HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-20-BOH-min LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH
MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
6:00 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, Burt Perlmutter, M.D., John J. Flynn
Office of Public Health Attendees:
David Neylon, Public Health Nurse
Kari Sasportas, Public Health Director
Speakers:
Matteo Gallizio, La Dolda
Jaspal Magi, 321 Spice Box Curry &Pizza
Shinjara Singh, Spice Box Curry &Pizza
Beth Osborne, Aloft Hotel
Documents:
Community Health Report
Environmental Health Report
Massachusetts Influenza Activity (as of March 9, 2019)
Plan Review La Dolda, 1736 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington
Plan Review Spice Box Curry &Pizza, Lexington
Food Establishment Inspection Report, Aloft Hotel
Aloft/element Lexington Safety Training, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation
Cliffe Ave/Melrose Ave Vacant Lot, memorandum
Emergency Preparedness Report
Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Minutes of February 20, 2019 were reviewed. In a motion duly made and seconded, the minutes
were approved with revisions.
The board reviewed the Community Health Report;
The Office of Public Health has been participating in the Lexington Mental Health and Wellness
Task Force (LMHWTF) along with members of the Human Services Department, Lexington
Public Schools staff and community stakeholders. This Task Force grew out of a series of joint
Selectmen/School Committee meetings in 2018 that tasked town and school staff with
systematically addressing mental health concerns in Lexington residents of all ages. In its role
on the Task Force, the Office of Public Health is working within the "Identification/Research"
subgroup to identify existing resources and relevant local, state and national data that can aid in
future task force decision-making, including potential Implementation grant funds. Other
subgroups within the Task Force include "Prevention," "Intervention," and "Postvention" as it
relates to mental health and wellness across the lifespan in Lexington, including youth, students,
families, adults and older adults.
As of March 8th, the final report for the "planning"portion of this CHNA grant has been
submitted. Also as of March 8th, a proposal for "implementation" grant funding has been
submitted. At this time the proposal for "implementation" funds is being reviewed by CHNA
grant reviewers.
Environmental Health report was reviewed and the following cases were discussed;
Matteo Gallizio, owner of La Dolda- La Dolda is now occupying the space formerly held by
Great Harvest. Mr. Gallizio met with the board to answer questions regarding his recently
completed Plan Review for a New Food Establishment. The applicant noted that recent
developments will cause alterations to the submitted plan, and he will follow up with the Health
Director.
Jaspal Nagi and Shinjara Singh, owners of Spice Box Curry &Pizza—Spice Box Curry &Pizza
is renovating the space formerly held by Prime Roast Beef and Subs. The owners met with the
Board to answer questions regarding their recently completed Plan Review for a New Food
Establishment. The Health Agent has inspected the establishment and provided the new owners
with a list of required repairs and alterations that need to be completed before a permit can be
issued.
Aloft Hotel had 5 critical and 5 non-critical violations in a recent environmental health
inspection. Beth Osborne, General Manager, met with the board to review the violations and
present a safety training plan to prevent incurring these violations in the future.
Vacant lot at corner of Cliffe Ave. and Melrose Ave; The Lexington Office of Public Health
received multiple complaints related to dumping at the unoccupied wooded lot at the corner of
Cliffe Ave and Melrose Ave. David Neylon, Public Health Nurse, provided a memorandum
updating the BOH of the progress on this property (See November 14, 2018 meeting minutes for
more detail).
The Emergency Preparedness report was reviewed and the following topics were discussed;
Lexington is required to complete a set of three EDS drills each grant year to test staff
notification, site activation, and facility set-up. Staff notification and site activation drills consist
of a hypothetical scenario to test response time and availability of designated staff to initiate
opening of an EDS. These drills are call-down only and do not include functional or full-scale
exercises. The facility set-up drill is based on an actual flu clinic set-up within a targeted time
range (e.g., one hour). The Public Health Nurse completed all three drills in the second quarter
and submitted to the Region 4AB planner on February 28, 2019 in fulfillment of Lexington's
deliverables for this grant cycle.
With financing and support provided by Region 4AB, the Public Health Director will attend the
upcoming NACCHO Public Health Preparedness Summit in St. Louis, MO from March 25 —29,
2019. The Public Health Director is an appointed member of the NACCHO Climate Change
Workgroup and will lead a joint workshop with staff from NACCHO and JSI Research &
Training Institute on Wednesday, March 27 in the Building and Sustaining Resilient
Communities conference track.
Health Agent Position; A finalist has received an offer of employment.
Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, motioned that the meeting be adjourned and John J. Flynn
seconded. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM.
It was noted that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.