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Home My WebLink About2021-12-27 Board of Health Minutesall, Board - Committee Board of Health Date: 2021-12-27 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING: MA. TIC 2022 JAN -4 AM 9:38 Commission - Council: Building: Address: Purpose: Open Session - Remote Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM Location: Session: Open Session Version: Final Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Paula Curren; Associate Member Geri Cramer Members - Not Present: Associate Member Kevin Sexton Others Present: Public Health Director Ade Solarin, Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen, Nurse Advocate Alyse Warren, Community Services Director Kevin Bohmiller, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur; Public Attendance: Narcissa Lyons, Rebecca Liberman, Jack 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 7:01 pm. The Council on Aoina is reauesting the Board's assistance in implementing a mask mandate for all patrons and staff enterina the Pleasant Street Center: Community Services Director Kevin Bohmiller thanked the Board for convening so quickly to address the request for a mask mandate at the Pleasant Street Center. He stated that he is equally concerned for both the staff and the patrons. When the center reopened in June, patrons returned as they needed the socialization. Activities have been carefully reinstituted with as much social distancing as possible. With the omicron variant of the coronavirus picking up, the Council on Aging asked Mr. Bohmiller to request the mandate. Nurse Advocate Alyse Warren echoed Mr. Bohmiller's statements and asked the Board for guidance on whether to allow snacks during activities, and water for exercising activities. As Kevin Sexton was unable to attend the meeting, Health Director Ade Solarin read Mr. Sexton's email for the record: "I fully support the request from Kevin Bohmiller to have the Board of Health in favor of a mask mandate at the Pleasant Street Center." Ms. Curren asked what the vaccination and booster rates of the patrons are. Ms. Warren explained that staff was not allowed to ask, but guessed that a majority of them are fully vaccinated. Mr. LeLacheur explained that was the legal advice provided some time ago. Ms. Curren and Ms. Dunnell agreed that the advice might need to be revisited, as other venues require proof of vaccination. Page 1 1 Board members noted that while vaccination rates appear to be high, they agreed that a mask mandate at the Senior Center would be highly advisable, as its patrons are a vulnerable population in close contact. Ms. Dunnell noted additional circumstances that factored into her decision Including: the transmission is higher in the days before symptoms actually appear, members of the senior population likely have comorbidities putting them at a higher risk, and the burden our healthcare system is currently facing with staff shortages and increased hospitalized cases. Dr. Lopez advised that it is reasonable to allow water for exercise programs, but snacking Is not critical and requires masks to come down while sitting in close proximity to others. He recommended not providing snacks in those settings for the time being. On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Curren, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to mandate that masks be worn at the Pleasant Street Center. The Board will reconsider the mandate at its March 3, 2022 meeting. Roll call vote Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Paula Curren -Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes. Other COVID related issues: Town Manager Bob LeLacheur stated that he met with Department Heads two weeks ago for pre -holiday planning in the wake of the rising COVID cases, and decided to stagger work shifts and have employees who are able work from home. While masks are not required, employees are strongly encouraged to wear masks when not at their desk, and around others. The situation will be revisited in mid-January following the holiday surge. Mr. Solarin stated that a booster clinic was held today for first responders. There were 22 participants and 18 Moderna doses were administered, along with 4 Pfizer doses. Dr. Lopez noted that he has heard concerns that people trying to get boosters through CVS and Walgreens have found it difficult to get an appointment. The state, who earlier this year took control of the vaccine clinics, is now asking local cities and towns to supplement boosters. He requested the Town try to make it as accessible as possible. Mr. Solarin stated that he is awaiting a response from the state and will update the Board on additional clinic dates and times as they are scheduled. Ms. Dunnell requested a pediatric vaccine clinic be conveniently scheduled for families, as scheduling seems to be a barrier In getting younger children vaccinated. Ms. Shen noted that the next clinic for the schools is January 7'h at the Killam, and there is a link for registration. Public Comment: Narcissa Lyons of Bancroft Avenue expressed concerns about vaccination requirements and "passports" in other communities, such as Boston. She asked how to find out if such a topic were to be on the agenda, as business owners would want to attend. Dr. Lopez explained that the Board has not Issued such mandates and has no discussion about going there. Rebecca Liberman of Pratt Street, stated that though she works for the state, the opinions she is expressing are her own. She urged the Board to implement a mask requirement indoors in Reading, and cited the need to protect seniors not only at the Senior Center, but everywhere else they go, as well as protecting children too young to be vaccinated, immunocompromised people, and pregnant women. Dr. Lopez noted that the Board has discussed a mask mandate a couple of times, but has deferred on a decision. He believes masks works and wishes that DPH would have issued a mandate. But with cases climbing, and wastewater data showing an increase, it may be time for a more robust discussion and seriously think about a mask mandate. He also noted that if mandating, there are limited resources to enforce it. Ms. Dunnell agreed that enforcement will have an Impact on staff, but the ability to follow up on each complaint should not prevent putting a requirement in place. She cited the biggest factors she considered including: the high degree of contagion, the fact that it is contagious early even before symptoms, the lack of availability of testing, three available anti -body treatments, but only one is effective against omicron and is in short supply, and the increase in Biobot data. Dr. Lopez asked whether the Select Board has had any further discussions about meeting in-person. Mr. LeLacheur stated that they have not discussed it in the last couple of Page 1 2 months, but he noted that the Board of Health could think about discussing whether volunteer meetings should go fully remote for a period of time. Mr. Solarin shared individual mask policies, 14 -day daily average incidence rates, and case counts from eight nearby communities: • Wilmington: Mask mandate in municipal buildings, 14 -day average incident rate 78.8 per 100,000, 270 active cases; • North Reading: Mask mandate in municipal buildings, 97.3 per 100,000, 227 active cases; • Wakefield: No mask policy, 63 per 100,000, 239 active cases; • Stoneham: No mask policy, 67.7 per 100,000, 211 active cases; • Lynnfield: Masks required in municipal buildings, 76 per 100,000, 123 active cases; • Winchester: Masks required in all Indoor public spaces including municipal buildings, 38.8 per 100,000, 121 active cases; • Burlington: Masks recommended, 58.3 per 100,000, 227 active cases; • Reading: Mask recommendation, 55 per 100,000, 214 active cases; and • Woburn: Masks required for unvaccinated people entering municipal buildings, 61.4 per 100,000, 357 active cases. Winchester is the only community of the eight presented with an indoor mask mandate, and it has the lowest 14 -day incident rate. Dr. Lopez noted the socioeconomic variable, and more affluent communities have lower rates, and communities with lower socioeconomic status have higher rates. The next regularly scheduled Board of Health meeting is January 6'h. With time being of the essence following the post -holiday surge, the Board agreed to schedule an extra meeting before then, on Monday, January V, for the sole purpose of discussing a mask mandate in town. Public participation will be welcomed at that meeting. On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to adjourn at 8:06 pm. Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes. Page 1 3