Board of Health

Approved 6.3.20 BOH meeting May 6, 2020 A meeting of the Lowell Board of Health was held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 by conference call. Chairperson John Donovan called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M. Phone-In Participants: John Donovan, Chairperson Kathleen Cullen-Lutter, Board Member Lisa Golden, Board Member William Galvin, Board Member Joanne Belanger, Director of HHS Jo-Ann Keegan, Interim Director of HHS Shawn Machado, Sr. Sanitary Code Inspector Dr. Peter Connolly, Medical Consultant Jon Kelley, Trinity EMS, Inc. Kurt Brigham, Trinity EMS, Inc. Casey Rainville, Lowell General Hospital Paramedics The meeting of the City of Lowell Board of Health was called to order at 6:01 PM by Chairperson John Donovan. 05-06-2020 1. NEW BUSINESS 1.I. Conference Call Log-In Information 1.II. Introduction: Joanne Belanger, Health and Human Services Director Interim Health Director Jo-Ann Keegan introduced Joanne Belanger to the Board. Ms. Belanger accepted the position of Health and Human Services Director and began employment on April 21, 2020. 1.III. For Acceptance: Minutes of the April 1, 2020 Board of Health Meeting Motion: To approve the minutes of the April 1, 2020 Board of Health minutes made by Lisa Golden, seconded by Kathleen Cullen-Lutter. All in favor. 1.IV. Development Services Reports submitted by Senior Sanitary Code Inspector Shawn Machado Senior Sanitary Code Inspector Shawn Machado made a verbal report to the Board. No inspections occurred in April due to the State mandated stay at home order. Mr. Machado updated the Board regarding China Star on Broadway St and the Green Forest Tea House on Willie St. Fines have not been paid at this time. The Health Inspectors have been reaching out to the food establishments regarding the Governor's Executive Order regarding the wearing of masks, and people have been calling his office about the order. Currently Mr. Machado is waiting to receive flyers from the City Manager's office regarding the Executive Order to pass out to the establishments. 1.V. For Review: Trinity EMS, Inc., Reports submitted by Jon Kelley Mr. Jon Kelly reviewed the reports with the Board. Jo-Ann Keegan inquired why the reported overdoses were at the lowest point since 2014. Mr. Kelley commented that there is talk of the Fentanyl supplies being down. Quarter 1 totals were low and fell more after the Social Distancing regulations were started. Mr. Kelley inquired if the Board would like a COVID-19 data points report but the Board held off on starting one.  BOHM050620 Page 2 2. OLD BUSINESS 2.I. Update: COVID-19 The Board did not vote on the proposed mask regulations due the Governor's Order regarding wearing of masks in public that was scheduled to being on May 6, 2020 making a BOH regulation unnecessary. Board Member Kathleen Cullen-Lutter inquired as to what age masks would be required. Per the Governor's order, any person the age of 2 or greater must wear a mask unless they qualify for an exemption noted in the orders. The Board inquired about the shelter for the homeless COVID patients. Ms. Keegan informed the Board of the various programs being used, such as the State Isolation hotels for active cases, the use of the Stoklosa School for contacts. Ms. Belanger informed the Board that she is working with Mary Shannon Thomas and a plan for solving problems with this population is pending approval. Member Cullen-Lutter inquired further on the use of the isolation hotels and the Stoklosa School. Ms. Belanger went into further detail about the programs and noted that the Sheriff's Department was providing transportation to the locations. Ms. Keegan noted that the Department has reached out to Lowell General Hospital for assistance with testing residents of the Community Teamwork Inc. family shelters. 2.II. Update: Service Zone Plan Ms. Keegan updated the Board on the status of the Service Zone plan. Currently the State is waiting on a copy of an updated contract for inclusion. 3. DIRECTOR'S REPORT 3.I. Update: Departmental and Divisional Reports Ms. Belanger informed the Board that she has held a conference call with the Directors of the four additional departments in Health and Human Services regarding what their goals are towards the reopening of the City Departments. 4. MOTION: TO ADJOURN Motion: To adjourn made at 6:41 PM by William Galvin, seconded by Lisa Golden. All in favor. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LOWELL BOARD OF HEALTH WILL BE HELD ON MAY 6, 2020 AT 6:00 PM BY CONFERENCE CALL.