HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-18 Board of Health Minutes a -mEC:EiVEU
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
Meeting Minutes READING. %IA.
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221 APR -5 PM 12: 58
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2021-03-16 Time: 7:00 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, Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi,
Recreation Administrator Jenna Fiorente, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen,
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris
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 7:02 pm and reviewed the evening's
agenda.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Minutes:
Ms. Dunnell clarified that she met with both staff members of the Coalition to talk about
community resilience, and noted that the Director's name should be Included in the minutes
in addition to the Outreach Coordinator's.
On a motion by Ms. Curren, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health
voted 3-0-0 to approve the meeting minutes of March 4, 2021 as amended.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
Civic/Recreation Permit Issues:
Because the weather is warming up and COVID restrictions are slowly being lifted, an influx
of Civic Function and Recreation permit requests is expected. Last Summer, in the middle
of the pandemic, the Board spent a lot of time trying to sort through all the requests and
provide feedback for the various types of gatherings that were proposed. Since then,
guidance from the state has been more consistent, and residents are more familiar with the
guidelines they need to follow. Recreation Administrator Jenna Fiorente and Interim Health
Director Peter Miranda have come up with a new approach for applications that are received
going forward. Mr. Mirandi thanked Ms. Dunnell for the work she did to compile a matrix to
review COVID guidelines, which is the basis for this new approach. Ms. Fiorente stated that
she is familiar with the guidance, and with Ms. Dunnell's matrix as a guide, Is able to
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provide preliminary review. Following her review, it will be reviewed by Public Health Nurse
Kristine Harris, then be sent to Mr. Mirandi for final approval.
Board members expressed concern for the time commitment this new proposal might place
on the Public Health Nurse. Ms. Harris stated that she will need to make some time for it,
but with COVID cases on the decline, and fewer contact tracing calls to make, she will have
more time available.
Following discussion, the Board agreed with the proposal, and expressed their appreciation
and confidence in staff to implement the new process.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to authorize the following process for Recreation and Civic Function Permit
review to ensure adherence of Public Health COVID-19 safety:
1. Recreation Administrator initiates the application process for Recreation
and Civic Function Permits and recommends changes as needed consistent
with statewide COVID guidelines;
2. Lead Public Health Nurse reviews the permit recommendations made by the
Recreation Administrator and provides further input and feedback;
3. Health Director provides final sign-off with respect to the permit's Public
Health recommendations.
Roil call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
Contract Outsourced Professional Services:
Mr. Mirandi presented his plan to contract Individuals to ensure work can continue. Due to
the recent vacancy of the Health Agent position, roles that need to be filled include:
inspector of animals, permit application plan reviewer, and septic inspector. Additional help
is also needed for food Inspections. Mr. Mirandi stated that he has worked with contracted
Inspectors In Danvers and can get them the paperwork so that they can start next week.
These individuals are experienced, properly licensed, and will conduct the preliminary work,
which will allow Town Hall staff to take appropriate actions.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to authorize Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi to secure, on a limited
interim basis, outsourced contract professional services for the management of
environmental and animal inspections and complaints.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
g al Health Grant Program:
Ms. Delios has researched the Public Health Grant Program for Shared Services, which is a
sizeable grant for three years, that covers the cost of bringing in additional resources,
whether hiring or contracting. It is designed to enhance performance of local Health
Departments and bring them more in line with the recommendations in the Blueprint for
Excellence. The statutory requirements have a broad array of Public Health Services shared
with two or more communities. Even though Reading only has one current full time Health
employee, it has a stellar team of nurses and school nurses, and a plan to add a full time
Public Health Director in the near future. A partnership of two communities seems more
manageable than the three-community compact model that was dissolved some years ago.
Ms. Delios and Mr. Mirandi contacted Lynnfield, whose Town Administrator was excited
about the idea, as that community is also struggling with Health staffing. Lynnfield's Select
Board and Board of Health are holding a joint meeting next Monday to discuss the grant,
which Ms. Delios will be attending to answer their questions.
If awarded the grant, Reading would assume the lead role, and the grant funds would
provide startup costs that could be used for additional staffing, such as administrative staff,
and renovation of an area In the Police Station for the Health Department to move into. A
new Shared Services Coordinator position would also be required to manage the program.
The funds could not be used to fill existing vacancies.
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The Board agreed that this would be beneficial for various reasons including: providing a
more robust staffing level; providing ability to contract additional services, as there is an
anticipated need for mental health resources following the pandemic; helping fulfill staffing
and Public Health needs in both communities; providing ability to address more issues with
the Internal assessment; and possibly leading to additional opportunities, such as expanding
the Coalition.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to enthusiastically support the joint applications for the Towns of Reading
and Lynnfield for the Public Health Excellence Grant Program for Shared Services.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
Influenza Vaccination 2021:
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve spending up to $25,000 of the Revolving Fund for the purchase
of influenza vaccine for the fall of 2021.
