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Home My WebLink About2024-04-11 Board of Health Minutes+'orxo � � Town of Reading !,y� _ Meeting Minutes �xronr° Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2024-04-11 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Virtual Location: Zoom Address: Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Meeting- Remote Session Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK RR&PING, MA. 2024 JUN 12 AM 9: 59 Chair Richard Lopez, Kerry Dunnell Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel and Paula Curren Members - Not Present: Geri Cramer Others Present: Health Director Ade Solarin, Jennifer Velazquez, and Narcissa Lyons 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 7:02 PM and reviewed the agenda. Roll Call: Paula Curren, Kerry Dunnell, Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, and Richard Lopez. Board members introduced themselves to Joan Wetzel and welcomed her as the newest addition to the Board of Health. Review/Approval of Minutes from March 14th 2024 There were two adjustments made to the March minutes and were corrected. Motion to approve March 14th, 2024, minutes, seconded by Kerry Dunnell. Roll Call: Kerry- Yes, Paula- Yes, Kevin- Yes, Joan- Yes and Richard- Yes. Public Comment No public comment. Adoption of 2022 Food Code Health Director Ade Solarin introduces the Food Code 2022 and states that we are currently using Food Code 2013. Mr. Solarin presents the positives of upgrading to Food Code 2022 and brings in the health inspector, Jennifer Velazquez, to present the major updates made to the Food Code since 2013. Jennifer Velazquez starts with the "Person in Charge" portion where the person in charge (PIC) must be a food protection manager at all times and have a valid certificate. The next topic is "Raw Animal Foods", it states that you must maintain the requirement set in 2017, that these raw food types be cooked to 155°F for 17 seconds. Third is "Cook -Chill or Sous Vide", the 2017 FDA Food Code added that establishments that package time/temperature control for safety food using a cook -chill or sous vide process must ensure that food cooled to 5°C ( 41°F) in a sealed package and then cooled within 48 hours to 1°C (34°F) shall be Page 1 1 discarded or used within 7 -days of being brought back up to 5°C (410F). This time cannot exceed 30 days from its package date. Fourth is "Time= max up to 4 hours", this means if food has an initial temperature of 70°F it must be discarded in 4 hours. The fifth update is "Other Forms of Information", major food allergens must be labeled on any bulk or unpackaged food item available for customer self-service. The sixth is "Handwashing Sink", the 2022 Food Code lowered the minimum hand sink water temperature from 100°F to 85°F. Also, the 2017 FDA Food Code removed the ability for some food establishments such as low- risk mobile food, to use chemically treated towelettes in place of handwashing sinks. The last update is "Prohibiting Animals", which Is about allowing pet dogs in outdoor dining areas with the approval of the regulatory authority. Richard Lopez asks Jennifer Velazquez how someone goes about receiving the title of food protection manager and Mrs. Velazquez answers by stating there is an exam, and you will have to study but it is useful and good for 5 years. The outcome of the Adoption of the Food Code 2022 consists of the Board agreeing to plan a public hearing in the future months. Draft of Nicotine -Free Generation Hearina Notice Ade Solarin shares an image of the proposed hearing notice to work with the Board to finalize the draft. Ade states he will post the hearing notice and draft copies of the policy changes before the hearing for residents to view. Mr. Solarin says we will need to pick a date for the hearing, review the details of the notice and take notes for adjustment. The Board decided the Health Administrator, Cassidy Keegan, could put out a poll for board members to help facilitate picking a date and time that works best for the week of May 20. Kevin Sexton states that the week of the 13'^ will not work because the election that will happen the next day may result in a reduced participation rate. The Board discusses the times that each topic should be assigned and concludes that Maureen Buzby would be best to ask for advice on the time slots. The Board was concerned that if we run short or run over the assigned time slots, do we still meet protocols? As for the date of birth that would restrict consumption of nicotine, the Board has