Minutes
Board of Health · from the Town's website · 1 page · 27 KB
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WINTHROP BOARD of HEALTH EMERGENCY MEETING OCTOBER 16, 2020 3:00 PM REMOTE PARTICIPATION (A. Weins, Host; Meeting Recorded) MINUTES CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Schmidt called the Board of Health meeting to order at 3:20 pm. Town Clerk apologized for delay in opening and transferring the Zoom account. ROLL CALL: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair: Bill Schmidt; Vice-Chair: Astrid Weins; Member: Susan Maguire. TOWN of WINTHROP: Al Legee, Commissioner Inspectional Services Department PURPOSE of MEETING: Safe Halloween for Winthrop PUBLIC COMMENT: A. Weins read into the record an email she received anonymously with suggestions the town might consider. R. DeMarco, Town Councilor at Large: Agrees with government’s guidance to prohibit all large gatherings; ok with small groups; wear a mask, and use common sense. K. Chavis: email sent to A. Weins on 10/3/2020 read into the record. G. Teixeira: If Trick or Treat is cancelled, the town might experience consequences, therefore regulate. Chamber of Commerce: Chair asked B. Shane if the Chamber has cancelled the Center’s activities? The Center event has been cancelled. The Chamber is sponsoring a House Decorating Contest. Betsy will email the Board confirming both. DISCUSSION: S. Maguire offered her assessment. 1. The Board could do nothing; 2. Allow Trick or Treating with recommendations/guidance; or 3. Ban Trick or Treating. Given the Governor’s and CDC guidance, which promotes outdoor vs. indoor activities, face coverings, and social distancing, she recommended allowing Trick or Treating with Guidance on steps to take to reduce a high-risk activity to a low risk. A. Weins spoke as a parent and how excited children are about Halloween. She too endorsed steps to reduce large gatherings noting that transmission of the virus is small with safety measures such as masks, distancing and good hand hygiene. Agreed that Trick or Treating could take place with proper guidance and enforcement. Chair Schmidt weighed in noting that a curfew also appeals to him. Per M. Hurley, her main goals are to offer tips and guidance to residents, e.g., engage safely, don’t congregate, mirror guidance offered by CDC re: low and high risk activities. Per Chief Delehanty, WPD is expecting higher call volume given Halloween will be on a Saturday night. If the Board were to entertain a curfew, WPD may not be able to enforce. Documents referenced: MA DPH Tips for a Safe and Healthy Halloween; CDC Halloween Activity Guidance; List of MA towns enforcing restrictions DECISION: S. Maguire motioned to accept the Board’s recommendations for a Safe Halloween for the Town of Winthrop as follows: Trick or Treating may be held on Halloween per the CDC and MA DPH Guidelines The Board of Health supports the Chamber of Commerce’s House Decorating Contest Action steps: B.Shane will forward notice to Board members from T. Hankard re: cancellation of the Center’s festivities. A. Weins will draft Board’s recommendations and send to Board members for signoff before the Town Council meeting on 10/19/2020 at 7:00 pm. ADJOURNMENT: A. Weins motioned to adjourn at 4:00 pm, seconded by S. Maguire, approved unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Susan Maguire