HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-22 Board of Health MinutesOff~ OFIj
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
,639, A+cORP��
ft1 CEIVF D
TM it CLE
BEADING. M;,-`-',
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2017-03-22
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Attendees: Members - Present:
1O I1 APR 2 0 P 1 4 r I
Time: 530 PM
Location: Berger Room
Session: General Session
John Costigan, Andrew Friedmann, Beth Shurland
Members - Not Present:
Nancy Docktor
Others Present:
Bob Bracey, Interim Health Agent, Shawn Ferris, Maureen Buzby, Regional
Tobacco Control, Ruth Clay, Melrose/Wakefield Health Director, Kyle Krupa,
Dan Dewar, John Halsey, Board of Selectmen/Liaison, Dennis Lane,
Responsible Retailing, Jack Devir, Kalpesh Patel, Neil Joudrie
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Darlene Foley
Topics of Discussion:
Board of Health meeting came to order at 5:37 pm on March 22, 2017 in the Berger Room
of Reading Town Hall.
Minutes
Minutes of January 18, 2017 were presented. Motion was made by Friedmann to accept the
minutes with one correction. Motion was seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0
Minutes of January 24, 2017 were presented. Friedmann made a motion to accept the
minutes, seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0
Minutes of February 6, 2017 were presented. Friedmann made a motion to accept the
minutes, seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0
Costigan began the tobacco discussion with responses to inquiries made during the public
hearing on February 6, 2017. John Halsey had previously inquired if statistics were
available relating to youth usage in Reading. Statistical data, provided by Eric McNamara of
RCASA from the 2015 Reading Youth Risk Behavior Study indicated 18% of Reading
Memorial High School students had ever used cigarettes, recent use (within the last 30
days) of cigarettes was 10%, recent smokeless tobacco use was 7%, total cigar use was
11%, and 24% of students had used e -cigarettes in the last thirty days. Costigan stated
this was a pretty significant amount. The numbers compared fairly well with the nation as a
whole; 43% across the country had ever used cigarettes, versus 18% in Reading. However
the country wide survey did not include e -cigarettes use which was 24% in the past 30 days
in Reading. The middle school portion of the survey indicated 7% of students had ever used
e -cigarettes; both cigarette and flavored cigar use were 3% each.
Page 1 1
A 2016 survey performed at Wakefield High School by the Youth Action Group of other high
school students indicated 65% of students would not have used e-cigarettes or cigars if they
were not flavored. 44% of students had tried e-cigarettes because they were flavored.
Costigan found these figures to be noteworthy.
An inquiry was made if the figures from the Reading Youth Risk Behavior Study included the
students at Austin Prep. The figures did not include Austin Prep; they would have to pay for
their own study. The school was not contacted to see if they had any statistics.
Costigan reported he had received communications from the Mass Association of Health
Boards, American Lung Association, Northeast Tobacco Free Community Partnership,
Tobacco Free Mass, Coalition for Responsible Retailing and US Surgeon General. According
to a report from the US Surgeon General on influences on youth exposure, it seems the
more exposure there is, there tends to be more smoking involved. Friedmann was
particularly swayed by comments of Maureen Buzby and other experts on the targeting of
flavored cigars toward youth. He believes the proposed regulations are reasonable and are
consistent with what boards of health are required to do per state law to protect the public
health, and to prevent and reduce the risk of disease.
In response to a previous question from John Halsey regarding the number of violations in
Reading, Costigan reported that during 2016, out of the 18 permitted establishments, 4
were in non-compliance. All violations occurred within a concentrated time frame. This
brought to mind the first question as to how often the compliance checks were done. If 4
compliance checks were done monthly, this amount wouldn't be such a problem; but, if
done once a year, 4 compliance failures would be significant. With four non-compliances in
that one time frame, how often over the course of a year, kids would go into a location to
buy, what would that mean? Maureen Buzby stated two compliance checks are done per
year; one for cigarettes, the other for DTPs (other tobacco products - little cigars, chewing
tobaccos, e-cigarettes).
Dennis Lane, member of the Coalition for Responsible Retailing had a question regarding
laws of possession and the use of tobacco. He stated the goal of retailers is not to sell to
minors. Costigan contacted Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Brad Jones who had
no record of anyone proposing any type of law regarding possession and advised he should
start with the legislature.
Costigan said his real concern is not the how or why children were getting these products,
but as to why they are smoking. The Surgeon General's report indicates peer pressure is
paramount to smoking cigars and cigarettes.
If the regulations as proposed were approved, Buzby suggested an implementation date of
three months which would allow her to visit each permitted establishment, make sure the
regulations were understood, identify which products were affected and allow time to sell
down products. She stated one more compliance check would be performed before July 1St
in accordance with State guidelines.
In response to Dan Dewar's question how the regulations were going in Wakefield, Ruth
Clay stated that they were going well; no business owners had come before the board
stating they were going out of business. The community is healthy and thriving.
Clarification was given to Dan Dewar regarding the capping of the number of tobacco
permits at 19 and the provision to prohibit tobacco sales at any new store location within
1,000 feet of a school zone.
Motion was made by Friedmann to accept the proposed tobacco regulations with the
implementation date of August 1, 2017. Shurland seconded the motion. Motion passed 3:0
Page 1 2
Marijuana
In response to a request from the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health (BOH) was
asked to give a statement on the ballot question regarding the commercial distribution of
recreational marijuana products within the town limits. A discussion began with similar
references to a recent drafted article on opiates which was written with children's health in
mind and what can be done to prevent children from obtaining them. A statement from
Nancy Docktor who was not in attendance was read into the record. Friedmann stated the
BOH acts as a regulatory board, not an advisory board and was unsure if boards of health
weighed in on ballot questions. He also wanted time to review Nancy Docktor's statement
before commenting. Another meeting will be scheduled prior to the vote on April 4, 2017 to
discuss the matter further. Meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 28tH
Monthly Reports
Owner of Ristorante Pavarotti submitted detailed specifications for new hood system. Work
will be completed by the July deadline. Bracey reviewed the site plan for Cafe Nero, a new
establishment to be located in the space formerly occupied by the Wine Shop of Reading.
Additional information is to be supplied from their consultant, Frank Giacalone regarding the
grease trap and exterior trash storage area. A request was submitted by Columbo's to
remove their dishwasher and use disposable products. Request was approved and permit
will be restricted to the use of disposable plates and cups.
A complaint was received regarding the dumpster not being properly maintained at 650
Main Street. Bracey met with property management and business owners to resolve the
issue. A plan was submitted by the property management contractor for the area showing
an increase in the size of the dumpster, including new fencing and the addition of benches
and flowers. The assistant town manager, planning department and Bracey will visit the
site and see how this area can be made conducive to the town's needs. During the same
time frame, a water leak occurred in the basement of businesses at the same location.
Upon inspection, a food establishment was found to have a slight infestation and pest
management was called in to address that issue. Bracey proposed establishing a regulation
requiring food establishments to have preventative maintenance plans where monthly
inspections are performed, whether or not they need it, thus preventing any problem before
it becomes an issue. The dumpster issue will be followed up at the next meeting. An
alternative resolution could be to have a trash compactor installed. Bracey met with health
inspectors to update them on the new draft food code. He also met with representative
from Meadow Brook Golf Club to discuss the potential of having a mobile food unit on site.
David Henley, East Middlesex Mosquito Control was contacted in regard to having a
community educational seminar for residents
regarding West Nile, EEE, Zika and Lyme disease and instruct residents what they can do to
take precautionary measures.
Shurland inquired the status of the health agent position. Costigan was advised by the
assistant town manager there were a few candidates for the health agent position and
interviews would be scheduled for the last week in April.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.
Materials Distributed:
Draft minutes of January 18, January 24, and February 6, 2017
PHN Monthly Report
Health Agent Report
Page 1 3