Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-13 Board of Health Minutes Town of Reading ri EC E IV ED $ Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK 0�s ,•a•'1K Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 421 NOV -9 PM 12: 03 Board of Health Date: 2020-04-13 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: tele-conference Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Emmy Dove, Eleanor Shonkoff, Kevin Sexton, Ann Marie Messina Members - Not Present: Lara Romonowski Others Present: Jean Delios, Laura Vlasuk, Julie Johnston, Gail Dowd, Bob LeLacheur, Greg Burns, Mark Dockser, David Clark, John Doherty, Paul Jackson Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kevin Sexton Topics of Discussion: 10:04am — Call to order. • Dove—we need to revisit the Town Counsel document on construction sites and workers. o Delios— Is still awaiting a response from Town Counsel on changes she requested to the document. o Delios—A message from the Town will be sent out to all construction sites/managers to give them a heads up that a new policy is coming. o Delios—We will also send out an email to the residential buildings of 4-68 units, letting them know what to do if someone in the building tests positive for COVID- 19. • Delios—Talked about staff levels. Asked the BOH if they think we need or want more nurses hired? If so, to go through Command for that. o Vlasuk—said we are doing really well in regards to staffing and we are keeping up with the contact tracing needs. Every person who has tested positive has had some form of contact from the Town. • Shonkoff—Talking about the growth rate and it looks like projections for the peak puts us around 76 cases. Our current staffing will be able to handle that. • Dove —Asking about educational outreach updates. o Shonkoff—Jayne Wellman and Kevin Bohmiller sent around videos for outreach. o Sexton — Said to keep outreach simple and relevant to Reading. A"did you know' campaign, such as, do you need to wear gloves in public? o Dove—we can inform people that they can choose not to go to public places if there are a lot of people there, such as the grocery stores, town forest, etc. o Sexton —We can take turns coming up with a new topic each week and he would take the first turn. • Julie Johnston is on the call, she is the Director of the Reading Housing Authority. Page 1 1 o Johnston —Called in to touch base with the BOH about the Housing Authority in town and what they have been doing. They put out weekly updates to their residents. She would like to stay in communication with the BOH so she can further update her residents. She asked if other complexes in Reading are following the Governors guidelines? • Delios—We are lumping everything into one list for the 4—68 unit buildings, to inform them. o Delios—Asked if the residents of the RHA are getting supplies ok? • Johnston —They have been getting help with that from other residents and the RHA is checking in on them weekly. • Vlasuk—Reached out to the Red Cross about doing a blood drive in Reading. The told her they were at capacity with blood drives right now, but would like to do one when this is over. • Vlasuk—Has a contact that can get us as much PPE as we need. Asked if we could dispense those supplies to the public? c BoH agreed to bring it up to command and let them handle that. • Delios—Asked when we should send out the actual policy notice to construction site/managers? o Dove—Sooner rather than later. Looking at April 15, 2020. • Command called into the meeting at 11:10am—Gail Dowd, Bob LeLacheur, Greg Bums, Mark Dockser, David Clark, John Doherty, Paul Jackson. • Vlasuk— Update on grocery store parking lots. They've deployed more barrels, nightly street sweepers, removed the barrel lids so people can just drop their gloves/masks in, all plexi-glass has been installed at the registers. All are in compliance with the new regulations. • Vlasuk—Informed Command that she can get as much PPE as they need. o Dove —We should distribute some to the private sector, grocery stores, elder homes, restaurant's, etc. • Vlasuk—Told Command that she received $7,500 grant and wanted to know what she could use it for? She detailed the grants intended use was for pandemic needs. o Burns—Will look into the best use of those funds. • Bums—Updating on the storm coming today. He has been in contact with RMLD about it. Talked with the DPW director in preparation for it. o Clark— Is bringing in a 3'" dispatcher for the storm and have them all wear masks and follow distancing guidelines. o LeLacheur—Asked if elderly care facilities have generators? Burns—Yes, but some only for backup power, not total power. o LeLacheur—Asked if we still keep a list of those on oxygen? • Burns—Yes and we are