HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-11-05 Board of Health Minutes CLERK
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Board - Committee - commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2020-11-05 Time: 6:00 PM
Building: Location:
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate
Members: Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios, Health Director Peter Mirandi, Town
Manager Bob LeLacheur
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn Laverde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.
Chair's Comments:
Dr. Lopez began by reflecting on his first 100 days with the Board. He expressed his
appreciation for his fellow Board Members who devote their time, knowledge and
perspectives to the Board and the community while continuing with their day jobs. He
thanked Mr. LeLacheur and Ms. Delios for their support, as well as the Health Division staff.
He also thanked the last three chairs, Eleanor Shonkoff and Emmy Dove, though they
resigned due to time commitments, shared their insights, background, and council with him,
and Kerry Dunnell, for filling the role until new members could be appointed and the Board
could restructure.
As this was his first meeting as Chair, Dr. Lopez shared his goals for the Board:
1) Management of the ongoing COVID pandemic;
2) Complete the assessment of the functions of the Board and Division;
3) Complete a community needs assessment and community health improvement plan;
and
4) Helping the Board function as best as It can.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Review of Minutes:
Ms. Delios had provided drafts of eleven sets of minutes to Board Members. All members
reviewed, and provided comments. Ms. Delios incorporated the feedback into the drafts,
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and redistributed edited versions to Board Members for approval. With no further
comments, the Board voted on the final versions.
On a motion by Ms. Dunnell, and seconded by Dr. Lopez, the Board of Health voted
to approve the meeting minutes of May 8, 2020, May 11, 2020, lune 18, 2020,
lune 29, 2020, July 13, 2020, July 20, 2020, July 23, 2020, August 6, 2020, August
SO, 2020, October 1, 2020, and October 8, 2020, by a vote of 2-0-0, as Ms. Curren
had not yet arrived to the meeting.
Roll call vote: Richard Lopez-yes, Kerry Dunnell-yes.
Health Director Report;
New Health Director Peter Mirandi shared his plan to help the Health Division and Board of
Health function more efficiently. The three programs include:
1) Epidemiology, for which the Health Nurse will provide reports;
2) Environmental Health, which includes environmental factors under the Board of
Health purview including air quality, affordable housing, food safety, public &semi-
private swimming pools, animal and pest control. Staff member Daniel Markman is
currently working on this, including online permitting; and
3) Emergency Preparedness, which has been assigned to Health Agent Laura Vlasuk,
who will work with first responders and Public Safety departments. Kerry Dunnell
will work with Ms. Vlasuk and report to the Board during Emergency Preparedness
segments of BOH meetings.
Mr. Mirandi plans to provide monthly updates on the three categories. Other administrative
and budgetary matters will fall under the Director. Ms. Curren arrived at 6:22 pm.
Recreation and Civic Function permit requests will also fall under the director. It is an
administrative function that only needs to come before the Board for Information purposes,
or if there is an issue that may need additional guidance. Otherwise, applications will be
reviewed administratively and reported on to the Board.
Town Manager Updates:
Town Manager Bob LeLacheur was present to discuss re-opening Town Hall with the Board.
During the pandemic, staff has been able to meet with the public outdoors for essential
business that needs to be conducted in person. However, with winter and colder weather
approaching, that may not be an option for much longer. Incident Command has had
discussions about the re-opening. The first plan is to remind residents of ways to contact
Town Hall without coming to the building, such as by phone, email, online bill pay and
permitting, etc. If someone still wants to come to Town Hall, there will be an application
process to see if it is reasonable. Questions may include: recent travel, symptoms, and
Information for contact tracing. Drafts of policies have been created. Staff for work spaces
has been limited based on square footage, with the only space concern being with the
Assessor's Office. Board Members will review the re-opening plan and provide feedback to
Mr. Mirandl, Mr. LeLacheur, and Ms. Delios by November 1211 so questions or concerns can
be discussed at the next meeting.
For the budget, Mr. LeLacheur encouraged the Board to work with Ms. Delios and Mr.
Mirandi on a budget request with types of positions and amounts. The Information might
not be perfect, but Ms. Delios can include the information in her budget request to the
Select Board in December.
COVID-19 Updates:
Ms. Dunnell reviewed discussions from the recent Incident Command meeting including:
election preparations; a proposal by the Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce for
a Santa Holiday Tour in lieu of the traditional holiday lighting; preparations for a vaccine
distribution; and food distribution at the Schools.
In the discussion with the Schools, it was noted that six cases came up over the weekend.
Eighty students from the High School were quarantined as a result of those six cases and
sports and extracurricular activities have been canceled for two weeks.
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The number of cases continues to rise with eleven cases reported in the last five days,
including five cases reported today. Austin Prep has 15 cases, only one of which is a
Reading resident.
Ms. Curren had drafted a press release to be reviewed by Incident Command reminding the
public to be vigilant and continue with face coverings, hand washing and sanitizing.
Incident Command wanted to try a different approach with a more concise message. With
anticipated holiday gatherings, and new orders from the Governor regarding face coverings,
it is a good opportunity to put the reminder out to the public. Ms. Delios and Mr. Mirandi
will work with Business Administrator Jayne Wellman and send a draft to the Board next
week.
Next Agenda Plannina/Review:
The next meeting will be held in two weeks on November 19, 2020. Topics on the agenda
will include: a follow-up on the budget discussion, follow-up on the Town Hall re-opening
discussion, how to conduct public comment, and a review of the Health Department
assessment proposals.
The Board briefly discussed the assessment proposals. Only one proposal was received.
Ms. Dunnell noted that she had spoken with one of the vendors solicited for the proposal,
but was informed that they chose not to submit a proposal because the requirements
seemed steep, previous clients may not have been inclined to have their reports shared,
and the number of projects that were required.
The Internal Review Subcommittee, which consists of Chair Richard Lopez, Assistant Town
Manager Jean Delios, Town Manager Bob Letacheur, and Procurement Officer Allison
Jenkins, will meet to review the proposal(s) received and discuss next steps before the next
Board meeting on the IV.
On a motion by Ms. Dunnell, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health
voted 3-0-0 to adjourn at 7:55 pm.
Roll call vote: Richard Lopez-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes.
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