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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-10-17-BOH-min LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 17, 2018 7:00 P.M. Cary Hall Memorial Building Estabrook Hall, (Lower level) 1605 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 Board of Health Members in Attendance: Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, Sharon MacKenzie R.N., CCM, Burt Perlmutter, M.D., John J. Flynn Office of Public Health Attendees: Ethan Mascoop, Public Health Consultant Francis Dagle, Health Assistant Speakers: Kevin Mills, Cyteir Therapeutics Melinda Day, Cyteir Therapeutics Rebecca Caruso, Lexington rDNA Consultant Documents: Community Health Report Environmental Health Report Nuisance Complaint—Wood smoke—30 Bernard Street, document Order To Correct—Cliffe Avenue Lot, document rDNA Application to obtain a Permit—Cyteir Therapeutics BOH Regulation, Article V, Use of Recombinant DNA Molecule Technology, document Emergency Preparedness Report Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The board reviewed the Community Health Report; 210 Lexington Seniors were vaccinated at the October 3, 2018, flu clinic at St. Brigid's. This represents a vaccination increase of 85 more residents in comparison to last season's first senior flu clinic. The Public Health Nurse participated in two recent Medical Waste events in collaboration with United Medical Waste and Lexington Department of Public Works, Environmental Services Division. Environmental Health report was reviewed and the following cases were discussed; Waxy O'Connors; The Board noted that the establishment had 6 critical violations and 2 non-critical violations. Re-inspection data will be reviewed at the next scheduled BOH meeting date. 30 Bernard Street; Health Agent Report stated that the tenant responded to a correspondence from the Office of Public Health regarding a smoke nuisance complaint. This case has been closed (See September 26, 2018 meeting minutes for more detail). Cliffe Avenue Vacant Lot; A complaint was filed about public dumping on an abandoned lot. Ethan Mascoop, Lexington Health Consultant, will investigate the matter and report back to the Board of Health. rDNA Regulation Review; Rebecca Carusso, Lexington rDNA Consultant met with the Board to review proposed amendments to Article V, Use of Recombinant DNA Molecule Technology. Amendments would include language updates, the elimination of the Biosafety Committee, and assumed responsibility of the Board of Health Cyteir Therapeutics - New rDNA Permit Application; Kevin Mills and Melinda Day, Cyteir Therapeutics representatives, reviewed operations and facility specifications for lab and office space at 128 Spring Street. After some discussion, Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, proposed a motion that stated, "The Lexington Board of Health grants an annual rDNA Permit to Cyteir Therapeutics."Burt Perlmutter, M.D., seconded the motion. All were in favor. The Emergency Preparedness report was reviewed and the following topics were discussed; During the MRPC Stakeholder meeting on September 12th, Tavish MacLeod of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Preparedness and Emergency Management (MDPH OPEM), presented on the joint project between OPEM and the Bureau of Environmental Health to develop an online Emergency Preparedness Portal The Massachusetts Health and Homeland Alert Network(HHAN) recently announced the roll-out of its first stage of the HHAN Data Stream Project, automating certain types of alerts, using publicly available data. A HHAN user can now receive an automated push of Food and Drug Recalls (daily bulk messaging on individual recalls) from the FDA and/or Drug Shortage information (HHAN scans this site hourly for new info) from the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists. A message was sent to all HHAN users earlier this month. On Wednesday, September 26th, the Public Health Nurse participated in the quarterly Emergency Preparedness drill. The drill involved signing into the MDPH Web EOC online portal and posting a message within 2 hours of notice of the drill. This was successfully completed. Sharon MacKenzie R.N., CCM, motioned that the meeting be adjourned and Burt Perlmutter, M.D., seconded. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:44 PM. It was noted that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.