Minutes

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MINUTES
WINTHROP BOARD of HEALTH EMERGENCY MEETING VIA REMOTE ACCESS
APRIL 21, 2020   5:00 PM
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Chair: Bill Schmidt; Vice-Chair: Astrid Weins; Member: Susan Maguire.
TOWN of WINTHROP: Meredith Hurley and Carla Vitale
CALL TO ORDER: Zoom access initiated at 5:03 pm.
ORDER of BUSINESS:  At the suggestion of Winthrop Public Health Director, Meredith Hurley, Board of Health members convened an emergency meeting to discuss ordering the public to wear face masks/coverings in specific settings to mitigate community spread of COVID-19.  Prior to the meeting, Town Council President Boncore sought the Board’s approval to propose to the Town Council who will be meeting this evening at 7:00 pm, a mandatory order that would require the public to wear face masks/coverings in specific settings, such as many communities have already done.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dr. Weins read an email transcription from resident, D. Donofrio, received via a Facebook post, asking the town to mandate face masks/covering by all when in public.
D. Reilly emailed the Board praising the Town’s center business construction workers for following COVID-19 protocols.
DISCUSSION:
1.  Board members reviewed and edited the draft Declaration of Public Health Emergency-Emergency Ordinance from Town Council President Boncore that would mandate face masks/coverings in specified public settings.
Documents referenced:  Swampscott, Salem, Revere, and Danvers Emergency Orders mandating face masks/coverings in specified public settings.
Board members also reviewed the draft signage proposed by President Boncore as well as that used by the city of Revere for posting by retailers. The Board revised the Revere signage for use by Winthrop.
2.  M. Hurley noted that all residents at the PARC (formerly the Arbors) assisted living facility have been tested for COVID-19, with two found positive.
MOTION by BOARD:  Chair Schmidt motioned to approve, seconded by S. Maguire, the Order to require face masks/coverings in specified public settings.
NEXT STEPS:  Dr. Weins forwarded the draft Order to Town Council President Boncore and proposed signage.
ADJOURNMENT: Phone call ended at 7:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Maguire