HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-19-BOH-min
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LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, December 19th, 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., David Geller, M.D., Vice-Chair
Board of Health Members Absent:
Susan Wolf-Fordham, J.D. MPA.
Health Department Staff Attendees:
Joanne Belanger, RN, Public Health Director, Alicia McCartin, Assistant Health Director
Select Board Liaison: Mark Sandeen
Documents:
Minutes Approval
Open Forum (2 minutes per person, state your name and address)
Public Hearing:
Article XXI, Laboratory Animal Regulations, Chapter 155, Board of Health
Regulations of the Town of Lexington Code. Consideration for Adoption
Artificial turf health risk assessment presentation (crumb rubber infill)
BUSPH MPH Students
Housing violations - 118 Kendall Rd
Emergency Assistance Shelters - Update
Flu Clinic/ COVID vaccine update
Tobacco Control Update
Health Staff Reports
Environmental Health
Community Health
Directors Report
Correspondence/Information
New/Old Business
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Meeting Called to Order:
The meeting began at 6:30 P.M.
Open Forum (2 minutes per person, state your name and address)
None
Minutes Approval:
The Board of Health reviewed the October 17th minutes. Dr. Tung made a motion to accept the
minutes as amended. Ms. Wolf-Fordham seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously
The Board of Health reviewed the November 21st minutes. Dr. Tung made a motion to accept the
minutes as amended. Ms. Wolf-Fordham seconded the motion.
Motion approved unanimously
Public Hearing:
Article XXI, Laboratory Animal Regulations, Chapter 155, Board of Health Regulations of the
Town of Lexington Code. Consideration for Adoption:
Dr. Heiger-Bernays opened the hearing at approximately 6:41 pm. She announced that the Board
members had read the draft of the regulations. They had seen the draft 2 times before hearing and
asked Ms. Belanger for updates. She stated Board would not be answering any questions unless
Ms. Belanger felt it appropriate. The Board member Dr. Tung recused herself due to a possible
conflict of interest.
Ms. Belanger stated that staff has been working on the regulations for quite some time. The final
draft regulations before the Board are with the understanding that there may be grammatical
errors that will have to be corrected. She stated there are no new comments from Board members
to change subject matter, chapters, or other Board concerns.
Dr. Heiger-Bernays opened the hearing up to Public comments.
Pamela Lyons, 51 Grant Street, asked who would enforce regulations, inspect facilities, and
would the inspections be public record.
Ms. Belanger stated that the process is in the regulations; the liaison would inspect and
enforcement is with the Health Department and Board. All findings would be within the public
record as appropriate.
Holly Pearson, 1475 Massachusetts Avenue, Unit 462, asked about how many positions are on
the animal care and use committee and how these people are found. How does the public know
when the liaison position is posted and available?
Robert Spielvogue, non-resident, stated that he is an Environmental Health and Safety worker
representing Lexington clients. He asked how the Health Department will decide as to what is a
significant change in the number of animals in the facility.
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Matthew Waguesrpeck, a non-resident, asked how the Health Department would conduct
inspections. Stated it is a preference that inspectors do not come into a lab with healthy animals
after inspecting another facility.
Dr. Heiger-Bernays opened up a discussion of the matter to Board members:
Ms. Wolf-Fordam had several comments regarding grammatical mistakes in the draft and
requested consistency of terms. Example; ordinance vs. regulation. The regulation term should
be used for a BOH regulation. Dr. Heiger-Bernays explained that Lexington being a Town uses
bylaws not ordinances.
Ms. Belanger answered questions as well as discussed standard of procedures (SOP) and
suggested draft regulations remain as written and grammatical errors be corrected by staff.
Dr. Geller had no further comments or questions.
Dr. Heiger-Bernays questioned the use of the term liaison and Ms. Belanger stated that the Board
had settled on that term for lack of another one.
Michelle Schatz stated that it is likely that the liaison would be conducting only one lab
inspection on a typical day and that will be explained to the facility being inspected on that day.
She also stated that a 20% increase in animals in a facility would be a reasonable number to use.
The application process would be the place to start and help the Town be alerted to changes.
Ms. Belanger stated that the qualifications of liaison and Community Committee member are in
job descriptions, not regulations.
There were no additional questions from Board members.
Dr. Heiger-Bernays motioned to adopt regulations with a second by Dr. Geller. Unanimously
approved by all members voting with Dr. Tung recusing. Regulation to become effective, on
May 1, 2024.
Artificial turf health risk assessment presentation (crumb rubber infill) BUSPH MPH Students:
Dr. Heiger-Bernays provided the Board of Health with an update on the turf risk assessment.
Also, Dr. Heiger-Bernays introduced several of her students who presented a project on artificial
turf health risks.
The presenters were Simon Zhou, Lauren Payne, Mahi Mirchandani, and Emily Leonard.
They relayed their concerns and opinions to the Board.
Housing violations - 118 Kendall Rd:
Ms. McCartin received a housing complaint in November 2023 for 118 Kendall Rd. Ms.
McCartin discovered several violations while inspecting a property. As a result, an emergency
order for housing and health code violations was issued, and the property was condemned. The
Board was provided with all necessary information and documents to support this decision. No
questions were raised by the Board regarding the issued orders.
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Emergency Assistance Shelters – Update:
Ms. Belanger updated the Board on the multiple weekly meetings she's been having with the
National Guard, State agencies, volunteer groups, and other parties regarding the emergency
shelters.
The Board has no questions or comments.
Flu Clinic/ COVID vaccine update
Ms. Belanger informed the Board of the high number of immunizations given this season.
The Health Department is still proving flu and COVID-19 vaccine shots, along with home visits
to those who need them.
Ms. Belanger informed the Board more test kits have been delivered and are available to the
community.
Tobacco Control Update
Ms. Belanger informed the Board that Brenda Makumbi completed her training for retail
inspections in process surveys. Ms. Makumbi has completed a lot of her compliance checks and
will be continuing more training with underage buying.
Ms. Belanger informed the Board next task is to collaborate with the coalition on the regulations
for tobacco.
Health Staff Reports
Staff provided their monthly reports.
Directors Report provided.
Correspondence/Information
Adjournment
Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to adjourn at 8:18 p.m.
Dr. Geller seconded the motion.
Approved was numinously