Merrimack Valley Public Health Alliance

By City Clerk at 3:35 pm, Feb 13, 2025 NOTICE OF OPEN PUBLIC MEETING Merrimack Valley Public Health Alliance Date: September 3rd 2024 Time: 2pm - 3pm Meeting Location: ​ Virtual: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88294190778 APPROVED MEETING MINUTES Voting Attendees: a.​ Vinny Tirone, Amesbury​ ​ ​ e. Frank Marchegiani, Rowley b.​ Rosemary Decie, Groveland​ ​ ​ f. Paul Sevigny, West Newbury c.​ Bill Holt, Georgetown​ d.​ Chris Berrube, Merrimac e.​ Deb Rogers, Newbury f.​ Laura Vlasuk, Newburyport Non-Voting Attendees g.​ Deb Ketchen, Merrimac and Amesbury h.​ Mike Hugo, MAHB i.​ Meghan Russell, BME Strategies j.​ Erika Syokau, BME Strategies ​ ​ I.​ Call to Order A.​ Chris made a motion for the meeting to be called, Bill seconded. Meeting was called to order at 2:05pm with a quorum of 6/8 voting members present II.​ Approval of August 20th Minutes A.​ Meeting minutes were approved by a vote of 5 in favor (Merrimac, Amesbury, Georgetown, and Rowley) and 2 abstention (Newburyport and West Newbury) III.​ Community Updates  NOTICE OF OPEN PUBLIC MEETING Merrimack Valley Public Health Alliance A.​ People can pick up their supplies at Amesbury between 7am-3pm, at 39 South Hunt Rd Amesbury MA. Vinny and Deb have squared away a room that has supplies and apparel people can sort through. Let the two women at the front desk know you are here to pick up supplies. B.​ Erika will come to Amesbury to help organize supplies and apparel. IV.​ Backup Documentation Meeting Review A.​ Erika and Meghan met with DPH SMEs (Paul Halfmann, Robin Chappel, Doug Halley) in regards to reporting for food, housing, and nuances so that we can get more specifics about why certain documents did not meet standards. a.​ The state is looking for documents that represent the regulation for that area, specifically for nuisances, sometimes the document that was submitted as part of the capacity assessment is for a different regulation. b.​ One area they can help us with is to identify best practice forms that can be shared across the SSA for others to reference. B.​ Erika to start comparing the current forms sent in to understand current gaps in what was submitted. Erika will then reach out to municipalities to determine if they want to supply updated documentation. a.​ It is up to each municipality to determine the dates that they want for review. V.​ Update on Meeting with DPH A.​ Erika and Meghan met with Kristen Black and Pat Henry at DPH, and reviewed the work plan. DPH wanted to understand MAVEN reporting and the back up need as we plan to hire a regional nurse. The IMA deadline is Oct. 31st, the release of the 2nd payment is dependent on getting this signed. B.​ DPH has asked us to re-adjust the budget. Originally had budgeted iPad pros and were told we just needed regular iPads so we re-allocated the funds from the technology budget to strategic planning based on their recommendation.  NOTICE OF OPEN PUBLIC MEETING Merrimack Valley Public Health Alliance C.​ We will know more about our budgeting after learning about our Relavent use, tobacco control initiatives at our September 18th meeting with DPH, and rat abatement needs VI.​ IMA Updates and Next Steps A.​ The final version of the IMA was sent out 8/23, and will now need legal approval from each municipality to move onto signatures. Please send Erika and Meghan your specific contact at your legal team to pass on to Rich Mucci at MAHB. You can also send the IMA to your legal team yourself. B.​ Mike Hugo is able to make appearances at Select Board meetings. Please reach out to him if you need any assistance. VII.​ Hiring Scoping Conversations (can share hiring slide with a timeline) A.​ Based on conversations there is a clear indication that there is a need for support in most cases where there is one person handling something different with no backup coverage. Best to hire someone who has several qualifications to provide well-rounded support. Target for a hiring date in November/December. Erika showed the hiring slide that outlines the hiring process and timeline. B.​ Still need to find time/responses from Georgetown inspector questions, Groveland, Newbury, and Newburyport C.​ Our next steps include sharing job descriptions with you all for you to review, once again this would be for a regional inspector and a regional public health nurse VIII.​ Notification to Municipalities A.​ This notification is to remind municipalities of their participation in the grant and will be sent to the following individuals in each Municipalities: Mayor/Town Administrator/Town Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Select Board Chair/Board of Selectmen Chair, Board of Health Chair B.​ This will be sent out prior Oct. 31st. Meghan and Erika presented the notification to the municipalities slide.  NOTICE OF OPEN PUBLIC MEETING Merrimack Valley Public Health Alliance IX.​ Adjournment X.​ Next Steps A.​ Each municipality can pick up supplies and apparel at Amesbury between 7am-3pm. Erika will reach out to Vinny and Deb K to make time to get to Amesbury to sort supplies. B.​ Erika will begin reviewing the backup documentation and reach out to municipalities for more information as needed. C.​ Please send Erika and Meghan your specific contact at your legal team to pass on to Rich Mucci at MAHB. You can also send the IMA to your legal team yourself. D.​ If you haven't had a hiring scoping conversation with Erika please reach out to her to go over those questions. E.​ Final IMA should be signed by Oct. 31st. F.​ The notification to municipalities will be sent out prior Oct. 31st . Please Note: There will be no public participation in speaking at this meeting. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE MAY ACT ON ITEMS IN A DIFFERENT ORDER THAN THEY APPEAR ON THIS AGENDA. ALSO, IF IT SO VOTES, THE BOARD OR COMMITTEE MAY GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION DURING THE MEETING. PERSONS INTERESTED ARE ADVISED THAT, IN THE EVENT ANY MATTER TAKEN UP AT THIS MEETING REMAINS UNFINISHED AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING, IT MAY BE PUT OFF TO A CONTINUED SESSION OF THIS MEETING, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE.