Board of Health

January 08, 2015 An organizational meeting of the Board of Health was held at 5:00 P.M. Present were: Ian Murray, Chairman; John Bogdasarian, M.D. Member; Sandra Knipe, R.N. B.S.N. Member; Stephen Curry, Director Minutes of Meeting: December 4, 2014 minutes were accepted as presented. Minutes of Public Hearing-Unattended Donation Box Regulation: There is an ordinance in the City regarding the fee. The legal team stated that the Board of Health has the authority to adopt a fee and enforce it, but it must be approved by the Council. Our Director has submitted a petition to the Council to accept the $35 fee, not the regulation. Ian Murray made a motion to amend the effective date of the Unattended Donation Box Regulation from February 1 to March 1, 2015. Dr. Bogdasarian seconded the motion. Minutes of December 4, 2014, Public Hearing was accepted as presented. Staff Reports: The Nurse’s reports for 2014, were accepted as presented. A discussion took place on communicable disease tracking. Through the Public Health District Incentive Grant, our nurse has provided services to eleven cities and towns including Fitchburg. In 2015, the nurse will be charging her time to this grant. Her time spent in other communities will be reimbursed by the grant and in turn the Health Department will charge the cities and towns for the service. There is a fee schedule for each communicable. The annual assessment is $300 and with that the cities and towns get 20 free communicable diseases; after that payment is required per communicable disease. Landfill Leachate Agreement: This amendment allows for the Fitchburg Westminster Landfill to accept landfill leachate from the Barre Landfill transported as septage. The wastewater system in Barre cannot handle the leachate appropriately. This agreement will bring in approximately $50,000 in revenue for the City. Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to accept the Landfill Leachate Agreement. Ian Murray seconded the motion. 65 Minneapolis Avenue: This is a mobile home that is severely dilapidated. The owner, Josephine Mangiacotti lives in California. Our Director has ordered the property condemned, to be demolished within ninety days. She has been notified if she fails to respond, the city will undertake the work and a lien will be placed on the property for costs incurred. The Board is on notice that the property owner has the right to request a hearing before the BOH. The property owner has not responded to the notice as of this date. MA Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative (SAPC): The Montachusett Public Health Network (MPHN) is splitting into East and West sections. For the purposes of applying for another grant, it is an underage drinking grant and substance abuse grant. It is potentially for seven years, $100,000 per 3 years with 2 year options to implement or mend local policy practice systems and environmental change to prevent underage drinking and other drug use within Massachusetts communities. This is a very similar effort as the OPIOID Grant and we plan on contracting with LUK for both the East/West service. The East includes Fitchburg, Leominster, Sterling, Princeton and Clinton. The West includes Gardner, Athol, Templeton, Phillipston, Royalston and Westminster. LUK will be writing the grant; the Fitchburg Board of Health will be the fiscal agent. The health department will be able to charge for supplies as well as personal services as part of the grant. Appoint Chairperson: Every February, the Board is required to appoint a chair person for the Board of Health. Sandra Knipe asked Ian Murray if he was happy being the chair person. She thinks he is doing a great job and has grown over the past couple of years. At some point she would like Dr. Bogdasarian to have a chance as chair person. Dr. Bogdasarian responded that he is new at this and not comfortable at this time but would consider it in the future. Sandra Knipe made a motion to elect Ian Murray as Chairman to the Board. Dr. Bogdasarian seconded the motion. Approve CDBG Application: Each year the Board of Health submits an application to the Community Development Block Grant. Last year the Health Department requested $140,000; this year we are requesting $170,000. The grant will pay for half a Principal Clerk, 100% for a Code Inspector, 90% for a Code Inspector and 50% for a Code Inspector. The grant will potentially pay for a portion of four employees’ salaries. The Recycling Coordinator’s grant runs out in December 2015; it gives the department a chance to fund this position as a Code Inspector. CDBG is federally funded through the Planning Board. On January 27, our Director will present this application to the Planning Board. After the Planning Board, it goes to the Mayor for her approval and decision, then to the Council to approve the request. The Health Department is asking for a large percentage of the grant. Our Director presents statistics to the Board which is produced from housing inspections by our Code Inspectors. The entire City is not CDBG. There are certain areas in the City that the inspectors can work in. It is hard to dedicate a full time person a 100% to the CDBG areas. CDBG is determined by low income, poverty statistics and includes the bulk of multi-family homes. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the CDBG application. Ian Murray seconded the motion. Jive Turkey Permit Suspension: Cori Blackman, owner of Jive Turkey was invited to the meeting to discuss the notice served which stated his permit would be suspended. He was served by a constable and notice was received. Jive Turkey has not had real food operations since September 2013. An inspection was done in April 2014, where rotted food was found. The Health Department has been requesting a second inspection since October, with no response. We have not heard from Mr. Blackman until this notice was served. At 6:00 p.m. Mr. Blackman still had not shown up for the meeting. Our Director recommends that the Board uphold the suspension and not allow him to conduct food operations until an inspection is done. He will also talk with the Police Chief to see if Mr. Blackman is opening at odd times. The Board is not revoking his license but suspending it. The Board unanimously voted to suspend Mr. Blackman’s food permit. Our Director will send a letter to Mr. Blackman officially suspending his permit until such time that he complies with the Board’s conditions. Meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Respectively Submitted, Tina M. Kreidler Principal Clerk/Stenographer