1987-07-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING JULY 14, 1987 The monthly meeting of the Board of Health was held on Tuesday, July 14, 1987 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 111 of the Town Office Building. Members present were: Dr. Linda Roemer, Chairperson; Dr. Donald Goldman; Dr. Stan Finkelstein and Mr. George Smith, Jr., Director of Public Health. The minutes of June 9, 1987 were accepted as read. Martha Wood The meeting opened with the introduction of Martha C. Wood from the Non -Smoking Department of Public Health. Ms. Wood is Assistant Director of a new and Health Public Health Office on Non -Smoking and Health which started in January of this past year. This office is to publicize the importance of the smoking issue and encourage people to take action. Ms. Wood talked about the effect of smoking on health and said that DPH would like boards of health to establish no smoking regulations. Cities and towns are being encouraged to ask businesses to establish policies. Linda Roemer stated that the Board of Health was about to consider changes in policy. She asked Ms. Wood if she could anticipate the reaction to stricter smoking regulations. Ms. Wood said that recently the Department of Public Health did a survey on restaurants in a number of communities. Lexington was one of those surveyed. Out of nine restaurants checked in town, one restaurant had a 50% non-smoking section and another had 40%. Mr. Smith said most cafe- terias in Lexington had gone beyond the present policy of setting aside 25% of its seats for non-smokers. People in Brookline and Cambridge cannot smoke in enclosed places. Northampton was the first town to have smoking only in a designated room. Martha Wood said she would be glad to furnish samples and brochures on heart, lung, cancer and other literature. There is also a new fact sheet being printed. It was noted that day care centers, nursery schools, etc., do not have a policy. Martha Wood left at 8:00 p.m. have been thanked by the Board. Dr. Goldmann suggested forming a committee. The Board agreed that some research would have to be done, regulations would have to be drafted and a public hearing held. It was agreed that if the draft regulations included no -smoking in town buildings and restrictions in the work place, they should also be discussed with the Board of Selectmen. VNCH The Visiting Nurses contract was reviewed. The VNCH were requesting $30.00 Contract per hour. After discussion the Board came to an agreement of $25.00 per hour. Center Linda Roemer reported that Jack Eddison, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Clean-up was writing to town businesses to ask them to clean up their premises. This Committee was being done at the request of the Town Center Committee, of which Marge Battin is Chairperson. The Board had several comments on the letter which was to be relayed to Jack Eddison. 1 1