HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-01-09 Board of Health MinutesOFR
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Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - council:
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Board of Health
Date: 2025-01-09
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, Geri
Cramer, Sophie Hansen, Sal Bramante
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Health Director Ace Solarin, Amelia Sellitto, Olivia Bartolomei, Jackie
LaVerde, Charles Barbo, Iris Wen
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Haley Murphy
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Topics of Discussion:
This meeting was held remotely via zoom.
Board Chair, Richard Lopez called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.
Roll Call: Sal Bramante, Geri Cramer, Kerry Dunnell, Sophie Hansen, Kevin Sexton, Joan
Wetzel, Richard Lopez
Dr. Lopez reviews the agenda; public comment, review November and December minutes,
waivers, rodent mitigation contract, regulation updates vote, monthly report, and final comments.
Public Comment:
None
Minutes Approval:
The November and December minutes were both approved with a unanimous vote. The
November minutes required slight changes with spelling errors and wording.
Variance Request for 1051 Main Street:
The Health Director, Ade, states that a reinspection was performed on January 6", 2025, with
clear progress being made. Most of the foundation has been temporarily sealed, some parts are
still exposed. A toilet and AC were abandoned outside the dwelling. Contractors have been to the
property to assess and measure the windows. The openings on the bathroom floor were replaced
with wooden boards, they need to be replaced with non -absorbent and non -corrosive material.
The owner Charles Barba stated that the toilet and AC have been removed from the premises.
His handyman's access to the dwelling has been limited due to the tenant's availability. He has
been quoted a four -to -five -week timeline for the windows to be made, plus extra time for the
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installation period. Charles is asking for an additional extension of compliance time for
everything to be completed, and he is hoping to have it completed sooner but not later than the
end of March. Rick proposes to grant an extension until April 4" with a reinspection to be done
by April 7" or April 8". Rick makes a motion to extend the timeframe for compliance. If
necessary, Charles can appear at the April meeting to discuss further issues. The motion was
approved, unanimously.
Rodent Mitigation Contract:
Ade states that the Health Department is now under contract with Modem Pest Control. They
will be deploying multiple Smart boxes to different locations around town in the coming days.
Further details will be provided at the next meeting.
Dumpster Regulation and Food Code:
Ade states that changes to the dumpster regulation include but are not limited to requiring
enclosures to be locked at the end of the business day to prevent illegal dumping, posting
warning signs to prevent the risk of illegal dumping, requiring unused dumpsters to be removed
from property within 72 hours after termination of service. The Board of Health also now has the
authority to order a dumpster to be enclosed or screened; we can now order a change of location
and size, pickup frequency, removal or replacement, and conduct random inspections and
sanitary surveys as needed. In addition, police, fire, and DPW have been granted the authority to
assist with enforcement efforts. Rick makes a motion to approve as amended with some changes
to wording. The motion was approved, unanimously.
Ade explains changes made to the food code and states that the food code was updated to include
a definitions section to explain the meaning of acronyms, a risk categorization section for food
establishments and a reinspection fee section. Also included in the updates were Food labeling
requirements, food truck enforcement, frozen desert bacteriological testing, checking ice cream
truck drivers for CORI and SORI, residential kitchens, grease traps, and pest control
requirements. Rick makes a motion to approve, and it was voted yes, unanimously.
Variance Request for 42 Willow Street:
Mr. and Mrs. Wen are requesting to keep more than six birds on their property. The facility
where the chickens are kept passed inspection and Animal Control doesn't have any reason to
deny their proposal. Ade recommends that the board grant the variance request. Rick makes a
motion to approve the variance for eleven birds on the property. The motion was unanimously
approved.
Monthly Report:
• 9 Food establishment reinspection for 2024
• 2 Housing complaints
• 11 Housing complaints for 2024
• 7 Housing inspections for 2024
• All pools inspected for 2024
Nursing Updates:
The Public Health nurse, Olivia Bartolomei states that there has been a large increase in
influenza -like illnesses in our area and we are part of the high -risk category for the state. Liv ran
a successful flu clinic on January e, and she will be hosting a vaccine clinic on January 17'".
This clinic will offer vaccinations for FLU, COVID, Pneumonia, RSV, Shingles, TDAP,
Hepatitis B, Meningitis A. and MMR. In the month of December, there were 31 reported cases of
the flu and covid in the Town of Reading. There are already 30 cases of both illnesses for the
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month of January. Flu shots for anyone 65 and older are available at town hall. Liv states that
30% of accounted flu cases in our area are attributable to individuals in their 40's. This age
group primarily is made up of the workforce and parents. Liv is going to make sure to hold more
clinics at accessible times to give these individuals a chance to get vaccinated. Our area is seeing
a rise in foodbome illness complaints. The main illness has been associated with Shiga toxin.
Schools are also seeing an increase in GI cases, which can be linked to norovirus. There will be
three blood pressure clinics for the month of January along with a hearing screening on February
W at the library. The Public Health Department is starting a wellness series. This series will
talk about healthy eating, mental health, communication, occupation, and satisfaction. January is
also Glaucoma and Thyroid Awareness Month.
Final Comments:
None
Adioum:
Motion to adjourn at 8:48 PM
Roll Call: Sal, Kerry, Kevin, Joan, Richard
Materials Used:
• Monthly chart
• PowerPoint
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