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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-27 Board of Health Minutes North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday—April 27, 2023 7:00 p.m. 120 Main Street,Board of Select Room Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandovercam.org Present: Michelle Davis,Dr.Patrick Scanlon,Jennifer Abou-Ezzi,Jennifer LeBourdais,Bral Spight,Brian LaGrasse;Carolyn Lam and Toni K.Wolfenden I. CALL TO ORDER—7:00 pm by Chairwoman Michelle Davis II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. NEW BUSINESS A. Introduction of New Member—Bral Spight Bral thanks the townspeople for entrusting him with duties as a Board of Health Member. Bral moved to North Andover two years ago from Chicago after residing there for twenty years. He is the husband to Sarah,father to six children and a member of Saint Michael Church. He is very involved with the North Andover Soccer Association(NASA). Bral is a self-proclaimed"recovering"engineer. He is passionate about science and science related issues. Previously,Bral was a public official as the Chief of Staff for the Public Building Commission. He is excited to serve. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Plastic Bag Restriction Warrant Article Discussion Brian LaGrasse advises the Board to take a stance on the plastic bag restriction warrant article. Choices are to vote for support,or not. The department is in charge of implementing policy. The Board of Health sets the policy to be implemented. Brian encourages discussion. Nancy Sarro and Keith Connors,from T he North Andover Citizens for Sustainable Living(NACSL)is present to speak and answer any further questions. Bral Spight was present for the March 30,2023 meeting,however,he did not participate. Bral thanks the committee for the presentation. Bral has sensitivities as a small business owner. He understands the impacts but also understands the environmental issues. The decisions are difficult and not taken lightly. Bral honestly is not one hundred percent aware of who in the surrounding area has adopted the plastic bag restriction and who has not. The plastic bag restriction is in the right spirit. Michelle Davis asks if the committee has had any progress with reaching out to the Merchant's Association. Where is our local business standing? Nancy Sarro,44 Equestrian Drive,NACSL,explains that the small businesses are mixed. Change is hard for some people. Most people prefer not to change if they do not have too and some businesses are not willing to take a public stand in support. The small businesses that are not in agreement mostly fall below the 3000 sq.,ft,or almost all use paper bags. NACSL has been able to obtain some reusable bags to give to small businesses. Stop&Shop will be charging for any kind of disposable 2023 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Note: The Board of Health reserve 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: Michelle Davis,RN,Chairwoman;Dr.Patrick Scanlon ClerWrown Physician/Member;Jennifer Abou-Ezzi RN,Member;Jennifer LeBourdais,RN,Member;Bral Spight,Member. Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse,Director; Carolyn Lam,RN,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant. bag given out at the register. Dr.Patrick Scanlon asks for data showing impact on the environment from towns that have done the plastic bag ban verses not. Nancy is now aware of any studies of this sort. Patrick refers to information given at the last meeting from Joe McCarthy about the incinerator generating energy and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations on incinerators and the actual impact of the environment. He also discusses a ban versus education. Nancy addresses the incinerators. Although generating electricity is good,it is still better not to have trash to begin with. Nancy reads from the Mass Dep Website, "...there is no combination of technology available today that can completely eliminate emissions from combustion...air emissions from a well-operated and maintained combustion facility are generally lower than the limits established by law. Pollution controls, monitoring and government inspections ensure that facilities are operating as cleanly as possible, at the same time the emissions may still contain a number of items including dioxins,furans and other chlorine containing organics which are known or suspected to cause cancer and birth defects". There is an effort to make it as clean as possible but it is never entirely clean. From the Sierra Club letter(see Appendix A.),nine to eleven million plastic (estimate)bags per year is used from North Andover. These bags are going to the incinerator,becoming litter or being recycled incorrectly. One hundred and fifty-four towns in Massachusetts have restricted or banned plastic bags. Some of the surrounding towns/cities with restrictions are Andover,Haverhill, Lowell,and Reading. If the restriction passes,the Health Department has until January 1,2024 to work on logistics and enforcement. Brian believes over time the enforcement time will become less. Bral has suggested a fee as opposed to a ban which is similar to Chicago. He also asks what percent of businesses in North Andover would be affected by the ban. Brian states that it is two thirds of the food establishments. Some of the square footage we do not have from the assessors because if it is in a strip mall they only have the entire structure as opposed to the individual units. Nancy explains,in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,towns can not impose a fee on bags,cities can. Boston does do this. The 3,000 sq.ft threshold was placed because most towns/cities do not put any size threshold on the plastic ban restriction but the ones that do,3,000 sq.ft is a common number. Nancy felt this was a reasonable compromise. Jennifer Abou-Ezzi discusses the fact that plastic bags can still be use. Nancy explains that it cut two-thirds of the size but not the volume because the large stores will be most impacted. Michelle Davis asks about a plan—is this the first phase? There has not been any discussion for the future. The Board discusses plastic in general. Jennifer Abou-Ezzi is concerned with change and how many changes have been going on over the last few years. Patrick is supportive of an educational piece with bridging the gap as opposed to a flat out ban. Bral is contemplating the benefit versus the punitive nature for the small business owners and how that nets out. He is concerned about the expense for the small business owners. 3,000 sq.ft sounds big but that is still some small businesses and margins are thin. Bral also would like to know specifically what communities in Essex County and the immediate surroundings has the plastic bag restrictions. Tewksbury is to the west,Newburyport,east,Haverhill,northeast and Andover is adjacent. Lawrence does not. Nancy does not believe from a competitive standpoint;North Andover will not have disadvantage. It is common in the towns/cities around North Andover. Brian states that the 3,000 sq.ft does cut down the number of small businesses dramatically from the original proposal. It has gone from three hundred down to approximately sixty. Nancy appreciates the support for the concept and some concerns about the size limit or whether it should be a mandate or not. Nancy asks the Board to evaluate this a little bit more on the health aspects. The Board debates the issues of paper versus plastic. The Board discusses education versus mandates. Nancy wants to steer people more toward reusable bags. Toni Wolfenden, 183 Greene Street asks if the NACSL will be educating the community or will the Health Department. At this point Nancy, and NACSL are working on getting the mandate to pass. Michelle Davis wants to support a sustainable environment. The health department completed a community health needs assessment. Priorities were gathered from the public. Multiple outreaches were completed. This did not come up as one of the top three concerns for North Andover residents. Michelle supports the concept of the restriction,however, there are so many issues to focus attention. The Board of Health's job is to prioritize what the top issues are for the community and focus on making an impact on them. Nancy is asking for the support of our town and the broader community. Keith,NACSL,discusses the impact on the environment. NACSL has received a commitment of four hundred reusable bags. Brian states that is the restriction passes at town meeting,it will become part of our working environment. Both Patrick and Jennifer Abou-Ezzi are not supportive at this time. Education comes before change. Jennifer Abou-Ezzi makes a MOTION not to support the Plastic Bag Restriction. Seconded by Dr.Patrick Scanlon.(4-0-0) Bral would be supportive if there is a proper carve out and more directed towards who indicated where the largest agents responsible for the majority of the issue. In time to be able to work with the smaller businesses to get a voluntary change going. He is sympathetic,he does not want this negative vote to North Andover Board of Health Meeting Minutes Thursday—April 27, 2023 7:00 p.m. 120 Main Street, Board of Select Room Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandovercam.org indicate that he would not entertain some manner of trying to control plastic bags in the future. Patrick will be supportive with education. As a physician,he does not force people to take medicine he educates them on why it is beneficial to them,which adds to medication adherence. V. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSION A. COVID-19 Updates—North Andover had zero COVID cases for several days. A couple did pop up but it has been very quiet. The department is still tracking but it is almost non-existent. Most people are doing home tests and are not reporting. Vaccination rates are very high. Some of the recommendations for the vaccinations have changed. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will end the state of emergency mandate on May 11,2023. The COVID 19 vaccine will be offered through the Health Department. Only the bivalent is available. The monovalent is discontinued. Anyone who is sixty-five or older or immunocompromised can receive a second dose of the bivalent vaccine. The town offers Moderna. Most of the community that wants a booster,has been received and are up to date. Carolyn Lam will be participating in a mental health fair which is been offered by North Andover High School students. The new Senior Center is hosting a senior weekend which Carolyn is also participating in. The department is moving away from COVID and towards other things like mental health,blood pressure,sugar checks which fell by the wayside. B. GRANTS—Public Health Excellence-A shared services coordinator is in the process of being hired which is a regional collaborative. Community Health Assessment is at the end stages. A draft is in the process of being written and finalized. Implementation will begin after the draft is completed. C. The Town of North Andover is looking for a new public health inspector. It has been advertised on Massachusetts Municipal Association(MMA),and MassHealth Office Association. VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION made by Dr.Patrick Scanlon to adjourn. Jennifer Abou-Ezzi seconded the motion. All in favor,. motion approved.The meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm. 2023 North Andover Board of Health Meeting Note: The Board of Health reserve 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: Michelle Davis,RN,Chairwoman;Dr.Patrick Scanlon Clerk/Town Physician/Member;Jennifer Abou-Ezzi RN,Member;Jennifer LeBourdais,RN,Member;Bral Spight,Member. Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse,Director; Carolyn Lam,RN,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant. Prepared by: Toni K Wotfenden, Health Dept.Assistant Reviewed bv: All Board of Health Members&Brian LaGrasse, Health Director Signed bX: Dr.Patri canton, Clerk of Board Date Signed Documents Used At Meeting: Agenda Letter from the Sierra Club Presentation—North Andover Citizens for Sustainable Living North Andover Board of Health Meeting Agenda Thursday,April 27,2023 7:00 pm 120 Main Street Board of Select Room Live broadcast can be heard on www.northandoverma.gov I. CALL TO ORDER II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. NEW BUSINESS-Introduction of New Member-Bral Spight IV. OLD BUSINESS-Plastic Bag Restriction Warrant Article Discussion V. COMMUNICATIONS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,AND DISCUSSIONS A. COVIDI9-Updates 2023 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,Michelle Davis,RN,Chairwoman;Dr.Patrick Scanlon Clerk/Town Physician/Member;Jennifer Abou-Ezzi,RN,Member;Jennifer LeBourdais,RN,Member;Bral Spight,Member. Department Staff:Brian LaGrasse,Health Director;Carolyn Lam,RN,Public Health Nurse;Toni K.Wolfenden,Health Department Assistant. A d-;,v-, �. MASSACHUSETTS SIERRA CLUB 50 Federal Street,3rd floor Boston MA 02110 (617)423-5775 www.sierraclubmass.org April 26, 2023 Dear North Andover Town Meeting: The Massachusetts Chapter of the Sierra Club actively supports efforts to pass laws which curb the use of single-use polyethylene bags at the state and local levels. Bag laws are an important part of a campaign to reduce unnecessary plastic waste and increase sustainability. Over the last decade, more than 150 communities across the state have passed local bag laws from Williamstown to Martha's Vineyard representing well over 4 million residents. North Andover residents are estimated to use over 9 million single-use polyethylene shopping bags per year. These bags are made of toxic petrochemicals derived from non- renewable, fracked natural gas and oil. Their recycle rate is low (5%), and typically they are downcycled into ron-recycled products e.g., lumber, which requires increased production of even more bags. Eliminating plastic bags from the waste stream results in significant positive environmental action -- such as removal of unsightly town litter, less river and ocean pollution, wildlife protection and more, Bags eventually become micro-particles which can be ingested by aquatic animals and enter the human food chain and drinking water. The proposed by-law is based on comprehensive, effective laws that increase overall sustainability not just by banning single-use bags, but by setting minimum requirements for paper bags and reusable bags. Passing this by-law will also add further momentum for a statewide bill that will include fees on paper bags to reduce the total consumption of single-use bags. We urge the Town Meeting to vote YES on Warrant Article 14 on Plastic Checkout Bags. Respectfully, D� Tel �r Deb Pasternak Mass. Sierra Club, Chapter Director deb.pasternak@sierraclub.org An Initiative to Promote Reusable and Recyclable Bags in North Andover, MA Presented by: � E I NACSLk North Andover Citizens for Sustainable Living Board of Health Issues raised • Business Input needed • Some other towns have BOH discretion in enforcing • Cost impact for businesses 77 ,sI ) } Business Input Our team visited 20 businesses. Here is what we found: • 11 businesses only use paper or had minor or no concerns • 6 small businesses had concerns or unwilling to discuss • 1 business owner with multiple businesses had concerns • 1 business likely supportive but needs follow-up with owner • 1 business (Rocky's hardware) deferred to Corporate • Many businesses in town are part of chains which have already accommodate similar regulations in many other towns, including - • TJ Maxx, Kohl's, Market Basket, Stop & Shop, CVS, Petco o Rocky's Hardware (visited but deferred to Corporate) Bu siness Accommodation Based on the business feedback and being sensitive to small business needs, we amended the warrant article to incorporate a 3�000 sa . ft. threshold . p The result accommodates all those businesses that had concerns except for one of three businesses associated with one business owner. Note — most other towns that we looked at do not have a size threshold . Of those that do, 3,000 square feet is the most common . Business Accommodation The 31,000 square foot threshold will reduce the impact on the Health Department. Before deciding on this threshold we targeted 35 independent businesses ( not part of large chains) to look at, and of those over half are clearly below the threshold . 1 x, BOH Discretion The 2 towns mentioned by a BOH member (and noted below) include some BOH discretion but only for implementation timeframe, not permanent discretion • Andover and Haverhill — Allow for waivers of up to 6 months — • We elected not to do this as businesses will have over 7 months to comply and an additional month before fines would apply del i i Cost impact for businesses Cannot fully quantify as there are many variables such as — • Type, size, shape and quantity of plastic bags currently used • Type, size, shape and quantity of paper bags to be used • Increased use of reusable bags expected • We have some data that paper bags may cost about twice as much, but this will be mitigated by expected increased use of reusable bags, and by retailers being creative about not always defaulting to providing a bag. • Given that many communities around us also have bag restrictions, businesses will not be at a competitive disadvantage • Businesses have the option to charge for paper bags Warrant Article Details Q: What businesses does this warrant article affect? A: All of those selling human and animal food products, and which also have more than 3,000 square feet of finished floor area Examples: Market Basket, TJ Maxx, Petco, CVS, Bertucci's Q: Who is not affected? A: Those not selling food products AND Schools, Non-profits, Festivals, Religious Institutions Q: How would this be enforced? A: By the North Andover Health Department. Q: When would it start? A: January 1, 2024 Ila I I s +i7 We humbly ask you to Recommend Favorable Action or to Endorse Article 14! More info: iiiiiiiiii a1111 1111 NACSL�Yr