2017-06-21 Board of Health Minutes

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Town of Reading Meeting Minutes t C I{j{ 17 C, i i. �J . Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health 1011 JUL 24 A U 38 ; Date: 2017-06-21 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 5:30 PM Location: Berger Room Session: General Session John Costigan, Chair, Beth Shurland, Nancy Docktor, Associate Members - Not Present: Others Present: Dan Ensminger, BOS Liasion, Jean Delios, Andy Friedmann, Laura Vlasuk, John Fralick, Emmy Dove, Peg Drummey Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Darlene Foley Topics of Discussion: Board of Health meeting came to order at 5:30 pm on June 21, 2017 in the Berger Room of Reading Town Hall. Minutes Minutes of May 17, 2017 were presented. Motion was made by Docktor to accept the minutes, seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0 BOH Appointments Costigan introduced Laura Vlasuk as the new health agent who then provided some background information having worked in Malden and Everett. In accordance with MA General Law Chapter 111, Section 27 regarding the appointment of a health agent, Docktor inquired if the health agent would be reporting to the Board of Health (BOH) or the town manager; the concern being that Boards of Health are not being influenced by any local politics. Vlasuk responded she hoped to work together with both to ensure everyone's needs are met and everything is safe for the community. Docktor posed a question to Delios and Ensminger as representatives of the town manager and Board of Selectmen, if the town was willing to authorize any expenditure of the town's funds to defend any possible legal suits which may be created or exist regarding the appointment. Ensminger responded asking why the question was being raised. Docktor stated she wanted to make sure that the Board did not have any legal obligation or risk for making the appointment. Ensminger was unable to answer the specific question. However, he did state that the town has primary coverage of liability for errors and omissions; any board member acting in his or her capacity was covered. Shurland stated the loss of three members of the Health Division staff within the past six months was not the kind of turnover that was beneficial to the town and there needs to be a type of management style in place to ensure staff will stay intact for a longer period of time. Docktor added that a recent Boston University study indicated twenty-four percent of municipalities do not have public health nurses. With the loss of the public health nurse, Page 1 1