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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-24 Board of Health Minutes� Orq Town of Reading e Meeting Minutes ;ra TOWN CLERK HSS. Board -Committee -Commission -Council: Er01NG• M Board of Health 1611 N^R li A 11- 5U Date: 2017-01-24 Time: 2:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: John Costigan, Andy Friedmann, Beth Shurland, Nancy Docktor Members - Not Present: Others Present: Jean Delios, Assistant Town Manager, Bob Bracey, North Reading Public Health Director Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jean Delios Topics of Discussion: Board of Health meeting came to order at 2:03pm John C. suggested that the position be full-time because of the need for a full time position in the town. There was discussion about next steps to fill the positon John C. asked what the process for the hiring, is the job posted? Jean D. indicated that HR has all of the material to post the job and that she finalized everything with HR last week. She encouraged the Chair to work with the Town Manager on the hiring process. There was discussion about the arrangement to hire Bob Bracey as the Interim (Part -Time) Health Agent and how this would work with North Reading, his full- time employer Jean D. introduced Bob Bracey to the Board. Bob provided a summary of his extensive background in Public Health Including working for the City of Cambridge as a health consultant, for the City of Newburyport as the Director of Public Health and currently for the Town of North Reading as the Director of Public Health. Nancy asked Bob how he envisioned this kind of balance going forward. Bob B. stated that he had many years of experience doing this kind of work in local government as well as working as a consultant in local government (e.g.,Tyngsboro, Page I 1 Dunstable, Winchester plus private consultant work in this Town) He mentioned that he does some community work in Reading and lives in North Reading. Andrew noted that Bob had a lot of experience as a Public Health professional and that he had experience as a consultant as well as he worked as a food inspector In other towns. Andrew asked if the Town of N. Reading was okay with this arrangement and whether Bob LeLacheur has spoken with the North Reading Town Administrator and if they are aware of the arrangement? Jean indicated that this has been worked out with the respective North Reading Town Administrator and Reading Town Manager. Nancy questioned the protocol for how we (steno note: Reading Board of Health) communicate? Who should the BOH be emailing about regulations currently being drafted for use of pesticides. Jean offered to serve as the conduit so that we are respectful of Bob B.'s time and our arrangement with North Reading. Discussion continued about the upcoming public hearing on the tobacco regulations scheduled for 2/6/17. Bob B. asked if the BOH needed him at the meeting. It was noted that Maureen Buzby will be the person available at the public hearing to answer any questions about the tobacco regulations Bob B. mentioned that he read the BOH minutes and the material on the tobacco regulations on the website and felt that the Reading BOH is in the middle of the pack with regard to the communities he is familiar with as far as where they are on the tobacco regulations Andrew expressed concern about how available Bob B. would be to assist the Town of Reading In cases when we have to have a Health Agent. Bob B. mentioned that he has spoken with his Town Administrator and if there is an emergency they will allow the use of Bob B's time in Reading. Andrew commented that he is glad that Bob B. knows the Town of Reading and that the board can trust the Health Agent, but, he cautioned that complicated issues should be brought before the board. A Motion made by Andrew to appoint Robert Bracey as the Reading Board of Health Interim Health Agent. The Motion was seconded by Beth. Motion carried 3-0-0 (vote was unanimous). The BOH thanked Mr. Bracey and he exited the meeting Page 1 2 Open Discussion Nancy had questions for Steve Dilauro and she noted that she will email him The discussion turned to general business of the board of health. RCASA wanted to be reminded of the tobacco regulations public hearing. Erica provided edits to the article on prevention of Opiates. The healthy weight article has been approved. The article on prevention of Opiates needs to be sent to Matt/Bob for their approval. Then the author submits the article to the newspaper. The article needs to have a name attached to it. The article goes on the Health website and Darlene handles that. Andrew will send the Advocate and Chronicle email but noted it may be a good idea to verify on the respective websites. The article should be submitted, not as a letter to the editor, with the author's name. Talk to the Ombudsman about the Healthy Weight Article and Andy will look for it as well. John has the final draft of the article approved on behalf of the board. There was a discussion about the draft regulations on pesticides. Andrew has not seen the pesticide regulations. Steve needs to send them out, Nancy will follow up. It was noted that the Town of Reading currently doesn't have any regulations that protect the public areas, like a tree lawn. The board indicated that they want clear regulations, that would be new regulations added to the existing board regulations, governing how areas like tree lawns (public land) can be treated with herbicides, pesticides etc. so we comply with the State. Nancy noted that the draft she prepared was modeled after the regulations from the Town of Marblehead. There was discussion on the need for the board to look at what are the fines and it was noted that the fines are established by the board (not Town Meeting). Discussion ensued about the purpose of the new regulations protecting tree lawns (and other public spaces) and how enforcement would be handled by the Town including fees. A further discussion occurred over how to schedule the board meeting around the need to discuss the pesticide regulations. The board discussed reviewing the regulations in February after the public hearing. The website agenda was reviewed on the screen. The consensus was that since the February 6`h meeting Is a board meeting that is also a hearing it would be okay to discuss the pesticide regulations at that time. Discussion ensued about the format for the public hearing including how the Chair will open the meeting, read the public hearing notice, make some remarks, read into the record anything the BOH receives, then open it up to the public. Jean D. offered to assist with setting up the room and she asked if RCN had been contacted, and it appeared that they had not. She noted that they may already be planning to attend since it was advertised on the website and in the local paper. Jean D. asked how the board envisioned the room set up and if they needed any technology? The consensus was that having one long table and rows of chairs, plus at least one (preferably two) cordless microphones would be needed. It was also noted that Darlene will take care of sign -in sheet and other handout materials. Motion to adjourn: 3-0-0 and the meeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m Page 1 3