checking in with them. • Clark—The police received $1,000 in gift cards and a $500 check for the food pantry. o LeLacheur—Wanted to make sure we aren't missing anyone who needs food. He sees long lines in other towns food pantries and wants to make sure we don't get into that scenario here. • Delios—We're having a meeting today with Planning to look into the best options moving forward if there becomes a need to ramp up food distribution. • Command—Discussion about where to store food, track those in need and to have a master list for all entities holding/distributing food. o Dockser—Wants to make sure that people who don't normally need food know that we can help supply food to them. • Dowd —We've been reaching out to all school aged families to let them know there's help if needed. • Dowd— Updated Command that they are not setup for summer as far as food distribution goes. She will find out from DESE how they can do that. o LeLacheur—He'll ask the state to look into fixing that as well. • Burns—Update on Communications. Page 1 2 o Doherty—The schools have an updated FAO and will get that to Command for review. o BoH —detailed their earlier discussion on weekly information to push out to the public. • LeLacheur—said whatever resources the BoH needs, they will be provided. • Burns—Update on contact tracing with help from the school nurse. c Dove—Asked for assistance from Boston University on a better system to use other than MAVEN for contact tracing. • Burns— Review of Command goals. o Burns—Outreach and communications will be continuedly updated. The list of goals from Dove's email have all been completed. • Burns—Update on elder care facilities. o Burns—They are visiting them 2/3 times per week to make sure they have enough PPE and check in on residents to see if any have tested positive for COVID-19. o Johnston—Updated Command about the Housing Authority and what they have been doing. • Burns—We are going to need to move into the next phase of planning called demobilization. Looking to begin the process of looking into how we can slowly start opening things backup when we are able to. o Dowd —Asked if schools don't open again this year, how special education and summer programs would work? • LeLacheur—A decision needs to be made soon as to those programs, if they will be happening or not. o Vlasuk—Brought up when do we start doing re-inspections on all the closed restaurants? • LeLacheur—Asked if places open now for take-out will need to be re- inspected in order to open their dining rooms again? • Vlasuk— Needs to make sure they have the proper setup and food quality still. • LeLacheur—It will be problematic if a date is given to open from the state and everyone wants to open at once, from an inspection standpoint. (Eleanor Shonkoff needed to leave the meeting) • Jackson—said Planning can start working on this issue. • Lelacheur—Asked Vlasuk about summer camp inspections and the need there?When does that normally happen? • Vlasuk—June and it's a lot of work to do. • Dove—Can we contract out for this? o Vlasuk— Not likely. • Command and BOH discussed what will happen if the May 4' date is extended or not? We will need to inspect restaurants so they can open. o Sexton—Asked Vlasuk if we can get students to help out like the state did with the medical students? • Vlasuk—Will look into that. o LeLacheur—Suggested we start inspections on closed establishments to make sure they have disposed of their expired foods. • Clark—Gave an update on officers who tested positive, they are recovered and back to work. There were other officers that had to quarantine themselves for 14 days due to close proximity to the positively tested officers, and they too are back to work. o Clark—The police are starting to see more domestic disputes and thefts. • Dove—The state put out a "safe link" to help with domestic disputes. • Clark—The police were informed of that. • Dockser—Asked how staff is doing and what the public could do to help their efforts? o Clark—Said the support signs around town have been great for the force to see and really helps. He also said they have good levels of PPE. Page 1 3 o Burns — Is also happy with the PPE levels. The biggest worry to staff is bringing home COVID-19 to their families. • LeLacheur— Mentioned that there are hotel options if they feel like they shouldn't go home. • Doherty—Offered to the use of the school locker rooms as well as the nurses stations for beds. • Vlasuk— Said Barile Funeral Home is looking for PPE and asked her about a supply. o Burns—Asked what quantities they need? Said they are lower on the list of priority • Vlasuk—will ask them how much they need and get back to Command. • 12:41 pm — Motion to adjourn by Sexton o Dove—20d. o Sexton-yes, Dove-yes Page 1 4