HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-17-BOH-min
MINUTES for:
BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING
Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 7:00 P.M.
Parker Room, Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA
Board of Health Members in Attendance:
Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, Chair, John J. Flynn, J.D., Burt Perlmutter, MD
Health Division Attendees:
Gerard F. Cody, Health Director, Linda Rainville, Clerk
1.) Minutes from August 20, 2014 accepted as amended.
2.) Community Health
a.) CHNA grant update – Mr. Cody reported that Susan Cleary, Community Development Office
Manager, will be taking minutes at the meetings and assist with the budget. In November and December first
responders will be invited to attend Mental Health First Aid Training. The training will be coordinated by Joy
Galen from the Edinburg Center. There will be fifteen Paramedics and thirty Police Officers. During January
through May the training will be offered to School Employees, Coaches and residents from the community.
b.) MAPC tobacco grant - Jeannine Flaherty will speak with the residents at Katahdin Woods regarding
“Smoke Free Community”. The Management Company is very supportive of the “Smoke Free Community”.
c.) Flu Clinic Schedule 2014 was distributed to the BOH
d.) Community Health Report
3.) Environmental Health
a.) Food Inspection program
1.) Royal India Bistro – Jatinda Singh and Lisa Berger spoke to the BOH regarding the status of
the inspections. Lisa was very pleased with the results of the last inspection. She said “It was absolutely
fabulous”! The kitchen was clean, floors, refrigerator, etc. The staff will continue training continuously. There
will be another inspection next month.
b.) State Sanitary Code Case Review
1.) 267 Waltham Street – Mr. Cody reported that a well-being check was done on November 20,
2013. The resident refuses help for Social Services. He said he spends the winter with family in Virginia. A
letter has been sent to him by regular mail, certified mail and by a constable. He has been offered services from
the Edinburg Center, and Veteran Affairs. All services were refused. The Health Director will conduct another
inspection to confirm the conditions the Police Department reported. The next step will be contacting
Lexington Legal Counsel then going to the court for approval. An “emergency” condemnation may be in order.
2.) 11 & 12 Brandon Street – Mr. Cody was invited on to the property to do an inspection. The
number of bird feeders have been reduced to three in the back yard and six in the front of the house. The
Regional Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife accompanied Mr. Cody to the inspection. He spoke with
the property owner and explained they do not endorse feeding of wild animals. The property owner was
instructed to put a barrel under the bird feeders to collect the seed that drops out of feeder.
3.) 1025 Massachusetts Avenue – Balam Williamson, concerned neighbor and Alex Olgin,
Trustee of Condo Association spoke to the Board regarding this condo. They stated that no one was living in
the condo, someone comes and goes. The inside of the condo is deteriorating and the outside of the condo is
showing signs of deterioration also. There is no electricity and windows are open. Condo fees were not paid
for several years, the fee has been paid last year. Taxes have not been paid for approximately ten years. They
do not have a forwarding address.Mail is picked up periodically. The BOH cannot go into the condo without
an invitation from the owner.
4.) BINA Farm – Eileen Polasky and Betsy Sarles spoke to the BOH regarding their program.
They will be offering Therapeutic Therapy, Hippo Therapy, and Recreational Riding. They will be moving to
55 Allen Street. At this time the property is being renovated (barn, arena, fields). The goal is to be operational
by the middle to the end of October.
Burt Perlmutter motioned and John Flynn seconded – “The Lexington Board of Health grants an animal
permit to Bina Center at 55 Allen Street pending inspection.”
c.) Medical Marijuana update
1.) Ethan Handwerker spoke briefly to the BOH. Mr. Handwerker has read the “draft”
regulations. He would like to meet every two weeks to put together a comprehensive regulation. He would like
to outline a time frame to work through the draft. He would like more input to the “big picture”. Mr.
Handwerker informed the BOH that 2015 Phase 2 will re-open.
d.) Water Quality
1.) Old Res – Levels were up to the minimum standard
2.) Hayden Pool - Levels were up to the minimum standard
e.) Vector Control
1.) Mosquito Control update
2.) Ticks and Summer Insect presentations – Mr. Cody reported that 35 residents attended the
“Tick Talk” presentation at the Senior Center.
3.) Rodent update – Mr. Cody will request a program to improve the rodent situation.
4.) Emergency Preparedness
a.) Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition, (HMCC) Mr. Cody spoke about the merger of Region
4A and 4B. In October there will be a document (like an RFP) organization that want to be the fiscal agent for
the new HMCC region. Cambridge Public Health Alliance is interested in taking this on.
Miscellaneous
5.) Old Business / New Business
21 Crescent Hill Road – There are an unusual number of complaints about this address. There is an
elderly woman living there, and she is taking care of her 50 year old son. The above ground pool needs to be
removed (there is not liner). Two vehicles that are not usable are in the yard. The yard has been cleaned up.
113 Concord Avenue – Kathy Fox and David Neylon went to inspect this residence. The worst case of
bedbugs that has been seen. The resident has moved out. The owner did not want to do anything about the
bedbugs. The owner will speak with his attorney to see what his options are. The owner was given a list of
cleaning companies.
6.) Next Meeting Wednesday, October 15, 2014