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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-23 Board of Health Minutes North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes 'Thursda , May 23, 2013 7:00 p.m.120 Main Street,2°d Floor Selectmen's Meeting Room North Andover, MA 01845 Present: Thomas Trowbridge,Joseph McCarthy,Edwin Pease,Susan Sawyer and Lisa Blackburn.(Frank MacMillan and Larry Fixler were not in attendance). 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:10 pm. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. PUBLIC HEARINGS IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Signing of the meeting minutes from March 28,2013 will be postponed until the next BOH meeting. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion of 2013 mosquito surveillance and management plan. Best Management Practices. Dr. Trowbridge discussed our current BMP with the few changes that were discussed with Jack Card, Director of Northeast MA Mosquito Control District(NEMMC).The BOH chose to not have a full Board meeting to decide for need-based spraying. Spraying will be based on surveillance findings and mosquito monitoring,with advice from NEMMC.The Chairman and Health director can make the decision together whether spraying should be done,then notify the other board members of the decision promptly. Nuisance spraying requests should be sent directly to the Health Department. It is important for the public to know what to expect when calling for a request for spraying along with providing accurate documentation.Ms. Sawyer reviewed a 2013 Mosquito Control Protocol. I. The resident should contact the Health Department with requests regarding nuisance spraying for mosquitos. 2. The process will be explained to the resident and the request for spraying form will be filled out. 3. The Health Department will scan and send the request to NEMMC and the other BOH members. A decision for truck spraying in a specific neighborhood is expected to be based on their knowledge of the Town and local mosquito activity. 4. It will be requested that the resident provide written notice of support from the majority of the neighborhood. 5. All feedback from NEMMC will be sent to the Board via email. 2013 North Andover Board of Health Meeting-Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3 Note: The Board of Health reserves the right to take items out of order and to discuss and/or vote on items that are not listed on the agenda. Board of Health Members: Thomas Trowbridge,DDS,MD,Chairman;Larry Fixler,Member/Clerk;Francis P.MacMillan,Jr., M.D.;Joseph McCarthy,Member; Edwin Pease,Member Health Department Staff:Susan Sawyer,Health Director; Debra Rillahan,Public Health Nurse;Michele Grant,Public Health Inspector;Lisa Blackburn,Health Department Assistant i 6. A decision will be made and a response given to the person submitting the request. If approved, a time frame for application will be supplied. 7. NEMMC will conduct area specific spray and let the Health Department know when it has been completed. Ms. Sawyer asked the Board Members what their thoughts were regarding neighborhood support to request spraying and what type of notification should there be if sprayings take place. It was stated that residents can hire private companies to come out to spray and there are no regulations that a private company needs to notify abutting properties of the spraying.The private companies follow the pesticide control laws. Joe McCarthy asked how a neighborhood would be defined. Do you consider it a block,an entire street or abutting property?Mr. McCarthy sees it as abutting properties. We can check with NEMMC and ask for specifics on who should be notified.Item#4 above should be removed and changed to only require supporting documentation. Dr. Trowbridge and Ms. Sawyer will decide if the request needs additional items,however the more support documented,the easier the decision will be able to be made. Ms. Sawyer stated that we need to prioritize spraying and not to overdo it. Dr.Trowbridge stated that spraying should be on a risk based approach for disease carrying possibilities. Residents need to know there is a process to request spraying and each situation will be looked at individually. Residents should not request spraying for a single home. A discussion ensued regarding when NEMMC conducts larvaciding or treatment of catch basins. It is too early to spray;right now the emphasis is preventing mosquitoes from breeding. The collection and testing of mosquito pools for virus started last year in middle to late June;2013 should be the same.This year's BMP and VMP will be posted on the Health Department's website. The Board's goal is to educate the public and be open with the process. B. Tobacco sales in pharmacy—update—Local pharmacy takes volunteer action in response to BOH letter. Dr. Trowbridge discussed a previous meeting of the BOH discussing tobacco sales. Dr.Trowbridge received a very positive letter from a Vice President from Rite Aid who was interested in helping solve the issue of under aged smoking and tobacco sales. Rite Aid has installed opaque doors where the cigarettes are sold at the front cashier area. The cigarettes can't be seen behind the doors. This was a great compromise and Rite Aid is to be commended for their decision. The Board would like to thank them in assisting to help reduce visibility of cigarettes in stores. The Board will eventually have a public announcement regarding this. Dr. Trowbridge suggested possibly sending follow up letters to other area pharmacies and perhaps they could follow behind Rite Aid.The other Board members agreed. This is a great step forward after last summer's discussion. VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION A. Ms. Sawyer provided the status on the 2013 permits for semi—public swimming pools and child recreational camps. A discussion ensued on the number of pools/camps permitted.Michele Grant, Health Inspector and Deb Rillahan,Public Health Nurse are both doing a great job. Ms. Grant has been out in the rain trying to open up all the pools in time for Memorial Day weekend. Some of the problems with opening some of the pools were discussed. The summer camp applications are in but inspections have not been done yet.Ms. Sawyer discussed Christian's Law and how it applied to the summer camps. The law is in place however the specifics aren't. Ms. Sawyer stated that the Health Department would like to start providing shingles vaccinations for seniors.The vaccine is very expensive and it was discussed who should receive the vaccination. 2013 North Andover Board of Health Meeting-Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 Note: The Board of Health reserves the right to take items out of order and to discuss and/or vote on items that are not listed on the agenda. Board of Health Members: Thomas Trowbridge,DDS,MD,Chairman;Larry Fixler,Member/Clerk;Francis P.MacMillan,Jr., M.D.;Joseph McCarthy,Member; Edwin Pease,Member Health Department Staff:Susan Sawyer,Health Director; Debra Rillahan,Public Health Nurse;Michele Grant,Public Health Inspector;Lisa Blackburn,Health Department Assistant North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 2 , 201 7:00 pain. 120 Main Street,2"d Floor Selectmen's Meeting Room North Andover, MA 01845 Ms. Sawyer brought up the idea of having interns to help with swimming pool re-inspections,trash trucks and shingles vaccinations. A discussion ensued regarding the recent decision that was passed for residents to be able to raise chickens. It was questioned on how it would affect the Health Department. The Building Department and the Health Department will be working together on the issue. B. June meeting scheduling conflicts. It was found that there isn't a conflict with the scheduled meeting for June 27,2013.The meeting is still on for that date. Public Service Announcement: Dr. Trowbridge would like the public to know that April was oral cancer awareness month. He read a portion of an article and stressed the importance of seeing your dentist regularly for screening and checkups. VIII. CORRESPONDENCE/NEWSLETTERS IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION made by Mr.McCarthy to adjourn the meeting.Mr.Pease seconded the motion and all were in favor. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm. Prepared by: Lisa Blackburn, Health Dept.Assistant Reviewed bv: All Board of Health Members&Susan Sawyer, Health Director Si d bv: g ne Larry Fix r, lei of the Boa d Date Signed 2013 North Andover Board of Health Meeting-Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 Note: The Board of Health reserves the right to take items out of order and to discuss and/or vote on items that are not listed on the agenda. Board of Health Members: Thomas Trowbridge,DDS,MD,Chairman;Larry Fixler,Member/Clerk;Francis P.MacMillan,Jr., M.D.;Joseph McCarthy,Member; Edwin Pease,Member Health Department Staff:Susan Sawyer,Health Director; Debra Rillahan,Public Health Nurse;Michele Grant,Public Health Inspector;Lisa Blackburn,Health Department Assistant