HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-06 Board of Health MinutesTown of Reading �
Meeting Minutes `.
o 7-K
`+:,,cone✓ ..
'C�a Nbi -4 ill 2:25
Board - committee - commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2022-10-06 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:
Public Health Director Ade Solarin, Public Health Nurse Malone MacDonald,
Health Inspector Jennifer Velazquez, Carlo Bacci, Brian Paulsen, Narcissa
Lyons
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jacquelyn LaVerde
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called the meting to order at 7:04 pm.
Review/Approval of Minutes for September 8 2022:
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 September 8th, 2022.
Roll call vote: Richard Lopez - Yes, Kerry Dunnell - Yes, Paula Curren - Yes.
Review of Community Needs Assessment RFP and Process:
Health Director Ade Solarin shared the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Community Health
Needs Assessment. The four goals of the assessment include: identifying the public health
needs of the community from statistical and perceived view, develop short term and long-
term plans to address and identify Public Health needs, consider application for accreditation
by Public Health Accreditation Board, and to use the report in support of grant funding
specific to the needs identified in the assessment.
The company, or individual, must deliver the complete report and community health
Improvement plan, would have to manage the project, engage community partners,
perform data review, create focus groups and a community survey, draft the assessment for
review, and facilitate meetings for the development of community health need plans. The
RFPs are due on November V, with interviews to be conducted the week of November 14"',
notice of award the week of November 21+t, and work commencing the week of December
5°. The duration of the project is not yet determined, but Mr. Solarin suggested not more
than six months.
Page 1 1
The Board discussed Its role on the selection committee. Kerry Dunnell volunteered to be
the Board's representative.
MIAPC Recommendations — 6 -month update on oroaress:
Dr. Lopez shared a status update on the recommendations made by MAPC. In their report,
there were four specific goals with specific suggestions for each goal. Key hires including a
Public Health Clerk, Health Inspector, and Public Health Nurse have been completed. Health
Inspector Jennifer Velazquez is working to become a registered sanitarian. Software for
tracking permitting and inspections has been implemented. Town Meeting Article 11
proposes to expand Board membership to five full members.
Board of Health members Kerry Dunnell and Richard Lopez have completed the Foundations
of Public Health course, and Paula Curren is In process of completing. Kerry Dunnell has
completed the MAHB training.
There is a development plan underway for the Health Inspector and Public Health Nurse. All
staff have joined their respective associations.
Inter -departmental work groups have been created Including a hoarding task force and
incident command. Regional partnerships are being utilized Including Public Health Shared
Services and Regional Tobacco Control Collaboration.
Progress Is being made on opportunities to engage with the community, and the Community
Health Needs Assessment. Mr. Solarin Is working on setting up cultural competency training
Engagement and outreach will be an Item on the agenda in the next couple of months. The
Board will receive another progress update on MAPC recommendations in March or April.
Update on Shared Services Grant:
Mr. Solarin shared that a Public Health excellence grant for shared services was awarded to
North Andover, Andover, Reading, North Reading, Lynnfield, and Haverhill, with North
Andover as the lead community. The grant Is for $297,000 per year for three years, which
will provide for: a Coordinator (to be based in North Andover) to help manage the grant,
inspectional services, and epidemiological and nursing services.
COVID Guidelines:
Dr. Lopez noted that at the previous meeting, there were a couple of public comments on
opposite ends of the spectrum of what the Board might do with respect to interventions
around COVID, should there be another surge. He summarized the latest CDC guidelines,
level of COVID activity in the region, wastewater monitoring, and patterns of
hospitalizations. He asked what the Board should think about a potential surge, and how the
Board should react to that. He stated that he felt that the CDC has a reasonable format
schematic and reports data every week, which the Board can track and follow CDC
guidelines. The Board should make decisions based on the moment and could call an extra
meeting or two to discuss what ought to be done, by following the data, CDC guidelines,
and acting in a timelier manner, rather than waiting for a monthly meeting.
