Board of Health

City of East Orange City of East Orange NEW JERSEY Department of Health & Human Resources 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH FEBRUARY 16, 2016 MEETING MINUTES Meeting call to Order @ 5:48 PM Board President Christine Harris read the following Sunshine Law: This meeting, which conforms to the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act, Chapter 231, Public Law of 1975 is a regular meeting of the City of East Orange Board of Health. Notices have been filed with our official newspaper, with the City Clerk and posted on regular bulletin boards. The public is permitted to participate at this meeting. After the roll call, it was determined there was a quorum to convene the meeting. Board Members Present: Christine Harris, President Tobbia M. Corbitt Horace H. Henry Rosemarie A. Brown, arrived 5:48 Reverend Jean Maurice Board Members Absent: Cynthia Barnes Board Attorney/Health Department Staff: Mustafa Al-Brent, Councilman, arrived 6:15 Ryan Linder, Asst. Corporation Counsel Hazel B. Lucas, Board Secretary Satyaranjan Besra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist Diashana Coleman, Administrative Clerk Karen LaRussa-Johnson, RN, Health Educator Michael Burton, Animal Control Officer Michael Spinella, Animal Control Officer Public in attendance: Ms. Marion Johnson Approvalof December 15, 2015 Minutes Motion made by Board President Harrisand seconded by Board Member Jean E. Maurice to accept the December 15, 2015 minutes. Approved by unanimous vote. Announcements  Welcome to newly appointed Ms. Hazel Lucas as Board Secretary, effective January 2016 1 City of East Orange City of East Orange NEW JERSEY Department of Health & Human Resources 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH FEBRUARY 16, 2016 MEETING MINUTES  Letters of congratulations sent to new city council members and incumbents with invitations to attend the BOH meetings.  Board President Harris announced that Health Officer Ms. Rochelle Evans is on medical leave and is not expected to return until April 2016. City Council is expected to pass a resolution on Monday, February 22nd for shared services with a neighboring municipality until Ms. Evans’ return.  Board President Harris and members welcomed Councilman Mustafa Al-M. Brent, Liaison to the Board of Health. Councilman Brent stated he was aware of some of the issues facing the Health Department and he is here to help the department and Community.  Board President Harris made a motion to adopt the Board of Health Meeting schedule for 2016, seconded by board member Horace H. Henry. Approved by unanimous vote.  2016 Board Meeting Dates: March 15th. April 19th. May 17th. June21st. July 19th. September 20th. October 18th. November22nd.(delayed due to conflict with the annual NJ League of Municipalities Convention) December 20th.  Board President Harris informed members to forward their Local Board of Health Member Certifications from online NJLBHA training to the board secretary or herself. Old Business Upon review of the Revised Fee Schedule for Animal Control it was noted by Chairwoman Harris that the following fee amounts require corrections:  Licensing / Registration for altered $12.00, and  Licensing/Registration for unaltered $15.00 Attorney Ryan Linder will present the corrected ordinance at the March 15th, 2016 meeting for approval. 2 City of East Orange City of East Orange NEW JERSEY Department of Health & Human Resources 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH FEBRUARY 16, 2016 MEETING MINUTES Board President Harris asked Attorney Ryan Linder about the Revised Ordinance for Animal Control Services Chapter 132. Attorney Linder indicated that Councilman Brent had requested the drafting of an ordinance on animal control. An earlier form draft of the ordinance with the new addition of microchipping had been present to Councilman Brent. President Harris indicated that the ordinance must be reviewed by the Board and charged each member to research the issue so that a comprehensive approach is adopted. Issues to consider: neuter, vaccination, microchipping, hysterectomy and vasectomy. Additionally, the question of who will bear the cost of inserting a microchip must be determined? INTRODUCTIONS AND UPDATES Board President Harris informed the board that it appears that Prospect Medical Holdings will acquire East Orange General Hospital. The final stages of completion should be concluded sometime in March or April of 2016. Board President Harris tabledthe ordinance concerning legionnaire’s disease and the decision to retain membership with Essex County Health Commission until a later date. Board President Harris introduced and welcomed Mr. Satyaranjan Besra, REHS, newly hired as of January 11, 2016. Mr. Besra, presented an overview of his area and indicating that reporting to the NJDOH of the 2015 outstanding cases on Communicable Diseases will be completed by March 2016. He thanked Naimah Campbell of Nursing and Karen Johnson- LaRussa, Health Educator for their help in addressing this matter. Diashana Coleman, Administrative Clerk reported to the Board that everything is running smoothly and that the managers are supervising the day to day operations. Mr. William Senande, the City Administrator set directives for daily departmental operations during Ms. Rochelle D. Evans, absence. Karen Johnson-LaRussa gave her report to the Board on past/upcoming events for 2016: Cicely Tyson School Elementary Health Fair – Walk for Young Children 3/17, Asthma Walk on May 15, 2016, Campus High Health Fair on March 6, 2016, 5K Walk for Autism April 22, 2016, Althea Gibson 8th Health Fair, April 29, 2016, Annual AIDS Walk at NJCRI, May 1, Orange Board of Education 6th Health Fair, May 14th, My Brother’s Keeper Program for recreation, October unsure of the date. And breast cancer screening held on October 6, 2016 and many more. 3 City of East Orange City of East Orange NEW JERSEY Department of Health & Human Resources 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH FEBRUARY 16, 2016 MEETING MINUTES Board President Harris introduced and welcomed Michael Spinella, Animal Control Officer hired on January 4, 2016. He stated to the board members that things are getting better at the animal shelter. Update from Michael Burton, Animal Control Officer stated that the animal intake for the year 2016 is 11; that the dog pound is up to code;and there are no complaints and issues as of now. We also, cut down on the surrenders. Board member Jean E. Maurice ask they find a lot of dead animals during the cold winter. Animal Control Officer Spinella, stated the older cats that are one (1) year and older they are ok, but the biggest concern are the dogs. Adjournment Motion by Board President Harris to adjourn the meeting, seconded by board member Jean Maurice and the meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm. Submitted by, Hazel B. Lucas Recording Clerk 4