HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-14 Board of Health MinutesL
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Board of Health Meeting 1091 SEP 21 P 12: 20
Minutes
June 14, 2007
The Board of Health meeting was called to order on June 14, 2007 by Chairmen Barbara
Meade at 6:02 pm at the Town Hall, Berger Room. Those present at the meeting were
Colleen Seferian and David Singer with staff liaison Jane Fiore. Also present on this date
were Coalition Coordinator for Tobacco Project, Ron Beauregard and Eastern Mosquito
Control Project Supervisor; David Henley.
Old Business:
• Minutes of March 15, 2007 accepted as read 3:0:0
• Minutes of May 3, 2007 accepted as read 3:0:0
Next Order of Business
• Ron Beauregard, Tobacco Control Coordinator for Healthy Communities of which
Reading is an active member presented the Board an up date on the program and its
FY 2007 - 08 goals.
o Summary of presentation included the following:
■ History: Reading's efforts in the control and use of tobacco products
to reduce disease; death and prevent the degradation of the quality of
the air through ETS began in FY02. Reading in FY 03 began a
smoke free community. The MTCP (Massachusetts Tobacco
Control Program out of MDPH) offered grants through the
settlement of suits against tobacco companies. Reading received 3
years of single project grants then added two communities of
Reading and Stoneham and in 2002 it was necessary with the
reduction in state funds to request membership into Healthy
Communities of which Andover is the fiscal lead. With 11 towns
the grant is large enough to provide 3 compliance checks in each
town per year. All smoking cessation programs and prevention
education programs have been stopped. The program is required to
only enforce state and local tobacco regulations through
enforcement. The executive counsel consists of the health directors.
They meet for progress reports 3 times per years. FY 07-08 will
meet quarterly on a standard colander.
■ State wide tobacco compliance report: Across MA vendors sell
tobacco to minors on average 14 Reading has 13 % rate. Primary
vendor that sells to > 18 years are gas station convenience stores.
Cumberland Farms has been sued by the Sate Attorney General for
their high incidences of disregard for the state, federal and local
tobacco laws. There are 125 Cumberland Farms in the State. June
11, 2007 they paid $ 39,000 in fines and must not sell the product if
they are within 500 feet of a school.
■ Within Healthy Communities - Ron has a group of students he pays
($9/Hr.) to assist in compliance checks. There is a strenuous process
for training, parental permission and insurance program for the < 18
y/o to be part of the program. During the checks of all 11
communities from Stoneham to Haverhill it was noted the
pharmacies were selling in all the communities. The exec. Board
with Ron began a pilot project to meet with the regional manager's
and health directors of all the pharmacies. Walgreens, CVS, Brooks
to discuss their training and commitment to providing healthy
products and medications and why tobacco products. These meeting
went well. It is money and a great deal of money that keeps the
pharmacies selling tobacco products. Ron noted to the BOH
Canadian Pharmacies do not sell tobacco.
■ BOH asked cost of a pack - $4.84 - $5.25 depending on the store or
brand. Some convenience stores the standard price is $5.50
■ The BOH asked for specific report on Reading :
• Pharmacies CVS 5 x' in 5 years, Walgreen's xl, Brooks 3 no
sales. In the last 2 years 8 checks. Convenience stores/gas
stations the worst. There must be a Fed. Sign "We card all
those under 27 years of age" Reading's reg asking for 18
years as part of the identification should be very simple. All
stores have an affidavit for employee's to sign that they have
been training in the procedure and have watch the video to
reinforce the procedure. Some also fire staff is they sell to a
minor.
• 519 Main St - new Quik Mart sold 2 xs in 2 months -
tobacco product not in agreed upon location Ron has been
working with owner for 9 of the 14 months he has been
open. The Health Admin will do an inspection and have the
owner in to the dept for a meeting to correct.
The BOH thanked Ron for his informative update and will request another update next
June.
The next annual report to the BOH was presented by The East Mosquito Control Project
supervisor, David Henley.
Historical update - 27 communities pay the project and oversee the project through the
executive Board and Board of Director's which is made up of each town's health director
and meet quarterly. Reading has been a member f the project since 1986 FY 07 budgeted
$22, 000, FY 08 $23,000 and also the Health Div purchase. Vectolex WSP for $2, 300 to
treat all 2,700 storm drains in town for larvacide. The water from the drains moves to the
town's wetlands a very slow pace making it futile ground for mosquito reproduction.
Summary:
Reading is primarily on wetlands with marsh and cattails this increases the breeding
ground. The project with the MDPH state lab has 5 major traps Brook St., Whittier Rd.,
West St, Batchelder St and Timberneck Dr. The tracks are placed in their locations each
early spring, checked weekly - counted and identified by EMMCP staff entomologist and
those species with potential of disease are then tested at state lab. Tuesday collected and
results to the town by Friday.
The project begins each year in February by posting the helicopter spray of Bti over large
wet lands in early April after winter melt and March rain.
Truck spray is not done without the permission of the BOH unless of course the MDPH
declares a Health emergency.
In Reading 2006 rains and winter rains of 2007 there should be a large crop of Culenex
pipenian, turbans, and melenara. 2 species have the potential of carrying WNV and
melanarum the potential of EEE. There has been a cedar pine cluster located in cedar
swamp. This is unusual most cedar trees have been hard to locate. Reading has the
potential of being an area of WNV. The disease tracking is from the dead bird collection
for tracking and veterinarian reporting EE in large animals. DPH has down training for all
ER staff on EEE and WNV symptoms and testing to increase surveillance.
In MA 13 cases of EEE in humans in 3 years. NO disease in EMMCP this is found in
large cedar marsh areas -Bristol County, Cape Coda Vigilance is the key.
EEE virus maybe mutating is one theory. The virus has a 3 year cycle. We are in year 4. It
may appear or not but there are indicators.
WNV is in the bird species blue jay, robin, and American crow. The state is primarily
looking at adolescent birds to see if he virus is antibodies are genetically passed on form
one generation to another. This is still research but important to understand immunity.
Sometimes there are large massive amounts of mosquitoes in the traps - so many they can
not be counted or identified. That's another time I call Jane to ask if we can truck spray
specific sectors.
If we truck spray the no spray list is marked on the route. The paper receives a notice 2
days before the event. Environmental conditions must be no rain'and no high winds. Jane
puts the notice out Jane responded to the BOH - web, police, CS employees, to cover
all calls.
The goal of the project is to find the virus, identify the source and then warn the population
to protect themselves.
Questions - which chemicals are used Bti in wetlands, semythrin for truck spray. Nothing
used on school property when school or camp is in session. David will forward MSDS to
Board members directly.
Do you - the project clean out areas? With permission from the Con Com the project will
excavate blocked streams and culverts to increase water flow to prevent stagnant water -
which breeds mosquitoes.
David thanked the Board and wished the Health Admin well in her retirement and noted it
has been a pleasure working with Jane. The BOH thank David and noted they'll see him
next June for another annual report.
The BOH asked Jane why the change from Vextolex to Altosid WSP. The response is the
effectiveness to prevent resistance to the chemical it is recommended every three years to
rotate the storm drain larvacide. This is actually a good thing this year since Altosid is less
expensive and The BOH is paying from the clinic revolving fund. Town Meeting did not
approve a budget with a separate supply line in the.mosquito contract line: BOH asked
Jane to make a specific not on this for next budget season.
Discussion was held on the progress of camp licensing. _ to date 18 of the 29 camps have
been reviewed and ready by the end of June all should have policies reviewed and
immunization review completes. It again was noted the process is very extensive and with
limited staff all other complaints and routine issues stop for 6 weeks or longer. BOH asked
if the part time health inspector position or health administrator's position had been posted
or advertised. Jane reported to date nothing has been advertised.
Barbara as chairman will call town manager to ask when this will be done. With the
increase of population and increase in food establishments there is a dire need for staff.
Brief administrative report was given followed by a discussion on July meeting. The BOH
voted 3:0:0 no meeting in July. The option is if a situation requiring a vote by the BOH
arises a meeting will be called.
Due to the late hour the David moved to table the remained of items on the agenda be
tabled until August seconded 3:0:0
Voted to adjourn at 10 01 pm
Next meeting August 9, 2007
Res ectfully sub tted,
.tezL
Jane M. Fiore
Health Services Administrator