Board members agreed with the approach, but also discussed the need for further public
education regarding vaccination, and politically charged division in the community regarding
COVID guidelines.
r
Dr. Lopez reviewed the request by the Board to the Town Manager to Increase the number
of members on the Board of Health from three to five, which was also a recommendation of
MAPC's assessment. The Select Board has put forth an article on the upcoming Subsequent
Town Meeting warrant in November. If approved, it will allow the Select Board to petition
the legislature to allow the Board membership to Increase by next spring. Otherwise, the
Board would have to wait another two years for the next Charter Review.
Page 1 2
Dr. Lopez stated that the Town Manager had asked him to prepare a written report ahead of
Town Meeting and shared It with the Board for feedback. The biggest issues with the limited
membership Include: Chapter 111, which says Boards of Health are three members; and
Open Meeting Law, which says that anytime there Is a quorum of public bodies, it has to be
posted as a formal meeting. With two members being a quorum, It means members cannot
communicate with each other.
Members reviewed the write-up and mostly agreed with its content, and suggested that the
Associate Member verbiage be re -worded, as even though voting membership will increase
to five members, there will still be two associate seats.
There was also a question of who would present the Article at Town Meeting. Dr. Lopez
stated that he Is happy to present at Mr. Sexton's suggestion, so that he and Kerry Dunnell,
as Town Meeting members, can speak in favor of It.
Readina Coalition Update:
Kevin Sexton stated that the Coalition Recovery and Remembrance event took the place of
the September meeting, and was a very successful evening. Dr. Lopez noted that there
were individual stories laid out, speakers, and a candlelight vigil, and was a very moving
event.
Kerry Dunnell noted that Coalition Director, Erica McNamara, received the Peter J. Gomes
award for 2022, which was presented by Congressman Seth Moulton. The award recognizes
Individuals who exemplify values of unwavering commitment to community.
Health Department Monthly Report:
Health Director Ade Solarin provided an update on Department activities. The resident of
365 Ash Street was discharged from the hospital. His children are working on finding him a
hotel, but the Department does not know his current whereabouts.
The clean up at 34 Hartshorn seems to be moving in the right direction. Mr. Solarin and
Health Inspector Jennifer Velazquez visited the site today and observed fresh mulch on the
ground and a lot of weeds removed. Inspections will pause for the fall and resume in the
spring. Mr. Solarin will make a recommendation In spring or early summer whether to
recommend to the Board to remove the provision to hire a professional landscaper.
Over the last month, the Department conducted:
• 16 Food Establishment Inspections
• 3 Food Reinspection
• 3 Food Complaint Investigations
• 1 Housing Complaint
• 1 New Food Establishment Permit Issued (Ni Xing Sushi)
• 1 Food Establishment Closure (Green Tomato)
• 4 Rat Complaints
• 17 Temporary Food Permits Issued
With the help of the GIS Administrator, a map was generated to try and establish a
correlation between rat sightings and dumpster and sewer locations. The data is limited and
inconclusive at this point, except for a duster around Longfellow Road. The Department was
able to conclusively attribute some rat activity to the construction at the water tower site,
and they were able to identify opportunities for rodent control. The main goal is to figure
out a comprehensive plan. Mr. Solarin will be meeting with Yankee Pest Control in the next
week to figure out ways to mitigate the Issue.
Public Health Nurse Malorie MacDonald shared the latest epidemiological data and stated
that the COVID-19 case numbers remain steady. Most cases are Individuals over age 18.
There have been no new deaths, and there are no clusters besides households. There were
three cases of malaria due to people travelling outside the country. There were also three
Page 13
cases of lyme disease, one case of trichinosis from someone not cooking pork properly, and
one case of influenza.
The Health Department has scheduled a series of Flu and COVID vaccine clinics for the
coming month.
Public Comment:
There was no comment from the public.
Next Meeting Agenda Items: Final Comments:
The next meeting is scheduled for November.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted
3-0-0 to adjourn at 9:00 pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren — Yes, Kerry Dunnell — Yes, Richard Lopez — Yes.
Page 1 4