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 April 17, 2018 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 Derrick Samuels, Newly appointed Deanna Phillips, Newly appointed Board Members Absent: Sandra Osborne Board of Health Counsel: Shantika Dorsey, Attorney Health Department Staff LaDonna Johns, Director Victor Kuteyi, Health Officer Public in attendance: None Approval of March 20, 2018 Meeting Minutes: Approval unanimous Introduction of Newly Appointed Board Members: President Harris introduces the newly appointed Board Members Mr. Derrick Samuels and Ms. Deanna Philips. In addition, she asked all attendees to introduce themselves. Announcements President Harris:  Reminder that donation for the 2nd Annual Community Baby Shower from BOH members is being accepted. Event scheduled for Saturday June 2, 2018 at STEM Academy, 129 Renshaw Avenue. Gift drop-off and storage will be at the Senior Services at 90 Halsted Street.  Reminder Women’s Health Day at the Health Department, Thursday April 19th @ 9:00 am.  Reminder of School Community Health Fair, @ Cicely Tyson Elementary School, Thursday May 10th. Staff & student health walk with request for HD & BOH representation and a 3-5 talk on the health of EO citizens. 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 April 17, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Mr. Kuteyi, Health Officer – Updates Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ramada Inn. President Harris asked HO Kuteyi to give a brief history of the need to obtain and MOU with the Ramada Inn for emergency shelter to the new Board Members. HO Kuteyi explained that the need is to obtain temporary emergency shelter for residents displaced from their homes; residents with limited or no funds and/or other resources. He cited examples of need ranging from freezing temperatures, inhabitable homes, fires and other unforeseen circumstances. Attorney Dorsey voiced concerns of how involved the City should be in paying for relocation of tenants and the mechanism in place for the funds to be recouped from the landlords for relocation expenses. The Board proposed that the initiative should include timeframes and stipulations. In addition, conduct research for grant-funding for emergency situations and trends of surrounding municipalities with similar demographics of East Orange. HO Kuteyi and Director Johns added that the HD has MOU’s with area shelters also, however, in extreme temperatures, room is not available. Attorney Dorsey explained to the Board she will research the precedence of legislation in the municipality. Status of the Mercantile License - HD Licensing and tracking. When will it be effective? HO Kuteyi reported to the Board that the categories of business for the HD will be under separate ordinances instead of under an all-inclusive Mercantile license. HO Kuteyi added that surrounding municipalities categorize businesses instead of the businesses grouped together. Attorney Dorsey added that it is the Health Department’s responsibility to have the initial interaction of businesses pertaining to Public Health, as opposed to the current dynamic of the HD not interacting until the business is open. Attorney Dorsey reported the breakout categories proposed by HO Kuteyi and that will each be in separate ordinances to better enforce regulatory measures, independent licensing, and public health needs for the City. Attorney Dorsey reviewed the categories that were discussed at the March Board meeting. President Harris asked for a draft of these proposals for the next meeting. The proposed categories are: 1. Barber shops, cosmetology, hair salons, and nail salons. 2. Tattoo parlors, body art, and piercings. 3. E-Cig registration license. The Board discussed the low business fees which members agreed do not best serve the City and proposed that the fees be adjusted based on the square footage of the business, inspection time and to inquire about business fees of surrounding municipalities. HO Kuteyi added that he wants to propose to City Council a change in the business fees based on these factors as well as a one-time application, and registration fees. He cited as an example that Shoprite pays the same fee as smaller businesses in the City. 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 April 17, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Attorney Dorsey stated that she will begin to prepare a template that can be presented to the Board and then to a future City Council Health Committee meeting. The template will include updated business fees, proposed title changes, square footage fees, and penalties for violations. Mrs. Corbitt inquired about how the Health Department will capture stores that have amended their business. Mr. Horace proposed that business owners be informed that an amendment to the business codes will mean a change to business related fees. Update on retail tobacco sales near schools HO Kuteyi reported that business selling tobacco are not being charged fees. He added the E-cig ordinance is based on the State regulations. President Harris asked Attorney Dorsey to draft an ordinance that charges businesses which sell tobacco. Status of all grant funds and personnel HO Kuteyi reported that one staff position for a Lead Inspector is open and an advertisement for the position has been submitted. Mr. Kuteyi added that the Lead program grant is annual and will be renewed in July. President Harris inquired if unused staffing funds are returned to the State, then can we petitioning that these monies be used in another aspect of the Lead program such as equipment Status on updating the sanitary codes Statues to be updated based on current best practices of the Health Department as well as based on modern standards of the CDC. Mr. Samuels proposed stronger sanitary codes, i.e. hair nets and gloves used in food related businesses. Attorney Dorsey Updates: Attorney Dorsey presented to the Board drafts of the Ordinances. The Board discussed various changes of the drafts and will forward to Ms. Small changes to the Ordinances for the May 2018 meeting. At the conclusion of Board business, President Harris adjourned the meeting at 7:52 pm. Respectfully submitted, Sala Small Board Clerk pg. 3