HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-30 Board of Health Minutes n q c Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2020-07-30 Time: 07:04 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: COVID-19 Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Eleanor Shonkoff, Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren, Kevin Sexton, Richard (Rick)
Lopez
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Jean Delios; Geri Cramer
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kerry Dunnell
Topics of,Oiscussion:
Meeting called to order 7.04 PM. _.
Public Comment.
Shonkol"asked if there were any members of the public present who wished to address the board None '
made any requests.
Updates/Discussion points
Shonkoff will send some draft meeting minutes to Delos for review and cleaning up.
MA Travel Order for August 1.
Town Manager had raised the question of how to implement for any staff taking vacation time. Board
agreed that this was an example of a need for an internal and human resources memo to staff, as partof
notice about reopening of offices. Shonkoff noted that the matter of Phase 3 opening procedures for
municipal offices was still open. Shonkoff will check with the Town Manager on status. It may be that there
were no issues in implementing the MA guidance exactly as written.
Staff had notified Board members during the week that there had been a Covidl9 related shut down of a
retail location, and that the location will reopen after cleaning.
Recreation
Per Dunnell, MA ESE has classified all forms of football as high risk. Therefore, only skills and drills can
happen for SNL Football. Shonkoff will reach out to SNL.
Soccer has been reclassified as a moderate risk sport. Sexton noted that Reading Youth Soccer is looking
into offering games.
Meeting minutes
Minutes of 6/11 and 6/20 were reviewed. Dunnell and Shonkoff will send edits to Vlasuk.
Reopening Schools
School Committee is voting next Thursday August 6'h about reopening plan. Board of Health has received
emails with DESE protocols and DESE Preliminary Report Draft 3. Further a Risk Reduction Strategies
report from Harvard was provided. Shonkoff asked if the Board has a recommendation.A discussion
ensued, all acknowledging the complexity of the issues. Schools are proposing a hybrid plan with
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alternating weeks for two different Cohorts,A and B,with a small third group, Cohort C, that will be full
remote by request.
There was discussion about the questions about testing methods, potential for false positives, and the
differing views of epidemiologists and clinicians, about whether testing should occur without exposure.
Richard (Rick) Lopez, noted that the plans are still in draft form, and that it would be appropriate to review
them and provide comments, but not to provide anything further until documents were finalized. He noted
that the plans are very thorough, but are silent on air filtration, and provide no detail about testing.A final
plan needs information on testing.
Curren asked about testing as related to asymptomatic cases, and noted that the answers are all
complicated, with no one clearly good answer. It is possible for household contacts to avoid infection even
if living with a confirmed case.
Shonkoff agreed that there is a need for more information about testing.
Senior Van
The Board voted to stop service of the senior van, and now is considering what conditions need to be in
place for the van to start operating.
Delios explained that the Town has 2 vans, one has a 12-person capacity, the other is a 14-person
capacity. Driver has been trained in cleaning protocols. The van is not used for medical transport; currently
the Town uses Woburn Taxi for medical. A discussion ensued among the board about the size of the van,
and the need to protect the vulnerable elders from virus spread.This included consideration of MA Council
on Aging guidance for transportation, and what kind of ppe a driver would need. Richard (Rick) Lopez
observed that a rationale for the seating plan needs to be provided. Further considerations included
discussion of whether the van could operate with just one passenger. Delios provided a picture of one of
the vans. Board members agreed to go by the Pleasant Street center and view the vans. Board is
interested in whether it is possible to incorporate a barrier between the driver and the passenger section.
Communications Outreach
A meeting of the Communications Planning team created by Command on Monday 7/27,was held on
Wednesday. Participants included Laura Gemme, Jane Wellman, Jane Kinsella, Police, Fire, Library,
RCN, Administrative Services and the Chair. Communications plan to include postcard, social media,
press release, and letters to the Editor. Post card will cost$3700 to mail to 7000 households in Reading. A
print draft will be ready on Friday and will be shared with the Board. Health Revolving Account can be used
for this purchase. This should be authorized in Command as well.
Delios raised concerns about timing. Dunnell concurred, and asked if the message could be for both early
voting and for mail-in voting.All agreed that this is a complicated message and that focus should be on
vote by mail. Further, members agreed that the process should be pursued with plan for meeting mailing
deadlines so that postcard could drop week of 8/17. If it becomes apparent that deadline cannot be met,
then we can reconsider.
Motion to encourage mail in voting due to Covid 19 pandemic by Shonkoff. Dunnell seconded.
Roll call 3-0
Website
Dunnell will complete snip review and send to Vlasuk for delivery to the Board. Dunnell asked that the
website be included in a monthly meeting review, to set a regular rhythm for the Board to review material.
Enforcement.
Jenna Fiorente from Recreation had asked about whether there are fines if people/organizations fail to pull
a permit for a field, or fail to comply with Covid 19 guidelines during use of a field.An example of this is the
recently passed order regarding use of unapproved pesticides on tree lawns. 1"offence would be
education, 2n1 and any subsequent would be a fine. However, in this instance, if a permitted event was a
one-time thing, that inhibits compliance. There is a question of how public health will be notified about use
of a field or facility. Further, the question of whether the Board can impose a fine regarding use of a town
field needs to be answered by Town Counsel.
New Normal.
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Master Plan.
Shonkoff introduced the topic of the new normal, and raised the need for a master plan for a 1-5-year
period for the Health department and the Board. Delics has begun exploring options for consultants that
could work with the Board to conduct a needs assessment and develop a community health improvement
plan. She has three names who are known to be well qualified and to deliver a good product. Will need to
create a scope of work, and budget for FV 2022. Dunnell applauded the step as a worthy and important
goal. One thing that is changing is the use of NACCHO'a Ten Essential Services, as there is a move to
adopt Foundation Public Health Standards instead.
Interns were discussed, and it was shared that the Town typically does not use interns unless they are
paid. The example of the Academic Health Department Volunteer Corp being used to support communities
currently is a different structure. Dunnell observed that it is possible to pay interns who are looking for
internships for their MPH degree. However, those need a supervisor, and students do require a certain
amount of work. All agreed.
Shonkoff noted that the Board will have a reorganization meeting on August 17'h where we will vote for a
new chair and vice chair. Shonkoff will be teaching four classes beginning in late August, and will need to
assess whether and how she can participate in the Board going forward.
The members have all received the link to the MA Association of Health Boards(MAHB) guide book, an
exhaustive document that includes the duties of the Chair in its contents.
Motion to adjourn seconded. Roll call 3-0.
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