HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-30 Middlesex-Essex Public Health Collaborative Minutes Middlesex-Essex Public Health Collaborative
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday,January 30, 2024 at 10:00 am
Held via video conferencing
How to join the meeting:
Join via computer or smartphone: Follow this link: https://meet.google.com/mqy-sxmt-kiw
Join via telephone: Follow the link above, select Dial Into receive a meeting specific phone
number and pin
Roll Call:
North Andover—Brian LaGrasse, Present
Andover—Tom Carbone, Present
Lynnfield—Coral Hope, Present
Reading—Ade Solarin, Present
Haverhill—Mary Connolly, Present
North Reading—Bob Bracey,Absent
Also in attendance:
Annette Garcia, MEPHC Shared Services Coordinator
Lea Anne Pero, MEPH Public Health Nurse
1. Welcome Lea Anne!
a. How to request support
i. Contact Annette, she will work with Lea Anne to fill your request
b. Lea Anne Report Out
i. Developed sharps disposal education for North Andover.This can be adopted for
other communities
ii. Working on a healthy eating brochure for Haverhill.This can be adopted for other
communities
iii. Developing a diabetes education event for seniors
1. A pilot program will take place in North Andover this spring
a. After adjustments are made, it will be available to all
municipalities
2. Updates from the Shared Services Coordinator
a. Training Opportunities
i. Registered Sanitarian Prep Course
1. This is a rolling enrollment online prep course
2. $425
3. I am in the process of ordering several study books from NEHA. If you'd
like a study book, please let me know!
ii. Retail Program Standards Symposium
1. April 16-18 (virtual)
2. Experts share practical strategies for conforming to standards,
conducting risk factor studies, and more!
3. Free
iii. MEHA Title 5 Seminar
1. February 21
2. $150
iv. MassDEP - MHOA Seminar
b. Quarterly Report
i. Spending
1. FY24 Award was $532,000 and approximately $53,000 was spent as of
12/31/23
2. Two regional noise meters will be purchased totaling$12,000
a. Training will be offered to all local staff
3. An FDA consultant will be hired to assist with the standardization work
and will cost approximately$20,000
ii. The regional inspector shadowed at 5 of 6 communities on pool, food and Title 5
inspections
iii. Seven of 22 activities have been completed and all others are on-track to be
completed within their specified time frame
1. The IMA is being worked on by Town Counsel.A second meeting will take
place on 2/15
2. A Model Body Art Regulation is in development
3. Diabetes education event is in development
4. Mobile Food permitting process is being worked on by the inspectional
subcommittee
5. A Noise Meter training and standard operating procedure is in
development
iv. In January, 10 inspections were completed by the regional inspector
v. 6 staff members enrolled in the SAVA workshop, meeting training objectives for
the year
vi. The shared inspector position has been re-posted
c. Relevant
i. Haverhill has only received one username and has been unsuccessful installing
software
ii. North Andover and regional positions have not received usernames or download
instructions
iii. Annette will follow-up with Michael for assistance with these items
iv. Annette will schedule training with Diane and Paul to schedule training
1. Annette will take notes at trainings as well as advocate for the need of a
training manual/quick reference guide
3. VOTE: Primary Posting Location
a. Vote postponed
b. Keep an eye out for the agenda to be posted mid-February
c. Agenda must be duly posted on all municipality websites before a vote can take place
4. VOTE: FDA Standards Consultant
a. Vote postponed
b. Relavent estimates $4,400/ community unless everyone utilizes them, then we get a
discount to$4,100/community
c. Mojin Solutions high-end estimate is$2,500/community
d. Annette will reach out for samples of completed SA9 and CSIP for each of the vendors
5. DISCUSSION: Body Art Regulation
a. Annette will share a Google Doc version of the regulation with Advisory Board members
b. Lynnfield asks for more specific language surrounding temporary establishment permits.
Worried that there might be confusion on allowable locations
c. Haverhill is looking for language that requires establishments utilize athird-party for
biomedical waste disposal.There have been instances where practitioners try and utilize
community sharps drop-offs
6. Next Meeting: February 27, 2024 at 10:00 am, location TBD