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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-29 Board of Health Minutes 'ZEC E 'VED Town of Reading TOV,,N CLERK x Meeting Minutes R:.^ !i .t , ,dA. �''•�« 2M Nu 16 AM 11: 06 Board - committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2020-06-29 Time: 10:00 AM Building: Location: Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: COVID-19 Discussion Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chair Eleanor Shonkoff, Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren, Associate Member Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Others Present: Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Health Agent Laura Vlasuk, Jane Kinsella Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kim Saunders Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. The Chair Eleanor Shonkoff called the meeting to order at 10:09 am. Ms. Shonkoff said going forward all documents will be sent through the Health Agent Laura Vlasuk. Director of Public Works Jane Kinsella was in attendance to review protocols from Needham for the Town of Reading. She explained she was going to send her draft protocols that she created to the Board but when she looked on the health form it says if you have a fever, headache etc. you are not cleared for work. Human Resources was not able to give a definitive answer as to what type of time employees will be required to use if they are sent home. Ms. Kinsella said Labor Counsel has been contacted and she is still waiting for an answer. She knows the 3 unions will request this information. Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios said the Town Manager mentioned he was going to follow up with Human Resources. Ms. Kinsella said this question needs to be addressed for all departments not just for DPW. She said she pulled sections of other Towns' protocols and created one solid document for Reading to use. Ms. Kinsella informed the Board that since March 23, 2020 the DPW employees are staggered on the days they come in, and she has given permission to the supervisors to call employees in from home if there is a job that is too much for 1h the staff to be completed. She said the employees are all outside and they wear masks and keep social distancing. Ms. Kinsella said to be able to move forward, she would like a resolution on what type of time staff is required to use. Ms. Paula Curren asked if there is time granted as Covid time? There are hospitals who allow staff to use 2-weeks of this time if they have symptoms. Ms. Kinsella responded FRCCA said public safety and DPW is exempt from this type of time. Page I I She said she is using Covid time because the staff schedule is every other day. Ms. Delios said all the Department Heads who have staff who are being paid but not necessarily working their full shifts are being coded Covid time. She said the majority of her staff is working from home and communicating by Zoom because of the tight areas. Ms. Shonkoff asked if Unions have a recommendation on what to code that time as or should we code it as Covid time until we receive guidance? Ms. Kinsella said she has contacted other Towns and they are doing their own thing - some are taking temperatures. She said unions will want to code it as Covid time, but what happens when the employee uses Covid time for when he has a headache but then does get infected? Ms. Kinsella opined the vehicle form is easy to understand. She asked what Needham is doing about the health form? Ms. Kerry Dunnell replied she has not received an answer as to how that is being managed. Ms. Kinsella said the supervisors in Winchester are doing temperature checks. Ms. Shonkoff said Needham requires staff to take their temperature before coming into work and they have a thermometer available if needed. Mr. Sexton explained the Board would like to do a uniform SOP across the Town, and Needham has a comprehensive one that could be used. He explained the SOP from Needham has language that allows the BOH to waive parts of the protocol if it doesn't work for all departments. Mr. Sexton said he compared the Needham SOP and the draft Ms. Kinsella presented and they are similar with different language. Ms. Kinsella said she has an updated one that is grouped differently and easier to use. She reiterated the Town will need to know what type of time staff is required to use if they are sent home for a headache or fever. Ms. Dunnell asked if some of the money released to towns for Covid was intended to cover this type of leave? Ms. Dunnell said she received a response from Needham and they rolled it out building by building and made specific building adjustments when needed. Needham is using the same guidance as hospitals, if you are asymptomatic you are allowed to work. Ms. Kinsella said she forwarded the draft protocol to Ms. Delios. Ms. Shonkoff said the Board will review and give guidance. The draft protocol was shared and the Board started the review. Mr. Sexton suggested the Board adopt a universal SOP and each division will need to create and personalize one for their department and submit to the Board for approval. Ms. Shonkoff agreed the Board can do the initial edits and present to the departments. She said the Board needs to work out a few issues before redacting the Needham version: • Temperature screening; • Guidance for people who work in the office; • Update on Phase II, Step II; and • Training video for staff Ms. Kinsella agreed there should be one SOP and each department should make their own adjustments; and she said the YouTube videos for training is a good idea, because showing videos at the garage is not an ideal environment for social distancing. Ms. Dunnell said temperature checks is a standard by some employers, however some temperature checks have been waived. Ms. Curren said self-reporting of temperatures should be fine at this time, but other symptoms should be looked at too. Ms. Shonkoff cautioned that people who are asymptomatic doesn't mean everything is fine. Ms. Curren provided a personal experience with someone who was recently diagnosed with Covid-19. Ms. Dunnell said it should be clear on the requirements protective barriers and masks are not mutually exclusive. Ms. Shonkoff agreed if someone can