HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-17-BOH-min
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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
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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
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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.
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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