Minutes
Board of Health · from the Town's website · 4 pages · 272 KB
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Winthrop Board of Health Meeting Thursday, May 11, 2023, @6:30 pm First floor, room 5, Town Hall (was ultimately held in Gathering Room) Call to order: 6:38 pm Roll call: Bill Schmidt, Chair; Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair; Marianne Dalton, Member Review of minutes—April 11, 2023: Approved unanimously 3-0. Public comment: Vasili Mallios is recognized. Mr Mallios questions why a code violation was issued to him by chairman Bill Schmidt. He states that “This matter has turned personal’. He cites an email thread between Bill Schmidt, Chair and Lauren Buck, Director, Revere Department of Public Health, also cc to Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair and Marianne Dalton, Member stating that the number of chickens allowed was an arbitrary number based on what other towns had done. Mr Mallios states that Ms Buck wrote concerning prohibiting placement of chickens in front yards, the rationale being “to tamp down on possible neighbor complaints, and to make it less intrusive.” Mr Mallios reports that he contacted Khrysti Smythe Barry, who he states the city of Revere utilized as a chicken expert. He quotes Ms Barry saying “that the board of health is misinformed, as there is no health risk” placing chicken coops in front yards. Mr Mallios asks that the Board consider reaching out to Ms Barry who he states is willing to provide “academic lessons on the keeping of urban chickens”. He also requests the Board amend the keeping of animals regulation passed in December, striking the stipulation that chicken coops cannot be located in a front yard. No further public comment. Public hearing—dumpster regulation: Opened 6:45 pm. Bill states that draft has been made, town manager and head of public works emailed on draft, no comments were returned. No one is present to testify on behalf of the dumpster regulation. Public comment closed @6:46 pm. Past business: email from Sharon Sicurella, Clerk/Health Inspector, detailing the following, on behalf of Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services: Golden Drive unit—status: issue resolved, court ordered items removed, some in storage, some disposed of, resident moved back in. 76 Sunnyside Avenue—status: potential buyer is working with attorney for the seller, town attorney is the new attorney on this case. Mass DEP New Waste Disposal bans—textiles, etc: no updates Board of Health town website: Marianne Dalton, Member has worked with David Lapenson, IT, to reorganize the website into a more user-friendly site. Board of Health workplan for FY2024: deferred until after new board member replacing Marianne is appointed. Bill asks if Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair is planning on organizing another Women’s Health forum this fall, Jeanne states she is planning on doing so, has only begun to seek out sponsors. Director of Public Health and Clinical Services update: Bill reads the following memo into the record, from Meredith Hurley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services, who cannot attend this evening: To: Winthrop Board of Health From: Meredith Hurley, RN, MPH Date: May 11, 2023 Re: WOPH&CS Updates Winthrop Fire Response - Social Work & Resource Coordination teams have been working with displaced fire victims continuously to find stable housing, food, and transportation - We continue to work closely with at least 13 units who are still seeking rental units. - Landlords have been very accommodating and flexible to assist victims along with the Property Management team C.L.E.A.R. Program - Hosting a weekly Drop-in session on Wednesdays from 6p-8p for people seeking a safe space for substance use supports - Conducted an onsite visit to Barry Eaton Health District in Michigan for a day-long meeting to provide technical assistance to build opioid overdose response capacity - Awarded a $200K grant from the CDC and the American Public Health Association for a Data Science Demonstration project. This will allow us to automate data collection across multiple agencies as it relates to substance use, domestic violence, and suicidality. This project is set to start in June and run for 13 months. - Chief Delehanty, Lt. Geregerian and | presented at the NACCHO Preparedness Summit in Atlanta on Establishing Partnerships to Address Complex Community Trauma following a Domestic Extremism event. - We are also mentoring 2 police departments in establishing public health & safety partnerships through a Department of Justice program: one is in Colorado and the other in Wisconsin. We will be hosting each of them for 2 days this summer in Winthrop. Other - Winthrop Fire was trained in Mental Health First Aid 4/21 - Will be Hosting additional Mental Health First Aid trainings in the community - Added a domestic violence case worker to our office 1 day per week and additionally available remote Covid-19—Town of Winthrop, Board of Health, end of emergency, etc: Bill notes that this is the last day of the covid emergency preparedness, masks no longer required as of May 11, 2023. Commissioner Of Inspectional Services update: see above email from Sharon Grease trap regulation: Bill states that he plans on meeting with Sharon in the near future to discuss a new regulation for grease traps Trash, recycling and solid waste disposal regulation: Bill states he will revise the current regulation to correspond with the new ordinance passed recently by the Town. Sandalo Spa: Alejandro Galano-Molina, owner, and his business manager, appears for discussion of permitting. Jeanne Holgersen, Vice-Chair tells the group that they need to follow the Massachusetts guidelines/health codes. Bill clarifies that the Board deals with health-related issues, and other issues such as parking, ADA, and building issues are outside the purvey of this Board. Mr Galano-Molina will correspond with Jeanne re further details on what they need to do health-wise in order to operate their business in Winthrop. Sea Therapy Spa—550 Pleasant St: Kerry Spindler, owner, accompanied by Maria Gagliardi, RN appears before the Board to request permitting for her spa. Jeanne has reviewed the documentation already submitted by Kerry, and details what is still needed. Jeanne and Kerry will be in touch via email per any further questions. Aesthetician application—Alyssa Marino: Jeanne details the list of items needed for permitting for an application in Winthrop. Ms Marino agrees to supply all necessary documentation, and will be in touch with Jeanne by email. . Legislative testimony: Bill submitted testimony for the following: MassHealth, ConnectorCare, Prescription Drugs, and SAPHE 2.0 House Budget—Amendments on SAPHE 2.0, Grants to Boards of Health, Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program Newport “non-menthol” cigarettes: Bill mentions the email exchange between the board and Bonny Carroll, Director of the Six City Tobacco Initiative concerning the Newport “non- menthol” cigarettes that are now being marketed. Bill reviews that Chelsea has banned the sale of the new brand already. Bill suggested that Bonnie come and speak on this at the next Board meeting, with a possibility to vote on the matter. NSPHC Environmental Work Group Meeting—May 17: Bill plans on attending. Winthrop Elks neighbor complaint: Bill reviews an issue that was emailed by a resident complaining about the Winthrop Elks patrons littering the neighboring area bordering the Elks. New housing code: “ Bill states that there is a new housing code going into effect tomorrow, May 12, 2023. Known as the.state sanitary code, it outlines the minimum standards of fitness for human habitation. All landlords must abide by these new standards to rent property in Massachusetts. June meeting: June 20, 2023 @6:30 Adjournment: 7:54 pm, approved unanimously 3-0. Respectfully submitted, Marianne Dalton, Member