HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-20 Board of Health Minutes RECSI'VED
Town of Reading TOWN CLERK
^o Meeting Minutes READING, MA.
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�M 2121 JUN 21 AM 9: 53
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2021-05-20 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 Delos, Interim Health Director Peter Mirandi,
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Mark
Fine MAPC, Barry Keppard MAPC, Laura Vlasuk
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 7:03pm and reviewed the evening's
agenda.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Update Status of Health Director Position Recruitment:
Assistant Town Manager Jean Delios stated that the Town is moving forward with the job
posting for the Health Director. It will be posted in the usual places: Massachusetts
Municipal Association (MMA), Town website (readingma.gov), Massachusetts Health Officials
Association (MHOA), and various listservs so it can get out to the community. Mark Fine of
MAPC also volunteered to circulate the job posting. The Board briefly discussed the hiring
process, and who might be included on a hiring committee. Dr. Lopez stated he would
follow up with the Town Manager to find out who will provide input on the process.
MAPC Proposal and Review:
Mark Fine and Barry Keppard of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), were in
attendance to present the draft scope of work for the Health Department Internal
assessment. The draft was based on the RFP submitted back in November of 2020,
reflected feedback provided by the Board at their April 15, 2021 meeting, and was scaled to
ft the project appropriately. It Includes objectives, staffing, and participation of Sam Wong,
former Health Director of Framingham, as a subject matter expert and support on the
project. The project team will first conduct an internal assessment on the delivery of Public
Health Services, assess the performance of fulfilling mandated Public Health services, and
make recommendations to strengthen Public Health services to meet standards if the
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department is not already meeting them. This will include a look at the budget, charter,
and ordinances. Up to ten key stakeholders will be interviewed Including Board of Health
members, Health Department staff, and other Individuals the Board feels are worth
engaging. Four peer community service models would be used for comparison. The project
will also Include a look at how shared services can work with Lynnfield. The project is
expected to conclude in November and will be wrapped up with a final memo that brings
together all of the information collected with recommendations. As work progresses, the
project team will provide periodic updates to the Board.
A broad discussion between the Board members and MAPC included: resources that MAPC
utilize on such projects; factors in selecting which peer communities to compare; compiling
a list of stakeholders to interview; and studies used to evaluate budget. Following
discussion, Ms. Delos suggested adding a detailed work plan that is broad in scope that the
Board can be involved in planning.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to approve utilizing MAPC to perform an internal analysis of the Health
Division as outlined in the Scope of Work presented, with timeline and budget
consideration previously discussed.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
Update Status of Grant Proposal:
Ms. Delios stated that the grant application for Shared Services was approved. However,
there are a lot of variables Impacting the Town's eligibility. Wilmington has withdrawn their
interest, which leaves only Reading and Lynnfield, one community short of the required
three. Ms. Delios and Mr. Mirandl have been working with the state and attending trainings,
while the Town Manager is working hard to find other interested communities. The state
plans to get contracts out this week and want agreements in place by June 30th.
The state plans to offer more of these shared services grants in the future, so if the Town Is
not able to get this one, it can apply for another one.
Update Reading Coalition:
Kevin Sexton recapped the latest Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support meeting held
in late April. The Coalition is starting a mapping project to look at how they work with the
court system, how people Interact with the court system, and how to keep people with
mental health issues out of the court system.
Town Meeting voted to approve adding a Social Worker position to the Police Department,
which will fall under the Coalition. Ms. Dunnell inquired about the types of models and
involvement on calls with police officers. Mr. Sexton offered to research further and report
back to Mr. Mirandl. Ms. Dunnell also noted that having this position sets the Town up for
other grants and support. Ms. Curren noted that COVID's impact on mental health is the
"next pandemic,"and Reading is forward thinking by adding such a position.
Review of Minutes:
The Board reviewed the meeting minutes of April 15, 2021. Ms. Dunnell corrected the
spelling of Safe Act to the acronym SAPHE Act.
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 April 15, 2021 as amended.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren-Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
Health Division Monthly Report:
To date approximately 60% of food establishments have been inspected. Mr. Mirandi
shared a concern raised by Jane Kinsella, DPW Director, about grease generated by food
establishments getting into the disposal and wastewater system. Health Inspector Daniel
Markman setup a database to collect data on grease traps, and Health Inspector John
Fralick will begin to ask food establishments what they are doing with their grease effective
June 1n.