elected to stick with January Su, 2004, to be consistent with similar policies proposed in surrounding municipalities. Kevin and Kerry made a point stating that consumers under the age of 21 haven't been able to purchase tobacco products so this proposal is not taking away anyone's rights currently. Draft of Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Hearing Notice The Board is discussing holding multiple hearings on the same day. Ideas were Floated about holding the CHIP hearing and tobacco hearing on the same day. Ade Solarin makes the point that all the hearings don't need to be on the same day so we can give each topic a separate day thereby providing optimal time to talk about each proposal. Kerry Dunnell adds that we also need to focus on the concern of giving stakeholders enough time to share their opinions. Kerry Dunnell's suggestion is to possibly do a hearing topic one day and then another two on a different night. Kerry Dunnell asks that when the hearing notice is posted the details, rights, authority, citations, and other priorities be included in the notice. Ade Solarin confirms that residents and stakeholders would be able to access the Health Department's website to see each document with proposed changes highlighted. Opioid Settlement Funds Richard Lopez gives a presentation on the Opioid Settlement Funds. The PowerPoint touched upon how Massachusetts retained 60 % of the funds for state-wide programs. It also touched upon how much these towns have received and how much was spent as of June 30, 2023. Roughly 1 million was distributed and about 21 thousand has been spent. The last slide consisted of opioid deaths and ER visits between 2018-2022 In these towns. The total was 215 deaths between 2018-2022 and ER visits totaled 971 from July 2022 to June 2023. Kerry Dunnell states she wants to learn more about what ways to use these funds in order to have a more positive impact. Ade Solarin announces that Erica McNamara from the coalition is willing to come to a Board of Health meeting and speak on this topic. Joan Wetzel asks if there is a date this money needs to be spent and Richard Lopez and Kerry Dunnell say there is no precise time to spend it. Page 1 2 Review of New Town Charter as it Relates to Board of Health The Board deliberates the Board of Health's portion in the Town Charter and discusses if there needs to be any changes. The change that needs to be discussed concerns the duration of the terms as well as whether the writing should include two associate members. 3 -year terms with 1 term expiring each year may not work and Richard Lopez suggests two options. One idea is to make it a 5 -year term or 3 -year term with a minimum of 1 term expiring each year. Kerry makes the point that associate members are silent on other boards in the Charter and Kevin Sexton adds that boards can have associate members but not as many as the number of members required for quorum. Kevin Sexton suggested that term appointments are already set up in such a way that each member has a 3 -year term with a couple expiring every year. Kevin suggested the charter as written should be all set without having to make changes. Richard Lopez states that it seems everything should be left how it is written and no further action is needed. Health Department Monthly Report Updates for the month consisted of blood pressure screenings being held every first Wednesday of the month at the Pleasant Street Center by our Shared Services Nurse Leanne. The Mammography Van will be back on April 1V from 7:30-4 PM at the Town Hall for residents and employees. The disease surveillance shows that we had 9 cases of Influenza, 11 COVID, and 3 confirmed Tuberculosis. Ade Solarin states that North Reading opted out of the shared service and there's a possibility funding could be reduced for next fiscal year if there is no replacement. March Health Numbers: • 14 Food Inspections with 2 Re -inspections • 1 Food Orders Issued 2 Housing Complaints with 2 housing Inspections • 2 Housing Orders Inspections 1 Solid Waste Complaint and 1 Inspection Final Comments Final comments consisted of welcoming loan Wetzel and congratulating Kevin Sexton on becoming a full Board member. Ad' urn Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:24 PM, seconded by Kerry Dunnell. Roll Call: Paula- Yes, Kerry- Yes, Kevin- Yes, loan- Yes, and Richard- Yes. Materials Used: • March Minutes • Food Code 2022 • Draft of Hearing Notice • Town Charter • Opiold PowerPoint • Disease Surveillance • Blood Pressure Flyer • Mammography Van Flyer Page 1 3