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Home My WebLink About2020-05-28 Board of Health Minutes o OPO ao Town of Reading yr Meeting Minutes 3 '•�•'INlOPP�P Board - Committee - Commission - Council: SP 1: 20 Board of Health Date: 2020-05-28 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Covid-19 Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Emmy Dove, Eleanor Shonkoff, Kevin Sexton, Ann Marie Messina Members - Not Present: Lara Romanowski Others Present: Laura Vlasuk, Jean Delios, Anne Landry, Vanessa Alvarado, Emily Sisson, Laura Gemme, Mark Dockser, Joe Huggins, Bob LeLacheur, Greg Burns, Paul Jackson, Dave Clark, John Doherty, Gail Dowd, Sharon Angstrom, Kevin Bohmiller, Amy Lannon, Sean Donahue, Matt Kraunelis, Jane Kinsella Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Emmy Dove Topics of Discussion: Meeting called to order at 10.07am. Ms. Alvarado requested to be alerted if the meeting entered a quorum from Select Board. so that one member may leave. Ms. Shonkoff motioned to approve minutes from April 23i°, 2020,seconded by Ms. Dove. Roll call vote Ms. Dove—yes Ms. Shonkoff—yes Mr. Sexton -yes Discussion of Board of Health survey • All board members approved draft from Ms. Shonkoff • Ms. Delos will handle getting it sent out Discussion of Athletic complexes and courts • Board reviewed questions received from Dr. Doherty regarding facilities on school property Recommendations include. • Leave gates open • Turn off fountains • Should be education focus, but police would enforce • Discussion of stability of virus on outdoor surfaces I Ms. Dove noted research suggests not likely a large risk 0 Ms. Shonkoff and Mr. Sexton were ok with not cleaning outdoor surfaces Ms. Gemme joined at 10:30am. • Ms. Sisson (Recreation Committee) suggested taking down nets. Page I 1 All ok with moving ahead with opening courts but will wait till Command joins later in the meeting Discussion of Election Safety Last night. the Select Board discussed whether it made more sense to hold a separate special election on August 1s', or combine the special election with the state primary on September 1v They would like feedback from the Board of Health. • Ms. Dove suggested that a later election would be better due to advances in research and treatment optionslikely increased testing capacity, and the concept that 2 large gatherings could lead to amplification of any effect from voting-associated transmission • Ms. Gemme expressed concerns about needing double the staff, long term exposure of poll workers, and logistics generally of a combined election ., Additionally, we don't know how legislation will go and could conceivably have 2 types of elections on 9/1 (mail-in and standard) • Ms. Shonkoff suggested face shields may be a good additional layer of PPE for poll workers c Ms. Vlasuk concurred that a face shield in addition to a mask is optimal for protection of user and others • Mr. Sexton stated his goal would be to have the least exposure overall • Ms. Gemme would prefer an answer soon due to the amount of work necessary to prepare • Mr. Sexton asked if we can add an additional polling location o Ms. Gemme will look into the requirements. but noted she could also separate precincts more in the Field House I Ms. Dove felt multiple locations would be best o Ms. Gemme thought there was not enough time for 9/1 election to change locations, but could work for November Ms. Landry left meeting at 11 due to Select Board quorum as Mr. Dockserjoined. Alsojoined: Bob LeLacheur. Dave Clark, Paul Jackson, Greg Burns, Gail Dowd, Sharon Angstrom, Joe Huggins; John Doherty • Ms. Gemme discussed options for layouts and one-way walking o Ms. Dove recommended different polling locations by precinct or otherwise push folks as far apart as possible in Field House o Ms. Gemme stated she thought she can separate enough to limit exposure • Mr. Sexton asked which is better in terms of exposure • Mr. LeLacheur interjected that Friday is deadline if we want 8/1 date • Mr. Sexton advocated for same day election, but separate polling areas by election type and precinct • Mr LeLacheur noted there is currently no election safety in place at this point for 9/1 o Mr. Dockser noted that, as of now, no legislation has been finalized at all yet. If the House bill goes through, 8/1 applies, but Lewis said it may not be a solid date o Ms. Gemme noted many bills are being considered at this point, e.g. mail in, 2 weeks of early voting for 9/1 • Ms. Dove stated she still leaned towards 1 combined election • Mr. Sexton stated uncertainty leads to his feeling that 2 would be better • Ms. Sheri requested that Ms. Dove provide data from the Wisconsin election and Ms. Gemme update the Board tomorrow on the process of adding polling locations • Dr. Doherty and Ms. Dowd noted the schools can work with either date • Board agreed to pick the topic up again in the meeting with the Select Board the following day Discussion of Town Meeting • Mr. LeLacheur stated the town is moving toward all virtual, but not currently legal o Biggest concern is regarding providing a location for folks who don't have technology • Mr. Dockser wants space for 10 people with town-owned tech and tech support • Ms. Gemme and Mr. LeLacheur are coordinating distribution of Warrant Kevin Bohmiller and Amy Lannon joined at 11:15am Page 1 2 • Ms. Dove returned discussion to election safety, asking if it was possible to acquire face shields for poll workers o Facilities has 100 in stock but can get whatever is requested • Ms. Gemme outlined safety requirements for election I Masks need to be offered to voters, sanitizer, wipes, etc. • -20K masks must be available per election Handwashing stations (could be hand sanitizer) • Mr LeLacheur and Chief Clark agreed that managing lines in cars would be easier than on foot as police have no authority over social distancing enforcement in standing lines • Dr. Doherty suggested Coolidge Middle School as a potential 2ne location depending on building security project 0 Ms. Gemme will talk with Joe Huggins about additional locations if it turns out to be passible Ms. Shonkoff left at 11:50am Discussion of RMHS Graduation -"A Night to Remember" • Dr. Doherty described event as a Drive-in theater type ceremony (outsourced) o Parent would need to be driving car, traffic detail (2 officers), no portable bathrooms o June T°, 7pm, Jordan's Furniture parking lot o Ms. Dove and Mr. Sexton had no concerns o Command was supportive o Dr. Doherty asked if there was concern about the lack of restrooms for a 2hr event • Response from group was no Sean Donahue, Matt Kraunelis, and Jane Kinsellajoined at 12pm Goal 5: Athletic fields and courts • Dr. Doherty has kept Turf 1 (stadium) and Turf 2 closed • Tennis and pickleball courts and all other school fields are town property and will open • Mr. Sexton suggested we have one document that lays all this out o Chief Clark would like to include reminder not to call dispatch for things related to social distancing on fields and courts • Chief Burns asked if there was a need to clean fields or have open restrooms o Ms. Dove and Mr. Sexton agreed unnecessary • Mr. Sexton noted it would be good to restrict side by side playing on tennis Ms. Sisson left at 12:14pm Goal 3: returning to work in public buildings • Ms. Lannon detailed staffing plan for library 0 2 teams of 15-17 alternating weeks, 4 on 10 off(remote), separating, one way stairs, one on elevator, W-Sa 0 Eventually doing curbside pickup but waiting to see how it works in other towns 0 Doesn't see public entering till July due to large amount of work required to set space 0 Pickup will be done by appointment, returns will be accepted at designated times • Mr. LeLacheur said it was not clear whether Town Hall is public access in Phase 2 or 3, but would like staff to be back before public access 0 Would be helpful for BOH members to walk through space and assist with planning I Ms. Dove suggested allowing BOH members to view floor plans • Mr. LeLacheur previewed building commissioner's assessment of allowable capacities per building o 25% is office level, not building level, which requires more care and specificity. depending on interpretation of"office" Mr. Dockser left meeting at 12:40pm. • Discussion of in-person board/committee/trustee meetings o Dr. Doherty would like one message for all groups • Ms. Delios reported on new software for town services which is scheduled to go live 6/1 and will assist with remote functions for town Page 1 3 • Dr. Doherty has plans for reentry, including health screening and offered to share with other departments c Chief Clark noted every department will have unique needs and concerns • Mr. LeLacheur noted they have no plans yet ready for BOH review, but wants them before state requires buildings open for public access Other topics • Chief Clark will return to parking enforcement after a 10 day warning to construction sites • Ms. Delios reviewed nursing staff concerns for school nurses working off-contract after June 19'r and in the fall I Ms. Dowd noted there are nurses interested in assisting over summer, but payment will have to be worked out between schools and town o Mr. LeLacheur suggested using a special employee classification o Ms. Vlasuk and Ms. Dowd reported current staffing hours between town public health nurse and school nurses o Ms. Dowd noted fall will be an issue if kids are back because the nurses will be needed for temperature checks o Mr. Bohmiller reported that Elyse from Human and Elder Services has taken a few COVID-19 cases • Ms. Vlasuk asked Mr. Bohmiller to check if Elyse has been reporting her cases to Mary (school nurse) for incorporation into her reports to Command, Fire, PD • Dr. Doherty noted DESE says BOH must approve graduation plans, to be continued on Monday • Ms. Lannon and Asst. Chief Jackson reported they are finalizing book return plans at RMHS Mr. Sexton motioned to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Dove. Roll call vote Mr. Sexton —yes Ms. Dove -yes Meeting adjourned at 1 18pm. Page 1 4