Board of Health

CITY OF GARDNER OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH 95 PLEASANT ST, ROOM 29 GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS 01440-2630 Members Present: Micah Blondeau – Agent for the Board of Health Susan Avallone, RN – Chairperson Geoff Tobia, Esq. – Member Absent: Dr. Michele Parker - Member Attendees Present: Board of Health meeting held September 25, 2023 ________________________________________________________________________________ 4:38 Meeting called to order. 4:38 The minutes from 8/21/23 have been reviewed, edits will be made, and the Board will re- review and approve at the next meeting. 4:46 Old Business: On 8/31/23 there was a National Overdose Awareness Day event at Monument Park followed by the Candlelight Vigil being held at City Hall. September is recovery month, and Veronika is working with Alyssa’s Place planning a community event. Veronika is currently planning the Annual Prevention Conference for October and will also be hosting a regional Faith Conference with many area churches in collaboration with Voices of Truth. October is Domestic Violence Month, and she will be working on some related events. For the Landfill/Transfer Station, we’ve received a couple of good quotes to clean out the leachate pumps. The contract was sent out and the cost is $4,200/day and estimated to take two days. We also received a quote for the erosion control project of $9,800. We are due with DEP to have the project done by the end of the month, but we have just filed for an extension and will then move forward with completing it. We’re also still waiting for funding for the DPW portion of cleaning the yard waste at the landfill and are looking into borrowing a woodchipper from the DPW to help free up some space. 4:49 New Business: Eric’s last day was on 9/15/23. The position was posted on 9/20/23 and there are four applicants so far. Angela has passed the written portion of her soil test and will be taking the field test portion. Housing calls for inspections have been steadily coming in and are currently being divided between Angela and Micah. There haven’t been any foodborne illness complaints, but there is one retail store that is not in compliance as far as discarding expired products and a fine may be issued.  There’s a Flu Vaccine Clinic scheduled for 9/26/23 at the Polish American Citizens Club from 3PM-7PM. Covid vaccines may be available in limited supply, otherwise another clinic will be scheduled for a later date. The department has reached out to multiple trash removal companies who have declined to do removal at 39 Graham Street. Micah will do another site visit and inspection and may issue a new order to the tenants of the property. There will be a Health Fair at the Senior Center on 10/4/23. 5:01 Next meeting: Monday October 30, 2023 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 September 25, 2023 Meeting.