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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-01 Board of Health Minutes OPFpq Town of Reading 0 i a = Meeting Minutes a . Jn:IMUPPOPP y •(�. L Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Vr Board of Health Date: 2020-04-01 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: CoronaVirus/Covid-19 Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Emmy Dove, Eleanor Shonkoff, Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Lara Romanoski, Ann Marie Messina Others Present: Jean Delios, Laura Vlasuk Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Eleanor Shonkoff Topics of Discussion: • 10 05a Emmy, called meeting to order • New Select Board member, Karen Herrick, reached out about high-density buildings/apartments, particularly housing low-income seniors (Peter Sanborn?); what is plan for if we have a positive case? o Herrick forwarded an article about a similar kind of building in Revere, ended up with positive cases, and BOH issued a quarantine for all residents to remain in unit. o If we have people volunteer to deliver for those quarantined, need CORI checks and legal hoops if the process is driven by the town, also need to ensure proper personal protection equipment o Resident is working to establish block captains/leaders -working with Kerry Valle -- such as one person per 20 homes nearby, aim is to cover everyone in town, establishing a map o Response to Karen: will go up to Command with • Yes BOH will issue a quarantine • Require manager to do a deep clean of building • Should inform building managers in advance that we have this policy o Action: Emmy will talk to Command • Requested votes to follow • Solicitor's ban - Town Counsel gave language in Emergency Order Solicitation V2. • Emergency Order Prohibiting Door-to-Door Solicitation and Canvassing Page I 1 • 10:33am Kevin - Motion to execute the emergency order prohibiting door to door solicitation and canvassing in Town of Reading, see Referenced Order attached hereto. o Eleanor- 2nd Roll call o Kevin - y o Emmy - y o Eleanor - y • 2. Declaration of Emergency - 10:38am Kevin - Motion to execute the Declaration of Emergency for the town of reading, see referenced declaration attached hereto o Eleanor - 2nd • Roll call o Kevin - y o Emmy - y o Eleanor- y • 3. Bob would like a vote on change in policy regarding public reporting of numbers o Notes: MADPH initially said stop reporting town-specific numbers, secretary of HHS said no need to do that, Medical Director said no need to do that. • Reason from DPH was a concern about bullying, Needham believed it led citizens to a false sense of security (ex. < 50 in a town of 25,000); o Laura —was going to get legal verbiage from MADPH 3-4 calls ago - some towns have spoken up; do people still want to know? c Decision: at this point, continue reporting until hear legal language from MADPH • Note: Laura - lag between doctor giving person result and when it gets updated in MAVEN • 4. Do we have thoughts about specific things to share with Selectboard? o Kevin - Emmy has a unique public forum tonight, people tuning in for various reasons, might be good to talk to Greg beforehand; these next two weeks it will be important to social distance, wash hands, stay home c PR campaign - Eleanor will connect to see whether Jayne can be our social media /PR guru if Jayne isn't able to, we will look outside • Did Bob give recommendations on where to find these people? Not yet. o Kevin will reach out to other towns to see if they know of anyone • 5. Board okay dropping to once per week or as needed? • Decision okay to go to twice per week and then as-needed if more o Monday 8 Friday Page 1 2 • Note'. North Reading is posting positive AND recovered cases; other towns vary widely • Our page has not been updated; so Emmy will reply to Command saying that we will continue to post • Jean - BOH has met 17 times since March 13th, including today • 11 02a Eleanor- Motion to adjourn • Kevin 2nd Roll call • Kevin - y • Emmy - y • Eleanor- y Page 1 3 TOWN OF READING DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY WHEREAS, the 2019 novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") is a highly contagious, serious, and sometimes fatal respiratory disease with no vaccine and no treatment other than symptomatic support; WHEREAS, COVID-19 has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World I lealth Organization; WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Governor declared a State of Emergency to mobilize the Commonwealth's resources needed to address this public health crisis; WI FEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a National Emergency to similarly mobilize national resources; WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Governor issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide"COVID-19 Essential Services"to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon; WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the Governor issued an emergency order modifying prior orders to extend the time that schools and non-emergency day-care facilities shall be closed until May 4, 2020; WHEREAS, the Governor has issued various additional emergency orders on different dates substantially altering the operations of state and local government in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency; WHEREAS, the residents and businesses of Reading are in immediate and serious risk of suffering personal and financial losses as a result of COVID-19's current and ongoing threat to public health and safety; and WHEREAS, the ordinary resources of Reading are expected to be insufficient to meet the needs of its residents and businesses in coping with the public health, safety, and economic impacts of COVID-19; THEREFORE, the Board of Health..-,eet Beard, pursuant to its authority under Section 4.7.4.1 of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (January 2019) and any other applicable lass, hereby declares a State of Emergency in the Town of Reading as a result of the threat of COVID-19 as recognized by global, national, and state health officials. The 4'-- Managi hall ap,...i it an lonergney M�ngtment Direetcr (PAL)). -Fite InMO shall work Nvith oth, localP .. .-1' Matin , D This declaration of a State of Emergency is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until is is rescinded by the Board of HcaltBe e-a-"Board or the Governor's declaration of emergency is rescinded, %hiehecer comes fust. Dated: [signatures] Time signed: 2 TOWN OF READING EMERGENCY ORDER PROHIBITING DOOR-TO-DOOR SOLICITATION AND CANVASSING WHEREAS, the 2019 novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") is a highly contagious, serious, and .sometimes fatal respiratory disease with no vaccine and no treatment other than symptomatic support; WHEREAS, on March 10, 2020, the Governor declared a State of Emergency to mobdiee the Commonwealth's resources needed to address this public health crisis; WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, the Governorissued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide"COVID-19 Essential Services"to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon, unless further extended; WHEREAS, on March 24, 2020, the Department of Public Hcalth issued a Stay-at-Home Advisory for individuals over 70 and for those with underlying health conditions; WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, the Governor issued an emergency order modifying prior orders to extend the time that schools and non-emergency day-care facilities shall be closed until May 4, 2020; WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, the Reading Select declared a State of Emergency in the Town of Reading as a result of the threat of COVID-19; WI IEREAS, door-to-door solicitations creates an unnecessary face-to-face situation for residents who are home in unusual numbers due to the closure of schools and businesses, possibly endangering the health of residents, particularly those subject to the stay-at-home advisory, and by extension, the community; THEREFORE, the Select Board and the Board of Health, pursuant to the powers and authority provided to and tested in them by the declarations described above, and all relevant state laws and lawful authority including M.G.L, cl 11, §104, do hereby issue this EMERGENCY ORDER: All door-to-door solicitation and canvassing in the lbwn of Reading is hereby prohibited. The Chief of Police is directed to temporarily revoke all Certificates of Registration required for such soliciting and canvassing, pursuant to General Bvlaw §8.9.9.5, for good cause as described in this Order. This EMERGENCY ORDER is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until it is rescinded by the Select Board and Board of Health, or the Governor's declaration of emergency is rescinded, whichever comes first. Dated: Time signed: Name On behalf of the Reading Select Board Dated: Time signed: Name On Behalf of the Reading Board of Health 2