1995-03-09 Board of Health Minutes

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Board of Health The meeting of the Board of Health came to order at 7:00 p.m. on March 9, 1995 in the Board of Selectmen's Meeting Room of Town Hall. Present at the meeting were Board members William Murphy, James Nugent and Cathy Baranofsky and staff Ruth Clay. Minutes of the February 16, 1995 meeting were approved with one addition. Board of Health regulations Section 16 Smoking in Certain Places and Youth Access to Tobacco and Section 1 Administration: Murphy welcomed everyone back. He noted that the public meeting was open to the public for listening and answering any question that Board may have but that the public comment period has been closed. Murphy said that he wanted to make a few points clear. First to answer that the Board of Health is receiving selected information.. • The Board mailed out copies over a month in advance • The Board had an informational breakfast meeting for the restaurants and retail food operators • There was a public hearing which was advertised in the local newspaper. At that meeting the Board listened to all sides. • He has received phone calls from restaurant owners, interested citizens and a state representative as well as written correspondence and has read the local newspaper coverage. Baranofsky noted that she answered all calls. Nugent noted that he had received numerous letters. He noted that the Wes Parkers letter was well thought out and reflected a lot of work. He also noted receiving a letter from Mrs. Hoyt and a call from the Main Sail. Murphy noted that the regulations were the Board's initiative and that they instructed Clay to write a draft. Clay did not decide what would go into the draft and many changes have been made since the original. Nugent noted that the grant process was initiated by the Board with its goals to address smoking issues. Baranofsky agreed and noted that she looked at a number of regulations and that the Board instructed Clay what to put in the regulations. Murphy noted that he requested two changes be made in the draft. The first was to exclude child care centers from the sign requirement. He asked other members for their input. Nugent said that when you open your home to a business things change. He noted that a sign reminds the public when they walk into a public building or doctor's office. Murphy made a motion, seconded by Baranofsky to Include the phrase "Excluding licensed child care facilities" from the signage section. Motion passed 3:0:0. Clay noted that the other change was in wording to clarify that service bar areas were to be smokefree. William Murphy made the following statement: