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Home My WebLink About2021-03-25 Board of Health Minutes North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday—March 25,2021 7:00 p.m. VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandovercam.org Present: Joseph McCarthy,Dr.Patrick Scanlon, Michelle Davis,Max Tilson,Brian LaGrasse,Stephen Casey Jr,and Toni K.Wolfenden. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting called to order at 7:08 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.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.orQ. 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.zov The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Meeting Minutes from February 25,2021 presented for signature. Motion made by Michelle Davis to approve the minutes,seconded by Dr.Patrick Scanlon,all in favor and the minutes approved.(4-0-0) 2021 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page 1 of 4 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 IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Adam McClellan, 115 Windkist Farm Road,public hearing was held on February 25,2021. The hearing was to appeal fines based on violations of the COVIDI9 Emergency Orders. The fines reduced to$1,600 in total. Collection has yet to be made. V. NEW BUSINESS A. TBI—Thompson Brother Industries. TBI had a fire on March 19,2021. A subcontractor was performing"hot work"on the reconstruction of the new building. Sparks ignited construction debris in a bay,which caught on fire. The Fire Department was dispatched,it was contained to the one bay and extinguished. Unfortunately,TBI did not have the correct permits for the Fire Department,inspections through Building Department,and approvals by the Board of Health to be operating. Temporary Operations granted by the Board of Health expired in November 2020. All operations have ceased. TBI will come to the next board meeting. VL COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION A. Joseph McCarthy reviews the layout of the meeting and mask wearing due to COVIDI9 guidelines. Joseph explains the purpose of the Board of Health. All board members are residents and volunteers appointed by the select board,with recommendations from the town manager. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has granted authority to local boards of health to develop,implement,and enforce health policies,oversee inspections,to maintain minimum standards of sanitation in housing and food services and assure that the basic health needs of the community are being met. The board has enforced the current virus regulations,mosquito control. The board prepares and updates regulations such as food storage,tobacco,and outdoor wood burning boilers,body art,septic systems,and trash haulers. B. COVIDI9 updates— Brian LaGrasse: In general,there has been an upward trend again. In Massachusetts,the numbers today were 1,865 new cases out of 106,000 tests. Testing is going strong. The testing percent is up to 2.2%positivity rate,which is higher than it has been in a couple of weeks.Locally,North Andover is starting to see an upward trend as well. The town had been seeing between 3 and 15 cases per day, depending on the day,however,on Wednesday of this week there were 78 active cases and today, Thursday there were 84. The Town of North Andover percent positivity-testing rate is 1.03%. Merrimack College only had five positive cases. People have become complacent and people are not being as adamant about mask wearing,and gatherings,are contributing factors to the rise in numbers. Indoor transmission is our number one contributing factor. Regionally and locally,sports clusters, have been contributing to the uptick but it is mostly related to friends versus the actual sport. There is a concern with Easter and Passover because both are considered indoor dining holidays. There is a great deal of household spread seen when tracking the virus. The Town of North Andover has completed the last two 65 and over clinics last weekend. One has held at the Youth Center and the other at Merrimack College. Greater Lawrence Family Health Center(GLFHC)sponsored the Youth Center Clinic. Five hundred residents were vaccinated last Saturday and Sunday. Three hundred seniors have been vaccinated with both first and second shots at one of the long-term care facilities. As of last Thursday,89%from the age group from 75+has received at least one dose of a vaccine in the town of North Andover. Seventy-three percent of the 65-74 year olds in town have been vaccinated. Although the Town of North Andover is not notified every time a resident is vaccinated, the information is uploaded onto the Massachusetts Immunization Information System(MIIS)and the state tracks the populations and ages on the vaccine updates. On March 13th Teachers received their first dose through GLFHC,they will receive the second on April 101. The teachers will be fully vaccinated for when the middle and high school students return to school full time. Department of Public Works has started today,which is also through the GLFHC. The Town of North Andover, Health Department would like to thank GLFHC for their hard work getting clinics for the eligible populations. Christina Minicucci has been instrumental in collaborating up with the health department and getting various departments into these clinics for our eligible populations. Our local Boards of Health have taken a hit with not being able to receive the vaccine. Some have been able to continue to vaccinate through regional collaborations in dead spots. Recent clinics have opened in Amesbury and Salem,MA will open soon. Both will address some of the dead spot areas. These clinics will allow people to be vaccinated conveniently and easily. Health Departments allow vaccinations to be convenient,local and easy. Joe McCarthy discusses the data associated with COVIDI9. Residents ages 60+are eligible to be vaccinated and on April 5th,ages 55+,April 19th anyone who is 16 and over. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is doing pre-registration. If a resident does not have computer access,they can call 211 and pre-register the person looking to be vaccinated. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a homebound outreach program. The state has a phone number North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday—March 25, 2021 7:00 p.m. VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandovercam.org to be called to be placed on a list. If a homebound resident needs help,please contact the Health Department for assistance,978-688-9540. Caroline Ibbitson could not be here tonight however,she has made notes to be read. As a local health department, 1021 vaccinations have been given. Not one dose was wasted. Extra doses come out of multiple vials,which allowed more shots to be given than actually allotted. At this time,we are out of the vaccine. Stephen Casey The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has moved into Phase 4, Step One—"The New Normal." Stadiums and ballparks can open at 12%capacity. A safety plan must be submitted to the Department of Public Health in order to receive approval. Restaurants have gone back to 6' spacing between tables instead of a percentage-based capacity. Event venues and public settings is for 100 people indoors and 150 outdoors,however,for private residences it is still 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Dance floors are open for weddings and other events. Camps can operate. The travel order has been changed to a travel advisory. The Department of Public Health encourage people to quarantine for 10 days on arrival or test out option but it is an advisory only. Stephen continues to draft Public Service Announcements,food permit approvals for establishments,outdoor seating for food establishment permits,housing inspections,and septic inspections. Bird and Wolf,Osgood Street,has opened their cafe,and Fabiano's Pizza,Seafood,Grill,Main Street,has opened their restaurant. Michelle Davis—attended a virtual conference for the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dr.Anthony Fauci and other public officials from across the country spoke. The speakers reinforced the importance of public health and how under supported and underfunded public health departments are and what role they play. The hospitals discuss that during COVID-19 they learned to come together with the public health departments,and they want this partnership to continue. The merging of public health and health systems is the success of the future. Joseph McCarthy—Joe thanks Irene O'Brien for her hard work at the Senior Center and congratulates her on her retirement as the Director of Elder Services. The Town of North Andover has over seven thousand senior citizens. Testing of the COVID-19 vaccine has begun on pregnant women and children under sixteen. Per Dr.Scanlon, both Modema and Pfizer released statements that they are safe in pregnant and breastfeeding women and within the last two weeks,antibodies have been found in a newborn. Pfizer has begun studies for children ages six months to twelve years. There has already been a trial for twelve years to sixteen years. The Pfizer study is looking into effectiveness with the proper immune response. The trials are ongoing at this time. As of April 5,2021,the elementary schools will be in full day in person. On April 28,2021,the middle school will begin and the high school will start on April 29,2021. Dr.Patrick Scanlon and Dr. Max Tilson-At this time,Holy Family Hospital has only one ICU COVID 19 patient. Lowell General Hospital's numbers have jumped up quite significantly. Last week was only 17 cases and this week is over 30,however,most are not ICU based cases. Most hospitalized patients needed oxygen and therapeutics. Vaccinated people can test positive but will have little to no 2021 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Page 3 of 4 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 symptoms. The vaccine is doing its job;however,the virus can be transmitted to the non-vaccinated. Michelle Davis explains that it is very important for people to have preventative care and screenings. People need to get back to medical care. Joe McCarthy discusses weight gain among Americans due to COVID-19. Forty-two percent of people are obese and 32%are over-weight. The public needs to get back to healthy life styles that they did before the pandemic. Healthy eating,exercise,doctors' visits,preventative care and prevention are just some topics of interest for of the Health Department and Board of Health. The April Board of Health meeting date will be change due to conflicts. