Board of Health

BOH MEETING MINUTES 04-08-2024 James Griffin, Chair Joseph Tennyson, MD, Vice-Chair Richard Tomanek, Member Attending: Chair James Griffin, Vice-chair Joseph Tennyson, MD, Member Richard Tomanek (absent) 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 • Vice-Chair Tennyson motioned to approve the March 4, 2024, minutes, Chairman Griffin seconded the motion, 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. There continue to be two shelter locations in the city each with its own provider, who is there daily, Monday through Friday, the Holiday Inn is housing migrants, while Extended Stay America is sheltering homeless families and a few migrant families as well. The current numbers are as follows: # of # of # of School-Age Location Families Children Children Extended Stay (SMOC) 35 121 15 Holiday Inn (Elliot Group) 144 488 98 • Director Dinwoodie reported that the mayor's office received confirmation that all families at the extended say will be moved to the Residence Inn in Framingham. All of these families will be moved today, April 8th, and the extended stay will transition back into a full-service hotel. The Director noted that the nurse continues to vaccinate these children at school clinics and clinics held at the hotels. He also noted that the school nurse continues her clinics as new families come in. • Nurse’s Update Director Dinwoodie presented the nurse’s update noting that she held 5 clinics this past month and that we have 2 active TB cases that are confined and neither had any symptoms. • Sanitarian’s Update Director Dinwoodie reported the sanitarians had conducted 38 food inspections, as well as some housing inspections, and they continue to follow up on genuine nuisance complaints from trash to rodents.  BOH Meeting Minutes, 4-08-2024 – Page 2 • Viral Respiratory Illness Reporting The director informed the Board that Influenza levels are moderate across the state and COVID Emergency Department admissions are low. The state DPH updated their COVID isolation guidelines to now follow CDC guidelines and are generally similar to other viral respiratory illnesses guidance. • Rodent Update Director Dinwoodie reported to the Board that the department along with inspectional services, code enforcement, and the mayor’s office continue to receive rodent siting reports. However, the number of sightings reported to the city decreased in March, with a total of 14 reported, down from the 38 sightings in February. The director and the two inspectors still go out to check on various streets, leaving educational materials and issuing order letters and advisement letters when necessary. Reports seem to be somewhat concentrated in the central area of the city we believe this is due to the construction in the area, along with the denser population and the commercial businesses and establishments operating in the section of the city. • Public Health Excellent Grant Director Dinwoodie noted that tonight the Board is considering whether or not to join into the shared services program, in the MetroWest group. The director then introduced Michael Hugo, the director of strategies and Government Relations at the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, who introduced the shared services program to the Board, as well as Lauren Antonelli, the director of public health for the Town of Hudson, who was present to answer any questions. Mr. Hugo explained that the goal of the program is to increase the capacity of health departments across the state and to bring in additional resources over and above what they have now, it's not to supplant anybody currently employed in a city or town but to add another layer of help. The program does not cost the cities or towns any money or personnel – rather the host town, in the MetroWest Group this is Hudson, receives a grant that they use to hire inspectors, epidemiologist’s admin, etc. When Marlborough needs some extra coverage – an inspector is on vacation, or we have an unusual amount of housing issues - we can schedule for the inspector hired by the grant to come and help with our inspections. Or, if we had to do an investigation of a communicable disease situation, the grant’s public health nurse/epidemiologist could come and help with that, leaving the health nurse to fulfill her ongoing duties. A member of the department, most likely the director or someone appointed by him, would serve on the grant’s advisory board that meets once a month or so to make decisions on how grant money is spent, and any changes to the local operations. After discussion, the Board decided they wanted some time to look over the documents presented by Mr. Hugo and have the chance for the third member to be present for the vote. A special meeting is to be set up for some time next week, at which all three members can be present. The proposed dates for the special meeting are Wednesday, April 17th, Thursday, April 18th, Monday, April 22nd, Tuesday, April 23rd, and Thursday, April 25th. Subdivision, Site Plan & Special Permit There were no subdivisions, site plans, or special permits for review.  BOH Meeting Minutes, 4-08-2024 – Page 3 Unknown business at the time of posting There was no unknown business to discuss. Scheduling of the Next Meeting A special meeting will be determined for later in April. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board will be determined after that. Adjourn Chair Griffin motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 p.m.; Member Tennyson seconded the motion; the vote was 2-0 in favor of adjourning. Respectfully submitted, 5/6/2024 James H. Griffin, Chair Dated