Minutes

Board of Health · from the Town's website · 1 page · 23 KB
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Winthrop Board of Health Meeting
September 14, 2021, 6:30pm
REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY ZOOM
Call to Order: 6:35 pm
Roll Call: Bill Schmidt, Chair, Member; Jeanne Holgersen, Member
Attendees: Kurt Millar, Wendy Millar Page, Meredith Hurley, Al Legee, Dawn Armistead, Terrance Delahanty, Maryalice Sharkey, Betsy Shane, Carol Watkins
Public Comment: none
Review of Minutes-August 10, 2021: Approved
Past Business: Status 59 Cottage Avenue – Report ISD
Items concerning Inspectional Services report from Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services. The owners of the property have sought legal council and all communication in through the attorneys. The citations have accrued $89,000 in fines pending against the property. Al stated that additional citations are being written daily. Al stated that the last time it is a very difficult situation, and it is a health hazard. Al stated that last time he was at the property with the code enforcer there was a big confrontation and Al was able to look quickly inside the house and nothing has changed. The house is not worse but not better. They cleaned up around the area of the property and had fire protection installed. Al will double check with the attorney this week. Terry Delahanty is aware of the situation and police officers are present during their inspection.
COVID-19-Town of Winthrop, Board of Health, etc: Meredith Hurley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services that Winthrop COVID case counts have leveled off to 89. Last week percent positive was 4.3% and this week we are down to 3.9%. 65% of residents are fully vaccinated but if we only include those over the age of 12 who are vaccinated our number becomes 63%. The town has lower rates of vaccination in the age group between 50-64yrs. Meredith is seeing more people in Winthrop getting tested for COVID, which is good. COVID vaccine booster is 8 months after the last dose and immunocompromised is 6 months after the last dose. The Winthrop Public Schools are handling the COVID cases in the schools and they are doing a great job. The extra high dose flu vaccinations for the elderly will be coming soon and administrated by Meredith and her staff. Meredith will reach out to The Chamber of Commerce with information on flu clinics so it can be marketed in the town. The town has identified a candidate informally for the Public Health Program Manager position and will be formally announcing this in a week or two. Meredith is working with an organization out of Boston developing some education and support as a follow up for support to the shooting on June 26, 2021. Discussing prejudice, bias, and anti-Semitism. They are developing a series of community programs, events, to connect people, and start having healthy conversations.
Commissioner of Inspectional services update:
Trident Avenue Property: The property owners cleaned the mess up. The side yard was full of debris a couple of months back and it was discussed with the owner of the property who cleaned up the debris.
Governors Drive Unit: Woman in a unit in Governors Drive is trying to get a handicap ramp installed. Problematic because multiple units in building, condo society and owned by a management company. Al tried to help facilitate communication with management company but has not heard anything back from the woman after multiple attempts to contact her. So, at this time, Al will wait for her to contact the town before they move further with the issue.
Governors Park Pool Safety: Numerous complaints that the pool at Governors Park that it was over occupied. State law required 1 person per every 50sq feet in the pool. No more than 5-6 people should be allowed in the pool. Due to the recent drowning a lot of communities are looking into local BOH to put an ordinance in to have lifeguards on duty. It is considered is a semi-public pool. Posted a sign stating occupancy was placed at the pool. Al signed an occupancy for all pools sting a maximum allowed load with rules and regulations. All the pools that are in this category in Winthrop received this notice. The BOH must decide if they want to move forward and create an ordinance for a lifeguard during certain hours in the day. Some local towns are implementing this ordinance. Al will bring the information of what other towns are doing regarding this ordinance and bring to the next meeting to discuss with the BOH.
Burrill Terrace Property: The property was cleaned up and the dumpster was removed, and the grounds remain clean. Al has been in communication with the owner. There are some tenant issues, and the owner is actively working on the situation. There are two different issues on this property; first is a rooming house condition down on the right of Terrance and the house across the street has some tenant issues as well. Al is dealing with both properties at the same time, and they are in the process of being straightened out.
Apartment Complaint: Al is not aware of what property is on the agenda, but he is sure it has been investigated. Bill will forward the email to Al on the complaint.
Beach Closures: Beach closures were off and, on all year, long. Winthrop Pico was closed a decent number of times. Grandview was closed toe times during the season. Donovan’s beach was constantly closed. The only beach that was not closed was Yirrell beach. Hannaford was closed one time. The water testing is done for the year and signs are out up to swim at your own risk. No testing is done in the fall or winter.  The last testing of the year showed Donovan’s beach was still high.
