Board of Health

{'ny ( }F l.("}$m,LL. MAq$A('HIISETTS B(]ARN { )F I.IU.ALTH Julv 18, 2018 A meeting of the Lowell Board of Health was held on Wednesday, July 18, 2108 in the Mayor's Reception Room, City Hall,375 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01852. Chairuvoman Jo-Ann Keegan called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM. Present: Jo-Ann Keegan, RN, MSN, Chairperson John Donovan, DC, Board Member William Galvin, MD, Board Member Lisa Golden, RN, MSN, Board Member 7ltglt8 MTNUTES 1. New Business 1.I. For Acceptance: Mlnutes Of The June 6, 2018 Meeting Of The Board Of Health. The minutes of the June 6, 2018 meeting of the Board of Health were reviewed by the Board. Motion: To amend item I.VIII paragraph2,3rd and 4s sentencesto read "The Board requested to receive repofts on the process of the program. Ms. Vigroux will give updates to the Board" and to accept the minutes as revised made by William Galvin, seconded by Lisa Golden. All in favor. 1.II. For Review: Tobacco Control Monthly Repoft Submitted By Cesar Pungirum, Program Director. Mr. Pungirum discussed the recent Youth Compliance Check inspections. Three establishments failed their compliance check. Two have paid the fine and will be scheduled for a Permit Suspension Hearing at the September 5, 2018 meeting. The third establishment chose to appeal their ticket for allowing entry of a minor to the District Court. Mr. Pungirum reviewed the monthly report with the Board which was accepted and placed on file. 1.III. For Review: Monthly Development Seruices Report submitted By Shawn Machado, Sr. Sanitary Code Inspector. Mr. Shawn Machado, Sr. Sanitary Code Inspector, introduced himself to the Board. The Board noted again that some establishment inspections are not being conducted in a timely manner. Mr. Machado will address this issue. Chairwoman Keegan inquired about the pickup of used needles. Mr. Machado informed the Board that the City is working on the issue and he will speak to Mr. Slagle for an update. The Board had no further questions. 1.IV. Communication: From Mr. Geoffrey Koetsch, Merrimack Valley Sierra Club Team Coordinator. Communication from Mr. Geoffrey Koetsch regarding natural gas plpelines in Massachusetts. Mr. Geoffrey Koetsch spoke to the Board regarding natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts and his request for a letter of support for Community Health Assessments prior to expansion of any pipelines. Several sample letters from various communities were provided to the Board.  BOHMO7l8t8 Page 2 The following members of the Public also spoke in support of the request: Nancy Greene - Lowell, MA spoke in support and about her concerns about the chemicals in fracked gas coming from Pennsylvania. Board Member William Galvin asked if gas transpofted by trucK was "cleaner" than gas that piped. Ms. Greene indicated that there is no way to remove the chemicals from fracked gas. Suzanne Hitchcock-Bryan - Winthrop, MA spoke to the Board about promoting renewable energy sources and that National Grid statistics state 80% of gas is fracked. Ms. Hitchcock-Bryan indicated that the letter is in support of Community Health Assessments prior to any expansion of a gas pipeline and asked the Board to support the letter with the other 70 communities that have already done so. . Susan Redlich - Cambridge, MA spoke to the Board in support of the Community Health Assessments letter which would support baseline monitoring of new infrastructure using existing conditions as the baseline and other studies would be looked at for rlsk assessments for potential health risks. Marc Grant - Chelmsford, MA spoke to the Board regarding supporting the request and letters of suppott issued by Boston, Worcester, Springfield and other communities. Motion: To draft a letter to Governor Baker following the one done by Worcester, MA for the September 5, 2018 meeting made by William Galvin, seconded by Lisa Golden. All in favor. 1.V. For Review: Trinity EMS, Inc Reports. The Board accepted and placed on file. l.VI. Communications: Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Program. The Board accepted and placed on file. 2. Old Business 3. Director's Reooft 3.I. Uodate: Depaftmental and Divisional Reports and Updates Chairwoman Keegan requested a status update on the revised Service Zone Plan for the next meeting. The Board noted the increase in the number of Year to Date TB and Hepatitis B & C cases. Motion: For Substance Abuse Coordinator Lainnie Emond to attend the September 5, 2018 meeting to give a progress reports on the various opioid grants activities made by William Galvin, seconded by Lisa Golden. All in favor. 3.II. Motion: To Adjourn. Motion: To adjourn at 7:08 PM made by William Galvin, seconded by Lisa Golden. All in Favor THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CITY OF LOWELL BOARD OF HEALTH WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 AT 6:00 PM IN THE MAYOR'S RECEPTION ROOM.  CITY OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS o"1 s e ru i c es " "T,T ;:f ff H #*T*?e RrblicHeatttr Prrvrnt Promole, Protrrt Matilde Casliel. MD Karyn E. Claft Health & Human SeMces Publb H€atth Commissioner 3+l Dlecilor Governor Charles Baker Massachusetts State House Lfh^tDd,Jf Z4Beawn Street Room 280 7-/B-/8 Boston, MA 02133 Attention: Governor's Offi ce Dear Governor Baker, The Worcester Board of Health joins 67 other Iocal health boards in urying you to require an independent health impact assessment prior to authorization of any notu*t gus infrastructure project in the Commonwealth. Natural gas florving through pipelines contains volatile contaminants, such as benzene and formaldehyde, which can cause human illnesses, even at lorv concentrations. Releases are routine, whether from leaks or maintenance. The Cornmonwealth has an obligation to protect the health of its citizens; yet, the potential health effects of natural gas pipelines are not being examined. More effective regulation of exlsting natural gas pipelines to minimize adverse health effects is needed. In addition, health impact assessments should be required before any new pipeline authorization occuffi. This perspective is shared by national health organizations, including the American Medical Association: "Our AMA recognizes the potential impact on human health associated with natural gas infrastnrcture and supports legislation that rvould require a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment regarding the risks that may be associated with natural gas pipelines." (Resolution H- I 35.930) The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has adopted the follorving policies: l. That the MMS recognizes the potential irnpact on human health associated rvith natural gas infrastructure. (HP) 2. That the MMS advocate to appropriate agencies and the Massachusetts state legislature to require ongoing independent Comprehensive Health Impact Assessments to assess the -- 1 ii Meade Street, Worcesrer, MA 01610:Zl5 Phone: (508) 799A$l Fat: (508) 799-8572 1+.- --: I t = healtlggw_qrc_estefffidgg 1-t arlr4,aa6rra- -  ro\ neet Homc En.rgy Sl0cbncy lcom MOTHERS OI'TFRONT MOBILIZING FOR A LIVABLE CLIMATE Gas is the Past! 6JY Natural gas carries risks to our heatth and our ptanet 4'\ A similar study found that the prevalence of pneumonia and coughing in younger children was higher in families who cooked and heated their homes with gas stoves.3 Another analysis of 4L studies found a 32o/o increased risk of asthma among children in homes where gas was used for cooking.o Nitrogen dioxide is well studied, harmful to children, and significantly higher in homes with gas stoves.5'6 In a combined analysis of 11 pediatric studies, researchers concluded that a long-term increase of 15 parts per billion of NOz Cooking with gas can harm children (about the difference between cooking with gas Cooking wlth gas releases fumes into your versus electric) increased the risk of respiratory kitchen. Both unburned gas and burned if fnesses such as asthma by 20o/o.7 (combusted) gas release toxic chemicals into the In Massachusetts, researchers also found a air in your home. "dose-response" relationship between the These chemicals include lead, chromium, amount of NOz exposure (the "dose") and the benzene, hexane, formaldehyde, and nitrogen asthma severity of children (the "response,'). dioxide (NOz).lAll of these are harmful to human The more NO2, the worse the asthma,s health. Fracking contaminates air & water Many people think that the vent over their stove In Massachusetts, more than half of the gas we is just for removing cooking odors, but it's use is mined through hydraulic fracturing, also actually very impoftant to turn on the fan known as fracking.e Fracking contaminates local whenever cooking with gas to remove the toxic air and water. chemicals from the air in your home. Living near a fracking site is associated with Using gas to cook makes children more higher rates of asthma as well as premature and susceptible to respiratory infections and low birth-weight babieslo who have long-term worsens asthma, especially in homes that health risks and medical costs. aren't properly ventilated. By reducing our consumption of g?s, we can help Here's the research: protect these com m unities. A nationally-representative study of US children described increased prevalence of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and wheezing among children whose parents repofted using a gas stove without ventilation.2  ftfrft* ?c*r,raW t l{Y ,rarhnq,hs!,o,roh af PgR @ffiHm,- Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking (unconventional Gas and oil Extraction) Fifth Edition March 201E Fracking industry site near Greers Ferry Lake in Quitman, Arkansas in the Fayetteville Shale region. @2014 Julie Dermansky