HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-16 Board of Health Minutes - DraftorxGQ
Town of Reading
a i Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2017-08-16
Building: Reading Town Hall
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Business
Time: 5:30 PM
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Location: Berger Room
Session: Open Session
Version:
Attendees: Members - Present:
John Costlgan, Beth Shurland, Nancy Docktor, late
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Dan Ensminger, Board of Selectmen Liaison, Laura Vlasuk, Kyle Krupa
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Darlene Foley
Topics of Discussion:
Board of Health meeting came to order at 5:31 pm on August 16, 2017 in the Berger Room
of Reading Town Hall.
Minutes *
Minutes of July 19, 2017 were presented. Costigan inquired about the executive session
minutes of the same date. Docktor stated the minutes had to be kept separately and had
been submitted to the town clerk. Shurland asked when the minutes could be released.
After the minutes are reviewed and voted on, the board can then decide when to release.
Docktor requested the minutes be corrected to read Attorney General's office rather than
District Attorney's office throughout. Motion was made by Docktor to accept the minutes of
July 19, 2017 with the corrections; seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0
The minutes of August 8, 2017 were tabled until the next meeting.
Chair Report
The Town Manager contacted Costigan on July 22nd regarding a town employee potentially
being diagnosed with meningitis. The employee had performed work at the high school,
where school was not in session and there was not any food preparation taking place at the
time. However, the employee did have contact with people. Costigan immediately
contacted the Department of Public Health Epidemiologist and communicated throughout
the weekend with the Town Manager. On Monday he met with the Town Manager,
Superintendent of Schools, Facilities Manager, Director of School Nurses, and the Health
Agent to discuss a response plan. The town manager advised Costigan the employee had
improved and returned to work July 31''. Although Costigan had not received an official
notification from the state as of August 7th, he was confident it was viral and not bacterial
and did not pose a public health emergency. The case was not reported to Reading because
the employee did not reside here. Costigan will follow up with Suzanne Swansburg who is
covering the public health nurse duties. Docktor inquired about the status of the public
nurse position. Costigan had not been given an update.
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Costigan contacted the offices of Senator Jason Lewis and Representative Brad Jones
regarding the status of House Bill 2864. The bill is still in committee. Costigan impressed
upon them how much the Reading Board of Health supports this bill.
Costigan inquired about a sewer backup that occurred at Caffe Nero. Docktor stated she had
received a call from Darlene Foley at 4:30 pm regarding an overflowed toilet at Caffe Nero
that flowed into a downstairs dining area at Venetian Moon. Supposedly Vlasuk had been
working with Chris DeCloux at Cafe Nero on the issue. Once John's Sewer, the pipe
cleaning company and the cleaning company, Rowe Cleaning had left, he contacted Vlasuk
for an inspection so both he and Venetian Moon could reopen. She told him she wasn't the
health agent and wasn't coming back for the final Inspection.
Docktor went to the location, spoke with Mr. DeCloux and did a visual inspection of both
places and did not see any water. Mr. DeCloux reported a nine wash process in the affected
areas including a hallway as a precaution against cross contamination. Lisa Cavallo of
Venetian Moon also gave her access to the impacted area; the downstairs rug area that had
been affected was sanitized as was the affected ceiling tile. A small dryer left by the
cleaning company was still running but the rug was completely dry; there was evidence of a
water stain on the ceiling tile. She received a copy of the invoice from Rowe Cleaning for
the cleanup and a copy from John's Sewer will be sent by mail. She gave permission for
both establishments to reopen and Informed them the health inspector would be following
up.
Vlasuk was asked what happened that she wasn't able to return. She replied she was not
able to do an inspection because she had not been appointed by the board. She stated it
was not an overflowing toilet; it was raw sewage that had been backed up from the pipes
affecting Caffe Nero, Venetian Moon as well as the Chinese food restaurant. Vlasuk wanted
to know where the inspection report from that restaurant was as they had opened up today
without an inspection. Docktor stated she was not given that Information. Foley stated the
information provided by lean Delios involved issues at Caffe Nero and Venetian Moon;
Huang Kitchen was never mentioned. Costigan asked if Huang Kitchen was part of the
cleanup. Foley responded she did not know as she was not aware of any problem at that
location. Vlasuk replied that question should be answered by Docktor who was the Inspector
who should also follow up because they had reopened without an inspection. Docktor
responded that was the only information she had; it was documented.