Single Use Plastic Bags: BOH posting in The Transcript, The Winthrop Weekly and letter will be sent to Betsy to send out to all the Chamber members. Betsy states that businesses are trying to do the right thing with the regulation and encourage people to bring their own bags. Al will be inspecting restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores in the next few months. Al be address check in for the bags when they are inspecting the businesses. BOH has sample bags to show to business if they are confused as to which ones to use. People are confused as to which recyclable bags to use, and education is needed for the community so they can move forrard in the right way. Dawn Armistead is seeking clarification on which bags are acceptable. Dawn questioned when the approval for recyclable bags in the community was approved. Bill states that it was originally voted on this in May 2020 and its was postponed 6 months because business asked for waivers. Currently the BOH is enforcing the recyclable bag use of all businesses. Bill gave Shoreside restaurant a list of approved recyclable bags approved and posted by the City of Boston.  Dawn was under the impression she was complying with the regulations because she has approval form the BOH with the bags she was using. Bill does not recall this approval. Dawn is concerned about the durability and reliability of the bag when it has eggs spill in the bag. Regulations ban single use plastic bag, so basically thin plastic bags with a handle. Small paper bags are not a problem. Bill will send letters out this week to all the chamber members about the bag regulation with a hyperlink for more information on the regulations. Misconception about regulation and recyclable bags. No bags are allowed per Mask DEP to be placed in recycle bin. This list includes no stop and shop bag, trash bag, target bag, absolutely no plastic bags can be placed in a recycle bin. The town is in the process of educating the community to avoid placing any plastic bags in the recycle bin.
Recyclable paper bags are allowed in recycle bin that are not contaminated, meaning no stables and no tape can be placed in the recycle bin. Bill questioned recyclable bag misinformation being put out by bag manufacturing companies and
the need for further education to meet the standards. BOH will provide information and samples on correct and incorrect bags. If any business is looking for clarification, they can reach out to Sharon at the BOH. Betsy would like to have a meeting with BOH members to create a bullet point document with education on the bags. Bill will put the City of Boston regulations on the Winthrop BOH web site for clarification.
MRC Update: Jeanne Maggio from the Medical Reserve Corp. did not call in for the BOH meeting.
Mothers Out Front – Pesticides Legislation: Maryalice Sharkey and Carol Watkins did not call back in for the BOH meeting. Maryalice Sharkey, Mothers Out Front, wants BOH to consider endorsement of pending legislation on a statewide schoolchildren pesticide prevention act. BOH will postpone the discussion until the next meeting.
Epidermis and Co Services: BOH is still waiting for the application for micropigmentation. The company has not reached out to the BOH.
Blink Royalty: Bill sent out communication to The Board of Registration of Dentistry regarding using teeth whitening kits and the BOH is still waiting for a response.
Mosquito Spraying:  Winthrop is now considered high risk for the West Nile virus per DPH letter sent to communities. Winthrop has not identified any mosquitoes with the disease, however, neighboring communities in the Middlesex and Essex County have mosquitoes that tested positive for West Nile. Members of the community need to take proper precautions, wearing long sleeved clothes, using bug spray, and avoiding going outside in the evenings/early morning. We have had limited spraying in town from NEMMC. The very wet condition has facilitated the overpopulation of mosquitoes this year. Winthrop does not qualify for a town wide spray because mosquitos have not tested positive for the West Nile in Winthrop.
Board of Health Town Website: Nothing new on the website.
NSPHC-Environmental Health Impacts Group: Bill will be attending a meeting tomorrow at 3pm. Winthrop belongs to the NSPHC, a shared service initiative between the Town and the cities of Chelsea and Revere, that addresses air quality issues. Looking to gather information for grant to monitor noise and air pollution in these communities from airport, highways, plant in Saugus, Rt1 traffic etc. Maybe we can receive some hepa filters and some soundproof windows for the town of Winthrop.
Board of Health Workplan: Nothing new on the website.
Miscellaneous Items: Betsy questioned about the Massport proposal for Runway 27 safety area enhancement project. Is this something Winthrop needs to look at for health implication for the Hill and the point?
Bill states that John Vitagliano is on the Massport Airport hazard Committee, and he will have information about this. Town Council Boncore and Terry Delahanty requested a meeting about this with Massport. Bill will reach out to John about the project and gather information.
Purpose Agenda items for October Meeting: Meeting will begin with a lot of the items that we did not get discuss at the meeting today.
Agenda items that emerged after agenda was sent out:
Betsy questioned about the Massport proposal for Runway 27 safety area enhancement project. Is this something Winthrop needs to look at for health implication for the Hill and the point.
Joh Vitagliano is on Massport Airport hazard Committee. Town Council Boncore’s and Terry Delahanty requested a meeting about this with Massport. Bill will reach out to John about the project and gather for information.
Adjournment: BOH Meeting hacked and adjourned at 7:00pm
Meeting restarted 7:16pm
Unanimously approved 2-0, 8:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Jeanne Holgersen Member