Minutes

Board of Health · from the Town's website · 1 page · 22 KB
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AGENDA
Winthrop Board of Health Meeting
April 12, 2022 @6:30 pm
Harvey Hearing Room and via Zoom
Call to order:   6:46 pm
Roll call: Bill Schmidt, Chair, Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair, Marianne Dalton, Member.
Present: Kelsey Liakos, District Board of Health liaison, and Kim Foss, entomologist, Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District.
Via Zoom: Barry Noone, District Director, Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District; State Senator Lydia Edwards, 3rd Suffolk District; Betsy Shane, Executive Director at Winthrop Chamber of Commerce; Wendy Millar-Page, Solid Waste and Recycling Manager; Kathy Cappuccio, Karin Chavis, Suzanne Leonard, Kurt Millar, Shannon Poulos, Jillian Shaponick, Epidermis.
Review of minutes, March 8, 2022: approved unanimously 3-0.
Mosquito control plan presentation—Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control District (NEMMC): Kelsey Liakos, District Board of Health liaison, Kim Foss, entomologist, together with Barry Noone, District Director, via Zoom, provide a presentation on the mission of the NEMMC, which is the entity that provides Winthrop, and other municipalities subscribing to its services, both mosquito control and wetlands management. They also present the FY 2023 Best Practice Plan for Winthrop. Their website, www.nemassmosquito.org,  provides an abundance of details on what NEMMC provides for its subscribers, including adulticiding, larviciding, surveillance, catch basin treatments, barrier treatments (of school grounds and public areas), tire recycling, property inspections, and mosquito habitat mitigation.
One change in the best management practices for Winthrop this year is the way NEMMC is notified about spraying requests. Formerly the requests for spraying needed to be directed to the Board of Health, via Marianne Dalton, member, who would then pass on the requests to NEMMC. The Board voted unanimously 3-0 to change this to allow residents to directly contact NEMMC, whether by phone or via their website, to request spraying. Spraying requests are accepted starting in June. More details on the contact information and weekly deadlines will be forthcoming in the Manager’s Blog as well as the Transcript in the coming weeks.
According to Kim Foss, entomologist, larviciding (killing mosquitoes before they are flying adults) is more effective in controlling mosquito populations than adulticiding. Adulticide spraying can only be done 1/2 hour after sunset, to protect pollinators such as bees. The spraying is not done if on the evening it’s scheduled the wind is greater that 10 mph, if it is raining, if the temperature is below 50 degrees, or if there is a West Nile virus or EEE (eastern equine encephalitis) outbreak in the district, which would take priority over nuisance spraying. Also, there is little residual effect from spraying; it only eliminates mosquitoes that are flying during the spraying, and does not affect salt-marsh mosquitoes, who are day-time flyers/biters.
Of note, Kim states that NEMMC selects pesticides that result in the lowest possible risk to health, property and the environment. A list of what pesticides are used can be found on their website, already listed above.
Kim lists a number of things residents can do to help control mosquitoes in their back yards/neighborhoods: do not allow standing water, no matter how little, to collect in any containers, as this is a breeding site for mosquitoes. Staying indoors during peak mosquito times (early morning, early evening), wearing long sleeves and pants, applying repellant, are all ways to protect from mosquito biting.
Kim states that even when larviciding is done aggressively in Winthrop, many mosquitoes are wind-borne, often coming from miles away, and these are often the source of residents’ requests for spraying.
Surveillance for virus is another important service NEMMC provides; if virus is found, NEMMC contacts Winthrop Board of Health and a plan is made. No virus has been detected in Winthrop for the last few years.
The town pays a flat fee for its membership in NEMMC, and the number of spraying requests is unlimited, although only possible once weekly, and spraying is limited by the aforementioned environmental conditions or presence of virus in member communities.
Public comment: Senator Lydia Edwards applauds initiative on transgender rights. She expresses support for the discussion on the non-binding resolution.
Public comment closed.
Past business: Bill states black plastic issue will be on agenda of Town Council in May, the public hearing will be held at the next Board of Health meeting in May. Bill states that he is working on the draft for keeping of animals regulation, hopefully ready to present to the Board by June. Bill anticipates July being dedicated to updating the Board of Health’s website and developing a workplan for FY2023.
COVID-19-Town of Winthrop, Board of Health, Vaccinations, etc:
Meredith Hurley, Director Of Public Health And Clinical Services and Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services both are unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Bill reviews that a 2nd booster is now recommended for COVID.
Pool safety: deferred until next meeting d/t Al’s absence
Epidermis—services: Jeanne reports that documentation requested is still missing. Jeanne states that a new person is listed on the staff of Epidermis, Carly Alioto, no documentation received from Epidermis on Carly’s credentials. Jeanne lists numerous concerns about services provided by Epidermis, performed by non-qualified persons.