Shurland asked Vlasuk if she had done any previous inspections at those locations. Vlasuk
replied she had not done any inspections as she had not been appointed. Shurland asked if
she had done any inspections since being hired. Viasuk did not want to answer and
requested to have counsel present If she were to be asked additional questions.
Health Report
Rlstorante Pavarotti - Costigan stated the deadline had passed for completion of the work of
installing a new ventilation system. Bracey had met with the owner and was to provide an
update to the Board; however, Costigan had not spoken to Bracey or received an update.
Costigan was unsure of exactly what the exact code violation was and perhaps Bracey could
provide that information. He was also waiting for an opinion from the Assistant Fire Chief
whom Bracey had spoken with. Bracey previously stated there may be a hardship case for
the owner in order to bring this up to code. The building inspector may also know what the
codes would be. The owner may be Invited to attend a Board meeting.
There were 8 complaints received in the past three months. Costigan will speak to Bracey
to see what they were. Pool inspections were discussed regarding the scheduling of such
inspections. An inquiry was made whether the three Title V inspections were for new
construction or for abandonment of septic systems. Request will be made for the nurse to
email reports from Maven before the next the meeting.
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Costigan and Ensminger attended the mosquito and tick presentation on July 31a' which was
well attended and very informative.
There was discussion regarding a memo received from the MA Association of Health Boards
relating to White Owl Green Sweets and Game Red, two sweet, mellow flavored tobacco
products, which MAHB were removing from its Guidance List for tobacco products. Legal
authority to enforce a restriction of these products rests with local boards of health.
Docktor will reach out to Maureen Buzby for additional input.
Health Agent
Costigan was unable to attend the last two meetings because of vacation. After having
reviewed the last meeting and the discussion of the procedure for going into executive
session, he was not satisfied they had cause to go into executive session. He had given a
message to Jean Delios to give to the members. While he was on vacation, the members
decided they did have reason to go into executive session. Docktor stated his email was of
concern because it was sent through the Town Manager's office, and they couldn't deliberate
through email. Costigan said they had not spoken about It. Ensminger said that was done
so they wouldn't be deliberative.. Discussion ensued regarding what was considered to be a
breach of open meeting law. Ensminger will look into email deliberation.
Costigan asked If the members had come to any conclusion or resolution. The members
stated they wanted to meet with the Board of Selectmen to help resolve the situation.
Ensminger stated the Board could resolve the situation this evening and recommended they
make the appointment of Laura Vlasuk as health agent. There was discussion regarding the
authority of a health Inspector to open an establishment when the health agent was absent
and how that could be accomplished. Shurland stated there were still concerns about the
ability of Vlasuk to protect the public health of the town, and those issues had not been
resolved in addition to the lack of cooperation and lack of health reports being submitted.
The Board had also asked for an investigation into the public health nurse's allegations to
the Board. Ensminger again requested the recommendation of the appointment of the
health agent. All members agreed they wanted to appoint a health agent who was In the
best interest of the town. Costigan made a motion to appoint Vlasuk as the health agent,
there was no discussion; the motion was not seconded. Costigan will defer to the Town
Manager/Jean Delios regarding the health agent doing inspections.
Pesticide Regulations
The Board will communicate with the BOS about the benefits of what this regulation would
do; basically just to notify the public as to what they should not do because it is a public
health issue for humans and their pets. They will ask to have it put on the BOS agenda in
the near future.
Opiates
The Board will be researching the possibility of having Narcan available in certain
establishments, maybe providing some education, or perhaps having an EMT provide some
training. Shurland inquired if the school nurses have Narcan and that will be followed upon.
Costigan would like to meet with RCASA to see how the Board can be of help to them or ask
If Erica McNamara can attend a future meeting. Gloucester provides a program where the
police try to get mental health help vs criminal.
Other
Costigan will check with Bracey regarding previous sewer backups at the Main Street
locations. Shurland will contact middle & high schools regarding the availability of Narcan
Next meeting scheduled for September 201h.
Board of Selectmen meeting tentatively scheduled for August 29th
Meeting adjourned at 6:35 pm.
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Materials Distributed:
Draft Minutes of July 19, 2017
Draft Minutes of August 8, 2017
Health Agent Update June -August
MAHB Email regarding flavored tobacco products
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