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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-16 Board of Health Minutes RECEIVED Town of Reading TOWN CLERK qq Meeting Minutes FD E I f' 141W. to ry- �� 211 OU i 99 AM 8: 44 Board - committee - commission - council: Board of Health Date: 2020-07-16 Time: 7:10 PM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: COVID-19 Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Eleanor Shonkoff, Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren, Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Ann Maire Messina Others Present: Jean Delios, Laura Vlasuk, Jenna Fiorente, Carl McFadden, Bill Robichaud Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kerry Dunnell Topics of Discussion: Public Comment. Shonkoff asked if there were any members of the public present who wished to address the board. None made any requests. Meeting minutes Minutes of 6/25 were reviewed—changes requested. Shonkoff— motion to approve as amended Curren seconded Roll call Shonkoff—yes, Curren—yes, Dunnell -yes. SNL Flag football. Shonkoff asked to begin SNL flag football discussion, noting presence of interested parties. McFadden introduced the SNL program and the plans to modify for Covidl9 safety. Draft plan was provided in advance. Shonkoff noted that the guidance about amateur and youth sports categorizes different sports into Low risk, moderate risk and high risk, and permits different activities based upon risk category. However, the guidance does not specifically mention flag football, and it would be helpful to understand the game, and how it differs from football, which is categorized as high risk. McFadden describes flag football and the SNL format as: no-touch, short field, five-on-five play for youth from K-8. He explains that there has been no concussion in the history of SNL play. SNL is held in other towns as well as Reading, including Andover, Winchester, Wilmington, Chelmsford, and that other towns have approved the Covid19 SNL plan as provided. There is high interest in the activity in the Reading community, and Reading field set up provides the ideal location. Lengthy discussion ensued about ways to control for crowd size and safety of players and coaches. McFadden and Robichaud are committed to doing the program right and will address any questions and requirements that the board makes. Eager to provide a fun community event, in a safe fashion, including modifying number of players (from 5 to 4 per side). Highest numbers of participants are in grades K, 1 and 2. Proposed start date is Page 1 1 9/12/2020. Organizers asking for conceptual approval. Other modifications such as skills and drills would be less appealing to the kids Shonkoff suggested that in this circumstance, offering a yellow light to organizers to continue to explore possibility. Sexton observed that the organizers have a good plan, and that there are real hurdles ahead from the state. So many things can change—there will likely be a need to be able to pivot quickly, because circumstances could change quickly, and it is challenging to know what the fall will look like now. Tent sale. A protocol was sent There has been no update received since. Needham Protocol and opening of offices. Shonkoff proposed asking departments to use the MA checklists and ask for addendum if there are needs to do things differently. All agreed. The objective is to have the buildings opened under consistent guidance. A discussion ensued about how building protocols and cleaning protocols are to be enforced and by whom, with some question of procedure for the Health Agent. Board agreed to review the office space checklist and vote at Monday's meeting. YMCA programs. Documents had been submitted by the YMCA, but there was limited information about program, and contact information was for Boston, not Reading. Fiorente joined the meeting after being contacted by Vlasuk. Fiorente clarified that the request had to do with use of fields for YMCA programs. She will clarify with the YMCA staff and have proper documentation. How to Raise a question or concern A member of the public, Susan Gormandy, submitted a question about who is responsible for enforcement of Covidl9 compliance in the Town. The topic of complaints and COVID-19 Enforcement was discussed. The health staff follow upon complaints such as COVID-19 related items and review the guidelines in order to properly enforce requirements. Concerns and questions can be sent via email or by phone. Covidl 9reooeninaboh(oDci readino ma us or 781-942-6680. Civic Function Permit—Wood End This will be reviewed by Vlasuk. A discussion about how the protocol for civic function permit review is being handled identified a need for some smoothing of the process. A Covid19 review was added to this standard permit. The protocol includes review by Chair and Vlasuk with Town Managers office. The Board requested that a one-page checklist be created for this, including items as follows: Signage for social distancing and flow; hand sanitizer; Aisles one-way; Indoor or Outdoor gathering; 25% maximum occupancy. Reusable bag ban. Questions received by chair about whether and when the reusable bag ban will be lifted in Reading. Upon reflection and review, the Board confirmed that the Commonwealth's ban on reusable bags had been put in place before the Board voted to do so. Therefore, the Commonwealth's lifting of that ban is effective in Reading. Schools—Discussion of 3 ft vs 6 It distance There was a discussion of the DESE guidance suggesting 3 feet of separation as sufficient in certain instances in schools, vs the 6 feet social distance standard. It was noted that other towns are using 6 feet, but have different models of education. Curren suggested that she Page 1 2 would like to do some research on the topic. Shonkoff suggested that members research and have further discussion. Website Dunnell summarized the discussion from a prior meeting about wanting to include descriptive language for links to MEMA website already on the Reading site, and suggested the Board may want to add the MDPH links as well, because those include data points that are tracked to assess the status of MA, and guide movements from one phase to the next. Election Shonkoff introduced the question about whether and how it would be possible to offer testing to poll workers for the upcoming elections. One step is to share the list of testing sites from the MA DPH website. Further discussion about whether it is appropriate to ask poll workers to be tested, what the timing would be. It was noted that there are tests of varying accuracy., and that a false positive complicates the question. To the question of whether the Board thinks it is appropriate to ask for testing, it was suggested that Laura Gemme could ask, and that it would be important to hear from the public health nurse about this. Concern about safety of poll workers and voters is paramount; question is whether it is appropriate and whether testing information is helpful. Further, the question for the Town Clerk is, what are the alternative plans, in case many poll workers were to test positive, or to be sick that morning. Agreed that to address this, the Board needs to hear from Laura Gemme, Kristine Harris, and Sean Donahue at the next Thursday meeting, rather than at the Monday meeting. In this context, Sexton suggested that the Board consider adjusting the schedule so that items requiring longer discussions be put on Thursday agendas, and therefore avoid time challenges on the Monday meeting that includes a meeting with Command. Shonkoff noted that she has been working with Vlasuk, and that the Health Agent report will be occurring monthly. Jean Delios inquired about who would be inviting the necessary parties to the Election discussion. Select Board update Sexton and Shonkoff explained that the Board of Health regularly provides an update at the Select Board meeting. Content is agreed upon by the Board, and one member attends and updates. Dunnell volunteered to provide the Select Board update for July 22. Austin Prep practice and Games There was a query about game and activity occurring at Austin Prep. Austin Prep was contacted and responded that there is no activity. Civic Function Permit—Wood End Shonkoff inquired whether there had been any further communication about the Wood End request. This is for filming July 25-August 1. No permit can be issued without follow up from group and sign off from Health. Quannapowitt Players The organization is interested in holding a performance. Original request was for Memorial Park, but now they are considering hosting it at their playhouse. Civic Function—Wood End. Questions were sent and Covid plan information is pending. Vlasuk will follow up. Dunnell -Motion to Adjourn. Shonkoff—2 nd Curren —yes, Dunnell—yes, Shonkoff- yes Page 1 3