HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-24 Board of Health Minutes Town of Reading K'cCi: lVtUTOIXIN CLERK
Y Meeting Minutes R F t; -11 `: C
MA.
X121 NOV -9 PH 12: 03
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2020-04-24 Time: 10:00 AM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: COVID-19 Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Eleanor Shonkoff, Kevin Sexton, Emmy Dove, Ann Marie Messina
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Jean Delos, Laura Vlasuk, Vis Sankaran, Karen Pinette, Kerry Dunnell
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Eleanor Shonkoff
Topics of Discussion:
10:05am Dove calls meeting to order
Public Comment-
Karen Pinette (From the Management Company at Peter Sanborn Place)—expressed
that she is attending to keep updated
Vis Sankaran similarly is attending to hear any updates
Facial Coverings
Message received last night that Bob forwarded from resident a concern about not being
able to wear a facial covering due to a medical condition. She also expressed concern
about public vilification for not wearing a mask.
Discussion ensued about the rules for face covering and the exceptions. A clarification
from the board was proposed and an FAQ was one idea. Shonkoff offered to work on
messaging for face coverings. The Face Covering Policy was discussed as possibly
needing to be modified to allow for exemptions due to medical conditions. Shonkoff
questioned if we have to include in the policy an exemption for those who have trouble
breathing. Messina suggested maybe something like a medical alert bracelet that's
downloadable. Sexton stated that technically the facial policy is currently in effect (voted
on 4/20 and gave notice so that it went into effect on 4/22 at noon). The discussion
continued that the policy would be amended as of today 4/24. It was noted that there
was no enforcement of the policy. Further discussion continued on how to amend the
policy. A number of modifications were made to the face covering policy during the
meeting and the edits were highlighted. The significant changes included adding
exemptions such as for medical reasons and children under 2 years of age.
Sexton - motion to accept town of Reading mandatory COVID 19 policy procedure as
amended on Friday 4/24
Page I 1
Dove - second
Roll call
Kevin - y
Emmy - y
Eleanor-y
Dove - receiving questions about the posting of positive cases in high-density buildings
Are we saying you have to keep it posted? Or only during a time when it's active?
Shonkoff and Sexton agreed that posting should happen only when there is an active
case. Dove offered to talk to public health nurses about how process works.
Sexton raised the question about the comment the board received about making sidewalks 1
way and all agreed that this was not feasible.
High School graduation was also discussed and creative ideas for that were shared.
Delios clarified that once the policy was completed, forward to Dove who will send to Command,
Sexton will DocuSign, then post. Vlasuk will text people when need to DocuSign
11:03 Motion to adjourn
Kevin 2nd
Roll call
Sexton -y
Dove -y
Shonkoff-y
Page 1 2