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION made by Dr.Max Tilson to adjourn the meeting. Michelle Davis seconded the motion. All were in favor.The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm.(4-0-0) Prepared by: Toni K. Wolfenden, Health Dept.Assistant Reviewed bv: All Board of Health Members&Brian LaGrasse, Health Director Signed bX: Yi°��✓.tom Michelle Davis, Clerk of the Board Date Signed Documents Used At Meeting: Agenda McClellan—Notice of Violation Nurse—BOH Updates North Andover Board of Health Meeting Agenda Thursday, March 25, 2021 7:00 pm VIRTUAL MEETING Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandoverma.gov I. CALL TO ORDER II. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES A. February 25,2021 Ill. OLD BUSINESS A. COVID19 Fines—Adam McClellan, 115 Windkist Farm Road IV. NEW BUSINESS A. TBI Industries V. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSIONS A. COVIDI9—Updates Vl. 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(cD_northandoverma.gov The question/comment will be read during the proceedings and responded to accordingly. 2021 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; Dr.Patrick Scanlon,D.O.Town Physician/Member;Dr.Max Tilson,MD,Member Health Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse, Health Director;Stephen Casey,Public Health Inspector;Caroline Ibbitson,RN,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden, Health Department Assistant. NORTH ANDOVER Massachusetts Toni Wolfenden <tolfenden@northandoverma.gov> -00000 P- BOH Public Health Nurse Updates 1 message Caroline Ibbitson <cibbitson@northandoverma.gov> Thu, Mar 25, 2021 at 4:32 PM To: Joe McCarthy<joemccvam@comcast.net>, Patrick Scanlon <pscanlon@northandoverma.gov>, Daphnee Alva <dalva@northandoverma.gov>, Michelle Davis <mbdavis@northandoverma.gov>, Max Tilson <mtiI son @north andoverma.gov>, Brian LaGrasse <blagrasse@northandoverma.gov>, Stephen Casey <scasey@northandoverma.gov>, Toni Wolfenden <tolfenden@northandoverma.gov> Hello BOH Members, I just wanted to update you on the vaccination progress as well as contact tracing in town since I will not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Since receiving the COVID vaccine in January we have given a total of 1,021 vaccines. 489 of that total represents fully vaccinated individuals (who have received both doses). We will be finishing up 2nd doses over the next two weeks to give us a total of 532 fully vaccinated individuals. Of those 532, 14 were our homebound seniors. For homebound seniors that did not have the opportunity to be vaccinated by us, the state is collecting their information and coordinating mobile vaccination clinics where needed. As far as town numbers and contact tracing, for the past few weeks our numbers have been trending up with some days seeing up to 12-15 new cases a day. We currently have 84 active cases, 5 of which are Merrimack College related, 87 deaths, and a total of 2519 individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. We have had two known cases of the B.1.1.7 variant (the one from the UK) which is circulating quite broadly in Massachusetts. We have also had a few cases of fully vaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID well after the 14 day period since their second dose. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you, Caroline Ibbitson, BSN, RN Public Health Nurse North Andover Health Department 120 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845 p: 978.688.9543 f: 978.688.8476 cibbitson@northandoverma.gov lime 1W North Andover Health Department Community and Economic Development Division NOTICE OF VIOLATION Date: March 3, 2021 Adam Jason McClellan 115 Windkist Farm Rd. North Andover, MA 01845 RE: Board of Health Meeting Decision Dear Mr. McClellan, The North Andover Board of Health, on February 25 h,2021, voted to reduce the total amount of the fines issued based on violations of the COVID-19 Emergency Orders at the above address on December 31, 2021. The Board voted to reduce the initial fine given of$3,900 to $1,600. A check for this amount can be made out to the Town of North Andover and placed in the drop box out front of Town Hall. You can also call when dropping it off if you would like a receipt showing payment. Full payment must be submitted within 21 days of receipt of this letter. If you have questions, please contact the North Andover Health Department at(978) 688 9540. Sincerely, (21 Brian Ladrasse, North Andover Public Health Director Sent via: $ CERTIFIED MAIL# ��9 �-�- C.�" �� d; Regular First Class Mail CC: Melissa Murphy-Rodrigues, Town Manager Suzanne Egan, Town Counsel Postal o RECEIPT Ln CERTIFIED Q' Domestic Mail Only Er- Er rU O Certified Mail Fee M $ Extra Services&Fees(check box,add fee as appropnate) -. Q ❑Return Receipt(hanioopY) $ O ❑Return Receipt(electronic) $ Cj ❑CertAied Mail Restricted Delivery $ ❑Adult Signature Required $ ❑Adult Signature Restricted Delivery$ 2 �•' ED Postage Z EO ni $ nj Total Postage and Fees $ ucp ..� � Sent To 0 Sheetan ---dApf N--orP(5 7i(0. / ----— Ciry;-State:�l?+-®p- PS Form :rr April 2015rr rr1•r- instrucciog J