Board of Health

BOH MEETING MINUTES 11-6-2023 Jim Griffin, Chair Joseph Tennyson, MD, Vice-Chair Richard Tomanek, Member Board: Chair James Griffin, Vice-chair Joseph Tennyson, MD (absent), Member Richard Tomanek Also in attendance: Director Paul Dinwoodie and Clerk Tina Nolin The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. Reading and Approval of Minutes • The motion to approve the October 2, 2023 minutes was made by Chairman Griffin, Member Tomanek seconded, and the vote was 2-0 to approve. New Business Director’s Update • Migrant/Homeless Housing Director Dinwoodie updated the Board with the latest information on the migrant and homeless sheltering in the city via the State’s program. As noted in previous meetings, the situation is very fluid and changes day-to-day, sometimes hourly. To the best of our knowledge as informed by the state we know There are still three locations at this time, each with its provider, who is there daily, Monday through Friday, the Best Western and the Holiday Inn and the Holiday Inn are housing migrants, while Extended Stay America is sheltering homeless families. The Best Western is in the process of transitioning people from their establishment to the Holiday Inn as the Mayor requested the State to do. A total of 245 rooms have been booked, with 500 + people(155 Families, 513 individuals, and 22 school-age children. Director Dinwoodie reported that the nurse continues to vaccinate the children both at school clinics and at clinics held at the hotels. Of the 85 school-age children 50 are now fully vaccinated and 44 have started their vaccination series, but are not fully vaccinated yet. For example, some vaccines require 2 shots, spaced out over several weeks. • Flu Vaccine Clinics The department has finished its annual flu clinics. We had 6 clinics overall. The largest was at the COA where we gave out 112 shots over the 2 clinics. Clinics were also held at senior housing facilities (240 Main St, 397 Bolton St, and 22 Broad St.) where we did 20 shots. It must be pointed out that these 3 clinics were not well attended due to an independent Pharmacy from Milford holding clinics at 2 of our elderly housing complexes ahead of our clinic. Twenty-seven vaccines were administered at the city employee flu clinic. The nurse will continue to offer Flu vaccines, until we run out of vaccines, via one-on-one in her office, at the COA during her weekly blood pressure clinics, and responding to calls from homebound individuals.  BOH Meeting Minutes, 11-6-2023 – Page 2 • West Nile and EEE The city continues to remain at low risk for both West Nile Virus and EEE. • Rules and Regulations Relative to Raising or Keeping of Animals Director Dinwoodie explained that he had been looking over the Rules and Regulations Relative to Raising or Keeping of Animals, which was adopted in 2005. It has now become more popular to keep animals. especially chickens, and thus it may be time to look at it again and update the regs. He also recommended thinking about adding a small fee ($25) to have the license renewed and requiring inspection every two years. Currently, it does not renew and we do not visit again unless someone reports an issue. This is a better way for the department to track what’s going on in the city. Director Dinwoodie also noted that these permits appear transferable and he would like to see them as non-transferable - something to think about. • Introduction and Approval of Agent(s) for Tabacco Control Duties Director Dinwoodie introduced Parivallal Thillaigovindan, the new Tobacco Control Program Manager of the MetroWest District. Mr. Thillaigovindan (Pari) gave a short synopsis of his history and what Metrowest Tobacco Control will be doing for the City. Much of its work in the City will be ongoing education with establishments that sell tobacco products. The group’s approach with retail establishments will continue to involve a visit where they conduct an educational inspection, making sure signage is in place, that retailers and staff know, understand, and are following the current tobacco regulations, etc. The second visit is a compliance check on selling to minors. They hope to be in Marlborough soon although the date has not been set. If the Board appoints him, Pari will be in touch when they are ready to move forward. Chair Griffin motioned to authorize Mr. Parivallal Thillaigovindan to act as an agent of the Marlborough Health Department while performing retail inspections, education, and compliance initiatives. Member Tomanek seconded the motion; the vote was 2-0 in favor of the motion. Subdivision, Site Plan & Special Permit Unknown business at the time of posting Director Dinwoodie updated the Board regarding a sewer connection at Red Spring Rd. The installer for Number 47 which had a Sept 30 deadline for connecting, reported to the director that they will have to wait for the lake water to recede a bit later in the fall due to the location of the system to the water table so they should be getting to it in mid-November. Also, Assistant Sanitarian Kingsley Ojeikere has left for another position. His position has been posted but no resumes have been received at this time.  BOH Meeting Minutes, 11-6-2023 – Page 3 Scheduling of the Next Meeting The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board was scheduled for Monday, December 4, 2023. ADJOURN Chair Griffin motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 p.m.; Member Tomanek seconded the motion; the vote was 2-0 in favor of adjourning. Respectfully submitted, 1/16/2024 James H. Griffin, Chair Dated