Board of Health

Office of the Board of Health City Hall 166 Boulder Drive – Suite 108 Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 978-829-1870 An organizational meeting was held on May 3, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Present: Ian Murray, Chairman; Stephen Curry, Director; Sandra Knipe, R.N.B.S.N., Member; Dr. John Bogdasarian, M.D, Member, Meeting Minutes Review & Approval: Dr. Bogdasarian made a motion to approve the April 5, 2018 meeting minutes. Sandra Knipe stated MOACP should read MOAPC. Sandra Knipe 2nd the motion as amended. All were in favor. Motion carries. Youth Tobacco 21 Presentation: Ken Farbstein: Mr. Farbstein said the FDA Commissioner stated nicotine can rewire an adolescent’s brain leading to years of addiction. The FDA’s recent concern with adolescents is the spread of the Juul Vaporizer device that is taking over high schools. This device has as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes and comes in a variety of flavors. Mr. Murray questioned if the 21 plus will eliminate the high school kids from using the vape. Mr. Farbstein said it will reduce the number of kids from using it but it would not eliminate it completely because kids will always find a way to get access to it. One reason Juul and vape pens are so popular among teens currently is they can be used indoors without attracting unwanted attention especially in schools because they are very small devices and kids can hold them in a closed fist. The concern is, will this get kids hooked and will they switch when they don’t want the flavors any longer and move on to cigarettes. Ms. Knipe said this issue has been discussed previously and wasn’t pursued at the time in order to give small business owners too much at one time with the flavor ban but feels now is the time to move forward with Tobacco 21. Mr. Curry stated Ms. Hamlett, Tobacco Control was not available this evening for the Tobacco Control Update but submitted a Board of Health written update on what is going on with the policy and who in the Tobacco Alliance has revised regulation from 18 to 21 years of age. This list is from January 2018. Several communities have passed 21 including Worcester, MA. If Leominster, Fitchburg and Gardner want to explore it Ms. Hamlett will also ask Athol, Templeton, Winchendon, Ashburnham, Ashby to consider it as well and will consider making it a regional effort. Mr. Farbstein stated he plans on talking with the high schools to get letters of support from the school system to show their support as well. Mr. Curry suggested a public hearing in September. Tobacco Control Update: The following update read by Mr. Curry and received from Joan Hamlett, Tobacco Control who is not in attendance this evening but has submitted an update. The Alliance has received a three year contract for Tobacco Control funding. Twin City Mart has complied with the 30 day suspension and was compliant with all the checks. Johnny’s Service Station is currently serving their suspension and has been checked several times and is compliant with all checks to date. An Inspector just completed youth access checks in Fitchburg and there were three sales, Super Liquors, Romano’s Market, and Fitchburg Citgo. All other retailers passed. Tobacco Control is in the process of looking up compliance history for a 36 month tolling period and in the process of issuing appropriate violation notices and orders to those violators. We will forward all copies to the BOH when completed. Worcester has raised the age to 21 and just recently passed the flavor restriction regulation and that will go into effect January 1, 2019. Ken Farbstein attended a meeting to ask the Leominster Board of Health to consider raising the age to 21. The Leominster BOH agreed to explore the idea and ask Fitchburg and Gardner to join them and consider it. Alliance towns include, Townsend, Maynard, and Stowe have raised the age to 21. Ayer held a hearing on Flavor and 21 and is expected to vote on May 7. Lancaster is holding a hearing on Flavor and 21 on May 9. Bolton and Berlin are expected to set public hearing dates for Flavor and 21 regulation updates in May. Ms. Hamlett attended a BOH meeting with Westminster and asked for them to consider an upgrade to the same regulation. Leominster, Gardner, Fitchburg has. They have asked Joan to hold a retailer education meeting on June 6 and then they plan to start discussions in their BOH meetings. City Council Petition 118-18: Appropriate $175,000 to Sanitary Landfill: Mr. Curry stated he is requesting a transfer of $175,000 from available funds due to a projected shortfall The shortfall is due to the Fitchburg/Westminster Landfill operator and contractor now billing in FY 18 for the disposal of curbside recycling which was a contractual stipulation established in the Solid Waste Contract back in 1992 and amended in 2010, but was never invoiced to the city. Ms., Knipe made a motion to approve the $175,000 transfer to Sanitary Landfill Contracted Services. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. FY 19 Budget Review and Approval: Mr. Curry presented the FY 19 budget which is subject to change after meeting with the Mayor. Mr. Curry has proposed under Personal Services to add a MOAPC Coordinator as a city employee. The Mayor has also proposed a cut to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) which funds 2 ½ employees. Mr. Curry requested $153,000 for this funding, the Mayor has cut this to $100,000. The goal is not to cut employees but to get employees off CDBG and depend less on grant funding. The Animal Inspector will now fall under the Police Department so this line item has been removed. Other Personal Services changes will be contractual raises in staffing. Health Expenses will see an increase of $3,000 from FY 18 due to the reduction in CDBG funding. This line item is mileage reimbursement Inspector previously paid by CDBG. Ms. Knipe made a motion to approve the draft budget for the Board of Health Fiscal Year 2019 pending approval by the Mayor and City Council. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarian. All were in favor. Motion carries. Staff Reporting: Mr. Curry presented the Housing Inspectors & Nurse’s Reports from January-April, 2018. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the Public Health Nurse’s Report from January – April 2018. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarain. All were in favor. Motion carries. Sandra Knipe made a motion to approve the Sanitary Code Inspector’s Reports for January – April, 2018 with the amendment of a ticket amount error for Inspector Michael Burns. Motion was 2nd by Dr. Bogdasarain. All were in favor. Motion carries. Next BOH meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2018. Sandra Knipe made a motion to adjourn. Motion was 2nd by Ian Murray. All were in favor. Motion carries. Meeting adjourned.