Minutes

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Winthrop Board Of Health Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2022, 6:30 pm
REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY ZOOM
Call to order: 6:42 pm
Roll call: Bill Schmidt, Chair; Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair; Marianne Dalton, Member.
Present: Betsy Shane, Executive Director at Winthrop Chamber of Commerce; Carol Walker, Mothers Out Front; Tracey Honan, Town Councillor; Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services; Meredith Hurley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services; Lee Foley, Barbara Bishop, Todd Sacco, Dorothy Charles, Winthrop Health Department;  WMS Parent4, Jillian Shaponick, Donna Alioto, Epidermis and Co, Kurt Millar.
Review of minutes—February 8, 2022: unanimously approved 3-0.
Public comment: none.
Past business:
Status—59 Cottage Avenue—Report from ISD: Al Legee reports that the property has been condemned, and has forwarded via email a copy of the certified letter sent to the property owners informing them of this decision.
COVID-19—Town of Winthrop, Board of Health, vaccinations, etc: Meredith states that the need for vaccine clinics is waning, and expresses hope that this is another sign that the pandemic is showing signs of slowing.
Director of Public Health and Clinical Services update: Meredith Hurley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services reports that another recovery coach has been added to her team.
Commissioner of Inspectional Services update: Al reports inspections are going well with no issues.
Governor’s Park pool safety: Bill states that he hopes to compile a first draft of pool safety regulations using the list of regulations Al Legee forwarded from various other municipalities (Chelsea, MA; Walpole, MA; Olathe, KS)
156 Sewall Ave: Al will follow up on this issue.
MRC updates: deferred, Jeanne Maggio not present
Epidermis—services:  Jillian Shaponick and Donna Alioto appear before the Board to answer questions concerning a complaint a resident has with services received at Epidermis. The complaint has come to the Board because the service allegedly provided was one that Epidermis had agreed that they were no longer performing due to lack of credentialing of practitioner. Jillian agrees to provide the resident’s medical records for Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair’s review. Jeanne also agrees to obtain a written and signed statement from the resident lodging the complaint.
Anti-idling campaign: Carol Walker reports having a good meeting with the superintendent of schools, and Mothers Out Front continues to work with the superintendent’s office to develop a plan to improve on the anti-idling campaign message.
Black plastic—not recyclable: Bill has drafted a regulation on banning black plastic that is unanimously approved 3-0. The next step is to present the draft to the Town Council, listen to feedback, and then have a public hearing, perhaps at the next Board meeting in April. Revision of the draft will take place according to feedback received.
Women’s Health Forum: Barbara Bishop was not able to stay until the end of the meeting. However, she left this message in the chat:
I spoke to Senator Lydia Edwards who has agreed to sponsor the Women's Health Forum.  I will be speaking to her aide tomorrow about another issue and will explain.  The Senator came to the WHF [in the past] and enjoyed it!!!
Chickens permit—keeping of animals: Bill said that he would work with Tracey Honan to draft a regulation, hopefully by June.
Tobacco Control Compliance checks and inspections, etc: Bill reports that the legal ad giving notice of the change in definition of “blunt wraps”was placed in the Winthrop transcript on February 14. The change is as follows: “Any product made wholly or in part from a tobacco product manufactured or packaged with loose and removable leaves or sections of a leaf or as a hollow tube that may be used by the consumer to wrap or contain loose tobacco or other fillers.”
DEP—Low emissions vehicle program: Bill drafted and sent a letter to Mass DEP stating the Winthrop Board of Health’s support for the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule, Heavy-Duty omnibus (HDO) rule, and Greenhouse Gas Phase 2 update.
Peabody Peaker Plant: Carol Walker from Mothers Out Front appears before the Board requesting a letter from the Board protesting the Peabody Peaker Plant, citing particulate matter emissions that pollute the environment. Bill reviews that the definition of a peaker plant is one that is only utilized when electricity is being used at “peak” times, anticipated in this case to be in operation only a total of 10 days per year. The Board agrees that this matter, is neither under the jurisdiction of our Board nor is it a major issue.
Fed Ex: Bill has drafted a letter to Fed Ex, addressing a complaint received from a resident at the December 2022 BOH Zoom meeting. The letter is asking them to have their drivers turn off their engines when idling for more than 30 seconds, to reduce emissions and help improve the public health in Winthrop. The Board unanimously approved 3-0 to send the letter.
Transgender rights: Councillor Tracey Honan speaks on the need to voice support for local LGBTQ+ residents and especially youth. Tracey cites the fact that multiple states have recently passed legislation placing transgender people (and anyone assisting them) in danger of criminal prosecution for pursuing gender-affirming therapies. Lee Foley also voices support for this initiative. Bill states that he will work with Councillor Honan to draft a statement on this issue.
Mosquito control: Marianne Dalton, Member reports on the recent information received from Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District (NEMMC). Kelsey Liakos, Field Technician/Communication Liaison for NEMMC, has recommended that representatives from her organization attend an upcoming Winthrop BOH meeting, prior to June 1, 2022, to present an overview of what NEMMC provides for Winthrop and to answer any questions the public may have. She has asked if a member of the DPW could also attend this meeting, since some of their work around phragmites (a common invasive reed) impacts mosquito control.
Marianne reports that the yearly charge for NEMMC services is increasing by 3% from last year, for a total of $18,251 for FY2023 (this is an estimated assessment). The materials sent by NEMMC include a helpful checklist for BOH to use to prepare for the upcoming mosquito season. Marianne will be in close contact with NEMMC as spring approaches to ensure that all measures are taken to control mosquitoes in Winthrop. Bill recommends that copies of the information be sent to the Town Manager, DPW Director, and School Superintendent.
More to come at next BOH meeting April 12, 2022.
Adjournment: 9:35 pm, approved unanimously 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Dalton, Member