -law. A public hearing has been set for September 24th to decide if changes will be presented at town meeting. The Board decided to not take a position on the matter. Friedmann raised the question as to the role of Board of Health staff vis -a -vis the Board of Health and felt that the medical marijuana treatment site issue should have been brought to the Board of Health's attention before the Health Director went to the Board of Selectmen. Tafoya noted that the role of Health Director has changed and is relatively new with the regional health department model and that some issues will need to be worked out. He also noted that the Health Director did not represent herself at the Board of Selectmen meeting as representing the Board of Health, only herself. Hechenbleikner said that the Health Director is not only staff to the Board but also staff to the Town as a whole and as such was acting under his direction. He suggested that roles of staff and the board could be a topic for a meeting of the three boards of health. Friedmann also suggested that the staff's time would be better spent on tobacco and alcohol issues. Clay noted that RCASA just received a federal four year grant for $48,250 per year to specifically address underage drinking and that three tobacco compliance checks would be completed this year.