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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-18-BOH-min 1 LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, October 18, 2022 6:30 pm Conducted by Remote Participation Approved 11-15-2022 Board of Health Members in Attendance: Wendy Heiger-Bernays Chair, PhD, Burt Perlmutter, M.D., Jillian Tung, M.D., M.P.H., David Geller, M.D. Board of Health Member Absent: Susan Wolf-Fordham, J.D. MPA. Select Board (Liaison): Mark Sandeen Office of Public Health Attendees: Joanne Belanger, RN, Public Health Director, Alicia McCartin, Assistant Health Director, Siqing Pan, Department Assistant Office of Public Health Attendees Absent: Jessica Shah, Health Agent, Kelliann Coleman, Public Health Nurse Documents: Draft BOH meeting minutes 9-28-2022 Food Establishment – Arka Restaurant – Inspection report dated 5/14/2022 Notice to Arka Restaurant to schedule a meeting about the timeline for re-opening dated 5/20/2022 Notification to Alexandria’s Convenience Store for attendance to BOH meeting dated 10/14/2022 Food Establishment – Alexandria’s Convenience Store – Inspection report dated 8/25/2022 Repeated Violations notice order to Alexandria’s Convenience Store dated 8/29/2022 Food Plan Review compliments letter - Alexandria’s Convenience Store dated 9/13/2022 Repeated Violations notice letter dated 9/14/2022 Food Establishment – Alexandria’s Convenience Store – Inspection report dated 9/23/2022 Food Establishment – Alexandria’s Convenience Store – Inspection report dated 10/13/2022 Board of Health 2023 Meeting Schedule Lexington Covid data (8/11/2022-10/13/2022) Environmental Health Report – Jessica Shah Environmental Health Report – Alicia McCartin Massachusetts Department of Public Health Arbovirus Surveillance Program Report Flu/Covid Clinics summary and data analysis Station 34 update letter dated 10/7/2022 Meeting Called to Order: Board of Health meeting of October 18, 2022 was called to order by Dr. Heiger-Bernays at 6:32 pm. Minutes Approval Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to accept the minutes on September 28th, 2022 as amended. Dr. Perlmutter seconded. Roll Call Vote: Dr. Tung – Yes, Dr. Geller – Yes, Dr. Perlmutter – Yes, Dr. Heiger-Bernays – Yes. Motion carried 4 to 0. All in favor. Unanimously moved. 2 Open Forum (2 minutes per person, state your name and address) None Food Establishment – Food Consultant recommendation Arka Restaurant – 135 Massachusetts Ave Ms. Belanger and Ms. McCartin provided the food establishment inspection report and other relevant documents for Arka Restaurant for the Board’s review. Dr. Perlmutter inquired about the reopening follow-up inspection: whether we will learn of what the food consultant says regarding their inspections. Ms. Belanger stated that any correspondence from the food consultant will be sent to the Board for review. Dr. Heiger-Bernays questioned the duration that the food consultant should be on board. Ms. Belanger stated that is to be determined. Dr. Heiger-Bernays suggested the food establishment contract with a consultant within two or three weeks. Ms. McCartin stated this food establishment is still in the process of their food plan review, and they have not started their construction. But the food consultant can do the training in the meantime before re-opening and help with the process of submission of documents for the plan review. Dr. Geller made a motion that Arka Restaurant has two weeks to hire an appropriate health consultant to improve and rectify issues at the restaurant. Dr. Perlmutter seconded. Roll Call Vote: Dr. Tung – Yes, Dr. Perlmutter – Yes, Dr. Geller – Yes, Dr. Heiger-Bernays – Yes. Motion carried 4 to 0. All in favor. Unanimously moved. Food Establishment – Non-compliance - Repeated violations for expired food Alexandria’s Convenience Store – 335 Woburn St Ms. Belanger and Ms. McCartin provided the food establishment inspection report and other relevant documents of Alexandria’s Convenience Store for Board’s review. Dr. Perlmutter inquired about whether the owner understands that they are at risk of closure if they do not comply with the food code. Ms. Belanger stated yes, and it has been relayed to them on more than one occasion. Dr. Heiger-Bernays asked if they appreciate the severity of this situation with the possibility of suspension and revocation. Ms. Belanger stated they have been informed. Dr. Geller inquired about whether they are still preparing food there. Ms. Belanger stated in terms of the food preparation, no, but