Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-11-20 Board of Health MinutesdN Orq Town of Reading r Meeting Minutes s: IMCOAA� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2024-11-20 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, and Sal Bramante, Sophie Hansen Members - Not Present: Geri Cramer Others Present: Health Director Ade Solarin, Amelia Sellitto, Olivia Bartolomei, Jennifer Killeen, Debra Ribeiro Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Haley Murphy Topics of Discussion: This meeting was held remotely via Zoom. Char Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at TOOPM and reviewed the agenda items. Roll Call: Sal Bramante - Present, Kerry Donnell - Present, Sophie Hansen- Present, Kevin Sexton- Present, Joan Wetzel- Present, Richard Lopez- Present. Richard Lopez started by summarizing the agenda. First item on the agenda is to introduce the new health inspector, followed by rodent management, Pinevale street complaint, updates to Section 10 on Human Habitation, Ade's monthly report, final comments, and then adjourn. Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell shared her experience attending the Massachusetts Health Officers Association Annual Conference and highlighted the signing of the Economic Development Bill, which included provisions for public health funding. She also mentioned the passing of the Massachusetts Leads Act, which includes the provisions of SAPHE 2.0. Chair Lopez requested to have a copy of the SAPHE 2.0 factsheet sent to the board members. Introduction of new Health Inspector: Health Director Ade Solaria introduces Amelia Sellitto. Amelia previously worked as a health inspector for the town of Wellesley and the city of Medford. She has prior experience conducting health inspections including but not limited to food inspections, pool inspections, body art inspections, and housing inspections. She received her master's degree in public health at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. She conducted a record number of inspections for the month of October. Page 1 1 Public Comment: Jennifer Killeen is a homeowner and resident of Pinevale Street. Jennifer expressed concerns about persistent dumpster issues and rodent activity in their neighborhood, which she attributes to the dumpster located behind Domino's. She criticized the town's handling of the issue and reiterated that the establishment should be fined on a daily basis. Jennifer emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan that includes measures to enforce existing sanitation standards and hold businesses and landlords accountable. She is encouraged to hear that ARPA funds are being re -allocated for rodent mitigation; however, she is still concerned that if the plan does not include robust measures to hold businesses and landlords accountable for proper dumpster management, the plan will fail altogether. Debbie Ribeiro stated that her backyard is immediately on the other side of the Domino's dumpster. Herself and her neighbors are digging up deceased rats in their backyards. They are unable to have cookouts and unable to garden without finding rats. Debbie states that herself and her neighbors have invested in pest control services. Comprehensive Management Program: Ade Solaria stated that the Health Department has been receiving calls related to rat sightings within the town of Reading. The town currently does not have a townwide rodent management plan, and the Health Department is looking to Implement one. In order to develop a comprehensive plan to address the situation, we had to assess the problem and determine how our town is being impacted. We had to figure out what areas of the town are being affected the most and why. As a result, a rodent map was created which shows the level of rodent activity in different sections of town. This map consists of addresses where rodent sightings have been reported over the last year. Map overlays were added to include areas undergoing housing construction, areas where annual and temporary dumpsters are located, areas with street openings, areas with drain laying activity, and areas where sewer and stormwater networks exist. Based on the data from the map, we can conclude that the areas with higher levels of rodent activity are areas where there is a concentration of annual dumpsters, mostly from restaurants, areas with a concentration of road construction and drain laying activities, and areas with temporary dumpsters associated with home construction. Armed with this information, we can then begin to strategize how to address the rat issue. At the very minimum, based on the conclusion from the map, we know that we need to address 4 items: 1. The rat population and harborages around town 2. Road construction and drain laying activities 3. Building construction and renovation, and 4. Annual dumpsters associated mostly with restaurants The rat population and harborages around town We at the Health Department, understand that rodent control is a concern, we also understand that the method of control and prevention we use, is critical to the survival of other animals. Studies have shown that second -generation anticoagulant rodenticides, bio -magnify across the food chain, and adversely affect wildlife - including birds of prey and other predatory species. Page 12 These toxic substances, used in rodent control, are causing secondary poisoning in our wildlife, thereby undermining ecological balance, and unintentionally worsening the very rodent