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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 201 SEP 18 PH I: 45
Board of Health
Date: 2023-08-10 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, Kerry Dunnell and Paula Curren, Associate Members
Geri Cramer and Kevin Sexton
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Health Director Ade Solarin, Mary Ellen O'Neill and Jackie McCarthy
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Cassidy Keegan
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:01PM and reviewed this evening's
agenda.
Roll Call: Paula Curren, Kerry Dunnell, Geri Cramer, Kevin Sexton and Richard Lopez.
Review/Approval of Minutes from June 8'h. 2023
Reviewing the minutes, two typos were found by Health Director Ade Solarin, in the Public
Comment section and the Rodent Control Follow -Up section. Chair Richard Lopez had a few
adjustments as well including a portion in Public Comment, a few things in Rodent Control
Follow -Up, and in Annual Reorganization.
Motion to approve minutes.
Roll call: Kerry -Yes, Paula -Yes, Richard -Yes
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Rodent Control Follow -Up
Ade Solarin mentioned that Contrapest was purchased and gave a demonstration on how it
would be put together. He explained that It is not poisonous to animals and or humans. The
attractant gel only attracts rats and mice. Ade Solarin states that Jennifer Velazquez, Health
Inspector for Reading, will be taking the initiative in monitoring the boxes. Locations will
stay the same as the current bait boxes and will be adjusted accordingly, if needed. When
monitoring the activity level of the rats, an increase or decrease will be measured by the
amount of Contrapest being consumed. As these new bait boxes are being placed, this will
be a pilot until there is data to help analyze the best locations for the boxes and the
accurate activity level of rodents in Reading.
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Update: House Bill 2072
Dr. Lopez continues with House Bill 2072, which consists of expanding the Board to five
members. Richard Lopez has been in touch with Michael Smith, Deputy Chief of Staff and
Communication Director for Bradley Jones, and states the Bill is in the process of going
through various legislative hoops.
Update: Community Health Needs Assessment
Community Health Needs Assessment conducted nine to ten interviews among the five
focus groups. A survey is being created that will be directed towards the reading community
and should be coming out digitally and on paper. The survey should be available for 4-6
weeks, and we hope to reach 100 participants at a minimum.
Update: Shared Services Grant
Ade Solarin continues with the shared services grant and presents the work plan and budget
plan stating that he is waiting for approval. A shared services coordinator was hired, and
she will be joining the Board of Health members and Ade Solarin at the next meeting.
Readina Coalition Update
Kevin Sexton was not present at the Coalition meeting to do an update.
Health Department Monthly Report
Ade Solarin states that at this moment we don't have a Public Health Nurse and that the job
has been posted on multiple platforms.
Health Numbers:
• 14 Food Inspections
• 3 Food Re -inspections
• 1 Food Complaint
• 1 Temporary Food Permit
• 7 Animal Control Inspections
• 1 Housing Complaint and Inspection
• 1 Housing Order Inspection
• 1 Pool Complaint and Inspection
• 2 Solid Waste Complaints and Inspections
Final Comments
Next Meeting will be held on September 14, 2023.
Adiourn
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:52PM.
Roll call: Kerry -Yes, Paula -Yes, Richard -Yes
Materials Used:
• June 8th Minutes
• Budget Plan
• Work Plan
• Draft Survey Tool
• Contrapest Bait Box
• Article about Bald Eagles
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