HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-02-02 Board of Health MinutesO� OFq qO'
Town of Reading Nit G E I V,- D
Meeting Minutes 'OWN CLERK
Board - committee - Commission - Council: W) AUG 28 PN �30
Board of Health
Date: 2023-02-02 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Virtual Location: Zoom
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Meeting - Remote Session Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell, Associate Member Kevin
Sexton, Associate Member Geri Cramer, Paula Curren
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Public Health Director Ade Solarin, Public Health Nurse Malorie MacDonald,
Jackie LaVerde, Maureen Buzby, Genday Pilyaysky, David Zeek, Nurjahan,
Narcissa Lyons, Cheryl Sbarra
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Cassidy Keegan
Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:03PM and reviewed the evenings
agenda.
Review/Approval of Minutes for January 12t and 24th 2023
On a motion Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Paula Curren the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to
approve the meeting minutes of January 12"' and 24th 2023.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren- Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez- Yes.
Update Community Health Needs Assessment RFP effort
Public Health Director Ade Solarin stated Pear Associates, LLC received the official notice
and fully executed contract, and noted that they are thrilled to work with the Town of
Reading. They offered to do a kick off meeting that would Include setting the framework for
the community health needs assessment project. Mr. Solarin stated that he would be
reaching out to community partners and stakeholders in the next taming weeks.
Plastic Implementation
Public Health Director Ade Solarin stated that this Bylaw will become official once the
Attorney General approves it, which is expected by the end of March. This new bylaw will
have a 12 -month implementation phase and which is anticipated to go Into full effect by
April 2024. David Zeek, Chair of the Climate Committee, was present to discuss
implementation.
David Zeek stated that the town will need to start advertising in newspapers and such.
Businesses affected by this Bylaw should be fully aware once it is in full affect so there are
no delays once it is enforced. There will need to be a way to educate residents and business
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owners about the bylaw. Dr. Lopez proposed handing out Flyers to local business owners or
inviting business owners to a meeting to go over the bylaw and what It entails. Kerry
Dunnell agreed about educating the residents and business owners finding a way to educate
everyone.
Update Tobacco Reaulations
Public Health Director Ade Solarin stated that the Board members received two documents
about the Tobacco Regulations: Comprehensive Tobacco Sales Regulations 2023 and
Reading Board of Health Draft Original and State. If the board agrees, they can vote to
adopt the updated state regulations, then continue to review the local regulations. On a
motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to
adopt the updated State Tobacco Regulations into Reading's tobacco regulations as
presented
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Maureen Buzby, Regional Tobacco Coordinator, Continued with Cigar Sales and Regulations.
The state regulations stay the same, but within local regulations, they can be tweaked. The
suggested single cigar price is $2.80 and a multipack of cigars Is $5.80. The goal of this
section Is to make cigars less affordable and harder to reach for those under age. On a
motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to set
the price of single cigar pack at $3.00 and a multipack at $6.00.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes
The Board then discussed continuing the blunt wrap ban.
On a motion by Dr. Lopez, and seconded by Ms. Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-0-0 to
keep the blunt wrap ban in the local regulations.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Self Service Displays, such as humidors, are not allowed in family friendly stores unless
locked up. In adult -only stores, they don't need to be locked up. Reading has no Adult -Only
stores.
Section S focuses on two options: State/Local Distinction or Unified Fining Structure. It talks
about violations and how to penalize those who violate the regulations in place. Option one
Is a dual structure, which entails state charges would be different and the fines have a
larger range.
State charges are $1,000 for first offense, $2,000 for second offense and $5,000 for your
third. These state laws entail egregious violations such as selling to a minor. The question is
whether local violations, such as humidors, blunt wrap and cigar sales, should stay at the
current minimum fees of $100 for first offense, $200 for second and $300 for third, or to
Increase the fines.
Option two is a unified structure, in which state and local offenses would be charged at state
violations no matter what. For example, the $1,000 violation fee would apply for first
offense of selling to a minor as well as selling a blunt wrap.
The Board of Health discussed and agreed to adopt option one, but will discuss further next
month as to which violations would warrant the higher state fees, and what the local fine
amounts should be.
The words May and or more will be removed from this section to make a clear point that
these Shall be the violation charges.
On a motion by Richard Lopez, and seconded by Kerry Dunnell, a vote to have Board of
Health adopt the suspension periods for first offense as three days, second would be seven
days and third would be 30 days.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
Reading Coalition Update
Kerry Dunnell stated that last month's Coalition meeting was canceled due to the weather.
Health Department Monthly Report
Public Health Director Ade Solarin stated that there is no update on 365 Ash St.
Shared Services Grant received two payments coming together to be $150,000. Public
Health Director Ade Solarin also stated that he wants to hire a Shared Services Coordinator
to take care of this grant while also considering another Public Health Nurse and Public
Health Inspector.
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In conjunction with the Coalition, the Health Department will be hosting a Narcan Training
at the library on February 21°', 2023.
Inspections conducted:
e 19 food establishments
e 3 re -inspections
e 1 closure due to a fire
e 3 housing complaints (Washington street there was an abandon house, Main street
trash issue, and Pleasant street for trash in yard).
e There was also a trash Complaint on 565 Main Street (Oversized Dumpster)
Public Health Nurse Malorle MacDonald stated:
25 active cases of Covid (5 cases in people who are 38 and younger, 20 cases in
those older than 18)
97 influenza cases since September
e Vaccine clinic is February 3r°.
Next Meetina Agenda Items: Final Comment
Dr. Lopez stated that Town Manager Fidel Maltez mentioned that the petition for a five -
member board has been sent to state legislation. He also reminded members that the
emergency order allowing remote -only meetings expires March 31�. Hybrid meetings may
be allowed to continue in April, though it is still uncertain. The next meeting will be on
March 2nd. Kerry Dunnell requested written Health Department monthly reports
Adiourn
On a motion by Richard Lopez, and seconded by Kerry Dunnell, the Board of Health voted 3-
0-0 to adjourn at 8:48 pm.
Roll call vote: Paula Curren -Yes, Kerry Dunnell-Yes, Richard Lopez -Yes.
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