2021-06-03 Board of Health Minutes

Home Browse Search

of°rwro, RECEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK r' Meeting Minutes READING, MA. °w> 2021 JUN 21 AH 9: 53 Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2021-06-03 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Others Present: Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi, Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Community Services Director Kevin Bohmiller Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and reviewed the evening's agenda. The purpose of this meeting is to hear the plans for the reopening of the Pleasant Street Senior Center and to decide how to address the outstanding orders Issued by the Board of Health as part of its response to the pandemic early last year. According to Mass.gov, Reading is now in the gray category, which is lower than green, and only has three active cases. Review of Plans for Ooenina Senior Center: Kevin Bohmiller, Director of Community Services, presented his plan to welcome seniors back to the center, which they have missed dearly. Staff sent out a newsletter announcing the opening. Protocols have been established based on conversations with Interim Health Director Peter Miranda, and Public Health Nurses Kristine Harris and Shuang Shen, and the Massachusetts Council on Aging MA COA). However, MA COA has mostly deferred to local Boards of Health. Mr. Bohmiller has also consulted with other COA Directors to find out their rules, and what their Boards of Health have allowed them to do. The reopening will be slow, and only the Flrst Floor great room will be used for passive group activities. There will be one morning activity and one afternoon activity. The second Floor will only be used for individual counseling, such as SHINE and one-on-one computer assistance. Bathrooms will be limited to just the basement bathrooms, so that there is one less thing to clean upstairs. There will be masks, PPE, and sanitation dispensers available. Staff will continue to wear masks. Masks for patrons will be required for those who have not been vaccinated. Masks will be encouraged, though not required, for those who have been vaccinated. Vaccination status is based on the honor system. Tables and touch surfaces will be wiped down after each program. A 16'x24'tent will be installed on the patio Page 1 1