problem they're intended to solve. In other words, each bird of prey lost, due to rodenticide consumption, leads to more rodents left unchecked. As a result, we are limited in terms of what pest management companies to partner with for our rodent mitigation plan. Most pest management companies out there still use rodenticides. Our goal is to solicit bids to select a company that is willing and able to help provide and implement, a safe, humane and environmentally friendly rodent control program for our town. Road construction and drain laying activities At this point, the Health Department has no idea when drain laying and Street opening permits are issued. In the coming weeks, I plan to meet with DPW leadership to determine the process required to obtain those permits and how the Health Department can play a role in the rodent mitigation process due to street openings and drain laying activities. It could be something as simple as baiting manholes prior to road work and drain laying activities. Building construction and renovation, We already require baiting prior to any building construction activities but we don't have the capacity to monitor bait levels as the constructions proceed. I plan to meet with the Building Commissioner to figure out how we can put this responsibility on the contractors to help ensure accurate monitoring throughout the entire building construction process. Annual dumpsters associated mostly with restaurants The plan is to revamp our dumpster regulation to hold restaurant owners and landlords accountable. Our current dumpster regulation is essentially ineffective. Member Kevin Sexton asked why there is a larger concentration on Pinevale street and not downtown near the restaurants? Is it a difference in procedure or type of dumpster they use? The concentration of sightings should be prominent in the downtown area because of the amount of construction happening. Ade Solaria responded by saying that the rat issue associated with Pinevale Street is probably due to the ongoing dumpster issue. Keay Donnell stated that construction distributes rats and birth control needs to be continual. Rodenticides are not the sole solution. We need to interrupt the cycle for rats. If harborage opportunity is limited, access to water is low, and dumpsters are covered, the rat population will lessen. Funding: This comprehensive plan requires a lot of money and the select board approved the re- allocation of the remaining Arpa funds in the amount of $21,359.91 to go towards the rodent mitigation efforts. Another funding source of $16,000 is being sought out. This would bring total potential funding to around $38,000 if approved. Pinevale Street: Pinevale Street recorded multiple rodent sightings. The building located at 274 main street holds ten businesses, only one is a food establishment. The property owner was not mandated to provide a dumpster for the businesses, each business is left to fend for itself when it comes to trash disposal. It appears each business has two trash barrels that go out on trash pickup day. Dominos was mandated by the Health Department to get a dumpster with pest control services Page 1 3 around it. According to Dominos, other businesses in building are illegally accessing their dumpster. The locks have been damaged and broken multiple times. Dominos has stated they cannot effectively manage the dumpster because so many unauthorized users have illegal access to their dumpster. Richard Lopez states that paragraph 4.4 of the dumpster regulation states dumpsters must be of sufficient size and capacity to avoid overflowing, lids must be closed, property owner and authorized agent of business is responsible for ensuring the dumpsters are kept free from odors, rodents and other nuisances. Citations consist of a $50 fine and can be given daily until the problem is remedied. Section 10: Human Habitations Update The additions to this section include: 105 CMR 410 550 eliminations of pests; problematic properties that harbor pests and don't do anything about it. 105 CMR 410 560 Refuse; residents, landlords, homeowners, business owners, and property managers are responsible for any trash or hazards on their property. 105 CMR 410 570 Maintenance of areas in a sanitary and safe condition; Any accumulating water is detrimental because of mosquitoes, any health and safety that affects general public. An example is overgrowth as it is a harborage for rodents. 105 CMR 410 910, 920, 930 Penalties, Compliance, and other offenses; our ability penalize people for not complying with regulations. Monthly Report: • 91 routine food inspections • 9 complaint inspections • 17 covid cases Seven out of the nine complaint inspections were closed out. Two remain, one for overgrowth at an abandoned property, and one for rodents and overgrowth at an occupied property. There were no foodborne illnesses or vector borne illnesses for the month of October. There have been 17 flu clinics, monthly blood pressure clinics. Olivia, the Public Health Nurse, will also be attending a Narcan training course. Children's Corner has a goal of figuring out what parents and families in this area have and don't have and what we can do for them. Two of the main topics are resource accessing and implementation. Final Comments: No final comments Adioum: Motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 PM. Roll Call: Sal Bramante, Kerry Donnell, Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, Richard Lopez Materials Used: • Rat Map • PowerPoint Page 1 4