Montachusett Public Health Network

FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Mar 28 2024 12:44 pm MPHN Meeting 2/7/2024 Virtual Go-To Meeting In attendance: Steve Curry, Victoria Selser, Catherine Hoover, Phil Leger, Deb Vondal, Susan Avallone, Abby Conlin, Laurie Demalia, Michelle Powell, Stacy Ciccolini, Marc Antoine (DPH) Meeting opened 9:05am No public comment PHE Budget Revisions: (Victoria) Explanation of newly approved budget items release from ORLH allowing us to request budget revisions to include cost of past purchases of flu and COVID vaccines. We have billed insurance and obtain reimbursement for much of these costs so these revisions have the potential of raising our available funds. Budget revision requests are pending. Vote for approval of funds for purchase of additional COVID and Hepatitis A vaccine unable to happen due to lack of quorum. Stericycle cost, billing and pickup schedule: (Steve) Stericycle is using a new portal system and has had some problems with pick-ups. Leominster has requested change in pick-up frequency and will update Steve on if this has been successful. Sterling has reported recent issues as well. Steve informs that all towns with this service can become administrators on web page once portal is fully developed. Deb mentions she doesn’t know when pick-ups are scheduled and that billing was late. Steve will update Deb as he receives pick-up schedule. Prices have not changed. New city clerk working on billing and bills admittedly were sent late. Apology from Steve. On subject of sharps containers, Phil shares he received more larger containers from DPH than he needs and may be looking to off load some and receive small ones in exchange or for small sharps containers to be ordered. Regional Inspection Capacity: (Steve) Leominster will be in need of temporary food inspection coverage for Rita to be out on medical leave for approximately 2 months. Unknown dates but closer to summer. Request for coverage for complaints and possibly new licenses related to summer activities and street vendor applications. Deb may be in need of Title 5 inspection coverage as retiring in April and she is the only person qualified in town. Concerns of health agent coverage in her absence, Steve assures availability of soil and septic coverage for Athol needs. No other needs reported. EA Shelter Update: (Victoria) Emergency Assistance shelters in Westminster, Gardner and Fitchburg have requested health department support for coordination of vaccinations and medical services. Actively working on Westminster with a vaccine clinic happening there on Feb 19th (paid for by state). Work with Fitchburg and Gardner just beginning. Abby offered thanks to Victoria for her work thus far with Wesminster EA Shelter. Spring shingles/pneumo clinics: (Victoria) Clinics offering shingles and pneumonia vaccines will be offered in several of our communities beginning in mid-March. Plans are underway, if your town didn’t have one last year and would like shingles/pneumo clinic please contact Victoria. Vaccines will be given by Chair City Pharmacy, Gardner. Susan question about clinic in Gardner to be answered by Victoria off- line to Susan directly. Workforce Standards: (Catherine) Review of where to find and when created. Some discussion about challenges with completing requirements requested by DPH. These challenges acknowledged by Marc from DPH and admits the process of exemptions is still in progress at DPH. Hubbardston and Westminster asked if they have any workforce standards gaps but no answer was received. Encouraged all staff to upload LPHI documentation as this system is due to be disabled end of March 2024. IMA Revision Process: (Steve) IMAs sent to MAHB for review with wording that we hope all is in order and edits are not necessary. DPH has agreed that if IMA is thought to be in order per MAHB that no revisions will be required as is stated in CART and PHE workplan. Steve has serious concerns that Fitchburg as lead agency at risk if IMA revision has to go before city government. Marc from DPH states he is interested in hearing frankly what concerns are. Phil spoke of political climate and resident push back (including unauthorized recording of inspections) of health department work in hopes that DPH will reconsider the necessity of updating IMAs that are not expired. Stating we are a functioning network and work to edit IMA will likely cause problems as the work was already done and it wasn’t easy. Deb also spoke in favor of leaving IMA as is in hope of keeping the collaborative intact. Stating resident and BOH opinions of being against all health department actions and past history of DPH ignoring our established SSA when COVID vaccines were rolled out (Phil also spoke of this). Announcements: Steve, proposal of next meeting date of March 6th in person with virtual option and recorded by FATV. Phil, need quorum at next meeting, request in person meeting begin at 10am. Motion to adjourn from Phil, second from Deb