Board of Health

Easthampton Board of Health Meeting Minutes October 5, 2021 50 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027 PRESENT: Maggie Hebert (MH): Aimee Petrosky (AP); Beth Rist (BR). Bri Eichstaedt (BE), Health Director, Brian Chapdelaine (BC), Health Inspector. Jackie Sienkiewicz, recording. Also, present Raymah Hutchinson (RH): Reymanuel Sola (RS); Tracy Davis (TD); DW Stratton (DS); Mike O’Neil (MO). Meeting held on Zoom. Recorded Motions A motion to open the meeting at 5:31 PM. was made by BR and seconded by MH. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call. A motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 8, 2021 was made by AP and seconded by BR. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call. Public Speak: DW Stratton, a resident of Easthampton, and a member of an unnamed Easthampton yoga studio, asked to speak during Public Speak time rather than wait for his time originally put on the Agenda, due to a time restraint. DS stated that under the current mask mandate, ordered by the BOH, yoga students participating in hot yoga, end up with a soaking wet mask and struggle to breathe through it. Students at the studio he attends are fully vaccinated, keep six to ten feet apart, are not facing each other, and it is a silent exercise. DS asked why bars and restaurants are allowed to have people, vaccinated or not, to sit unmasked, within six feet of each other and the yoga studio requires a mask. ● 40 Church St.-Request to occupy R.V. as temporary residence while home is re-built following a structure fire: BE told the BOH that RS was the owner of the property at 40 Church St and would like to live on site while reconstruction work is being done at his property. BE explained that the Housing Code requires BOH approval for any temporary housing that lasts for more than 30 days. BE suggested the BOH sign off on the approval, pending approval by various departments including planning, electrical, plumbing, building, DPW and fire. Once all departments have signed off, the approval would be for a period of no longer than 9 months. RS would need to come back to the BOH to get an extension if he is going to be in the R.V. for longer than 9 months. . A motion was made by AP and seconded by BR, to approve the request to occupy an R.V.as a temporary residence while the home is being re-built at 40 Church St pending approval of all necessary departments, for a period of no longer than 9 months. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call.  ● Easthampton Congregational Church: BE explained to the BOH that during inspections of local permit holders, BC had found that Easthampton Congregational Church had only a two bay sink, not the required three bay sink. BE stated that the Food Code allows two bay sinks if they are approved by the BOH. RH explained that the cost of adding the third bay was estimated to be $8000.00 and prohibitive. RH explained that the kitchen has a soapstone sink that they could designate as a handwashing sink and have adequate signage, soap and paper towels. RH also stated that the kitchen was not used often anymore. RH said that they would limit the use of the sink to washing fewer than 20 items and use the dishwasher if there were more than 20. BE explained that dishwashers are required to have irreversible thermometers to test the water temperature and that a log shall be used as proof that this had been done. AP stated that the machine should be serviced before using again due to expiration dates of chemicals used in them. A motion was made by AP and seconded by BR to approve the use of the two bay sink at the Easthampton Congregational Church with an agreement to have the dishwasher serviced prior to it being used again and to have a plan, approved by BE and BC, for proper use of the two bay sink. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call. ● D.W. Stratton-Request to amend the BOH order titled: “Covid-19 Mandatory Policies & Procedures for Wearing of Masks or Other Face Coverings in the City of Easthampton” to allow masks to be removed while practicing yoga: DS was not able to stay for the entire meeting and chose to make a statement during public speak on this subject. ● Tracy Davis-Owner, Stayin’ Aligned Hot Yoga- Request to amend the BO order titled: “Covid-19 Mandatory Policies & Procedures for Wearing of Masks or Other Face Coverings in the City of Easthampton” to allow masks to be removed while practicing yoga: TD was present at the beginning of the BOH meeting but was not present when the agenda item came up in front of the Board. ● Discuss variance language for the City ordinance titled: Prohibition of Single Use Plastic Bags, Disposable Food Containers and Straws: BE suggested language to be used in the ordinance after looking at various codes and variances used in those codes. BE read from a document, attached, the suggested language. AP asked that the definition of “manifest injustice” be included in the ordinance. A motion was made by MH and seconded by BR to approve the language for a variance in the City of Easthampton Ordinance titled:Prohibition of Single Use Plastic Bags, Disposable Food Containers and Straws. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call.  ● Covid-19 data update from Health Director: BE explained to the Board that DESE, Department of Education and Secondary Education, had issued a new date for a change in their mask mandate beginning November 1, 2021. The change would allow a school population of 80% vaccinated or more to ease the wearing of masks. BE stated that due to the Easthampton BOH mask order still in place, this would not affect Easthampton schools at this time and BE would discuss this with the school superintendent and put on the November Agenda for more discussion. ● Health Director Update: BE stated that she would be on a vacation from October 23rd through October 30th and would not be reachable. BE discussed the plan in place to cover Covid cases that should arise. BE stated that she and BC would be attending the Massachusetts Health Officers Association conference on October 20 -21, 2021. BE said that BC was able to attend the conference because of a scholarship as a new health inspector. BE added that she had met with the finance committee regarding increasing the Public Health Nurse position pay in order to attract and maintain staffing for this position. BE stated that the Community Social Worker position was also on the finance committee agenda. This position is funded by ARPA dollars until 2027 and it would need to be worked into the department budget after that.The finance committee voted to support both requests. ● Tavern on the Hill-Request for approval to continue to use two bay sink: BE stated that Tavern on the Hill had requested a late as possible spot on the agenda due to time constraints on their part. BE was unable to reach the owner via text who was supposed to be available for the meeting. BE said she would reach out and possibly add this to the November agenda. ● Items not reasonably anticipated: BE stated that the attorney for the Hampton East Condominiums at 359 Main St., were requesting the BOH to re-open the hearing regarding their request for a well variance. BE said that Hampton East was not informed of the hearing date and because of that, they were unable to present their well driller to testify on their behalf. BE explained that according to the City attorney, there is a tolling period attached to this hearing appeal and that the mayor would need to approve the tolling agreement. BE said that the City attorney suggested that the BOH re-open the hearing. AP said that the BOH was under no legal obligation to notify Hampton East of the date of the hearing. AP stated that the hearing date was posted as required by state open meeting laws. BR asked BE to contact the City attorney to find out what his reasons were for advising the Board to re-open the hearing and get back to the Board. BE updated the Board about Captain Jack’s inspections for the last 3 months and the improvements that BC had seen overall. A motion was made by BR to adjourn the meeting; seconded by MH. All in favor – 3, Opposed – 0. Vote taken by roll call. Meeting adjourned at 6:31 PM. Next meeting scheduled for November 2, 2021 at 5:30.