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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-26-BOH-min LEXINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, November 26, 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, David Geller, M.D. Office of Public Health Attendees: Kari Sasportas, Public Health Director Francis Dagle, Public Health Assistant Speakers: Utsav Saxena, Dicerna Glen Acosta, Dicerna Caroline Slater, Dicerna Dina Loyd, Safety Partners Jae Park, Bulpan Restaurant Apichat Chuenprapa, Love at First Bite Ashley Wenger, Lexington Farmers Market Linda Arrow, Lexington Farmers Market Hien Nguyen, 17 Holland Street Alexandra Huhalov, 11 Sheridan Street Sasha Huhalov, 70 East Street Documents: Community Health Report Environmental Health Report Lexington Farmers Market, document BOH Order for Lexington Farmer's Market, document Love at First Bite—Proposed Order Letter Bulpan—Proposed Order Letter Email Correspondence, dated 11/1/19 FY2021 Program Improvement Request Form Local Health Department Staffing/Workload Comparison, document Lexington Office of Public Health Regulatory Programs, document Division Goals, document Letter Correspondence, dated 11/4/19 Code Council Voter Validation, document Email Correspondence, 11/25/19 Emergency Preparedness Report Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. Minutes of October 16, 2019 will be reviewed at the December 18, 2019 BOH meeting date. The board reviewed the Community Health Report; Fall Flu Clinics- The first two flu clinics of the season, which were open to those residents 60 years of age and older have been well attended by residents. Trivalent Fluad vaccine (licensed for use in 65 years and older) and quadrivalent Flucelvax vaccine were offered at these clinics. 219 residents were vaccinated on Wednesday, October 2nd: 10:00am-1:OOpm—St Brigid's Keilty Hall. 144 residents were vaccinated on Tuesday, October 15th: 10:00am— 11:30am- Museum of Scottish Rite. 500 residents were vaccinated on Saturday, October 26th: 9:30am— 12:30am- LPS Central Offices Gym. 193 residents were vaccinated on Thursday, November 21st: 1:OOpm—4:OOpm- St. Brigid's Keilty Hall. Future family-style flu clinics are scheduled, including a school-based clinic at Lexington High School Media Room on Wednesday, December 4th and Sunday, December 8th at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston. Environmental Health report was reviewed and the following cases were discussed; As a response to Governor Charlie Baker's four month temporary ban on vaping products,the Lexington Office of Public Health immediately notified all local retail tobacco product permit holders. A re-inspection was conducted on Friday, October 18'h to check for ongoing compliance. All establishments were compliant. Health Agent assisted with the Saturday October 26th, 2019 Flu Clinic held at the Old Harrington School. Health Agent and Health Director assisted with the Employee Flu Clinic Held at St. Bridges Church hall on November 21st, 2019. Bulpan Grill and Lounge; after some discussion, John J. Flynn, proposed a motion that stated, "Based on inconsistent audit report results since August 2019, the Lexington Board ofHealth orders the owner ofBulpan Restaurant to take the following actions: Remain under contract with an approved food consultant with monthly audits performed. Report back to the board on progress at the next scheduled meeting on December 18, 2019. "Burt Perlmutter, M.D., seconded the motion. All were in favor. (See August 21, 2019 meeting minutes for more detail) Love at First Bite; after some discussion Burt Perlmutter, M.D.,proposed a motion that stated, "Based on the Following Factors: 1) Repeat food code violations including,food contact surfaces not cleaned/sanitized, and food/non-food contact surfaces have not been cleaned, easily constructed and used 2) Two new food code violations noted on the 1117119 inspection report, The Lexington Board of Health orders the owner of Love at First Bite Restaurant to take the following action: 1) Remain under contract with an approved food consultant for monthly audits 2) Report back to the board on progress at the next scheduled meeting on December 18, 2019. " John J. Flynn seconded the motion. All were in favor. (See August 21, 2019 meeting minutes for more detail). Lexington Farmers Market; Ashley Wenger and Linda Arrow, Lexington Farmers Market, met with the BOH to discuss annual permitting for the market and questions for future market activities. The Director noted that some of the questions being asked were more complex than others, time and research would be required to provide appropriate answers to these questions. After some discussion the Health Director requested that the Farmers Market representatives come to the December 18, 2019 meeting date. This will allow for more thorough research on other local jurisdictions to determine what policies, fee schedules, and permit application processes each of the other local jurisdictions use. Dicerna—rDNA Permit Application; Representatives from Dicerna met with the BOH to review operations and facility specifications for lab and office space at 33 Hayden Avenue. After some discussion, Burt Perlmutter, M.D.,proposed a motion that stated, "The Lexington Board ofHealth grants an annual rDNA Permit to Dicerna. "Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, seconded the motion. All were in favor. New Animal Research Permit—Dicerna; The Lexington Office of Public Health received an animal keeping permit from Dicerna for 15,500 mice and rats. The town does not currently have an animal lab research regulation. After some discussion, the Health Director proposed not to issue a permit for animal lab research. School Redistricting; Sasha Huhalov and Hien Nguyen, met with the BOH to discuss the proposed school redistricting plan currently being considered. Their parent coalition expressed concern over the current plan to redistrict. The Chair noted that at this point in time, where the Superintendent has already made the recommendation to the School Committee, the BOH can only provide a letter in support of a plan that would minimize vehicular traffic in key locations and enhance opportunities to increase physical activity through safe walking routes and reasonable walking distances to school. The Chair will compose a statement in support of mental and physical health. A program improvement request for one additional full time Health Agent was submitted as part of the proposed 2021 Office of Public Health budget. The request will be reviewed with the Board of Selectmen on December 3, 2019. BOH members will be present at this meeting in support of the request. Toxic Materials; The Office of Public Health received a correspondence from Rick Reibstein, regarding the reduction of toxic materials in the town's purchases. Recently the town purchased artificial turf, and when tested there were many chemicals identified that are considered toxic. The Chair will write a letter to the Board of Selectmen in support of continued effort to minimize toxic material purchases and use in Lexington. The Emergency Preparedness report was reviewed and the following topics were discussed; Region 4AB Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Meeting—11/14/19 John Wojtowicz from the U.S. Marshalls Service presented on the role of law enforcement in Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) operations. He made several suggestions for local health officials to engage law enforcement in EDS planning efforts. These suggestions include considerations of traffic control and crowd control at EDS locations, such as parking, traffic flow, available security staff, staging areas for supplies and security/lock down for medications supplied from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Kari Sasportas, Lexington Health Director, was nominated and appointed to the Executive Committee of the Region 4AB PHEP Coalition. Table-Top Exercise (TTX) Lexington will be participating in a sub-regional TTX scheduled for February 4, 2020. The event will be conducted in Burlington, MA, and will include the following communities in addition to Lexington: Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Hingham, Newton, Watertown, and Woburn. The purpose of the exercise will be to test local EDS plans for emerging infectious disease scenarios and critical staff dispensing. Vaccine storage and cold chain management will also be topics of discussion. Region 4AB Planner, Edward Ubaike, will be providing technical assistance to Lexington in order to prepare the deliverables for the upcoming TTX. Local public health has been asked to invite local police, fire, and EMS to the exercise. Burt Perlmutter, M.D., motioned that the meeting be adjourned and Wendy Heiger-Bernays, PhD, seconded. All were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM. It was noted that the next meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 2019.