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Home My WebLink About2017-12-19 Board of Health Minutesr -: O`tlty OFR�7p �b Town of Reading ° Meeting Minutes 4lQJg.1NCOt�4��P� _ ' Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2017-12-19 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street. Purpose: General Business Attendees:' Members - Present: 1010 JAN 4 I A 10:'_0 31 Time: 5:30 PM Location:. Berger Room Session: General Session John Costigan, Kevin Sexton, Heidi Pfieier Members -Not Present: Others Present: Jean Delios - Assistant Town Manager, Laura Vlasuk - Health Agent, Michael Monahan- member of the Public Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kristen Grover Topics of Discussion: Costigan called the Board of Health meeting to order at 5:30pm in the Berger Room at the Town Hall. The first item on the Agenda was Open Public Discussion. Michael Manahan of Bancroft Ave in Reading was the only member of the Public present. OPEN PUBLIC DISCUSSION . Monahan handed out an article to the Board that addressed the death of a teena , er by overdose of caffeine. He discussed the article and mentioned that, he is'aware of a similar problem in Reading. He stated that that teenagers and younger purchase energ drinks and caffeine pills at stores like CVS and also vape nicotine. He further stated that caffeine pills, energy drinks and nicotine are all stimulants, and use of these products is a big roblem in these age groups. Monahan stated he hoped for cooperation from CVS in that they would be responsible and agree to stop selling to the 18 and under age group. He discussed his "conversat'on with CVS Management regarding cashiers unable to be prompted to ask.for ID, and tlat they were not truthful because the cashier. is prompted for cough medicine. He told he Board he was present to inquire about a Town wide mechanism to stop selling stimulants to children. Costigan mentioned that there is a Federal Regulation for the sale of Pseudoephedrine which causes a prompt at the. register at the time of sale, and that the Town has reguloted flavored tobacco - vape. He stated that he could look into regulations restrictin6 the sale of caffeine such as No Doze available at CVS and Rite Aid, but there probably isn't restriction. He mentioned Trade and Commerce issues and used the example o only being: able to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco, but not al.l tobacco. Pfeifer offered to do research and literature, review to find out if this is a nation ide problem. She also suggested the option of going to schools and offering educaton on the problem. Page 1 1 1 Sexton suggested that Monahan also reach out to the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse Director Erica McNamara. He explained the Town can't do outright bans, but in the example of vape - they can ban flavored tobacco because they feel it is being marketed towards kids. Costigan spoke of lawsuits and Public Health concerns where it was found that marketing was toward children, allowed for restrictions on sales. ! Monahan said he hoped the Board. would have the authority he was looking for. Costigan mentioned research and looking into Public Health Literature. Sexton asked Delios to check with Town Council on the matter. Delios stated she would get the parameters. Delios stated that she would reach out to Town Council. Costigan brought up the JUUL's issue - how flavored cannot be sold, but flavored can. He addressed the fact that youth can go into any grocery store to purchase caffeine products. Vlasuk added that kids can achieve the same results with coffee. Monahan thanked the Board for their time. CHAIR REPORT Costigan reported that he attended the Dementia Friendly Reading meeting where Jane Burns spoke. He added that the program is designed to make the Town more Dementia friendly for the residents. He stated that he learned 15% of Reading seniors over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with some form of Dementia, ,and that it is not a specific disease, but a range of symptoms. He also discussed statistics pertaining to Dementia, Alzheimer's, and how 1/4 of called the "sandwich generation'.' also care for children: Costigan questioned having Burns speak to the Board.. Delios explained that Burns is part of Public Services and suggested an early morning meeting after the New Year to accommodate her schedule, and to possibly coordinate with other Boards that would like to be there. Costigan and Sexton mentioned that this is an increasing demographic. Costigan spoke of a new Shingles vaccine approved by the CDC. He explained that the old vaccine was a live virus, and the new and CDC preferred vaccine isnot. 'He further explained -its effectiveness is longer lasting. He mentioned it will be available in the next few months in pharmacies and doctor's offices. He stated that already 2 people -in town asked about the. Shingles vaccine. He asked Delios if the Town hadever issued Shingles vaccines and if so, how that went - to which she answered yes and the issue that arose was the high cost of the copay. They. discussed how the vaccine is now covered under Medicare Part D where is hadn't been before. Pfeifer asked if it was recommended to get the new vaccine if a person had the old one. There was discussion about the percentage of people exposed and 'susceptible, symptoms and side effects of Shingles, as well as liability for adverse reactions to the vaccine, with Costigan saying he would like to see as many vaccines administered as possible. HEALTH AGENT REPORT Vlasuk reported that normal routine food inspections are going smoothly and all animal inspections have.been completed for the year. She noted an additional 54 flu vaccines were administered, her attendance at the Region 3B Coalition meeting, devising of an action plan and deliverables, and that annual Health permits were in process for completion by year end. Costigan asked what kind of animals were being inspected, Vlasuk answered barn animals, horses and chickens. He asked if there were any outstanding complaints and Vlasuk informed him there were not. Page 1 2 MINUTES Minutes of 8-15-2017 Costigan asked if these had to be recreated. Vlasuk answered yes - she watched the video on RCN and was able to recreate the minutes.. Motion by Sexton to approve the minutes; motion seconded'by Pfeifer. Roll .call vote: Sexton (yes), Pfeifer (yes), Costigan (yes). Motion carries 3-0-0. Minutes of 8-29-2017 Costigan stated the vote on record was 3-0-0, and he would like it changed to 2-0-1 as he abstained from the original vote. Costigan also would like it amended to reflect that. this is where he was presented information to be brought to the Board of Selectmen. immediately following the Board of Health meeting. He noted Laura Gemme has his amendment. Motion by Sexton to approve minutes with minor amendments as discussed; motion seconded by Pfeifer. ,Roll call vote: Sexton (yes), Pfeifer (yes), Costigan (yes). Motion carries 3-0-0 Motion by Sexton to release the minutes; motion seconded by Pfeifer. Roll Call vote: Sexton (yes), Pfeifer (yes), Costigan (yes) .3-0-0. Minutes of 10-18-2017 Costigan asked to have it noted when the meeting went into Public Hearing, pointing out that there is no differentiation between Public Hearing and Open Session. Pfeifer concurred that Public Hearing was opened at 6:15pm. Motion by Sexton to approve with minor amendments; motion seconded by Costigan. Roll Call vote: Sexton (yes), Pfeifer (yes), Costigan (yes) 3-0-0. Minutes of 11-28-2017 Costigan asked that in the Chair Report it to note that he spoke of vaping - pertaining to Nicotine on the whole, smoking is going down .but vaping _has increased. Motion by Sexton to approve with minor amendments; motion seconded by Pfeifer. Roll Call vote: Sexton (yes), Pfeifer (yes), Costigan (yes) 3-0-0. Next meeting Tuesday January 16, 2018 at 5:30 - Berger Room Town Hall RCN confirmed meetings held at the Library can be recorded live. Motion to adjourn by Sexton; motion seconded by Pfeifer. Motion carries - meeting adjourned at 6:10pm. Page 1 3