2007-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board of Health ROLE: To protect and promote the health of resi- dents and those who work in or visit the Town; to develo and Expenditures Payroll FY07 FY06 $1591106 $1571615 Personnel 606 567 Full Time 3 3 Part Time 1 1 P implement effective health policies, regulations, and pro- grams that prevent disease and ensure the well -being of the community. APPOINTED by the Town Manager: Chair Wendy Heiger- Bernays, PhD; Burt Perlmutter, MD; Sharon MacKenzie, RN; Deborah Thompson, ScD; Judith Feldman, M.D. Staff: Health Director Gerard Cody (Derek Fullerton resigned July, 2007); Environmental Health Agent, Kathy Fox, CHO, CFSP; Part -time Public Health Nurse (position vacant); and Office Manager, Ann Belliveau. HIGHLIGHTS: Public Health Emergency Planning • Continued working with Departments of Public Health in the 34 communities in Region 4A. • Developed an in -depth outline of an emergency vaccine dispensing site exercise to conduct and follow during the 2008 calendar year. This exercise will bring all town emer- gency response departments together to go through an emergency response exercise for vaccinating the public in a structured format. • Finalized a special population identification form that was approved by the Town administration and emergency planners to be utilized for individuals in the community to complete and keep on file. • Formed a Pandemic Flu Steering Committee, which has met repeatedly to outline and develop plans for the Town to prepare for a possible pandemic flu and other emer- gency responses. Food Safety • Developed and established a set of written guidelines for food safety and permitting for the vendors at the Farmers' Market. • Worked to revise the State Food Code regulations for food safety; it is now required that food establishment facilities increase the number of certified food safety personnel within their establishments. Public Pool Safety Conducted an information session with pool managers of public and semi - public pool facilities to discuss overall pool safety. Mosquito Control • Continued to participate in the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Program, which included applications of lar- vacide to town catch basins during the 2007 mosquito - breeding season and West Nile Virus monitoring and sur- veillance. Pesticide Awareness • Conducted a Pesticide Awareness Seminar to provide training to owners and maintenance personnel of multi- dwelling units on pest reduction and the proper use of pes- ticides at their dwellings /complexes. Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations • Coordinated and conducted two flu vaccine clinics to pro- tect individuals from seasonal flu. Conducted one clinic at St. Brigid's Parish and the other at the Senior Center. Pneumococcal vaccines were also available upon request. Indoor Air Quality Studies • Assisted personnel of the Department of Public Health in conducting an indoor air quality assessment of the East Lexington Library Branch, which included parameters to improve the air quality within the facility. Tobacco Sales Enforcement • Continued participation in the Metrowest- Suburban Tobacco Control Collaborative (MTCC) to enforce state and local tobacco laws and education. • Collaborated with MTCC for conducting routine inspec- tions throughout the year to identify tobacco sales to minors from permit holders in Lexington. Fines were issued to establishments that sold tobacco to minors. The number of fines issued to establishments has declined over the past three years, from 11 fines issued in 2005, to two issued in 2006, and one issued in 2007. Old Reservoir Sanitary Survey • Partnered with the Recreation Department to prepare a request for a proposal for an independent consultant firm to conduct a bacterial source investigation at the Old Reservoir Bathing Beach. The goal is to identify bacterial pollution sources to inform mitigation efforts for improved water quality. Page 30 2006 Annual Report, Town of Lexington 2007 2006 2005 Permits Issued 616 606 567 Inspections 441 513 637 Inquiries 1277 1323 1357 Complaints (" incl. animals) 324 289 264 Communicable Diseases 101 56 96 Immunizations (Influenza) 442 460 450 Page 30 2006 Annual Report, Town of Lexington