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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-09-10489 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING SEPTEMBER 10, 1985 The regular meeting of the Board of Health was held September 10, 1985 at 7:15 p.m. in Room G-15 of the Town Office Building. Members present were: James W. Lambie, Chairman; Donald A. Goldmann, M.D., Howard Asarkof, D.D.S., George A. Smith, Jr., Director of Public Health and Mrs. Debbie Halko, Sanitarian. Mr. Smith invited the new Animal Control Officer, Kathy Fox into the Board Meeting so that the Board may be introduced to her. Mr. Smith introduced her, the Board wished her good luch in ger new position. Debbie Halko, Sanitarian, reporting to the Board said she has been very busy doing inspections of the food service establishments. She has been going to Alex- ander's Pizza, Chadwick's, Brigham's, Bel Canto's, LeBellecour, Castiello's and Folsom's (they have been renovating) and Sebastian's. Sebastian's closed down for renovations without notifying Health or Building Departments. They did not take out a permit from the Building Department so he got charged double for the permits. Conefections has only been open two months and needed work already. They needed to install a mop sink. Mrs. Halko announced to the Board that she is resigning her position as San- itarian at the Lexington Health Department as she has been offered a full time position in Brookline - doing a lot of housing inspections, Etc. Mr. Smith said he feels happy for Debbie but sorry that we are losing her. She is an excellent worker and a good employee. She will be leaving on Friday, September 27th. Sandy Gabriel, that use to be our health intern, works in Brookline and has been made Senior Supervisor. The Three bats taken to the Lab in Jamaica Plain from Clarke Street were RABID rabid. BATS At 7:30 p.m. the Board met with several school personnel and two people from Replace in regard to discussing drug/alcohol abouse. Those attending were: Mr. William Blout, Director of Replace; Mr. Mitchell Rothenberg, Assistant to SCHOOL the Director at Replace; Mr. Dave Wilson, Assistant Principal at the High School; PERSONNEL - Dr. Robert Delulio, Coordinator of Guidance, Lexington High; Jean Sidman, Social PROGRAMS Worker at the High School and Jean Cohen of B.A.S.E. (Basic Alcohol Safety Ed- FOR DRUG/ ucation). ALCOHOL ABUSE Dr. Goldmann told the group that the Board of Health asked them to come in this evening to see what there is available for young people in regard to ed- ucation, awareness, and help if it is needed in regard to drugs. Mr. Blout and Mr. Rothenberg explained they are there for community education, IT i5 a drop-in center for young people and also a counseling center in regard to drug counseling for the young. They have a staff of six. (two full time - 4 half time employees - psycologist and psychiatrist. They provide drug education/prevention programs for children down to the 5th grade and 6th grade. The young hear about this program, Mr. Blout said, through individual teachers. When the Board asked Mr. Blout questions on statistics of drug use in Lexington he could not quote any figures in regard to this but he sug- gested that the Board go through Human Services to request the Selectmen for funds to do a survey. Mr. Blout said the town certainly has enough money to do this. Not one person present could really quote statistics or have ever done a survey to see what percent of the young population really needs help. Judy Cohen of B.A.S.E. (Basic Alcohol Safety Education) explained her program that BASE deals with alcohol users. The program is introduced into the curriculum. It is a peer program where young people talk to other young people. It was stated that Replace and BASE have not coordinated with each other in the past years. People can use Replace's services because alcohol is considered a drug. It has been separated in our society. Jean Sidman is a social worker and she said that the young people con- finde in her. She said she can talk to them and sometimes "canes denial" that they have a problem but then they feel more comfortable and will tell her their problems. The Board asked if they have any statistics broken down on the users and abusers of alcohol. BASE does not deal with abusers of alcohol. Al- cohol is a drug although the two seem to get separated. Mr. David Wilson, Assistant Principal of the High School, said "pot" is striking 7th and 8th graders. Education needs to be started in lower grades. Schools need to dwell on why kids turn to drugs. Some it is lack of esteem, some turn to escape the everyday problems, broken homes, etc. Hardcore youngsters are not going to be dealt with through agencies, schools, etc. The group kept talking about the town establishing a survey and then get a wide range of residents, not just the schoold, to look into the problem. Mitchell Rosenberg said there is a lot of adults (parents) on drugs in this town, also. How can we talk to parents about their kids on drugs when they, the parents, are on drugs themselves. The group all agreed that in many cases the parents are not interested in their children's schooling, etc. You just cannot talk to parents about their child's problem of drugs - when the parents are on drugs themselves. Mr. Wilson said the "divorce" problem in this town is horrendous. They said the parents who are interested in their child's schooling are usually the parents whose children are doing well. Dr. Goldmann asked if the group here tonight has tackled the problem in the town as a whole town. The group all answered "no". 1 1 491 Dr. Goldmann said to the group - me, as a epidemologist would like to deal in statistics and you are not able to give me figures of the percent of the young people that are in trouble because of drugs/alcohol. Pediatricians should be involved more as should parents, schools, health and human services - all should be coordinated. Are there no answers as to how the drugs get into town, who deals the drugs, are some made at hone in basements? Some kids don't even know what they are taking. They mix drugs and alcohol. There are junior high kids on drugs. The Board wondered where M.V.M.H.A. fit into this picture. Mr. Blout said that the M.V.M.H.A. has changed its policies and now sees more of the mentally retarded rather than drug referrals. After further discussion of the drug problems of children in the schools the group stated that a survey should be set up and taken and once it is con- pleted go one set further and get some publicity so people with problems will seek help. Mr. Lambie, Chairman of the Board of Health, is going to see Mrs. Beatrice Phear to see if the town can set up some kind of survey relating to the drug use/abuse in the town. Judy Cohen, Representatives from Replace, Jean Sidman, Mr. Dave Wilson, and Bob Deiulio, all said that they were delighted to think someone group in the town is interested enough to sit down and discuss this problem with each other. They all thanked the town, (Board of Health) for having invited them in and the B oard Members and the Director said they were pleased that they all could be here tonight and thanked them for coming in. The following permits were signed by the Board: Animal Permits Francis W. K. Smith 4 Clematis Rd. Food Service Establishments Interstate United Corp. for Data Resources 24 Hartwell Ave. Interstate United Corp. for Data Resources 29 Hartwell Ave. Kindercare Learning Center 80 Maple St. Mario's Italian Restaurant 1733 Mass Ave. Methyl Alcohol Licenses Auto Engineering 436 Marrett. Rd.