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2E21 MAY 24 AM 8: 46
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2021-04-15 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:
Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen,
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris, Mark Fine - MAPC
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 7:02pm.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
MAPC Presentation:
Dr. Lopez recapped the interest that the Board had in conducting an internal Health
Department assessment. A Request for Proposals was issued last fall for the project, which
received limited responses. The Board agreed to hold off on the Internal assessment when
Mr. Mirandi joined as Intenm Health Director. In the last few months, the Board decided to
hire a permanent full time Health Director, though it may take some time to hire that new
director. With $20,000 for the project that must be allotted prior to the end of the fiscal
year on June 300', the Board agreed that it would be best to begin the assessment and have
the analysis help develop the goals of the new director. Ms. Dunnell emphasized that she
would like the assessment to Include the benchmarks for what the Town needs to do to
meet the standards for Mass General Laws, national accreditation, and advent of the SAPHE
Act.
Mark Fine of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council presented the organization's experience
and proposed scope of work to the Board. MAPC has reviewed a number of Public Health
departments around greater Boston. They begin with understanding staff, budget, services,
and external relationships, and considering priorities and goals, such as programs and
services, for stakeholders in the community. From there, they identify challenges, gaps,
and external networks, then compare to peer communities and share experiences learned
from other communities. Finally, MAPC will provide options and models to consider and
make recommendations. The Board will receive updates throughout the entire project.
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Mr. Fine shared projects MAPC has completed for other communities Induding: Salem
Health Reorganization Report, North Shore Shared Health Services, Metrowest Prevention
Partnership, North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative, and Randolph Health Needs
Assessment. He noted that his team has gotten to know a fair amount of people in the field
with whom they can consult on this project, including Sam Wong, Framingham's Health
Director, who the Board has requested be involved with Reading's assessment.
Mr. Mirandi and Mr. Fine will collaborate before the next meeting and come back with a
more detailed approach, how Dr. Wong would be Involved, and how the Board would be
engaged. At that point, the Board will vote on whether to proceed with the project.
Review of Minutes:
Ms. Dunnell stated that the correct deadline for the Library and Cultural Council Pandemic
Peace photo submissions is lune 4, 2021, not May 4'h.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
2-0-1 to approve the meeting minutes of April 1, 2021 as amended.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes, Paula Curren-Abstain, as she
was not present for the meeting.
COVID-19 Updates:
Case Count Updates:
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris provided the latest COVID-19 case counts:
Total Year-to-Date: 1,838
Current Active: 68
Total Deceased: 49
Total Transferred: 10
Total Recovered: 1,697
Other Communicable Diseases Year-to-Date:
Flu: 2
Hepatitis B: 1 acute
Hepatitis C: 1 acute, 2 chronic
Lyme Disease: 2
Salmonella: 2 (a mom and child who caught it while travelling to India)
Ms. Harris reviewed her conversation with Mary Gluliana, Director of Nursing at the Reading
Public Schools. There are 229 High School students who have received at least one dose of
COVID vaccine, mostly seniors. The nurses have been very busy with pool testing, which
has been going well, and has worked identifying early cases and quarantining people in a
timely manner. DESE has agreed to continue funding pool testing through the summer. Of
the 68 active cases, 18 are in the schools. Most of those seem to be transmitted through
household contacts and after school gatherings, though sports are still high risk.
Ms. Harris stated that she was notified by Dr. Katie Brown of MDPH that there has been one
case of the UK variant identified in Reading. On the recent DPH call, Dr. Brown also
presented statistics showing Massachusetts having a significant number of variants
compared to other states.
COVID Vaccination Update:
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen provided an overview of the COVID vaccination clinics
held in Reading. To date, there have been 18 clinics with a total of 552 first doses and 317
second doses administered. There were 657 doses administered at regular clinics, 68 doses
to homebound individuals, 81 doses to residents of affordable housing developments, and
63 doses through the Council on Aging program. Ms. Shen noted she continues to work
with the state to order doses for the clinics.
Ms. Shen had picked up 70 doses of Johnson B.Johnson vaccine, which were planned for
homebound vaccinations. However, the homebound visits were cancelled due to the pause
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ordered by the CDC. The vaccines were marked as"Do not use. Awaiting guidance." Ms.
Shen called the state to request Moderna vaccines to replace the Johnson &Johnson doses,
but was told that they are not replacing the J&J at this point and is awaiting further
guidance.
Pertinent Incident Command Updates:
Ms. Dunnell summarized discussions from recent Command meetings. Topics included:
homebound vaccinations, submitting for reimbursements, and what to expect for the
summer and fall.
Other:
Mr. Mirandi praised the Nursing staff for their response to the CDCs order to pause the use
of the Johnson &Johnson vaccine.
Civic Function and Recreation permits are Increasing for the Town Forest. The Boy Scouts
are very active and are planning more sophisticated events with overnighters and meals.
Guidance was given restricting tents to one person, or with a parent. Scout leaders are
receiving training on how to serve meals during this time. Other applications were received
from the DPW for a gathering for DPW day, and RMLD Bike Swap Day.
The Senior Center is extending bus routes. The same amount of people Is allowed on the
bus at one time, but transportation is expanding beyond just trips for medical appointments
to include trips to the grocery store and other events. Community Services Director Kevin
Bohmiller is working with the Health Division to re-open the Senior Center slowly and
carefully.
Next Meeting Agenda Items: Final comments:
Though the next regularly scheduled meeting is May 6th, Dr. Lopez suggested skipping the
6th and holding the next meeting as scheduled on May 20th. Reasons include: giving MAPC
time to process the Board's feedback from this evening and prepare ahead of the next
meeting, posting the Health Director position and hopefully having some candidates, and
COVID cases stabilizing. Though he asked members to hold the date of May 6th open for a
meeting should Important matters arise and a meeting is needed. Board members agreed.
In the interim, Mr. Mlrandi will provide updates via email as needed.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:35pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
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