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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-17-BOH-min 1 LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, 6:30 pm Conducted by Remote Participation Board of Health Members in Attendance: Wendy Heiger-Bernays Ph.D. Chair, Jillian Tung, M.D., M.P.H., Susan Wolf-Fordham, J.D. MPA. Board of Health Members Absent: David Geller, M.D., Vice-Chair Health Department Staff Attendees: Joanne Belanger, RN, Public Health Director, Alicia McCartin, Assistant Health Director Select Board Liaison: Mark Sandeen (joined at 7:10 pm) Documents: Documents:  Minutes Approval  Open Forum (2 minutes per person, state your name and address)  Schedule of meetings for 2024  High-Performance Building Policy Maggie Peard – Sustainability & Resilience Officer, Town of Lexington  Lab Animal Regulations Second DRAFT Michelle Schatz – Consultant  Variance Request – Via Lago - 1845 Mass Ave Food Code 3-502.11 Specialized Processing Method – Sous Vide Alan Jick  Variance Request – Revival Café - 1729 Massachusetts Ave Food Code 6-202.15 Outer Openings Megan Morrison  BOH Appointments – Tobacco Agent, Public Health Excellence grant staff  Craft Food Hall - Update  Flu Clinic/ COVID vaccine update  Tobacco Control Update 2  Health Staff Reports Environmental Health Community Health Directors Report  Correspondence/Information  New/Old Business Meeting Called to Order: The meeting began at 6:31 P.M. Open Forum (2 minutes per person, state your name and address) None Schedule of meetings for 2024: The Board reviewed the 2024 meeting schedule. No conflicts were immediately identified. The meeting schedule will be posted on the town website and Board of Health page. High-Performance Building Policy Maggie Peard – Sustainability & Resilience Officer, Town of Lexington Maggie Peard provided a thorough presentation on the High-Performance Building Policy plan. accompanied by well-researched documents and data. She responded to all questions and concerns raised by the Board. There was a discussion on a prior memo by the Board, that Ms. Peard would like to confirm regarding the parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide. The Board will discuss at the November meeting. Lab Animal Regulations first DRAFT – Michelle Schatz – Consultant Ms. Michelle Schatz, the consultant with ABC Consulting, delivered a well-crafted presentation of the second draft of the Lab Animals Regulations. The Board of Health reviewed the regulations and suggested some minor edits, which Ms. Schatz will work on in collaboration with the Health Department. Variance Request – Via Lago - 1845 Mass Ave Food Code 3-502.11 Specialized Processing Method – Sous Vide- Alan Jick Alan Jick attended the Board of Health meeting requesting a special variance for Reduced 3 oxygen packaging for sous vide cooking. After conversations, the Board of Health approved the variance request as per instructions. Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to grant the variance to Via Lago to operate Sous vide cooking under the conditions laid out in the provided letter from the Health Department. Ms. Wolf-Fordham seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. The variance is effective immediately. Variance Request – Revival Café - 1729 Massachusetts Ave Food Code 6-202.15 Outer Openings - Megan Morrison Megan Morrison and her colleague appeared before the Board to describe the operation of Revival Café and their request to have the front windows open during warm weather. There was discussion around food storage and protection including the fact that there is a door separating the kitchen area and the open dining area. Dr. Tung made a motion that the Board of Health grant the variance to Revival Café and Kitchen for the bifold operable storefront windows variance to the food code 6-20215 Outer Openings. Dr. Heiger-Bernays seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously. BOH Appointments – Tobacco Agent, Public Health Excellence grant staff Ms. Belanger introduced the discussion of adding some the staff of the TriTon Public Health Excellence (PHE) Shared Services grant as agents of the Board of Health. These staff members, the new Tobacco Agent, the Health agent and the Public Health Nurse, could have regulatory duties when working in Lexington. Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion that the Board of Health hereby delegates its legal authority to enforce state statutes and state and local regulations to the Board’s agents as listed below in Section A. This delegation is for the fiscal period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and beyond, as the Board deems necessary. Said appointment is for regulatory legal authority only and does not guarantee any salary or fee. Ms. Wolf-Fordham seconded the motion Motion approved unanimously. Brenda Makumbi – Tobacco Agent Rashod Blades – Public Health Nurse Tahycha Soto – Health Agent Craft Food Hall - Update Ms. McCartin gave an update to the Board of Health and provided information about the recent discussion held with Randy Hill. They discussed the requirements for a restaurant that requested a variance request, particularly ensuring that all staff and employees involved in the sous vide cooking process are properly trained and understand the procedure. 4 Flu Clinic/ COVID vaccine update Ms. Belanger shared the news that we have received the COVID-19 vaccine and will be distributing it to the community at a clinic on November 14, 2023. The Health Department is planning to hold separate clinics for individuals aged 60 and above, as well as for younger individuals. She also informed the Board that there are additional flu clinics scheduled throughout the upcoming months, and the schedule for these clinics can be found on the Public Health calendar. Tobacco Control Update None Health Staff Reports Staff provided their monthly reports. Directors Report provided. Correspondence/Information Mr. Sandeen gave the Board of Health an update on the Select Board Meeting that was recently held at which the Noise Advisory Committee was a topic. The discussion for the Select Board was to determine whether to reappoint the Noise Advisory Committee, The Select Board unanimously supported that action. Adjournment Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to adjourn at 8:14 p.m. Dr. Tung seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously