Board of Health

City of East Orange NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 November 20, 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 - arrived at 5:42pm Horace H. Henry Deanna Phillips Angela Jones-Williams Derrick Samuels - absent Board of Health Counsel: Joseph Campbell, Interim Attorney Health Department Staff: Michael Hodges, Director of Health and Human Services Victor Kuteyi, Health Officer Karen Johnson-LaRussa, Nurse, Community Health Educator Chesney Blue, WIC Coordinator Mayoral Staff: None Public in attendance: None Approval of October 18, 2018 Meeting Minutes: After needed revisions were addressed, the minutes were approved unanimously. Announcements President Harris: • President Harris affirmed that she, Director Hodges, and VP Henry attended the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City, November 13-15th. At the joint conference hosted by (NJDOH & NJACCHO), DOH Commissioner Shareef Elnahal delivered a State of the Health of NJ. Commissioner Elnahal’s speech was excellent and comprehensive. The Commissioner discussed, among other topics, the medical pg. 1 City of East Orange NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 November 20, 2018 MEETING MINUTES marijuana’s program. President Harris followed with a speech on this year’s topic “Improving Population Health in NJ”, presenting a BOH perspective. The event overall was well attended. • President Harris announced that we are awaiting the date for Mayor Green’s State of the City Address. The hope is to have the 3C’s (Community Cat Care) forum announced during the Mayor’s State of The City Address. Mr. Hodges, Director - Updates: Director Hodges reported that an outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease had occurred at an East Orange daycare center. The symptoms were explained; the center was closed as required; the children were treated and the center subsequently reopened. Director Hodges shared that the Commissioner’s speech on maternal and infant health, opioid crisis, and access to care, are elements that can be developed as guidelines to align our Community Health Improvement Plan, with that of the states. On November 28th, he and Health Officer Kuteyi will attend a community health assessment meeting at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Beth Israel completed a community health assessment and the City of East Orange is within the scope of their analyzation parameters. As a nonprofit entity, Beth Israel is obligated to perform community based assessments. The Health Department is hoping to utilize Beth Israel’s data which directly encompasses East Orange residents to frame our Community Health Improvement Plan. Structuring upon their existing data would be cost effective as the assessment is one of the most exorbitant aspects of the accreditation process. Director Hodges stated that Mayor Green asked that he assemble a list of homeless shelters throughout East Orange. Mayor Green aspires to address the growing issue of homelessness in our city and to meet with directors of the homeless shelters. The meandering and loitering of the homeless populaces has become disruptive and problematic. The goal is to develop a record of homeless persons and their affiliate shelters so that can be returned to their shelters when picked up by the police. Trustee Phillips cited that some included in the homeless population are not necessarily homeless but people suffering from psychiatric illnesses. Some of the psychiatric patients are residing in boarding homes or mental health care facilities, but are not engaging in the required activities during the daytime, when they are not permitted to be in those facilities. Trustee Corbitt added that many suffering from mental challenges reside in boarding homes since there are not enough facilities to meet their needs. Nurse LaRussa stated that the Mental Health Association used to coordinate resources with some of the boarding homes, but since their criteria was changed, some needing psychiatric treatment have been excluded from their programs. Health Officer Kuteyi will provide a list of the boarding homes to supplement Director Hodges’s list. pg. 2 City of East Orange NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 November 20, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Trustee Jones-Williams affirmed our need to undertake the issue of those with mental issues not attending their scheduled activities, during the daytime to circumvent them wandering the city. Director Hodges and Health Officer Kuteyi interviewed and agreed to hire a dentist for the Pediatric Dental program, to begin in 2019. They are also interviewing nurses for the Public Health Nursing Division. Director Hodges communicated information on New Jersey Shares, a new database for the Nutrition Program, which will operate as a paperless web based platform. NJ Cares application was submitted to the State for review and approval. Upon approval, it will be used for processing reimbursements for the 43 sites. Director Hodges commended the Nutrition Program for providing technical training to all 43 sites under our program. This will ensure that all of our sites can effectively process the required paperwork. Director Hodges had an impromptu meeting with the President of Pulse Ambulance Services. Due to the impromptu nature of the meeting, there was no set agenda, but he wanted to address the city’s trepidations with Pulse’s services. Director Hodges has not seen a report detailing resident’s complaints, but Pulse is aware that East Orange residents are displeased with the service they have provided thus far. Director Hodges has not received an update from East Orange General on their plans to submit an RFP for our bidding process. President Harris asked if Pulse would be submitting a proposal. Director Hodges indicated Pulse’s interest in retaining this contract and their eagerness to submit a proposal. President Harris queried Director Hodges on the status of the RFP’s and Director Hodges expressed that the RFP’s have not been recirculated; presuming E.O. General’s admission into the bidding process. Mr. Kuteyi, Health Officer – Updates: HO Kuteyi reported that one of the health inspectors visited Burnett BBQ; to address the concerns mentioned by Trustee Samuels at our October 2018 BOH meeting. Health Officer Kuteyi reached an agreement with the owner of Burnett BBQ, that workers will not clean any portion of the establishment prior to closing. This will ensure food is not being contaminated and circumvent additional complaints. Health Officer Kuteyi conveyed that Norman Towers has completed work on their sewage system, ahead of their December schedule. Residents complained about the work continuing past the scheduled time, however, Health Officer Kuteyi was able to relieve the resident’s concerns and expounded upon the benefit of concluding the work ahead of schedule. Health Officer Kuteyi discussed the recent health issue of a domestic cat with rabies. The cat returned home after a few weeks absence, exhibiting erratic behavior, and attacked the pg. 3 City of East Orange NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 November 20, 2018 MEETING MINUTES mother and a daughter. Animal control removed the cat; it was taken to the veterinarian, euthanized and the remains were sent to Trenton, NJ for rabies analysis. The results were, positive. Director Hodges praised Health Officer Kuteyi, for going above and beyond to ensure that the cat owner received treatment for herself and her children, as she was initially disinclined to do so. This action alone saved the lives of the owner and her family. The Health Department had to quarantine other cats that inhabited the home for a period of 10 days. Health Officer Kuteyi reported that a retail food store was closed due to rodents in the basement. Following the sanitation process, the store was reopened. Instructions for sanitation maintenance were given in addition to a recommendation to replace the basement floor with concrete. Health Department Staff: WIC Program Updates: Ms. Blue has been working diligently with Director Hodges, researching data that will benefit their application for federal funding that can be applied towards the breast-feeding program. Additional funding would supplement the hourly increase for the current breast-feeding staff. WIC currently has one fulltime and 2-part time breast-feeders staff. WIC is also looking to obtain the support of East Orange as; there will be an additional expenditure of benefits paid to the employees once their hours are increased. Unfortunately, WIC is underfunded throughout the country so obtaining additional state funding would be a tremendous help. Nurse LaRussa - Updates: Nurse LaRussa introduced Krissanah Phillip, student intern from Montclair State University. Ms. Phillip is obtaining her Bachelor's in Public Health with a concentration in Community Education. She will be interning with Nurse LaRussa during the Fall Semester. Nurse LaRussa presented to the BOH the new no smoking signage which includes the electronic cigarette portion of the passed ordinances. We currently have 10 signs, but she is working to obtain additional signs for placement in schools and parks. Attorney Campbell Updates: Attorney Campbell will be providing the BOH with copies of signed ordinances he would email them on Monday, November 26th, following the Thanksgiving Holiday. President Harris asked Attorney Campbell when Attorney Dorsey would be returning from maternity leave and he responded that her return date will be January 2019. President Harris inquired if there had there been any mention of items related to the e-cig ordinance. Attorney Campbell specified he only heard talk of regulating the sale of e-cigs near schools. Trustee Corbitt asked Attorney Campbell to update the BOH on the status of their autonomy. Attorney Campbell indicated there was an ordinance in reference to the BOH’s autonomous status, but that he pg. 4 City of East Orange NEW JERSEY REGULAR MEETING East Orange Department of Health & Human Services 143 New Street East Orange, New Jersey 07017 November 20, 2018 MEETING MINUTES was not aware if it had been signed. He will provide an update at the next BOH meeting in January. Open Discussion: Trustee Deanna Phillips - Updates: Trustee Phillips met again with East Orange residents Ms. Kathy Yates and Ms. Gladys Hornton. The meeting’s objective was to continue discussions for the planned 3C’s forum. Trustee Phillips reported in detail the meeting and in addition visited the home of Ms. Hornton, to observe the handmade cat homes that provides a warm shelter and a method to observe feedings. Director Hodges asked, if the cats would frequent the homes after their construction. Trustee Phillips indicated that the homes are used by cats in that colony. Director Hodges stated we can reach out to companies such as Sterlite and Rubbermaid, to see if they would be willing to donate baskets in exchange for publicity. Attorney Campbell asked if the Health Department is aware of any complaints, in reference to cat colony locale, and whether we are prepared to prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Attorney Campbell mentioned that we should be aware of cat colonies being constructed on city owned properties or the liability aspect if a cat attacks a resident. President Harris asked if CPAW has applied the tagging process to monitor cats that they have spayed and neutered. Trustee Phillips stated that she was unaware if a tracking process was in place, but would inform us at our next meeting. Director Hodges mentioned that he meets monthly with a grant procurement company, (Millennial Strategies), and expressed he would approach them in search of grants for cat colonies, should the BOH agree. President Harris and Trustee Phillips stated they are on board with Director Hodges contacting Millennial Strategies. Health Officer Kuteyi mentioned that he would reach out to the Animal Control Officer in Irvington for dog and cat food resources. No meeting in December 2018. At the conclusion of Board business, President Harris adjourned the meeting at 6:47 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jo-Ann Mills Board Clerk pg. 5