Board of Health

City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 18, 2017 MEETING MINUTES Meeting Call to Order – 5:40 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, and 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 Sandra Osborne Ryan Linder, Attorney assigned to the Board of Health-Absent Health Department Staff Victor Kuteyi, Health Officer Director Ladonna Johns Chesney Blue, Director, Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) Karen Johnson-LaRussa, Nurse, Health Educator Jennyca Jerole, Intern-Health Department, Rutgers Student, Public Health Major Denise Lambert, Intern-Health Department, NJCU, Student, Public Health Major Guest Speakers: None Public in attendance: None Approval of June 20, 2017 Meeting Minutes: Approval unanimous President Harris • Announced that the State Legislature passed and Governor Chris Christie signed the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2018 which contained within $10 million dollars of new money for Local Board of Health (LBH) to address elevated-blood lead levels in children. • Announced that Governor Christie recommended that mental health and addiction services be removed from the Department of Health and Human Services back to the Department of Health as part of the reorganization plan for the State. pg. 1 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 18, 2017 MEETING MINUTES • Announced that she attended the opening of the Bloomfield WIC Program on Friday, July 14, 2017 which is under the direction of Director Chesney Blue. President Harris reported that she, BOH Member Corbitt and member Osborne and Nurse LaRussa visited the Cecily Tyson medical facility on Friday, June 23r and toured with Nurse Iyizoba. A visit to Park Elementary School’s medical facility is planned on Monday, July 24, 2017 from 10-12 pm. The Board of Health plans to coordinate a meeting with the East Orange School Superintendent, Board of Education members and City Council liaison to discuss the next steps in establishing health services and identifying services that will be provided in the Cecily Tyson medical facility. President Harris instructed BOH members to visit the NJLBHA website, take the certification examination then submit a copy of the results to HO Kuteyi and herself. She also reminded members to attend public health seminars, participate in continuing education programs and activities and remain current with health trends. President Harris discussed the importance of the role of the Boards of Health in public policy and why increased funding is necessary. President Harris announced that there will not be Board of Health meeting in August 2017. Health Officer Report Vermin Task Force HO Kuteyi reported the task force met once upon inception. He stated that at the meeting they developed a protocol of compliance for developers and contractors regarding abatement which will be agreed upon in a future meeting. They also discussed a protocol to protect the properties adjacent to the ones being abated and that the health department is working with residents in the community to address these concerns. Board Members recommended more involvement from the Department of Public Works. HO Kuteyi explained that DPW gets involved when Department of Property Maintenance cites City owned properties that need abatement. HO Kuteyi added the Health Department assesses the various properties when residents call. If they are Senior Citizens or indigent the City will abatement the property for the senior resident. Additionally, he explained that residents are responsible to abate their properties at their own expense. If it has not been done then the resident will receive a court summons and receive a $250.00 fine. President Harris stated that the Board would like more communication and progress between the Departments involved in the Task Force. Mrs. Corbitt recommended that a lead person needs to coordinate the task force to ensure deadlines and tasks will be met. Director Johns stated she will follow-up with Council President Green regarding the status of pg. 2 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 18, 2017 MEETING MINUTES the Vermin Task Force and why a follow-up did not take place. President Harris asked for a status report at the next meeting in September. Mr. Henry asked about the efficacy and evaluation of the black boxes in the reduction of the vermin population in the City. HO Kuteyi explained the Health Department is still in the process of assessing what the vermin population is throughout the City, before they can evaluate the effectiveness of the black box abatement. Mr. Henry recommended that the Health Department continue developing an aggressive plan to combat the vermin problem which can be implemented when funding becomes available. President Harris asked if Federal and State funding is available. HO Kuteyi explained it is very competitive, however, funding that deals with other Public Health issues can be used to help combat the problem. Mr. Henry asked if a collaborative effort will be made with neighboring cities to combat the problem. HO Kuteyi explained the best collaborative effort will be best with Newark. HO Kuteyi explained the funding is limited and very competitive, however, funding to address other Public Health issues, such as, Lyme