Board of Health

APPROVED 3.6.24 BOH MEETING PRESENT: Jo-Ann Keegan, Chairperson Kathleen Cullen-Lutter, Board Member William Galvin, III Board Member Erin Gendron, Board Member Alison Keegan, Board Member Lisa Golden, HHS Director Chairperson Jo-Ann Keegan called the February 7, 2024 meeting of the Board of Health to order at 6:00PM 2/7/2024 – Minutes 1. NEW BUSINESS 1.I. For Acceptance: Minutes of the January 10, 2024 Meeting of the Lowell Board of Health Motion: To accept the minutes of the January 10, 2024 Meeting of the Lowell Board of Health made by William Galvin, seconded by Erin Gendron. All in favor. 1.II. For Review: Pawtucket Memorial - EMSL Analytical Mold Report DPW Commissioner Paul St. Cyr was present to discuss the report and update the Board. Commission St. Cyr spoke to the Board regarding the report and efforts being made system wide to improve the air quality in the schools including replacement of the chillers at a number of schools including the Pawtucket. Board Member Galvin inquired about a classroom with a higher level than the others. Commissioner St. Cyr indicated that in a follow up report, that classroom had returned to the normal range. 1.III. For Review: Cashins & Associates Air Quality Report DPW Commissioner Paul St. Cyr and Facilities Manager Rick Underwood were present to discuss the report with the Board. Chairperson Jo-Ann Keegan noted that 4 classrooms (#525,527,535, and 537) were at the higher end of the acceptable levels and asked if anything could be done to help improve the air quality. Mr. Underwood noted that air purifiers had been brought into those classrooms. 1.IV. For Review: Monthly Development Services Reports Submitted by Sr. Sanitary Code Inspector Jimmy Le Senior Sanitary Code Inspector Jimmy Le, Mr. Rick Banner-Banner Pest Control, Commissioner St. Cyr and Mr. Underwood were available to address the Board. Sr. Inspector Le reviewed the reports with the Board and noted that the City has done a good job catching up with the issues in the schools, although rodents are an ongoing issue at the high school. Banner Pest Control follows up on all reports entered into the logbooks located in the offices of all the schools. Discussion on the schools remaining on the failed inspection list occurred. Mr. Banner updated the Board on on-going pest control efforts and noted that Banner has been going to the high school daily after school hours. Mr. Banner noted that most classrooms that are having problems also have food and snacks left in the room. Mr. Banner will forward the pictures to Health & Human Services Director Lisa Golden. 1.V. For Review: PrideStar EMS, Inc. Reports and Notifications Submitted by Jon Kelley Mr. Jon Kelley, PrideStar EMS and Mr. Casey Rainville, Lowell General Hospital Paramedics were present. Mr. Kelley reviewed the reports with the Board and informed them that PrideStar has applied for a grant to expand the First Watch program. Mr. Kelley will add a line to page four of the quarterly report that will include a subset on how response times are per number of ambulances up to the fourth concurrent call. Mr. Rainville addressed the Board regarding the 9-1-1 Default Response for ALS Calls, noting that the requests for ambulances have been increasing yearly. Mr. Rainville informed the Board that PrideStar would like to try a new system that would allow determination of high/med/low risk to determine if ALS had to respond to the call. When asked if PrideStar would be able to review and adjust the response level, Mr. Kelley replied that would be done only if it was determined that the level should be higher not lower. Mr. Kelley will return with data relative to the change after the first full month. Motion: To move forward with this change to the 9-1-1 Default Response for ALS Calls as long as monitoring occurs made by Erin Gendron, seconded by William Galvin. All in favor. VOTE: Jo-Ann Keegan – yes William Galvin – yes Erin Gendron – yes Alison Keegan – yes Kathleen Cullen-Lutter – yes Motion passes 5-0 Motion: to take agenda item 2.I Request to Address the Board Relative to Body Art Regulations out of order made by William Galvin, seconded by Kathleen Cullen-Lutter. All in favor. 2.I. Request to Address the Board Relative to Body Art Regulations Asst. City Solicitor John McKenna was available for the Board. Ms. Leticia Santos addressed the Board again asking for approval for Microbladers to do lips, areole reconstruction, and classes and apprenticeships. HHS Director Golden informed Ms. Santos that the Department still has not received copies of regulations for other Massachusetts communities with the language that she is looking to have added. Solicitor McKenna reviewed the process for changing the regulations with the Board. HHS Director Golden noted again that the process for changing the regulations including review by the Law Department, and public hearing and vote by the Board of Health still must be followed. Ms. Santos was directed to call Director Golden to determine the information that needs to be submitted. 1.IX. For Review: Non-Payment Of Body Art License Fee For 2024 Body Art Establishment/Practitioners Licenses Due to Ms. Santos’ presence at this time, the Board reviewed this issue with the licensee. Motion: To allow Ms. Santos to submit the license fee with the noted bank overdraft charges by Friday, February 9, 2024 prior to the close of business or the Body Art Practitioner and Body Art Establishment licenses would be revoked for non-payment made by William Galvin, seconded by Alison Keegan. All in favor. Motion: to return to the agenda made by Kathleen Cullen-Lutter, seconded by Alison Keegan. All in favor. 1.VI. Nomination: Animal Inspector 2023-2024 Motion: To Approve the nomination of Gerald Emond as an Inspector of Animals made by William Galvin, seconded by Erin Gendron. All in favor.  BOHM02072024 Page 2 1.VII. For Review: Tobacco Control Monthly Report Submitted by Cesar Pungirum, Program Director The Board reviewed and placed on file. 1.VIII. For Approval: 2024 Body Art Practitioner License Renewal Motion: to approve the 2024 Body Art Practitioner License renewal for Paul Bohl made by Erin Gendron, seconded by Alison Keegan. All in favor. 2. OLD BUSINESS Agenda Item 2.1 Request to Address the Board Relative to Body Art Regulations was taken out of order. 3. DIRECTOR'S REPORT 3.I. Verify Wastewater Testing Report January 2024 HHS Director reviewed the report with the Board which had no questions. 3.II. For Review: Departmental/Divisional Reports and Updates HHS Director reviewed the reports with the Board and updated the members on the families being housed at the Inn and Conference Center by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, noting that there is currently a small pause on new arrivals. Regarding the letter of recommendations sent to the Lowell Public School’s Health & Wellness Committee, Member Galvin would like the Board of Health to be notified of items that cannot be done and why they cannot be done. 4. Motion: To Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the February 7, 2024 meeting of the Lowell Board of Health made at 7:29 PM by William Galvin, seconded by Erin Gendron. All in favor. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE LOWELL BOARD OF HEALTH WILL BE HELD AT 6:00PM ON MARCH 6, 2024 AT THE MAYOR’S RECEPTION ROOM, CITY HALL, 375 MERRIMACK ST 2ND FLOOR