HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-08 Board of Health Minutes Town of Reading R '0-c ,I V c j
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2M NO 16 AM 11: 06
Board of Health
Date: 2020-10-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren, Richard Lopez; Associate Members:
Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Health Agent Laura Vlasuk,
Procurement Officer Allison Jenkins, Christine
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Public Comment:
There was no public comment. Public guest Christine was in attendance conducting
research for a school project on seniors in town.
Review of Minutes:
The Board had 19 sets of minutes to approve. Ms. Delios had distributed thumb drives with
the drafts to Board members for review. Board members provided comments and edits to
Ms. Delios and Ms. Vlasuk, who prepared the final drafts. Ms. Dunnell thanked Board
members for reviewing and staff for compiling all of the changes, and working together on
the process.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of:
March 25, 2020
April 10, 2020
April 13, 2020
April 20, 2020
April 24, 2020
May 4, 2020
May 15, 2020
June 4, 2020
June 22, 2020
July 6, 2020
July 16, 2020
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July 27, 2020
August 3, 2020
August 13, 2020
August 17, 2020
August 20, 2020
September 3, 2020
September 21, 2020
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
to approve and release the Executive Session meeting minutes of March 16, 2020
by a vote of 3-0-0.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes
Review and approval of nine other sets of minutes will follow the same process and will be
reviewed at the meeting on November V.
COVID-19 Uodates:
Command Meeting October 5, 2020:
Ms. Dunnell provided a summary of the Incident Command meeting from October 5th.
Reading is still "green", meaning a low infection rate, while many surrounding communities
are in the yellow category, and a couple are in the red category. Positive test results in the
state are now around 420-450 every day, approximately 100 more than the average a
month ago, with the 20-29 year old age group being the largest group affected. With the
weather turning cooler, people shifting to indoor activities, and anticipated holiday
gatherings, hospitals are preparing for a second wave.
The Board agreed that it would be helpful to draft a press release to remind people to
continue using face coverings, wash their hands, and maintain social distancing to prevent
spreading the virus. Ms. Curren volunteered to draft the document for the Board to review.
There has been some confusion about testing out of quarantine, and the Board wants to
educate businesses and the community that it is not possible to test out of quarantine. If
someone has been exposed, they need to quarantine for 14 days.
Town Clerk Laura Gemme presented a revised plan to Incident Command for election day
with one entrance into the field house and an adjusted traffic Flow pattern inside.
There was a discussion on the successful September 29th flu clinic. Assistant Fire Chief Paul
Jackson will meet with Ms. Vlasuk and Health Nurse Kristine Harris to discuss successes and
ways to improve future clinics.
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Police Chief David Clark, and Fire Chief Greg Burns were able
to meet with the organizers of a Black Lives Matter march, planned for October 24th, to
discuss the need for safety measures, face coverings, and other details of the event.
Internal Assessment — Consultant Services Scooe:
The Board reviewed the mark-up of the Request for Proposals for an internal assessment of
the Health Division. Changes to the document include: specifying the number of interviews
with five department employees and five board members; links to standards that will be
applied and referenced including the State Special Committee Report on the Blueprint for
Excellence and CDC source for the Ten Essential Services; removing the requirement for
community priorities, as that will be part of the community needs assessment following the
internal assessment; decreasing the standards for advantageous qualifications; requesting
two sample reports and three references with the proposals; proposal due date November
5, 2020; and report due date March 1, 2021.
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On a motion by Ms. Dunnell, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health
approved the Request for Proposals as amended for submission by the
Procurement Officer by a vote of 3-0-0.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes
Halloween:
Ms. Dunnell stated that she and Ms. Delios have been working with Business Administrator
Jayne Wellman on how to provide safety information based on CDC guidelines for trick-or-
treating this year. The advice includes going out with smaller groups, and using face
coverings.
Board of Health Upcoming Meetina Schedule and Aaenda Items:
At the next scheduled meeting on October 151h, the Town Manager will attend to discuss
opening of Town Buildings. Town Clerk Laura Gemme might attend to review the revised
plan for election day. Other agenda items include COVID-19 updates and reorganization of
the Board. This evening's planned discussion on the need for supplemental services will be
deferred to the meeting on October 15th so that the Board can discuss with the Town
Manager.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:34 pm.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes
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