disease, which is a Public Health matter will also help get the necessary tools to address the vermin issue. Director Johns stated that she will ask for increased funding to address the vermin problem during the budget hearings in November 2017 and will propose that the City hire someone to focus solely with combating and addressing the vermin problem. President Harris recommended to HO Kuteyi that he should go forth with the plans to combat the vermin problem and follow up with the vermin task force so the problem can be further addressed. HO Kuteyi and the Board members agreed that it will also be a good idea to include residents on the Vermin Task force. State Compliance Health Department Report-Update President Harris asked HO Kuteyi about the status of the compliance report from the State. HO Kuteyi reported that the State has not sent the report to any Health Department in the state. Ordinance on Pest Control and Abatement for Property Owners A follow-up from Attorney Linder will be given at the meeting in September. HO Kuteyi stated the City can use the State statue on pest control and abatement for property owners which the state allows for fines up to $1000 dollars for violations, however, the City only fines those in violation $250 dollars. President Harris asked HO Kuteyi to follow-up with the information about the State Statute at the next meeting. Extra Supermarket and Shoprite Supermarket Fires pg. 3 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 18, 2017 MEETING MINUTES HO Kuteyi reported there was a fire at Extra Supermarket in one of the refrigerators. Also on June 22, 2017 a fire occurred at Shoprite Supermarket in the walk-in freezer. HO Kuteyi reported that an inventory of all discarded products was taken at both sites. Health Department Staff Chesney Blue – Women, Infants and Children Program Director Chesney Blue reported The WIC Grand Opening occurred on Friday, July 14, 2017 in the Bloomfield Health Department. She stated it was well attended with over 30 people in attendance including Director Johns, Mayor Lester Taylor, and, East Orange Board of Health members. Director Blue reported East Orange Health Department will work collaboratively with the Bloomfield Health Department nurses with immunizations. She stated that Bloomfield Health Department will have a produce truck that will come to the City on a weekly basis throughout the summer and early fall and WIC participants can use the Farmers Market vouchers at that location in Bloomfield. Director LaDonna Johns Director Johns reported the Health Department is hosting a Meet, Move and Mingle free Community Health Wellness event on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Elmwood Park from 10-3pm. The event will include, but not limited to exercise activities, yoga, Zumba, healthy food, vendors, service vendors, children’s corner and music. Director Johns announced that a Health Department brochure has been developed by Zarifa Raheem which gives information about the various divisions and services that are offered. Director Johns she will have copies of the brochure by the next meeting as well as the Meet, Move and Mingle event prior to the September meeting. Director Johns announced that on Friday, August 4, 2017 the Health Department in partnership SAVE program of Rutgers UMDNJ is hosting a Women’s Health Day starting at 9am. There will be screenings for Mammograms (for under and uninsured women by appointment), Colorectal Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Blood Pressure, HIV, STD, and TB. Director Johns announced a delegation including two buses of Senior Citizens from Senior Services and others from the City of East Orange will attend a Legislative session on Thursday, July 20th in Trenton to have the East Orange Veterans Administration Hospital registered as a National Historic landmark. Director Johns announced various Third Ward Community events that are taking place in July and August: such as, the Third Ward Community Meeting and Movies in the Park at both on Wednesday, July 19th, National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1 from 6-9 pm at 116 Rhode Island Ave and the 9th Annual Summer Music Festival on Saturday, August 13 in Elmwood Park with a kickoff at 12 noon. pg. 4 City of East Orange EAST ORANGE BOARD OF HEALTH NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 July 18, 2017 MEETING MINUTES Nurse Karen Nurse Johnson-LaRussa reported that she has two interns, Jennyca Jerole, Rutgers University, Public Health major and Denise Lambert, Masters in Public Health from NJCU working with her throughout the summer. Ms. Lambert began her internship in June and Ms. Jerole will be returning in September to do an academic internship. Nurse Karen reported that previous intern Trevor is working with Lincoln Park health program. Also, she announced the PINK OUT ORANGES Walk for Breast Cancer is taking place in October and the United Way will be sponsoring an event in October 2017 which will highlight the City of East Orange. Park West Elementary School Tour The Board of Health will visit the Park West Elementary School to tour the medical facility on Monday, July 24, 2017 at 10am. Adjournment At the conclusion of Board business, President Harris adjourned the meeting at 6:55 pm. Respectfully submitted, Sala Small pg. 5