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Board - Committee - Commission - Council: o: 5
Board of Health
Date: 2024-12-12 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 Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, Sophie
Hansen, and Sal Bramante
Members - Not Present:
Geri Cramer
Others Present:
Health Director Ade Solarin, Amelia Sellitto, Haley Murphy, Olivia Bartolomei
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Haley Murphy
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting was held remotely via Zoom.
Chair Richard Lopez called meeting to order at 7:01 PM
Roll Call: Sal Bramante, Kerry Dunnell, Sophie Hansen, Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, Richard
Lopez
Richard Lopez states the agenda, which includes introducing the new Health Administrative
Assistant, public comment, variance request for extension of compliance time related to an
Order- to -Correct at 1051 main street, regulation updates on human habitation, RFP for a
comprehensive rodent management consultant, regulation update on dumpster regulation and
food code, monthly report, and closing comments
Ade introduces the new admin assistant, Haley Murphy.
Public Comment:
Jennifer Killeen wishes to emphasize the concerns being raised by her and her neighbors over a
specific issue for 5 years with no meaningful action. It is about an uncovered dumpster with
ample food waste that is located next to an active rodent population. She strongly disagrees with
delaying action on the dumpster issue in order to develop a rodent activity map for the town as
she questions the validity of the data for the map. Jennifer suggests that seeclickfix, be updated
to include an option to report rodent activity. She asks why the dumpster regulations were posted
if the town did not have the authority to enforce the program.
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Mary Cooper: Tenant at 1051 Main Street, joining in to see what the decision will be on the
variance request and the process going forward over the issues at her home.
Variance Reguest for 1051 Main Street:
Kevin Sexton, Sal Bramante, and Kerry Donnell have all had some type of interaction with
Charles Bubo before this meeting. None of these members felt like they should remove
themselves from this discussion as they all have the ability to act impartial and unbiased.
Health Director, Ade Solaria states that on December 3, 2024, the Public Health Department
responded to a complaint at this address and a comprehensive inspection was conducted. As a
result of this inspection, multiple violations were discovered. The violations include but are not
limited to missing smoke alamrs, windows not capable of being locked or staying up when open,
broken window panels, cracks in the walls, the foundation is not weathertight, and burrows were
found on property.
Charles Barbo is the owner of the property; he is requesting an extension of compliance time.
His contractor informed him that there is a 3 to 4 month wait for windows to be delivered, and he
is willing to provide this in writing if needed. He has also received second and third opinions
from other window companies, receiving the same answer. An exterminator was called in regard
to a pest issue. If there is a deceased animal under the foundation that has since been closed up,
the exterminator will not open up walls or foundation.
Ade explains that these timeframes to correct come from housing code, some violations are
granted one day fixes while others are granted thirty days. Charles was asked if there was a
temporary fix that could be put in place for now. Ade recommends granting a two-week
extension as long as the one -day violations are taken care of. The motion is amended to state that
there should be an inspection done before the board meeting. Ade states re -inspections don't
have to wait until February 1". The final motion is that all repairs will be completed no later than
January 6" with the exception of the replacement of the windows and foundation repairs.
Member Sal Bramante suggests by the next meeting scheduled for January 9, 2025, that Charlie
has a report on the timeframe of the window replacement and foundation repairs. Richard
accepts the friendly amendment to his motion, Sal seconded. Every member of the board voted
in favor of this motion.
Human Habitation Regulations Update:
The prior regulations for the town were in conflict with the updated state regulations. This
information combined with the updated town regulations comes directly from the Massachusetts
state regulations for Human Habitation. The Town of Reading's regulation correlates with the
state's previous housing code. Amending this regulation comes with the purpose of being able to
meet the requirements of the new housing code and to highlight specific aspects such as pests,
refuse, and collection or storage of debris on private property. Richard makes a motion to adopt
the proposed revisions to the Reading Human Habitation code for section 10. Kerry seconds and
it is voted yes unanimously.
Comprehensive Rodent Manaeement Consult:
Ade states that a binding contract needs to be executed by December 31", 2024, for a pest
control plan, if not, all approved ARPA funds in the amount of $21,359.91 will be returned to the
U.S. Treasury. A request of quotes was sent out to five companies for rodent control services in
different portions of the town. Ade made a proposal to the town manager that would allow DPW
to contract with their own pest control company that will cater to their construction schedule to
proactively prevent the spread of rodents. Ade states that these recently re -allocated ARPA funds
will be used as needed and if the Health Department needs more funds, he will go to the town
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meeting in April and secure more funds. The Request for Quotes (RFQ) states that rodent control
is the use of safe, humane and environmentally friendly pesticides and/or the use of approved
devices, on an on call and as -needed basis. Ade also requires a summary of the company's
understanding of the services requested.
Dumpster and Food Code Reeulations:
Section 4 of the Dumpster Regulation and section 9 of the Food Code Regulation have been
updated and will be voted on at a subsequent meeting. The dumpster regulation was revised to
ensure proper compliance with the general laws of the Commonwealth, specifically section 31a
and 31b of chapter 111, 105 CMR 410, and the Town of Reading General Bylaw article 1,
section 8.1.1. Penalties for these regulations include $50.00 for the first offense, $100.00 for the
second offense, and $150.00 for the third offense. Each day that the offense continues shall
constitute a separate offense, as well as suspension or revocation of permits as deemed necessary
by the Reading Public Health Department.
These updated regulations are a combination of state regulations and reading Specific solutions
to specific complaints received over time. The town's updated food regulation was made to be
more in correlation with the FDA 2013 food code and 105 CMR 590 State sanitary code chapter
10, minimum standards for food establishments. The food establishments have been
recategorized to meet the FDA Risk retail standards for good practice. With these updated
regulations, we now have the authority to recategorize at any time, a food establishment that we
feel is a risk to the public. A re -inspection fee was introduced to incentivize restaurants to avoid
subsequent re -inspections. The first reinspection fee is $50.00, $100 for the second, and $150 for
the third. Another new aspect incorporated is the requirement of a food consultant or registered
sanitarian for any new restaurant plan review. A fee of $150.00 was added for a plan review for
new restaurants. The shared collaborative is looking to standardize food inspections across all
member municipalities so that we can accept each other's inspection reports with regards to
mobile food trucks.
Monthly
Report:
•
69 permit renewals have been sent
•
Waiting for 40 more renewals
•
27 inspections, one reinspection
•
One complaint and order issue
•
16 Covid Cases in November
•
1 case of Campylobacter
•
7 Influenza Cases
3 blood pressure clinics per month
Monthly Flu Clinics
Domino's owner states they are fighting illegal dumping and will continue to maintain the
dumpster in compliance with our regulations. The dumpster has been cleaned up and the owner
has purchased a lock to prevent illegal dumping. The dumpster has been in compliance since
December 4'", 2024.
The Public Health Nurse, Liv, is starting a diabetes donation program. This program will allow
residents to donate diabetic supplies that will get donated to the American Diabetes Association
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as well as Insulin for Life USA. The Senior Center has been working to bring in a nurse
practitioner to provide Podiatry Care to senior citizens.
The Health Department is partnering with a mammography van, a vision screening van, and a
hearing screening company to provide health screenings for town residents. The Health
Department is chipping away at the CHIP Plan and will have better visuals and updates at a
future meeting.
Nicotine Free Generation Amendment is effective starting January 1", 2025. As of this date, the
sale of all nicotine products is prohibited to anyone bom on or after January 1", 2004.
Final Comments: None
Adioum:
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:24 PM
Roll Call: Sal Bramante, Kerry Duonell, Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, Richard Lopez
Materials used:
1051 Inspection Report
Human Habitations Regulations
Dumpster regulations
Housing code
Request of Quotes- Pest Control
Rat Map
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