HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-15 Board of Health Minutes Town of Reading RECEIVED
Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
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Board - committee - commission - council: 2121 StP 22 AM 11: 33
Board of Health
Date: 2020-06-15 Time: 10:00 AM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: COVID-19 Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Eleanor Shonkoff, Kevin Sexton, Anne Marie Messina
Members - Not Present:
Lara Romanowski
Others Present:
lean Delios, Kristine Harris, Jane Kinsella, Gail Dowd, Paul Jackson, John
Doherty, Bob La Lecheur, Greg Burns
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Anne Marie Messina
Topics of Discussion:
Recreational Dept. sign off forms-nothing new to report, no additional items. Jenna will draft
final form and forward to Jean for review before Thursday BOH meeting.
Kevin asks if Legal has reviewed.
DPW and Recreational Dept. -self-screening forms will use their own drafts for now. BOH to
create standard self disclosure form by Thursday.
Eleanor reports that she will continue with bi-weekly meetings throughout July and August but
as of Septemberl st she will only be available for one meeting per month.
Shonkoff-return to new normal questions: Are we ready?What is BOH role? How to provide
information. Gray areas of state regulations. Defer to further guidance.
Board will be reorganized as new members appointed due to vacancies.
Election: one study showed that 75%of voters need to use mail in ballots in order to reduce
risk of COVID-19. Laura Gemme will review sector specific protocols.
Shonkoff-our message to include re-opening guidelines with state and federal links, applying
for mail in ballots and our expectations.
Kevin asks if poll workers will be tested and if Town has this capacity. This would need to
happen the day before Election. If poll workers get tested, Eleanor recommends they quarantine
post testing and prior to election.
Jean states Bob is asking about Town employees being tested for COVID-19. Eleanor is
researching state issued information. Question of validity of testing. Kristine discourages this
due to false positives. Kristine to research mobile lab for testing vs self testing. Kristine has
list of testing sites.
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Kevin-timeline for returning to municipal buildings- initially is 25%. Bob wants to craft
something for employees regarding Phased openings and related rules/guidelines. BOH will not make
testing mandatory. Incident Command defers to BOH regarding how much oversight to provide versus
department heads managing. Municipal buildings open to the public by appointment only and
closed to physical access. Eleanor wants to be clear on the website about expectations and
check lists, etc.
Discussion about false positive rates. Kristine reports some testing sites are better than others
i.e. drug stores or drive thru sites versus hospital setting. Kevin states BOH focus should be on
workplace actions vs testing. Kristine will research simple questionnaire and share with Jean.
CDC recommends daily self screening. Jean states Wakefield and Melrose will have testing
sites on Junel9th. Kevin suggesting talking to these towns post screenings to learn from them.
Reading Public Library protocol will be reviewed by Eleanor.
Kevin asks if BOH needs to review and/or approve any other plans. Eleanor tells Jenna BOH will
table until Thursday. Reminder no scrimmages allowed yet.
Fire Dept. has four items:
1-tracks and outdoor spaces-normal routine cleaning to take place but not disinfecting as it seems
unnecessary. Belmont has signs for playgrounds that state they are not cleaned on a regular basis.
Gail asks if these signs could apply to school sites. Kevin states consistent signage is important. John
questions who will regulate enforcement(e.g., police). Discussion ensued over when to open the new
Turf field, as the warranty starts at that point. John indicated one idea was to open the new Turf field on
graduation which is scheduled for Sunday, July 26th. Discussion continued about signs vs press releases
with guidance. Who should issue was also discussed.
BOH will continue to inform the public and police will continue to monitor. Police report calls
have increased about who is allowed. Rec staff utilized but not on weekends and/or weekday
nights.Who else can monitor to relieve police?2-3 'roving' rec staff to visit fields?Town sites
open but not Turf 1 and 2 as they require permits. Track open for running. Town Counsel
reminder that we cannot be more restrictive than state. Kevin reminds team practice is allowed
but not games. John D offers communication for BOH review.
2-Nurses -staffing for summer-Gail states Union approved school nurses can volunteer to
work through the end of summer at the current rate but can't commit for Sept. Contact
information goes to Fire Dept in the event they need to respond. Jean and Eleanor to finalize
job posting for nurses.
3-Performing Arts building for Town Meeting. Custodian to be on site. Seating plan, check in
form, thermometer, PPE available, hand sanitizer, check in desk, area for high fever people.
Hoping for less than 10 attendees and for meeting to last only one night.
4-11eopening of restaurants-outdoor dining only.Venetian Moon's tent request. They also want
to have liquor license outdoor and to close off cobblestone area. They need to inform their abutters and
make sure they are supportive of this. Jean reports that the Town has purchased
7 small cafe tables and chairs. Venetian Moon to be at SB meeting Tuesday night with hearing
on the 30th is needed.
Meeting Adjourned at 12:15.
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Eleanor's corrections to BOH 6/15/20 Minutes, ]D Follow up and included in revised 9/8/20
draft:
1. Kristine Harris name misspelled-1D corrected throughout
2. after"Fire department has four items". . . "not disinfecting as there is no proof that this is
helpful" —could that be changed to something like "seems unnecessary", or whatever the video
says?—JD corrected
3. "Bob" is in red--is this because it's been confirmed that he said this—JD verified
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