HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-07-27 Board of Health Minutes mm
North Andover Board of Health
Meeting Minutes
Thursday —.July 27,2017
7:00 p.m.
120 Main Street, 2°d Floor Selectmen's Meeting Room
North Andover, MA 01845
Present: Frank MacMillan Jr.,Larry Fixler,Joseph McCarthy,Brian LaGrasse,Toni K.Wolfenden
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:15 pm.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. PUBLIC HEARINGS—Dot applicable
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Meeting minutes from June 22,2017. were presented for signature.
Motion was made by Frank MacMillan to approve the minutes,the motion was seconded by Joe McCarthy,
all were in favor and the minutes were approved.
V. OLD BUSINESS—not applicable
VI. NEW BUSINESS—not applicable
V1I. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION
The Board of Health has been joined by John F.Moak,Acting Director;William Mahaffey, Jr., Operations Manager
and Kimberly A. Foss,Entomologist from.The Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Control and Wetlands
Management District to educate the general public on mosquitos. The Mosquito Control serves 32 towns in and
surrounding Essex County. With the help of their new website,the Mosquito Control has reduced the number of
pests through:biological larvicide,adulticide spraying(truck spraying),education& outreach and research&
development. The new website(www.nemassmosg1 to,prg)answers questions about catch basin clean out,manual
ditch maintenance,tire recycling programs,property inspections and retention basins. The website can also help
residents with gardening tips and the use of bug repellant. Joe McCarthy asks if anyone can request an inspection.
Kimberly Foss explains that yes, anyone can call and request an inspection of their property however; a North
Andover resident must go through the board to request additional spraying. Joe also asks about the protection of
bees. Kim and William explain that some adulticides will harm bees,but the material used now is much safer not
only for bees but for fish as well. To add more protection,Mosquito Control sprays %2 hr after sundown when bees
are more likely to be in their hives. Mosquito Control uses an integrated pest management approach. This approach
has a five step program to deal with specific problems. It consists of: observation,public education,mechanical
control(catch basin&trench cleaning),biological control(larvicide),and adulticide(truck spraying). There are
different mosquito transmitted diseases. In the Northeast, concerns are mainly EEE and.West Nile Virus(W-NV)
The best prevention from any vector borne diseases is to wear repellant and appropriate clothing. Mosquito Control
can reduce the number of pests but it will not be able to eliminate completely. As of February 2017 the Pesticide
2017 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page I of 2
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Board of Health Members:Larry Fixler,Chairman;Joseph.McCarthy,Member/Clerk;Francis P.MacMillan,Jr.,M.D.
Member/Town Physician;Thomas Trowbridge,DDS,MD,Member; Edwin Pease,Member Health_Der)artment Staff: f
Brian LaGrasse,Health'Director,Caroline Ibbitson,Public Health Nurse;Michele Grant,Public Health Inspector;"Toni K.
Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant
Exclusions are no longer done with the"Town Clerk, To be excluded from pesticide spraying: go to the Mosquito
Control website, follow prompts for exclusion request,click link to Mass.gov Exclusion Request Form, This can be
done online or print and mail the form provided. Larry asked if a there was a problem and a large group of homes
excluded can the Board of Health of Mosquito control over-ride the request, The Mosquito Control group explains
that this is a question that has not been asked before. They believe that if there is a major outbreak the State can
declare an emergency and do a mass spraying however they will be looking into, The Northeast Mosquito Control
reconunends proactive,preventative treatments in order to minimize adulticide chemicals. The goal is to balance
environmental health with public health. Kim,also recommends using websites that have the domain of'.cdu, gov
and.org.
Brian LaGrasse informs the board that The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District(GLSD)and Wheelabrator
may be coming to future meetings to give presentations. Brian is looking for suggestions for future topics. Possible
ideas are: winter safiety with the police and fire department,holiday food safety and dermatology. The board will be
going on a tour of Wheelabator, date and time to be announced. At this time the ash building is being renovated and
upgraded.
Larry Fixler begins a discussion on the problem with"super"head lice, "Super"head lice are resistant to
the products on the pharmacy shelves. 12 million parents deal with this issue per year. Parents are looking for
rapid,reliable,safe and affordable products. First line of defense is over the counter products but prescriptions are
available.
Brian presents an article to the board, Please review and read at home. It is about ernoji based food safety
report. This will be discussed at a future meeting. Currently we have 23 different types of food permits. Brian has
been working with Michele Grant, Health Inspector and Megan Baldwin, Sweet Safe Consultant,to consolidate and
revise the permitting process. Plan review food guides will also be revised. Currently there is only one and it may
not work for all food business types. The Health Department will be using different guides for different types of
businesses. This should be available for the new permitting season,
Larry Fixler brought up the topic of opioids and the time frame for becoming sober. Frank MacMillan
explains that the addiction rate for physicians is the same for the general public. The five year monitoring plan came
from the experiences of physicians in recovery. There has to be an internal and external motivation to become and
stay sober.
VIII. CORRESPONDENCE/NEWSLETTERS—not applicable
IX ADJOURNMENT
MOTION made by Joe McCarthy to adjourn the meeting.Frank MacMillan seconded the motion and all
were in favor.The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pin,
Prepared by:
Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Dept. Assistant
Rqy:ieived.by:
All Board of Health Members&Brian LaGrasse, Health Director
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se, 7 McCarthy, Cler the Board Date Signed
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