At the last meeting, Ms. Delios was tasked with contacting pharmacies in the community to
discuss a private-public partnership for flu vaccine clinics. Ms. Cellos stated that she had
contacted CVS a couple of times, but has yet to hear anything back. Dr. Lopez stated that
he will send Ms. Delos his contact at Walgreens. The Board agreed that it is an idea worth
pursuing, and would be great to have a community partner interested by the fall.
COVID Updates:
Case Count Updates
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris provided the latest numbers for COVID cases in Reading:
• Total Case Count = 1,696 - It was 1,697, but one case was revoked because of a
false positive antigen test.
• Current Active Cases = 63
• Total Deaths = 49 - including one yesterday.
• Total Transferred Cases = 10
Ms. Harris continues to meet weekly with the Director of School Nursing Mary Giuliana. Pool
testing in the schools continues twice a week. To date there have been approximately 400
pool tests. Mandatory testing is conducted for all athletes and participants of extracurricular
activities. There were 93 Pool tests performed this week. Two pools tested positive and
those pools are under quarantine and follow up testing is being conducted. Current active
school cases include:
• High School = 1
• Coolidge Middle School = 2
• Parker Middle School = 3
. Birch Meadow Elementary School = 3
• Killam Elementary School = 1 - identified as in-school transmission and reported to
DESE.
• Austin Prep = 5 students (including 2 Reading residents) and 1 staff member.
Clusters identified in the community Include:
Little Treasures Preschool = 2 - The school will remain closed until March 22nd.
Encore Dance Studio = 2 - including 1 Reading resident. Cleaning and contact
tracing are being conducted.
• Recreation Basketball = 1 coach and 4 players. Two of the players attend Austin
Prep and two attend RMHS. The roster has been requested from the coach, and Ms.
Harris is working with DPH on contact tracing.
Ms. Harris noted that participation in contact tracing has Improved. She also noted that as
she is tracking cases, she is finding people who have tested positive for a second time. The
state is reviewing new variants and it will be interesting to see how many of the re-
infections are due to the new variants.
Dr. Lopez noted that 18 of the 63 active cases are school related. Ms. Harris stated that
this could be attributed to sports, weekend play dates, and pool testing detecting more
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asymptomatic cases. The pool testing at schools has approximately 60% partidpation.
Only sports and extracurricular activities are mandated.
COVID Vaccination Update
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen provided an update on COVID vaccines for the Board. To
date, 319 first doses have been administered, and 261 second doses. This week, 250
doses, Including 50 second doses, were received from the Topsfield Board of Health. No
new vaccines have been ordered from the state, as the state has said will not provide
second doses.
Residents of low income and affordable senior housing are currently eligible to receive
vaccine. The vaccines for those residents are supplied by the federal government. A clinic
was scheduled for this morning for the residents of Frank Tanner Drive, but due to technical
issues, the Fire Department cancelled the clinic.
First dose vaccinations for homebound residents was completed last week, and 35
homebound individuals will be receiving their second doses tomorrow.
Massachusetts updated the travel orders. As of next Monday, the travel orders will be
replaced with a travel advisory for people who have been out of state for 24 hours.
Individuals who have been fully vaccinated for more than 14 days and do not have
symptoms, will not have to be tested when traveling to Massachusetts. However, if
someone exhibits symptoms following vaccination, they must still follow all testing and
quarantine.
DESE has Issued guidance on returning to in-person learning. Students will return in three
phases: Elementary Schools on April 51h, Middle Schools on April 28' , and High School is
still to be determined. Parents will have the option to keep their children remote through
the end of this school year. If schools cannot meet the target date, they can apply for a
waiver.
Ms. Shen also shared proposed calculations for the purchase of flu vaccines. Last year, 200
doses of High-Dose, 450 doses of Flublok, and 300 doses of QIV were ordered totaling
$40,838.50. With $25,000 approved for spending on flu vaccine, Ms. Shen provided the
following calculations:
60% of last year's order = High-Dose (120 doses x $54.89) + Flublok (270 doses x $54.89)
+ QIV (180 doses x $17.20) = $24,503.10
61% of last year's order = High-Dose (122 doses x $54.89) + Flublok (275 doses x $54.89)
+ QIV (183 doses x $17.20) = $24,938.93
Ms. Harris asked if there have been adverse reactions reported from COVID Vaccines. Ms.
Shen and Mr. Mirandl explained that there was one incident where a recipient reported
difficulty swallowing. The situation seemed to resolve itself, but the individual was sent to
Lahey in Burlington for follow up.
Ms. Shen continues to communicate with the state to ensure that those who received their
first dose in Reading will receive their second.
Pertinent Incident Command Updates
Ms. Dunnell reviewed discussions from the recent Command meeting about different doses
and their sources. They also discussed fling for reimbursement for the vaccines, and
navigating the FEMA rules for reimbursement.
Next Meeting Aaenda Items: Final Comments:
The next meeting is scheduled for April 1•'. Topics to be discussed include: funding for an
internal assessment, a follow up on the private-public partnership for flu clinics, and a
status update on the Shared Services grant process.
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On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:45 pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-yes.
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