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Board - committee - Commission - Council:
Board of Health
Date: 2025-08-14 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Virtual Location: Zoom
Address: Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Meeting- Remote Session Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
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Chair Richard Lopez, Vice Chair Kerry Dunnell (7:25PM), Associate Member
Aditya Bengali, Member Sal Bramante, Member Kevin Sexton, Member Joan
Wetzel
Members - Not Present:
Associate Member Sophie Hansen
Others Present:
Health Director Ace Solarin, Olivia Bartolomei, Haley Murphy
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 7:03 PM.
Roll Call: Sal Bramante, Kevin Sexton, Joan Wetzel, Aditya Bengali, Richard Lopez
Char Richard Lopez welcomed new board member, Aditya Bengali. Mr. Bengali, a Reading
resident since 2017, was elected as a Town Member last year and currently works as a Project
Manager at V axcyte.
Richgd Lopez reviews the agenda; review minutes, public comment, feeding of wildlife
regulation, rodent contract update, MBTA update, Board of Health Reorganization, monthly
reports, and final comments.
Review and Approval of June 2025 Minutes:
Richard makes a motion to approve the June minutes as no edits are needed. Seconded by Sal.
Roll call: Member Sal Bramante- yes, Member Kevin Sexton- yes, Member Joan Wetzel- yes,
and Chair Richard Lopez- yes.
Public Comment:
None
Feeding of Wildlife Regulation:
Health Director Ade Solarin reported that at the June 2025 meeting, the Board approved the
Feeding of Wildlife Regulation with a revision to Section 26.3c, reducing the response time for
removing or containing attractants from seven days to two days following a notice of violation.
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Town Counsel reviewed and deemed the amendment reasonable with appropriate justification.
Next steps include publishing a summary in the Town newspaper and submitting the final copy
to the Town Clerk for posting on the Town website. Typographical corrections noted: "raccoon"
(spelling), "see debris" to "seed debris," and Section 26.6 "constructed" to "construed."
Rodent Contract:
Health Director Ade Solarin reported that the number of SMART Boxes increased from 15 to 50
in early 2025 with additional funding, resulting in 294 catches to date. Boxes are being placed in
areas with prior issues and upcoming DPW projects. Sal Bramante asks if rodent sighting reports
have decreased, Ade says we haven't received as many complaints this time of the year as we
usually do.
MBTA Undate:
Health Director Ade Solarin reported that Jayne Wellman and the Reading Delegation met with
the MBTA in early August. The MBTA will meet with the Police and Fire Chiefs, then hold
public engagement sessions beginning in September, followed by a presentation to the Select
Board before filing a notice of intent with the Conservation Commission. The Reading
Delegation continues to engage with the MBTA and is encouraging extensive public outreach.
BOH Reorganization:
In accordance with Town bylaws requiring annual reorganization, the Board held elections for
Chair and Vice Chair. Richard Lopez was nominated by Sal Bramante, seconded by Joan
Wetzel, and unanimously re-elected as Chair (Sal — yes; Kevin — yes; Joan — yes; Richard — yes).
Upon Kerry Dunnell's arrival, Kevin Sexton nominated her as Vice Chair, seconded by Sal
Bramante. Kerry was unanimously re-elected (Sal — yes; Kerry — yes; Kevin — yes; Joan — yes;
Richard — yes).
Monthly Report for June:
• 14 food inspections
3 camp inspections
• 3 pool inspections
4 food complaints
1 housing complaint
• 8 nuisance complaints
1 temporary food permit
Monthly Report for July:
• 15 food inspections
4 pool inspections
4 nuisance complaints
• 1 housing complaint
• 1 foodbome illness investigation
• Less than 5 flu cases
16 COVH) cases
5 Lyme Disease cases
Health Director Ade Solarin reported that all 18 Keeping of Animal Permits have been renewed.
Annette Garcia has departed the Middlesex -Essex Public Health Collaborative, leaving the
Shared Services Coordinator position vacant; interviews are underway. Ade proposed adding the
dumpster regulation vote, review of the new haulers regulation, and a fee schedule update to the
September agenda.
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Public Health Nurse Liv Bartolomei announced that Tick Removal Kits are available at the
Town Clerk's counter. Blood pressure screenings are scheduled for August 7 (Pleasant Street
Senior Center), August 18 (Reading Public Library), and August 21 (Tannerville Housing
Authority). September screenings will be held on September 4 (Senior Center), September 15
(Library), and September 18 (Tannerville Housing Authority). Liv will also host fall vaccine
clinics at Coolidge Middle School from 2-5 p.m. on September 26, October 17, and November
7.
Richard Lopez noted that free COVID test kits remain available at the Town Clerk's counter. He
also highlighted that much of Nurse Liv Bartolomei's work aligns with the Community Health
Improvement Plan, and a clinical program report on related goals and objectives will be
presented at a future meeting.
Final Comments:
None
Adioum:
Motion to adjourn at 7:32 PM. loan seconds.
Roll Call: Sal, Kerry, Kevin, Joan, Richard
Materials Used:
• Nursing PowerPoint
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