they were still using the kitchen area for their own consumption, which has stopped. Dr. Heiger-Bernays suggest the food establishment to hire a food consultant within a week, and then the food consultant can help them with the process to be in compliance with the food code to re-open for food preparation. The consultant can also help them understand the other aspects of the food code. Dr. Geller inquired about any previous violations or is this because the management changed. Ms. Belanger stated according to the records, they took over in December, 2021. Ms. McCartin stated the previous owner did have food violations for selling expired food. 3 Dr. Perlmutter made a motion to recommend the food establishment - Alexandria’s Convenience Store – to hire a food consultant within 7 days from now on 10/18/2022, and that they appear for a hearing at next BOH meeting of 11/15/2022 on this entire matter. Dr. Heiger-Bernays seconded. Roll Call Vote: Dr. Tung – Yes, Dr. Geller – Yes, Dr. Perlmutter – Yes, Dr. Heiger-Bernays – Yes. Motion carried 4 to 0. All in favor. Unanimously moved. Board of Health 2023 Meeting Schedule The Board reviewed the BOH 2023 Meeting Schedule. Ms. Belanger stated there was a vote taken by the legislature that meetings can continue to be held virtually until March, 2023. Revision to Fee Schedule: For construction and installation of a septic system Septic System Construction Permit - $250 Septic System Installation Permit – $250 Ms. Belanger explained the fee schedule updates on permits for construction and installation of a septic system. Each proposed permit fee is $250. Dr. Heiger-Bernays made a motion to accept the fee schedule to include a septic system construction permit which would be $250 and a septic system installation permit for $250. Dr. Perlmutter seconded. Roll Call Vote: Dr. Geller – Yes, Dr. Tung – Yes, Dr. Perlmutter – Yes, Dr. Heiger-Bernays – Yes. Motion carried 4 to 0. All in favor. Unanimously moved. The amended Fee Schedule will be effective immediately. Tobacco Control Update None Flu and COVID 19 Update The Lexington COVID data from the Health Department Dashboard was provided to the Board. COVID test kits from the State were made available at flu/COVID clinics and the medical waste day. Ms. Belanger also discussed the flu/COVID clinics events scheduled on September 27th, October 6th, and October 12th for residents over 60 years old at Lexington Community Center and Scottish Rite Masonic Museum. Health Staff Reports Ms. Belanger provided environmental health reports from Ms. McCartin and Ms. Shah. Dr. Heiger-Bernays inquired about the WinWam system for tracking and doing inspections. Ms. McCartin stated this system is not up and running yet. Dr. Heiger-Bernays asked once WinWam is in place, what kind of information can it provide that will be useful to the BOH at a public meeting with regard to the inspections. She stated that the staff reports the number of inspections right now, but does not provide information about the facilities, violations, or the trends over time. Ms. Belanger stated she has been working on the budget, annual report and the Medical Reserve Corps. She also discussed the medical waste event held on October 15th, 2022. The Lexington Lions Club partnered with us once again with this event. There were about 35 residents participated 4 that Saturday and 20 of them stated they had never come through before. Ms. Belanger, Ms. McCartin, and Ms. Shah will attend the Mass Health offices Annual Conference next week. Dr. Heiger-Bernays commented on Chikungunya virus infection and Dengue Fever from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Arbovirus Surveillance Program Report provided by Ms. Belanger. It was nice to see that there are no cases. Ms. Belanger also provided an update of Station 34, Eversource transformer fire notification of filing a Release Notification Form (RNF) and Immediate Response Action (IRA) plan for Station 34 in Lexington was provided by Tighe & Bond. New/Old Business Ms. Belanger, Dr. Tung, and Ms. Wolf-Fordham attended the online MAHB training last week. Dr. Tung suggested that it might be helpful for others who serve on Lexington boards and committees to have an orientation of certain legalities, like open meeting law. Mr. Sandeen stated onboarding training for new committee members has been discussed by the Select Board and is something they all agree on. Adjournment Dr. Tung made a motion to adjourn at 7:37pm. Dr. Perlmutter seconded. Motion carried 4 to 0. All in favor.