be working from home they should, and if people have to come in it should be lease dense as possible. Ms. Shonkoff said as more things open up it is important to receive information from the nurses about the cases. Ms. Vlasuk said about 40% of the cases are from a local nursing home and then a lot are from household contacts. There have been none from churches. Ms. Shonkoff responded that information is important and she requested that information to Page 1 2 be tracked and the Board should be updated going forward. Ms. Messina asked if the data is available to see where the first person in the family got infected? Ms. Vlasuk said that information is available but because Maven is difficult to maneuver it is not readily available, but she will have the nurses start asking that question. Ms. Dunnell said the nursing home data is a cluster; this is a conclusion from looking at the cases. Ms. Curren said it is important to find out where the person has been to discover clusters. Ms. Shonkoff said she wants to make sure the Board is doing a big picture view. Ms. Vlasuk requested Town Counsel be contacted to make sure the Town can report clusters. It was agreed Ms. Shonkoff and Ms. Delios will work on the draft SOP. Ms. Kinsella asked for a copy of the Needham SOP be sent to her. Ms. Shonkoff said she will be attending the Select Board meeting to update them what on what is open. Dr. Doherty joined the meeting and said the bleachers are not open because they don't know how to clean them. He requested that graduation be added to the next BOH and Command meeting agenda. Minutes The Board did not review minutes Command Meeting The Board of Health joined the Command Meeting at 11:05 AM. The Addendum (attached) includes the minutes from the Command Meeting. On a motion by Mr. Sexton, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted to adjourn at 12:04 PM by a vote of 4-0-0. Roll call vote: Kevin Sexton-Yes, Eleanor Shonkoff-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes Page 1 3 The BOH turned the meeting over to Command at 11'.05 a.m. In Attendance: Fire Chief Greg Burns, Deputy Fire Chief Paul Jackson, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doherty, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Select Board Chair Mark Dockser, plus BOH as noted above and Health Agent Laura Vlasuk,Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios. Goal 2—Communication Discussed the plan to present to the Select Board highlights and challenges since the last meeting. Mr. Dockser indicated that the Select Board wants an update on what is open/closed. Mr. LeLacheur indicated that he has provided udpates along with members of the Board of Health. For SB Meeting Chief Burns stated he would review: Fields; Restaurants/Businesses; Schools; BOH Responses; Financial Issues(Reimbursement); Assessing What the Community Need is for Assistance; Hot Days(planning for warm weather) Chief Burns note that he will provide an update to the Select Board on 6/30/20. Eleanor will also be providing an update at the 6/30/20 Select Board meeting. Mostly focusing on the trends that are being seen. Chief Burns noted that he would also address visits to the Senior Housing facilities. Chief Burns summarized the financial resources available including grant dollars in the amount of$15,000 that went directly to Health. Health also has$30,000 in extra salary funds. Mr. LeLacheur expressed that there are funds available from the Town to cover expenses as needed. Goal 1 —Residents in Need The Senior Van was discussed and how it might be able to provide rides to a limited number of people. Putting plexiglass as needed to ensure the safety of the driver and the riders. Ms. Delios noted that the van seats 12 but to comply with guidelines the number would be much lower. EHS staff are working with neighboring communities on best practices such as the Town of Burlington. A small number of people may be served for small local trips like Market Basket. Deputy Chief Jackson noted that he spoke with Kerry and that seniors have inquired about the status of the van service. Ms. Delios expressed concern for understanding what the need is for so that we are clear in providing the services needed. Mr. Dockser indicated maybe we could assist the seniors in other ways. The medical transportation is being provided by Woburn taxi so that need is being met. The safety of all and the clear identification of the demand for rides will be reviewed. Deputy Chief Jackson summarized his work on coordinating with EHS and Food Supply. The Food Pantry is being utilized. The PSC mini food pantry is available as well. Approximately 60 new families are being served by the Food Pantry. The gift cards are being distributed. There are sufficient resources for the Food Pantry including volunteers. Chief Burns expressed concern when unemployment runs out this could increase demand for the Food Pantry as well as job losses. Ms. Dowd stated that Schools has had a significant uptick in demand for food distribution. Goal 2—Reopening Restuarants with Inside Dining—has gone well,the BOH was pleased with how restaurants are operating. Paper menus are being used. Guidance has been sent out to restuarants. Goal 3—Demobilization of Town Departments—The Needham policy is being worked on Discussion turned to Schools and Dr. Doherty offered to keep Command informed as things are updated in terms of guidance. Ms. Curren asked what the guidance was on how to protect high risk adults such as teachers. Dr. Doherty noted that the guidance has not been provided yet on that, Mr. Dockser offered to share the guidance being followed by the University's. Mr. Sexton offered to update the sheet of"what's open what's closed". For example the list includes parks, playgrounds, etc. Ms.Vlasuk has a list of open/closed establishments and Ms. Delios and Chief Burns noted that they did not receive the list and Ms.Vlasuk offered to send a follow-up email including the list. Ms.Vlasuk asked about how to present data on senior housing facilities and how the COVID-19 data was aggregated. Ms. Shonkoff clarified that we can present the data but it needs to be anonymous. Ms. Shonkoff expressed her interest in having this data and working with Ms. Vlasuk on how to compile the data. Page 14