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VNM �rNr<p RECEIVED <br />Town of Reading TOWN CLERK <br />Meeting Minutes REQ;,:'!^J C. MA. <br />Rx- <br />2022 MAR -7 PM 4: 51 <br />Board - Committee - Commission - Council: <br />Board of Health <br />Date: 2022-02-10 Time: 7:30 PM <br />Building: Location: <br />Address: Session: Open Session <br />Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final <br />Attendees: Members - Present: <br />Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate <br />Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton <br />Members - Not Present: <br />Others Present: <br />Public Health Director Ade Solarin, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Public <br />Health Nurse Kristine Harris <br />Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde <br />Topics of Discussion: <br />This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. <br />Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm. <br />Review/Approval of Minutes February 3. 2022: <br />On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted <br />3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of February 3, 2022. <br />Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes. <br />Review Town Mask Mandate: <br />At their regular meeting last week, the Board of Health discussed the Town Mask Mandate, <br />and decided to reassess on February 17th. Since then, COVID case numbers have continued <br />to decline dramatically, and there has been a lot of feedback from the community. So, the <br />Board decided not to wait another week, and have a discussion this evening. <br />Dr. Lopez clarified the scope of the Board's authority. The Board is not responsible for <br />reversing the mask mandate in schools, as that is decided upon by the state and <br />Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESS), and the School Committee will <br />decide what to do when that mandate expires. The Library Trustees passed their own <br />mandate for the Library, for which they are responsible. The Board does not have authority <br />over daycare facilities licensed by the state Department of Early Childhood Education (EEC). <br />And lastly, the Board does not have authority over certain mandates from the Department <br />of Public Health and federal government including: transportation, buses, trains, planes, <br />health care staff, and congregate care living. The Board does, however, have authority over <br />the Pleasant Street Center (the mandate for which will be reassessed at the next BOH <br />meeting in March), and non -licensed daycare facilities. The discussion tonight will focus on <br />the mask mandate that the Board approved on January 6th that required masks to be worn <br />In all indoor public spaces. <br />Page 1 1 <br />