Jillian Shaponick along with her fiancé Peter respond to the concerns: Peter states Epidermis is a very small business, open about 15 hours/week. Jillian states that herself and Carly are the only 2 persons providing services. Jeanne reviews again that what the Board is waiting for is documentation requested since July 2021.
Peter states that a private conversation between the Board and Jillian would resolve any issues. Bill clarifies that a public forum is required for a public board and private conversations outside of that public forum are not permitted. Jeanne states that as a compromise, would the Board extend business license for Epidermis for 6 months, to allow them to gather and submit documentation needed, as well as allowing for spot checks, to renew their business license? Voted on extending business certificate for 6 months, with the above stipulations, approved unanimously, 3-0.
Mass DEP New Waste Disposal Ban: Wendy Millar-Page, Solid Waste and Recycling Manager reports that the new ban will be in force as of November 1, 2022. Bill proposes amending the current regulation in place for Winthrop to include the new items banned, mattresses and textiles. Wendy suggests adding the following: that we will not allow our haulers to pick up any of the Mass DEP banned items, and that our residents are not allowed to put banned items in the solid waste. Wendy states that this will eliminate the need to continually update the regulation every time the state adds a new banned item to the list. Bill recommends that the list be spelled out on the town website, to facilitate residents’ use and to to eliminate any confusion with compliance.  Wendy will review the state banned list and ensure that Winthrop has an updated list that corresponds to the current list. Bill will review the regulations again prior to next month’s meeting.
Mass DEP combined sewer overflow (CSO): Bill states that Steven Calla, Director of Public Works sent an email clarifying that there is no combined sewer overflow in Winthrop.
Women’s Health Forum: Jeanne reports that Barbara Bishop sent an email reporting the date: October 19, 6-8 PM, set up time 4 PM. Expecting 150 attendees. 6-7 PM will have local health providers at tables available to discuss health issues, as well as vaccination and blood pressure clinics. 7-8 PM there will be a featured speaker in the auditorium (Winthrop High School).
Transgender rights—draft resolution: Bill reviews that Councilor Tracey Honan has written a non-binding resolution advocating for both non-harassment and anti-hate policies in both the workplace and schools, for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, parents, teachers, etc. Bill reports that most of these issues pertain to policies that are already in existence in the schools and in the Town. Bill states his viewpoint is that the resolution needs to be taken up by the Town Council, and that the Board’s job is to advocate for the Council to take up this matter, which has yet to be placed on the Town Council agenda. Marianne Dalton, Member asks if this suggestion is in lieu of the Board of Health making their own resolution. Jeanne then voices concern that mental health in the town as a whole needs to be addressed, not necessarily focussing on one targeted group. Jeanne states that a mental health initiative for all members of all groups is needed. Jeanne states that the school system is in particular need d/t post-pandemic anxiety.
Bill states that the BOH requesting that the matter of the resolution  be placed on the Town Council agenda would be the simplest way to address this issue, versus the Board drafting its own resolution. Jeanne states that the Board might draft a separate resolution addressing mental health in the schools, as a broader issue. Jeanne further states that getting an initiative in place to implement mental health in schools would be beneficial, and will have a discussion with Meredith Hurley to see what can be done, with the resources available to the Health Department.
Bill recommends tabling this issue until the next meeting, and in the meantime Jeanne will consult Meredith about the mental health piece. Jeanne adds that North Suffolk Mental Health is another resource that could be utilized in the schools.
North Suffolk Environmental Health Impact Working Group: Bill reports on a brief meeting held by North Suffolk Environmental Health, in which discussion took place about a grant for EPA air quality monitoring, concerning the airport as well as Wheelabrator in Saugus. Bill states that funding for monitors and residential sensors is being pursued.
Teen Drivers—Motor Vehicle Safety: Bill reports an email from Susan Maguire, former Board member, forwarded to Board members and Lisa Howard, Superintendent of Schools, asking to address the issue of teens driving under the influence. Bill asks Jeanne to draft a letter/bulletin to be published in the Transcript, manager’s blog, and a flyer targeting youth to be distributed in the high school. Jeanne states that both drinking and marijuana are problems with teen drivers, and will address this in the draft as well.
MAHB Annual Certificate Program:  Bill advises that the annual program will be held in May, 2 different dates. He reports having attended this in years past, and recommends it as a helpful aid to the newer members of the Board.
Mass Public Health Association: FY2023 State Budget:  Bill reports sending this item to the Board prior to tonights meeting; he has drafted a letter to MPHA requesting increased (or at least no reduction in) budgeting for public health in Winthrop.
Motion to support the letter: approved unanimously 3-0.
DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day—April 30:  Bill reports that this initiative was forwarded to Chief Delehanty, as the department has conducted this in the past.
Adjournment: 8:58 PM, approved unanimously 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Dalton, Member