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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-27 Board of Health Minutes North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Tuesday October 27, 2020 5:00 p.m. VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandovercam.org Present: Joseph McCarthy,Dr.Patrick Scanlon,Michelle Davis,Dr.Max Tilson,Brian LaGrasse,Stephen Casey Jr,and Toni K.Wolfenden. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting called to order at 5:03 pm. Chairman Joseph McCarthy read the following statement: Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12,2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law,G.L.c.30A, Section 18,and the Governor's March 15,2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place,this meeting of the North Andover Board of Health will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town's website,at www.northandovertna.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.ore. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted,but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time,via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so,despite best efforts,we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording, transcript,or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. If the public would like to participate in public hearings please email your question/comment prior to or during the meeting to blagrasse(a,northandoverma.gov The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. II. NEW BUSINESS A. MOTION made by Dr.Scanlon to accept the Mandatory Participation in Infectious Disease Isolation, Quarantine and Contact Tracing Regulation as is.Motion seconded by Michelle Davis.All were in favor and the motion was approved. See attached document. (4-0-0) III. DISCUSSION A. COVIDI9 As of Sunday October 25,2020 the Town of North Andover had a total of 46 active cases. Thirteen were from Merrimack College,thirty-three from town residents. There has been an uptick in the past couple of weeks. Residents have become complacent. North Andover is 2020 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page 1 of 2 Board of Health Members:Joseph McCarthy,Chairman;Michelle Davis,RN,Clerk/Member;Daphnee Alva-LaFleur,Member; Dr.Patrick Scanlon,DO,Town Physician/Member;Max Tilson MD,Member Health Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse,Health Director;Stephen Casey Jr.,Health Inspector;Caroline Ibbitson,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant designated as a red community. If the numbers did not include Merrimack College,the status would be yellow. If the numbers continue to rise,the status will become red without the college being included. Brian LaGrasse reminds people to stay safe,and continue to follow the proper guidelines with limiting gatherings and limiting close contacts. Dr.Tilson explains that the numbers in North Andover are scary but it is important to recognize that neighboring communities are equally in the same boat. The Lawrence General Hospital"Stop the Spread Campaign"tents are processing 1,100 COVIDI9 tests daily with an extensive contact tracing system. The Lawrence prevalence right now is 13%,which is very high. There is no magic boundary between towns. We all shop in the same places,eat in the same places,we rub elbows with everybody. We are one community,so this is extraordinarily important to maintain the vigilance. B. Mandatory Participation in Infectious Disease Isolation,Quarantine and Contact Tracing The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a regulation for isolation and quarantine. The local board of health oversees this regulation. There is no enforcement actions or criteria in terms of fines or any type of enforcement tools aside from passing local regulations. These regulations are to encourage residents to stay in isolation and/or quarantine and to encourage organizations to release close contact information. The best way to move forward to ensure compliancy and cooperation with close contact information is thru local regulations. Massachusetts General Law gives the Board of Health the authority to issue fines if somebody is not abating a nuisance or cause of sickness. As professional staff in the health department,under the authority of the Board of Health,the Director of the Health Department can issue a fine for up to a thousand dollars for a violation of this regulation. IV. ADJOURNMENT MOTION made by Dr.Max Tilson to adjourn the meeting.Michelle Davis seconded the motion and all were in favor.The meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm. Prepared by: Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Dept.Assistant Reviewed by: All Board of Health Members&Brian LaGrasse,Health Director Sinned bY: Q 11/jn1D ZO Michelle Davis, Clerk of the Board Date Signed Documents Used At Meeting: Agenda Mandatory Participation in Infectious Disease Isolation,Quarantine and Contact Tracing North Andover Board of Health Meeting Agenda Tuesday, October 27, 2020 5:00 pm VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandoverma.gov I. CALL TO ORDER II. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Mandatory Participation in Infectious Disease Isolation,Quarantine and Contact Tracing III. DISCUSSION A. COVIDI9 IV. ADJOURNMENT Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, Section 18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Board of Health will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town's website, at www.northandoverma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. If the public would like to participate in public hearings please email your question/comment prior to or during the meeting to blagrasse(a)northandoverma.gov The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. 2020 North Andover Board of Health Meeting-Meeting Agenda Page 1 of 1 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:Joseph McCarthy,Chairman;Michelle Davis,R.N,Clerk/Member;Daphnee Alva-LaFleur,Member; Dr.Patrick Scanlon,D.O.Town Physician/Member;Dr.Max Tilson,M.D.,Member Health Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse, Health Director;Stephen Casey,Public Health Inspector;Caroline Ibbitson,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant; Mandatory Participation in Infectious Disease Isolation, Quarantine and Contact Tracing Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 111, Section 31 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the North Andover Board of Health adopted these regulations on the 27th day of October 2020, to be effective immediately. A) This regulation is promulgated pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of Health by General Law c. 111, § 122 to abate, contain and prevent the public health nuisance of the contiguous spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. B) Any person who has been contacted by the North Andover Health Department who has tested positive for COVID-19 or been diagnosed with another infectious disease shall isolate for a set amount of time as determined by the North Andover Health Department. C) Any person contacted by the North Andover Health Department must disclose the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all individuals with whom they have been in close contact during their infectious period as determined by the Health Department and shall also provide the address of all public areas, businesses and other locations where they have been in that time. D) All persons determined to be a close contact of an infectious person must quarantine for fourteen (14) days or a set amount of time as determined by the Health Department. E) Refusal to adhere to isolation or quarantine orders or provide such information required for contact tracing or knowingly giving false information shall be punishable for a fine of up to one thousand dollars in accordance with M.G.L. c. 111, § 123. F) Each day or portion thereof in violation to these regulations shall constitute a separate offense. G) Each part of these regulations shall be considered as separate, to the end that if any part is deemed to be invalid, the remainder of the regulation shall remain in force. North Andover Board of Health Meeting Agenda Thursday, November 19, 2020 7:00 p.m. VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northanodverma.gov 1. CALL TO ORDER IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 27,2020 Ill. NEW BUSINESS A. Variance for Additional Body Art Apprentices-Lacy Diorio IV. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION A. Covid19-Updates B. Holiday Reminder V. ADJOURNMENT Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, Section 18, and the Governor's March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the North Andover Board of Health will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town's website, at www.northandoverma.gov. For this meeting, members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so on their televisions by tuning to Comcast Channel 8 or Verizon Channel 26 or online at www.northandovercam.org. No in-person attendance of members of the public will be permitted, but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time, via technological means. In the event that we are unable to do so, despite best efforts, we will post on the Town of North Andover website an audio or video recording, transcript, or other comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. If the public would like to participate in public hearings please email your question/comment prior to or during the meeting to b lag rasse(aD_northan dove rma.gov The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. 2020 North Andover Board of Health Meeting-Meeting Agenda Page 1 of 1 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: Joseph McCarthy,Chairman;Michelle Davis,RN,Clerk/Member;Daphnee Alva-LaFleur,Member; Patrick Scanlon,D.O.,Tovan Physician/Member;Dr.Max Tilson Member Health Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse,Health Director;Stephen Casey Jr.,Health Inspector; Caroline Ibbitson,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant