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Home My WebLink About2024-02-08 Board of Health MinutesQ�yN Orq� Meeting Minutes Town of Reading x° 6J9'IMOAYUPI' Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2024-02-08 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 Member Kevin Sexton Members - Not Present: Geri Cramer Others Present: Health Director Ade Solarin, Chris Dimattei Colleen Dimattei, The Yangs, Linna Yang, Larry Yang, Maureen Buzby, and Lei Reilley 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 7:04 PM and reviewed the agenda. Roll Call: Paula Curren, Kerry Dunnell, Kevin Sexton, and Richard Lopez. 12 59 Review/Approval of Minutes from January 11th. 2024 Two corrections were made to the January minutes. The first correction was adjusting Nancy Doktor to Nancy Docktor. The second correction was changing Paul to Paula. Motion to approve the Minutes from January 11th, 2024. Paula- Yes, Kerry- Yes, and Richard- Yes Public Comment No Public Comment Readina Shell- 110 Main Street A tobacco product was sold to a minor at Reading Shell on January 6, 2024, at approximately Slam. The violation comes with a $1,000 fine and a suspension of the store's tobacco license for 3 days. Richard Lopez states that no one from 110 Main Street is present and requested the matter be discussed after the next agenda item (tobacco updates) hoping a representative of Reading Shell would show up by the end of the updates. After the Tobacco Updates, no one was in attendance to represent 110 Main Street. It was stated that the fine was paid, and the dates of suspension needed to be decided. The Board decided that the best dates for the suspension of Reading Shell's tobacco license would be February 26th through the 28th. Tobacco Control Update Maureen Buzby began sharing updates on tobacco. The first update was that the Town of Malden had a hearing focused on the Nicotine Free Generation Policy on January 31u, 2024. Page 1 1 Based on the outcome of the hearing, it was determined that the residents and the community embraced the idea, but business owners were against it. No decision was made, and no vote was conducted at this hearing. It was a great opportunity to listen to their community's input. Another update was an article in the Boston Globe on Delta 8 gummies. Maureen Buzby stated they are supposedly CBD -infused but are concerned about THC -like effects. Another update, ZYN pouches are growing in popularity across all generations. Maureen Buzby stated that when she inspected one of the tobacco establishments, she not only saw the shelves stocked with ZYN pouches but under the counter was flooded with boxes of ZYN products. The pouches are low in price and there is no excise tax on them since the Department of Revenue hasn't documented this type of nicotine product currently. Maureen Buzby also introduced the product of THC -infused seltzer water that is being sold at local liquor stores. You do not need to be of age to purchase these products, but some retailers are taking precautions and will check your I.D. prior to sale. Maureen Buzby's last update was that the regulation intended to restrict the sale of Flavored tobacco products, including Menthol Cigarette, is pending approval on a federal level. 166 High Street Motion to open the Administrative Hearing with a second from Kerry Dunnell. Paula- Yes, Kerry- Yes, and Richard- Yes Ade Solarin, Health Director, started the Administrative Hearing by reporting that on February 70, 2024, the Yang's complied with the Cease -and -Desist order dated January 24th. All animals have been removed, cages and coops have been dismantled. The coops that are too heavy to be moved have been boarded up and all materials associated with keeping animals/birds on the property have been removed. As a result, Mr. Solarin recommends the Board take no further action or legal action, and deem this case closed. The Yang's in the future may come to the Board and ask if the Ban can be lifted and proceed with applying for a new permit. Richard Lopez asks anyone representing the Yangs to step forward and make any comments. Lei Reilly, the Yang's Attorney, states she is representing the Yangs and will speak on the matter at 166 High Street. Lei Reilly announces she was approached by her good friends, the Yangs, to be their attorney and represent them on the matter of the Cease -and -Desist order. Reilly was unaware of the Inspection that occurred on February 7"', 2024, and that the Yangs are now in compliance with the Cease -and -Desist order. The last Lei Reilly knew of the situation was that the Yangs were already in full compliance on January 8'h when the Animal Control Officers came by to inspect. The Yangs were not in compliance as well as denied the inspectors access to the garage and basement where birds have been potentially housed in the past. Lei Reilly stated that the inspectors were allowed back a little while after the Yang's denied entrance. Lei Reilly stated that the Animal Control Officers were denied entrance because the Yangs were concerned for their privacy. Lei Reilly is requesting that the ban be lifted and that the Board allow the Yang's to proceed with their permit, allowing them to keep chickens at 166 High St. Linna Yang, daughter of The Yangs, steps in and reassures the Board that her parents now understand what needs to be done and will appear in front of the board next month to ask for the ban to be lifted. Ade Solarin proceeds to announce the process that needs to be followed by the Yang's. They will come in front of the Board in March to lift the ban and if that's granted, apply for a new permit. They need to follow those instructions, give site plans, list all materials being used, pay, and then have an inspection. Once they have received their permit, they can proceed. Richard Lopez asks if there are any final comments on the Keeping of Animal Ban at 166 High St. Linna Yang thanks all members for their time, as well as Ade Solarin and his team for walking her family through the process and all of their help. Linna Yang states that she Page 1 2 will be helping with the whole process going forward and she looks forward to the meeting in March. Motion to close the Administrative Hearing with a second from Kerry Dunnell. Paula- Yes, Kerry- Yes, and Richard- Yes The Board decided to let the Yangs come in front of the Board on March 14 and request a lift on the Ban placed for the Keeping of Animals at 166 High St. Motion to approve the decision, seconded by Kerry Dunnell. Paula- Yes, Kerry- Yes, and Richard- Yes Community Health Needs Assessment Update Richard Lopez begins to conduct the update on the Community Health Needs Assessment. He stated that Jaime Hoebeke, Ade Solarin, and himself met to think about what the next steps would be since the survey didn't have a significant number of responses. Richard Lopez explained that there will be a meeting with Department Heads and the Community Agencies about working with the Planning team on achieving the five goals presented by the Community Health Needs Assessment. Richard Lopez states that the five goals are going to be simplified for easy comprehension. Health Department Monthly Report Ade Solarin opened the monthly update with the Vision Clinic being brought to the town by 20/20 Onsite for residents and employees on March 25'h, 2024. He proceeded into the Hearing Clinic being held by Beltone on February 260, 2024, for adults and employees as well. The Nurse position is still vacant, and we are still looking for the right candidate to fill the position. Health Numbers for the Month of January: • 12 Food Inspections with 1 Food Re -inspection • 2 Body art Inspections • 2 Housing Complaints and 2 Housing Inspections • 2 Solid Waste Complaints and 2 Solid Waste Inspections Final Comments Richard Lopez opens final comments. Three applicants for the Board positions have been submitted to the Town Manager's office. We are waiting for them to schedule a Volunteer Appointment Committee meeting. Richard Lopez stated Jackie McCarthy was our liaison but since she has parted from us, he is unsure how the process will unfold. Carlo Bacci was also mentioned as the board's liaison to the selectboard. Lastly, on the front page of the Globe, it stated opioid funds were underutilized and only 20% of the amount awarded has been spent towards the opioid crisis. Kerry Dunnell stated that it's a difficult thing to spend a lump sum of money and that it would be great to have the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support, Erica, and her staff, come to a meeting and speak on this topic. Adiourn Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:31 PM. Roll call: Kerry -Yes, Paula -Yes, Richard -Yes Materials Used: • Minutes from January 11, 2024 • Images for Tobacco Updates • Vision Flyer • Hearing Flyer Page 1 3