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<br />Lexington Board of Health January 29, 2004 Meeting Minutes <br />Police Guard Room, 1575 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, Massachusetts <br /> <br />Attendees <br /> <br />Board of Health: James Fearnside, Chair; Burt Perlmutter; Wendy Heiger-Bernays; <br />Jean Kelley; Sharon MacKenzie <br /> <br />Health Department: Kathy Fox; Derek Fullerton <br /> <br />Linda Vine, Ethan Mascoop, Nursing Students for Observation <br /> <br /> <br />The meeting began at 7:05 p.m. There was no public participation. <br /> <br />Fearnside expressed concerns about the direction of the Health Department. Fearnside <br />has communicated with the Town Manager’s Office expressing his concerns regarding <br />the competenancy of the staff of the health department and the staff cuts in general. <br />Fearnside gave examples of other town’s health departments showing public health nurse <br />comparisons. Fearnside also mentioned that towns comparable to Lexington have at <br />least 1 or 2 full time nurses. Fearnside also mentioned that comparable towns seem to <br />require that someone of their staff be a registered sanitarian. <br /> <br />Fullerton indicated to the Board that he will be taking the registered sanitarians exam this <br />year and that Fox will also be taking the sanitarian exam. Fox informed the Board of her <br />recent completion of the Certified Pool Operator’s Certification. Fox mentioned that <br />Fullerton is scheduled to take the Certified Pool Operator’s Course in the near future. <br /> <br /> <br />Fearnside informed the Board that the Town Manager, Richard White will meet with <br />members of the Board after every Board of Health Meeting. Fearnside also informed the <br />Board that the Health Director’s position will be reopened once White feels the budget <br />situation is resolved. He also stated that the Board of Health needs to advocate their <br />positions to the selectmen about funding for the Health Department. Vine made the <br />Board of Health aware that they requested funding from the Selectmen for the Animal <br />Control position and a full time Public Health Nurse. Heiger-Bernays said the Board <br />should promote the health and well being of Lexington residents immediately and for the <br />long-term future. <br /> <br />Perlmutter was encourgaged by the prospect of reopening the Health Director position.He <br />would also like input into the Health staff evaluations. Fearnside and Heiger-Bernays <br />said they would draft a list of qualifications for the Health Director. They also would like <br />to see the qualification requirements for other towns. <br /> <br />Heiger Bernays stated the Health Director should have qualifications for writing grants <br />and securing funding. She wondered why we had such an inadequate group of applicants <br />where the Town of Winchester had more qualified applicants. <br /> <br />Fearnside discussed the budget and was concerned about the lack of control that the <br />Health Department has over the budget since it is all Community Development and not a <br />separate Health Department budget. Heiger-Bernays was also concerned about the lack <br />of control over the Health Department budget. Vine stated that the budget has a specific <br /> <br />