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 – Chairperson Michele Parker, MD – Member Geoff Tobia, Esq. - Member Minutes for Special Board of Health meeting held Wednesday December 22, 2021 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:30 Meeting called to order. Mask Mandate Discussion - There has been a sharp increase in COVID cases in the community. There are currently 281 active cases in MAVEN for the 14-day average. Many of the cases are among the elderly and notably among the residents of the different Gardner Housing Authority properties in the city. The state sent over 4,500 at-home COVID testing kits to Gardner last week and the Health Department is in the process distributing those to the Gardner Housing Authority and to other Gardner residents. At-home positive results are not included in the MAVEN active case numbers. There is a concern that with the holidays approaching and people gathering, that the number of people with COVID will continue to rise. Several area communities have passed mask mandates. There is a motion impose a mask mandate in all City Municipal Buildings which shall also include Gardner Housing Authority Buildings, and all persons using the services of any taxi, car, livery, ride-sharing, or similar service or any means of mass public transit, or while within an enclosed or semi-enclosed transit stop or waiting area unless they have a medical exemption. The motion is passed unanimously; this mandate will be effective from Monday December 27, 2021. The Board will revisit this issue at the next meeting. 5:00 Next meeting: Monday January 24, 2022 at 4:30 pm, Adjourn. _________________________ __ ___________________________ ___________________________ Susan Avallone RN, Chairperson Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member Michele C. Parker MD, Member All conversations are documented on recordings identified as B.O.H December 22, 2021 Meeting