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 Geoff Tobia, Esq. - Member Michele Parker, MD - Member Attendees Present: Board of Health meeting held Monday August 8, 2022 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:38 Meeting called to order. 4:38 The minutes from May 23, 2022. Susan Avallone was not present at May 23 meeting and abstained from discussion and voting. April 25, 2022 meeting minutes were not approved at last meeting and will be brough back to the next meeting. Minutes for May 23, 2022 meeting were approved. 4:40 COVID Updates: At May’s meeting the COVID positivity rate was 3.19% in Massachusetts and 6.42% in Gardner. As of 8/4/2022 the positivity rate is 8.13% in Massachusetts and 5.90% in Gardner. Regionally all local communities have seen an increase. These numbers are only indicative of PCR tests, not home testing results. Test kits are still available in the Board of Health office. Sue reports she has talked to many people currently experiencing COVID. It appears that the new variant symptoms seem to be milder but some people are still getting more severe symptoms. There was discussion about people getting COVID multiple times, the new vaccine coming out designed to help with variants and discussion about current testing options. There seem to be less testing sites currently than in the past. Some PCPs are doing testing and some are not. Education continues to be important regarding COVID-19 and new variants. Lauren will re-post on social media about available at-home tests in the office that are free to the public. 4:47 Old Business: New Litter Ordinance was passed by Gardner City Council. The office can start enforcing litter violations here in the City. Update given on maintenance issues at the landfill. We are trying to determine if it’s just the pumps or possibly electrical issues at the panel. There is a company coming in September to inspect and determine what issues are present. Sue asked if this has anything to do with the sludge landfill. Lauren explained that we share a pump station with the water department and the sludge landfill, but the water department has confirmed that they are responsible for that pump station. The pump station, in its current condition, needs some work but there is an existing design to completely replace it with the expansion of the sludge landfill within the next year or two. We have met with the DPW, water department and the engineers to discuss these issues and determine how  best to move forward. We are to notify the water department if pump work in the landfill will result in an increased flow to the current pump station. National Night Out was last week, Tuesday August 2nd. This year the event was held at a new location, Gardner High School, instead of the previous location at Monument Park. There was transportation provided, there was more space, better parking, and a great turnout. Overall, the event went very well. Veronika Patty, prevention coordinator estimates about 800 people came to the event. Veronika is working on planning the annual prevention conference this upcoming October, details to come. International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31st. Veronika is working closely with Alyssa’s Place and AED Foundation on this event. There will be a proclamation at this event for Recovery Month, which is the month of September. On September 23rd there will a Recovery Month Event at City Hall. This event will include “Recovery Happens”, an exhibit highlighting those in their recovery and their journey. Trash barrels have started to be replaced downtown. Ten have been installed by DPW so far and as we get more in they will be installed also. They barrels are keeping water out of the bins, the trash contained and more sanitary. Water testing at Kendall Pond has been fine all summer, no issues, no closures at the bathing beach. Dunn State Park has been closed most of the summer but that is monitored by the State and we receive weekly notice. 4:55 New Business: Assistant Director, Rick Rossi gave his notice and has left the Health Department for another position in the City. Interviews were held on July 12 with Sue Avallone and HR Director. Angela DiPrima has been hired as the new Assistant Director of Public Health. Angela has already obtained her ServSafe license certificate. Food establishment training will begin next week and we have already begun housing training. She is doing well with training and brings a lot of prior public health knowledge to the position. There will be a mailer going out to all Gardner residents about a new program with CMRK/Big Brother Big Sister regarding an upcoming textile ban. The new mattress and textile ban goes into effect November 1, 2022. With this new partnership Gardner residents can call BBBS to schedule a home pick up of textiles and other home goods and they will come to your door to retrieve. We also have textile collection boxes at transfer. We plan to continue education and outreach regarding the upcoming textile ban. Mattress recycling is already provided here in the City at our transfer station. There is a resident that has requested a hearing before the board. It is a housing matter in which the resident would like to be granted temporary housing on the property. The property is currently not in the resident’s name but belonged to the deceased parents. Taxes are owed on the property therefore the current resident would not be able to obtain permits to bring anything into compliance. The house on the property recently collapsed and had to be torn down due to the imminent danger involved. The occupant is currently living in a mobile “pop-up” trailer/camper that is also damaged and does not appear to be  structurally sound. In addition, there are no sanitary bathroom facilities, no water, sewer, or electricity on site. Per the state sanitary code, temporary housing is not allowed and this has been communicated to the resident multiple times. The latest notice has been hand delivered to the resident who is now requesting a hearing before the board. After some discussion the hearing is scheduled for August 29th at 4:30 PM. 5:17 Next meeting: Monday September 26, 2022 at 4:30 PM here at Gardner City Hall in the Mayor’s Conference Room; adjourn. ____________________________ __________________________ ____________________________ Susan Avallone RN, Chairperson Atty. Geoffrey Tobia, Member Michele C. Parker MD, Member All conversations are documented on recordings identified as BOH August 8 Meeting 2022.