Board of Health

City of Middletown Kevin Elak, Acting Director of Health Department of Health 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 TEL: (860) 638-4960 FAX: (860) 638-1960 TDDL: (860) 344-3521 Middletown Board of Health Minutes from March 8, 2022 Meeting Present: Anthony Mangiafico, Yvonne Joy, Linda Salafia, Aaron Roome, Reverend Robyn Anderson, Stan Opalacz, Kevin Elak, Jennifer Sparks Absent: Patricia DiStefano Call To Order:  Meeting was called to order at 6:05 PM. Approval of Minutes:  Minutes for February 8, 2022. Motion by Anthony Mangiafico 2nd by Aaron Roome, Yvonne Joy states she will abstain because she was not present. Minutes approved. Public Hearing for Agenda Items:  None Directors Report:  Director of Health o Kevin Elak discussed the CDC county Covid19 metric tool and how it was recently updated to reflect hospitalizations, thus changing risk levels around the country. This metric change has made it feasible for Middletown schools to allow the optional removal of masks. Kevin  discussed the human resources department is now sorting through applications for the vacant health education position. He informed the board we were recently awarded a FDA grant for our food service program. We will be using some of this FDA grant money to implement a digital inspection program called food code pro, who we met with this month to review the inspection program. Kevin informed the board the state health department will be loosing it’s MRC funding. The health department applied for is a NAACHO grant for $25,000. If awarded this, we will be using the money to help strengthen and improve our medical reserve core and purchase emergency supplies. Kevin also discussed the fire at the Wesley Inn and Suites last month and informed the board the Grace and Mercy overflow warming center closed.  Division Report o Jennifer Sparks provided an update on environmental health, housing and emergency preparedness activities. o Old Business: Discussed the opioid task force, the first official task force meeting and the next scheduled meeting. New Business: The discussion of the 2022-2023 Public Health Block Grant and the next meeting’s presentations on 4/12/2022. Yvonne asked if it would be possible to reach-out to the recipients of the grant money last year and see how their projects worked out. Also, it was discussed if the board would like to keep meeting virtually, in person or hybrid. Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn by Yvonne Joy. 2nd by Aaron Roome Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:41 PM Respectfully Submitted: Jennifer Sparks R.S. Acting Public Health Manager