The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2019-01-28 Board of Health Minutes �H OFq Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED a TOWN CLERK " READING, MA. • °j'wmxopPP Board - committee - commission - council: 2919 MAY -I PM 4: 16 Board of Health Date: 2019-01-28 Time: 6:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: Public Hearing Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Kevin M. Sexton- Chair Emmy Dove- Vice Chair Eleanor Tate Shonkoff- Member Heidi Pfeifer- Associate Members - Not Present: Lara Romanoki- Associate Others Present: Jean Delios- Assistant Town Manager Laura Vlasuk- Health Agent • Kristen Grover- Administrative Specialist Andy Friedmann Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kammy Demello Topics of Discussion: 6:00 pm Sexton opened the meeting. Public Discussion: Snyder, a resident of Jaden Terrace expressed that she was present to support the pesticide regulations. Snyder questioned the material on the BOH webpage stating it indicates that there is a public hearing on it, but that the PDF on regulations is from 2017. Sexton stated that regulations have remained the same without changes, and that the Select Board raised questions when they received it, and then the regulations were sent back to the BOH.Sexton noted the ball is in the Health's court, but we got sidetracked in the fall, but finally getting back on track with things. Introduction of New Health Inspector Vlasuk introduced new Health Inspector, Kammy Demello.Vlasuk stated that Demello started working for the Public Services Division on December P.Vlasuk also mentioned information regarding Demello's professional and educational background.Vlasuk turned the discussion . over to Demello, where she summarized specifics of her background. Vlasuk reminded the board that Demello needed to be appointed.Sexton made a motion to appoint Demello as Reading's new Health Inspector.The board voted to approve 3-0-0. Page 1 1 BOH Chair Report Sexton reported a meeting with RCASA will be held on Thursday,January 31, 2019. RCASA has particular items to discuss in regards to public health.Sexton will provide an update at the next • BOH meeting. Sexton noted that Reading has begun replacing the pump stations, particularly the one on the corner of Charles and Haverhill Street where a ton of work is going on which involves borings and soil testing that revealed trace elements of arsenic In the soil.The Town's consultant CDM Smith informed DEP further soils tested ensued.Testing showed trace elements as well as levels that were above what is normally considered acceptable. Sexton assured the board that everything is being handled correctly, and that there is a plan in place.A release abatement measure plan is in place in conjunction with Mass DEP to make sure contaminated soils are removed and brought to a processing center that handles those types of contaminations.Sexton distributed a letter from CDM Smith to BOH members. Health Agent Report Vlasuk discussed inspection activity for January and noted that none of the inspections required additional attention.She also said eight flu shots were administered so far since the start of 2019. Pfeifer commented that it is still recommended that people get flu shots. Vlasuk stated that last year according to MAVEN there were 93 cases of the flu, and so far this year there have been 23 reported cases and discussed the importance of knowing whether or not the person who was affected by the flu received a flu shot this year. All agreed this would be valuable information.Vlasuk concluded her report. Dove commented on the incident where the dog got into the rodenticide from a previous discussion in a different town. Dove went to the Home Depot website to research the issue and • found that rodenticide is required to be contained in bait boxes on people's property.Sexton and Dove suggested that a reminder mailing to residents may be helpful. Coordinating with the water bill was one idea. Snyder suggested making a note to read the label and use accordingly on the website. It was noted that the BOH will make sure there is a sentence in the rodent info page on the BOH page of the Town website regarding reading labels properly for proper use. Delios requested Dove send an email to clarify this request. Friedmann suggested removing the rodent information from the Select Board page. Sexton and Friedmann indicated they could decide if changes should be made. Delios agreed to follow up. Vlasuk asked if the topic of rodents should be kept on the agenda for the next month. Sexton replied yes,to please put that on the agenda for next month.Just a brief discussion on the information contained on rodent control from the Select Board page. Pesticide Recap Looking into ways of forming fines and easy ways to test the soil. Dove discussed the regulations and what toxins are tested for. The BOH agreed it's not very feasible and recapped that other towns didn't receive complaints or enforce the regulations.Sexton indicated he is open to ideas. Shonkoff stated that at the last meeting Delios suggested best practices instead of a policy. Dove said she was against that. Discussion ensued regarding pesticides used by licensed companies. Shonkoff asked if Dove was recommending the Town regulate individual property owners or lawn care businesses. Dove stated the ownership would have to be on the • homeowner. Give the homeowner the opportunity to ask what is being used. Delios questioned how this would be enforced. Dove summarized that if there was a complaint the homeowner would have to ask the pesticide company what was used. Pfeifer said in another meeting,the BOH discussed that most companies don't even spray on the tree lawns. Dove thinks the way Page 12 the regulation and fines are structured now is fine. Vlasuk requested a protocol for the inspectors to follow. • Friedmann states that the regulations don't have the language for enforcement in them. Sexton reviewed the complaint process. Friedmann suggested looking at regulations for tobacco and the keeping of animals to use as a guide.Vlasuk raised the point that they inspect for tobacco and for animals, so wants to know if Health Division will now be responsible for inspecting tree lawns. Delios mentioned that if this is going into effect, people are going to be calling with complaints. Vlasuk asked if this will only be complaint driven and not be inspected on a regular basis. Shonkoff expressed concerns about increasing the work load to follow up on complaints by Health Division staff. Sexton stated that the idea of a first offense being a letter is the best way to lessen the work load. Shonkoff and Dove suggested using class 1 &class 2 categories for what is not allowed in order to make it easy for homeowners to inquire from pesticide companies. Dove suggested starting a pesticide reduction task force. People from the Reading Garden Club and such could start an educational outreach campaign. Sexton commented on edits to the draft pesticide regulations Section 8 paragraph B,violations and penalties, and noted the language of the draft bylaw will have to be adopted by the Select Board.Sexton wants an update to inform residents that there will be fines coming after the initial warning and discussed cost of fines for 1`r, 2ntl, and 3`"offense. Delios confirmed that modifying the text of the draft regulations requires approval by the Select Board. Vlasuk questioned if complaints will be written or anonymous calls. Delios asked if there was language in the regulation that the homeowner must comply with Health Agent's request. Sexton reports that you can't force the resident to tell the truth. Friedmann mentioned that licensed • applicators must have records of what they use and noted that more about challenges of enforcing the regulations how problems can arise if owners are not willing to share information regarding the pesticide company used, or personal pesticide application used. Friedmann offered to bring this topic to the Select Board and let the Select Board decide how to move forward.Sexton confirms with Friedmann that the BOH is still responsible for regulating the pesticide use within the town. Delios discussed community partners for help spreading the word and adding language for investigating written complaints received by the Health Agent. Sexton stated the BOH had previously voted to put this before the Select Board and needs to vote on amendments. Delios suggested that this will require town counsel to review and look at the tracked changes. Dove agreed to recreate the document in Word to facilitate edits. Discussion continued regarding investigating complaints,wording the language of the draft regulations, legalities surrounding the language, and enforceability and investigations. Friedmann questioned talking with licensed applicators for input.Sexton informed BOH members that they don't have to vote tonight. Can vote 25`"go to Select Board for 26`". Delios requested that Dove provide draft next week so Vlasuk can distribute to BOH and collect comments back by 2/14, in advance of the February BOH meeting. Minutes The BOH minutes from December, 17th, 2018 were discussed. A motion to approve was made by Eleanor Shonkoff,second, Emmy Dove. Motion carries 3-0-0. • Adiournment A motion to adjourn was made by Sexton, second by Shonkoff. Motion carries, 3-0-0.The BOH Meeting was adjourned at 7:33pm Page 1 3