Board of Health

CITY OF GARDNER OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH 95 PLEASANT ST, ROOM 29 GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS 01440 Members Present: Lauren Saunders – Health Director Susan Avallone, RN - Member Atty. Geoffrey Tobia – Member Michele Parker, MD – Member Also Present: Tina Rusak, RN Minutes for Board of Health meeting held Monday August 17, 2020 ________________________________________________________________________________ *Pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §20, and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting of the Gardner Board of Health will be conducted via remote participation. The transcript of proceedings will be posted on the City’s website as soon as possible after the meeting. 4:30 Meeting called to order. 4:32 Minutes from the June 29, 2020 & July 20, 2020 meetings were both reviewed, discussed and approved. 4:36 Old Business Body Art Regulations: Tina researched “Save Each Life” which offers a course called Anatomy, Physiology and Skin Course for Tattoo and Body Piercing Practitioners. She summarizes an overview of the course and its curriculum. Fitchburg Board of Health accepts this course, and many other BOH have an alternative to a college level A&P course. After a discussion period, it is decided that Tina will gather more information and this will be discussed at the next meeting. There was a brief discussion about observation hours required for apprentices and if the number of hours that has been suggested is reasonably attainable. The draft regulations require 50 hours of station set up and take down for an apprentice at Level 1. This process takes about 15 minutes per tattoo. Tina suggests that instead of 50 hours, that 50 cycles (tattoos) might be a more attainable alternative. There are some additional edits of the draft that have been suggested and the Board will review those changes prior to the next meeting. Local Upgrade Approval: an LUA was approved by the Board on 6/29/20 for a septic system to be located at 89 Hill St, the Conservation Commission has also since granted approval and excavation has started for that project. Staff Vacancy: A new person has been offered the part-time License Commission position and will be starting in at the end of August. Flu Clinic: The Health Department is considering options to host a public flu clinic this year. The benefits of partnering with other agencies, like pharmacies, schools, and the hospital verses doing our own clinic are discussed. Some of the challenges of the Health Department hosting a clinic are issues with bill insurance and there is not a nurse in the office, which is why collaborating with a pharmacy so that they can administer the vaccine may be beneficial. It has been several years since the Health Department offered a clinic, the flu shot has been more available at pharmacies in recent years. Another barrier to having a flu clinic is vaccine storage; there is not  pharmaceutical grade refrigeration available in the Health Department. Also, flu vaccine orders for State-funded vaccine are typically due in the spring. Dr. Parker offers to check to see if additional vaccine can be ordered from the state at this time for public clinics, she will verify the age cutoff at pharmacies to administer to children and she will check with HAMG to see what they are offering to their pediatric patients. It is also discussed how the Health Department can help promote local clinics and get information out to the public. 5:08 New Business Chair Person: Geoff Tobia has been the acting Chair Person since Dr. Mulqueen left late last year. Both Sue and Dr. Parker offer to take the position and there is a brief discussion. The Board voted to have Susan Avalone to be the new Chair Person for the Board of Health. COVID-19 Violation: The Health Department office received multiple calls in late July alleging a wedding was scheduled at the Colonial Hotel for August 1st, 2020 which was anticipated to host around 300 guests. The MA Department of Labor Standards also received similar complaints. Both Lauren Saunders, the Director of Public Health and Rick Rossi, the Assistant Director of Public Health contacted the hotel owner, Nicole Moorshead, to investigate the situation. On July 23, 2020 she was sent a certified letter and also an email, both of which included the MA Mandatory Safety Standards for Indoor and Outdoor Events. It was later determined that the Colonial Hotel had events on August 1, 2020 and August 2, 2020, both of which were in excess of the capacity outlined in the MA Mandatory Safety Standards for Indoor and Outdoor Events. The Health Department worked with the City Law Department and the Health Department issued fines related to the events. The MA Department of Labor Standards issued fines also. COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Sue is working as a public health tracing nurse for COVID positive cases. She discussed learning of a cluster of positive cases which included a COVID-related death, was linked back to a house party that took place in Gardner. She stresses that it is important to get the message about the seriousness of this pandemic and to continue to educate the public. Sue also reported that nursing homes are having less COVID positive cases, testing is going well at both Heywood and Tully Urgent Cares. Testing is now more available. Next meeting set is to discuss the Body Art Regulations on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 4:30 PM and will be a remote/teleconference meeting. 5:23 Adjourn. ___________________________ _______________________ _________________________ Susan Avallone RN, Chair Person Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member Michele C. Parker MD, Member All conversations are documented on ‘You Tube’ identified as B.O.H August 17, 2020 Meeting