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: Nicole Moorshead, Owner Colonial Hotel William Morrissey, Attorney for Nicole Moorshead John Flick, City Solicitor Minutes for Board of Health meeting held Monday September 14, 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. 4:33 Meeting called to order. 4:35 Hearing: Colonial Hotel The Chair Person of the Board of Health listed the documents to be considered that were provided and reviewed prior to the hearing:  MA Safety Standards Indoor and Outdoor Events: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-indoor-and-outdoor- events  Colonial Hotel Warning letter, dated 7/23/20  Email from Nicole Moorshead, dated 7/31/20  MA DLS Colonial Hotel citation 1, dated 8/7/20  MA DLS Colonial Hotel citation 2, dated 8/7/20  Gardner BOH Colonial Hotel citations, dated 8/7/20  Colonial Hotel appeal letter, dated 8/17/20  Certified letter from William Morrisey, dated 8/17/20 The Respondent Nicole Moorshead and her attorney William Morrissey were in attendance via Zoom for the hearing and each was given the opportunity present additional documentation or information. Board members asked Mrs. Moorshead questions about the number of people in attendance at the events, a description of the tents, the restrooms, the facility and the staff member’s roles in supervising the functions and if an attendance list was kept for contact tracing purposes if that had become necessary and she was permitted time to respond. The hearing ended and the Board deliberated.  The Board of Health determined that under the MA Safety Standards Indoor and Outdoor Events that the operator of the Colonial Hotel neglected to follow these guidelines: Each operator of an outdoor event must monitor attendee entries and exits and limit occupancy at all times to no more than 100 persons. It was determined that the Colonial Hotel property is a single event venue. Occupancy counts must include all attendees, staff, or other workers located on the property. Nicole Moorshead admitted to having more than 100 people in occupancy at the events on the dates listed on each citation. Each operator must maintain a log of workers and attendees to support contact tracing (name, date, time, contact information) if needed. As the operator of the property, the Hotel was responsible to maintain a log of workers and attendees. DECISION: Two members of the Board of Health voted to uphold Gardner BOH Colonial Hotel citations dated 8/7/20, file #20-001, for events that occurred on 8/1/20 and 8/2/20 in the total amount of $600 (six hundred dollars), with one member (Geoff Tobia) abstaining from the vote. 5:10 Old Business: New License Commission employee started last week. Someone from the ABCC will be coming out to help train both her and Rick for ABCC related business. Flu Clinic – Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC) has contacted the BOH office to try to arrange flu shots for their congregate living population and their staff. They may have a pharmacy come to do their shots. We will continue to communicate with MVOC to assist them with coordinating a clinic for them. Dr. Parker speaks about children’s flu shots, there have been discussions about authorizing pharmacists to dispense flu vaccine to children under 9, which was not previously permitted. She will try to update as more information becomes available. Her clinic has not received the State-supplies child doses of the flu vaccine as of this meeting. Pharmacies are doing adult vaccinations now. She also states that vaccine supply should be able to meet the increased need that is anticipated this year. 5:18 New Business: GETV – The Gardner TV station has reached out to Lauren about doing another segment of Health in the Chair City, she suggests the following topics: flu, COVID or EEE. Dr. Parker suggest that flu and school reopening may be of interest right now as schools prepare to reopen. Dr. Parker has recently done a similar presentation and offers to work with Lauren on a show. Tattoo Regulations – Lauren was recently contacted by a person who was requesting a Microblading License in the City of Gardner. As the Board is currently updating the regulations, Lauren wanted to bring this applicant to the attention of the Board to see if they have any questions. The potential applicant is already certified, has all courses and health certificates. She has been practicing in another community since January of 2020.  The applicant is planning to work at the salon at the Colonial Hotel. Under the current version of the Body Piercing regulations she would be able to be permitted but would be restricted to Microblading. 5:23 Next meeting set Monday October 19, 2020 at 4:30. 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 September 14, 2020 Meeting