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 Attendees Present: Chris Stoddard-Engineer Board of Health meeting held Monday October 24, 2022 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:36 Meeting called to order. 4:38 Local Upgrade Approval: Engineer Chris Stoddard was in attendance to present information regarding 28 Holly Drive Local Update Approval request. After discussion, LUA was approved by all members. A one-foot separation to groundwater reduction was approved for proposed Presby system, no wells within 100-foot radius and plan is Title 5 Compliant. 179 Saunders Street LUA: Homeowner/Engineer did not attend meeting, will need to reschedule. The minutes from April 25 were not signed but were approved. The minutes from August 8, 2022 meeting were approved. 4:48 COVID Updates: Gardner cases 9/26/2022 had a positivity rate of 9.25%. As of 10/20/22 the positivity rate went up to 10.66%. MA is currently up 7.85% from 9/26/22. Available at-home tests in the office that are free to the public. There were multiple clinics held; The Binall House (10/19) had 39 for COVID shots, and 35 for the Flu Shots. The PACC (10/19) had 244 for COVID shots, and 139 for Flu Shots. Colonial Apartments had 4 for COVID shots, and 9 for Flu Shots. Gardner Public Schools also offered shots for all staff. 109 received Booster Shots, and 115 received Flu Shots. The Code Red Call seems to be helpful, and pre-registration for each clinic is highly recommended. Gardner has been ID’d as a Vaccine Equity Initiative Community based on the low number of boosted individuals in the city. Old Business: Spoke with Mayor Nicholson regarding landfill issues. He’s aware that there is a solid waste surplus fund, and it will be brought before the City Council for approval. Lauren received the report and is working with the purchasing department on the bid process. Due to the State’s new textile ban, we would like to potentially have additional boxes located at the landfill for people without a sticker. It has also been discussed setting up a location at City Hall.  The Prevention Conference was held at City Hall on October 21. About 80 people attended. New Admin started today (10/24). The pop-up camper on Sawyer Street still has the tenant residing in it but it is supposed to be towed this week. Linda Hansen, property manager of Heywood Wakefield, is working with the individual but currently there aren’t any openings in housing. Housing issues and complaints continues to be high-volume. 4:59 New Business: The department has requested and additional inspector who would possibly be food focused. The funding would be from the supplemental budget, and they would start as a part time employee eventually becoming full time. License renewals began on October 1. The MHOA Conference is being held Tuesday-Thursday. Lauren, Sue, and Angela will be in attendance. 5:15 Next meeting: Monday December 12, 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 October 24 Meeting 2022.