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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-15 Board of Health Minutes g� orx� �`� Town of Reading y Meeting Minutes ;{ tCti V Ci F ;�o i NJN CLERK ' ''avroxpe Board - Committee - Commission - council: AN NOV 2J p Board of Health N 5: 30 Date: 2018-10-15 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Purpose: Public Hearing Version: Attendees: Members - Present: John Costigan Kevin Sexton Emmy Dove Members - Not Present: Heidi Pflefer Others Present: Larua Vlasuk, Andy Friedman Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kristen Grover Topics of Discussion: Costigan called the meeting to order at 10:00am. BOARD BUSINESS CHAIR REPORT Costigan opened up by stressing the importance of getting an annual Flu shot at 6 months or older. He discussed the different vaccines and ages for each. He mentioned the CDC does not recommend one over the other. He said he agrees with the CDC in advising to not wait until later in the season to be vaccinated. Sexton said he will wait for the Health Agent report to comment on flu clinics. Rodent Activity Update Approximately 1000 letters were mailed. Vlasuk stated this prompted more calls from concerned people and others wanting to make reports. The reverse 911 alert occurred last Friday. Vlasuk Informed the Board she was at Washington Park with Yankee Pest Control for baiting Immediately prior to the meeting. Sexton asked how the reverse 911 call number showed up, as his shows up as a code red. Vlasuk informed the Board residents need to sign up on the website in order to receive the alerts. Delios stated that the geographic area was targeted. Sexton mentioned the Police Department has a different number. Costigan asked about finding pesticide pellets on the street. Vlasuk Informed him she did not find any while out on her inspections. She will follow up with the resident who had a complaint again. Friedmann commented that it is very dangerous that people are not putting the poison in boxes but in the open. Page 1 1 Vlasuk and the Board discussed how Yankee Pest Control set up multiple traps at Washington Park and will be monitoring the traps themselves, also sending reports based on the activity they find, as well as the frequency of checking. Vlasuk noted there is a 1 year contract. She stated she has followed up on all complaints and most new calls are to let her know they already have pest control in place. Sexton referred to a specific property and asked how to monitor If 1 house is contributing more to the problem than certain houses. Dellos Informed the Board the Building Inspector went to the location, that it was a vacant property that where the grass and brush was overgrown. Dellos informed the Board it has been trimmed back after the Building Inspector's visit. Delios noted 2 properties like this have been dealt with and responded to the Building Inspector's letters. Sexton asked about notifying the owners of potential cause for rodent activity. Vlasuk stated you can't enforce the health code on potential Issues. Costigan stated the Board's action would be Initiated by a complaint. Dellos concurred that the Town's action is in response to complaints. Vlasuk noted receive complaints regarding unregistered cars and refer them to the Police Department. Dove said she looked Into ContraPest and it is really expensive. She estimated another town spent approximately $100,000 on 4 locations. She said she reached out to a local provider and is trying to get a ball park quote to compare consistency. Vlasuk stated she learned companies actually don't sanitize dumpsters. Dumpsters are not supposed to have holes on the bottom, and mesh over the holes is not common practice. Vlasuk said the companies suggested buying crystals online that dissolve to make the dumpster smell better or using bleach yourself. Vlasuk noted she called companies for the information. Delios said she wanted to follow up on the resident guide and inquired with Town Counsel about legal procedures. She informed the Board of the need to ask the City of New York for permission to reprint information and duly note it. She said she spoke with DPW about trash receptacles and the selling of them. She Informed the Board she was told no. She also Informed them that all of the regulations regarding trash receptacles fall under the Select Board policies. She noted the IRM contract is the framework the Town Is in and they are 3 years into a 10 year contract. She commented that it is tricky to change it, although not impossible. She advised the cost of the barrels would fall on the homeowner and that enforcement Is another cost. She noted it is not In the contract for IRM to enforce It. Costigan said he didn't feel that this is an emergency for the Board to act on. Sexton said he feels like rodents are getting their food source from other places than trash. Delios reiterated that IRM commended Reading on how clean the recycling is. Dellos mentioned the Peabody bylaw and that she was asked not to distribute it. Costigan stated to keep putting the matter on future agendas to make sure it is still addressed. Natural Gas Costigan mentioned he received communication from David Zeke. He asked the Board the Board should weigh in on the subject. He said he does consider this to be a Public Health issue and would advocate for it. Dove said she thinks it Is a serious Issue and would be In support of drafting a letter. Costigan discussed the percentage of homes already using natural gas. Sexton asked if the letter pertained to future projects. Costigan thinks it to ask to look into the infrastructure of bringing it in. He said he feels they should address It as a Board. Costigan asked if the Board would agree to alert the Governor to consider the safety issues of those lines. Dove said she will draft a letter for review at the next meeting. Delios asked to have the draft to Grover for 11/15 in order to add to the meeting packet for dissemination on 11/19. Health Agent Report Vlasuk Informed the Board of the upcoming clinics: 10/18 at Town Hall, 10/22 and 10/24 at the Fire Department, 11/19 at the Senior Center. The clinic at the Police Department Is not open to the public for safey reasons. Vlasuk Informed the Board that a Public Health nurse was hired and will come to next month's meeting for introductions. Vlasuk mentioned she Page 12 put together a proposal for 2019 meeting dates. She confirmed 11/26 and 12/17 dates for this year and start time for 6pm. MINUTES 8/29/18 Tabled to next meeting 9/18/18 Tabled to next meeting 9/26/18 Motion to approve by Sexton, seconded by Dove. 3-0-0. OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Costigan motioned to adjourn, seconded by Sexton. Meeting adjourned 6:51pm. 3-0-0 Page 13