Board of Health

CITY OF GARDNER OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH 95 PLEASANT ST, ROOM 29 GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS 01440-2630 Members Present: Lauren Saunders – Health Director Susan Avallone, RN – Chairperson Geoff Tobia, Esq. - Member Attendees Present: Board of Health meeting held Monday, December 12, 2022 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:38 Meeting called to order. 4:39 The minutes were accepted from the November 16, 2022 meeting. 4:41 COVID Updates: Gardner is currently at 8.26%, and the State is at 7.26%. The CHC put on a clinic that was held at City Hall, 136 people attended. There was also a clinic held at the PACC on 12/1 run by MPHN COVID Response Team. The Senior Center will be holding a clinic on 12/19/22, and will be handing out $75 gift cards while supplies last. There will also be a clinic on both 12/13/22 and 12/14/22 at the Gardner Middle School from 5-8PM put on by the DPH State Mobile Unit. 4:49 Old Business: 67 Sawyer St Update- We were able to secure the individual an apartment at Heywood Wakefield. There was assistance from the city with moving the individual in, and the trailer will be removed with help of Gardner PD. Funding for the new inspector position has been approved. We’re working on additional notifications for License Renewals for those who haven’t started the process. We currently have 126 completed and waiting on 34 more. The landfill is having pump repairs, and we’re working with Tata & Howard on the bid packet. They’ve previously worked with the DPW and there is an existing plan in place that will help with the bid process. There was also a spot of erosion found by DEP that will be repaired. Textile waste ban guidelines will be posted on Facebook. No oil, fluids, or any with mold. New Business: Recently the waste oil being collected from transfer station has been contaminated with perchloroethylene. It typically costs $620 to have it emptied, but is now costing over $6,000 because of the contamination. This fee includes having to clean the tanks and trucks. Currently, it’s been decided to temporarily shut down that service at the transfer station and we will refer people to the stores where they had purchased the oil or hold onto it until the next Household Hazard Waste Day scheduled. Lauren received her RS in November.  There was a DPH assessment for all Boards of Health and surveys were submitted. There were multiple phase assessments. The first was a huge survey. Second was smaller and for Board members and staff. The third phase was for documentation and collection. Multiple inspections including food, lead, housing, bathing, nuisance and tobacco were submitted. We’re currently just waiting on that report from the State. It has been acknowledged that Susan Avallone, BOH Chair, can vote with full representation for the Department at Region 2 PHEP meetings if Lauren is not present to vote. 5:10 Next meeting: Monday January 23, 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 December 12 Meeting, 2022.