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Mr. Mirandi noted that Health Inspector Daniel Markman is not comfortable doing all
inspections and would like to take on a more technical role using OpenGov. He explained
that he will have Mr. Markman shadow himself and other staff to build up his confidence and
experience as an inspector in the field.
COVID-19 Updates:
Case Count Updates
Public Health Nurse Kristine Harris provided the latest number of COVID cases, which
continue to decline.
Total Cases = 1,912
New Active Cases This Week = 7
Total Deaths = 49
Transferred Cases = 10
Total Recovered = 1,846
Ms. Harris stated that she continues to have weekly meetings with Mary Gluliana, Head
Nurse at RMHS. There was only one of a staff member case at RMHS. There was one
positive pool test at the Coolidge Middle School, and that pool Is now being quarantined.
Ms. Gluliana was able to get approval to hold a vaccination clinic on May 26th and May 27th
to vaccinate students age 12 and over.
There have been no new cases at Austin Prep in sports or any other students.
There are no clusters In the community.
Ms. Harris continues to work with School Nurses and Senior Center Nurse Advocate and is
collaborating with them on COVID guidance. She also meets weekly with Public Health
Nurse Shuang Shen to discuss nursing issues and important projects. Other topics in the
community that she would like to work on include: skin cancer, smoking cessation,
behavioral health, alcohol and drug addiction, and depression.
Ms. Harris reviewed the plans for the High School prom with Ms. Gluliana. The event will be
held at a large outdoor venue In Topsfield. Ms. Gluliana and other school nurses will be In
attendance.
COVID Vaccination Update
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen shared COVID vaccination and Town website updates.
There have been 1,121 total doses of COVID vaccine administered, Including Moderna and
Johnson &Johnson, with a total of 567 individuals vaccinated at the clinics hosted by the
Town.
Ms. Shen has updated information on the website in collaboration with Business
Administrator Jayne Wellman. The Urgent Alert has been unpublished, and all COVID
Information has been published to a page accessed by clicking the yellow button on the
homepage. The updated page includes vaccination video, reopening information, the COVID
dashboard, and other COVID-19 resources. It will be updated again after guidance changes
on May 29th. The future plan for the website is to update It with community health
information including disease prevention and health promotion, and behavioral health
information.
Pertinent Incident Command Updates
Ms. Dunnell stated that there was an abrupt end to command meetings, and expressed
concern that there are still things that may benefit from Command guidance such as
reimbursements, homebound vaccinations, reopening of the Senior Center, prom guidance,
and other things relative to the incident, as it is still active. Not having the ability to
coordinate decisions with Command may put too much weight on the Health Department.
Other
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The Board discussed reopening Town buildings in light of restrictions being lifted by the
State, and whether things like self-screening forms and contact tracing would still be
needed. Town Hall is not yet ready to open due to a recent Flood and ongoing repairs. Ms.
Dunnell noted that the Board voted to close the senior center and would need to vote to
open it back up. Ms. Delios presented a spreadsheet created by former Chair Eleanor
Shonkoff that listed the decisions relative to COVID-19 made by the Board, and votes to
rescind any of those decisions. Ms. Delios stated that she and Mr. Mirandi will review the
sheet and determine if there are any other orders that may need to be rescinded.
Next Meeting Agenda Items: Final Comments:
A Board meeting will be held on June 3'^ to discuss reopening the Pleasant Street Center.
Per the bylaw, Boards need to vote to reorganize between June let and July lit each year.
The reorganization vote will be on the June 17th meeting agenda.
With the State of Emergency being lifted, it is not yet known whether the Board will meet
in-person or remotely at the next meeting.
Dr. Lopez shared a common practice with Hospital Boards and Boards of large medical
practices is to begin board meetings with a patient vignette, a brief presentation of a patient
case, what happened, and lessons learned. He would like this Board to think about how to
incorporate something similar for Board of Health meetings to educate the board members
as to what is happening on the front lines, and to help educate about the extensive
regulations.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 9:14pm.
Roll call vote: Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren-Yes, Richard Lopez-Yes.
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