Board of Health

City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services 18 Mulberry Street, Nashua, NH 03060 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING October 10, 2012 12:30 PM 18 Mulberry Street Nashua, NH 03062 MEETING MINUTES BOH Members Present: Dr. Anthony Storace, Dr. Ajay Sharma Aldermanic Liaison: Lori Wilshire Staff Present: Kerran Vigroux, Patty Crooker, Ashley Conley, Heidi Peek, Corinn Dembkoski, Barbara Scacco, Bob Mack Public Present: Dr. Alexander Granok, DPHCS Medical Director Informal Meeting called to order at 12:45 p.m. by Kerran Vigroux Formal Meeting called to order at 1:00 p.m. by Dr. Storace 1. Vote on the September 12, 2012 meeting Minutes: a. Motion by Dr. Storace to approve the September 12, 2012 Minutes b. Motion seconded by Dr. Sharma c. All in Favor: Aye 1  Department Reports Community Health – Presented by Kerran Vigroux  We are currently conducting interviews for a Health Department Manager  Immunization Program o Flu season has started and influenza vaccines have been given at Immunization Clinics o Next week starts the school based vaccination clinics  STD/HIV/HCV o Kerran and Betty will be going to the Manchester STD Clinic this evening o The Nashua STD Clinic closed last year due to lack of funding  Funds were reinstated this year.  The program has fundamentally changed  TB o Theresa is busy with several on-going TB cases which are being monitored  Two active cases  23 TB skin tests were performed during September with three positive results, all of which were foreign borne  Stand Down Event for Homeless Veterans was held on September 27th o We gave 19 individuals influenza vaccines o 11 of the 19 received additional vaccines as well Health Education and Tobacco – Presented by Corinn Dembkoski  Emergency Preparedness Month o Conducted a Joint Information Virtual Exercise (JIVE), which we shared on Facebook, Twitter and the Division website.  This exercise was to help the public prepare and to test normal communications systems prior to an emergency  Lil Iguana Family Fun Day o Conducted Lil Iguana Family Fun Day at Nashua High South on September 29th  Handed out information on a number of topics and services the Division provides.  Over 160 adults and 140 children visited our table  CHIP o On September 27th, we hosted the CHIP kick-off meeting to begin the implementation phase of this process. o After a quick overview, we broke off into our subgroups: Mental Health, Obesity and Access to Care.  Tobacco Prevention and Control Program o Attended the Everett C. Koop Conference in Fairless Vermont on September 28, 2012  Topics addressed were third hand smoke, smoking cessation among the mental health population, apps and more.  This conference proved to be a wonderful networking opportunity. o I will be working with the Rivier College’s Wellness Taskforce to help them implement a tobacco-free campus. Plans include putting together an outline to enforce this new policy.  This will take place next year. o Nashua Prevention Coalition  Time was spent researching an outline and budget to implement a Photovoice Project  The project will work with the kids from the Police Athletic League (PAL)  Rebecca Butcher from Dartmouth Hitchcock helped implement a similar project in Manchester and offered assistance as we move forward with our own Photovoice Project. 2 Environmental Health – Presented by Heidi Peek  Linda Alukonis participated in the Stand Down Event held at Harbor Homes.  Amanda Hyde has been attending the Core of Public Health Concepts course in Manchester.  Mosquito surveillance is continuing o Still receiving positive EEE results in Newton and Newfields.  Met with the Great America Downtown Stroll o They are looking to make this event alcohol free o The number of portable toilets can be reduced if there is no alcohol  Portable Toilets o Discussion was held pertaining to the Portable Sanitation Requirement for Temporary Events document. o Voting on this document was tabled until our November BOH Meeting so that Dr. Klementowicz would have a chance to review it as well.  Dr. Storace asked about the status of Lyme Disease in the City o Per Ashley, numbers were higher this year – ‘positive’ ticks are increasing o Working on Lyme Disease toolkit o Dr. Storace recommended going to schools – PTO/PTA, etc. in the spring and offering educational sessions.  Dr. Granok asked about TB o We can call him when the nurses need him. o He will be able to come to meetings when necessary. Emergency Preparedness – Presented by Patty Crooker and Ashley Conley Patty Presented:  Mass Fatality Training o The PHEP Coordinator attended a two-day training on Mass Fatality Planning and Response provided by the NH Medical Examiner’s office. o Each Public Health Region is required to develop a Mass Fatality plan  Regional plans are only for infectious disease outbreaks  The State plan covers any mass casualty outbreak.  Preparedness Month Event o The PHEP Coordinator and Epidemiologist participated in the Greater Nashua Preparedness Month Event at the Pheasant Lane Mall, organized by Nashua’s Emergency Management Director  Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Public Health Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) Meeting o The PHEP Coordinator was asked to present on Innovative Partnerships for Response at the Boston MSA NVA meeting on September 28th. o The Greater Nashua / Greater Manchester Public Health Regions are scheduled to begin conducting their Public Health HVA in early 2013. Ashley Presented:  CHIP o CHIP Kick Off Meeting was held at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on September 27th  Individual workgroup meetings will start at the end of November o Meningitis Out-Break  Three centers in NH received notice from MA  We are lending our services when needed  Reaching out to partners as well 3 Welfare - Bob Mack presented  During the month of September there was a slight decrease in shelter and medical costs  Fuel costs were up slightly, which may be caused by the increased cost of fuel  Total expenses are down compared to last year at this time  Contacts are also down  The number of people receiving assistance is about the same  Assisted 18 families with emergency shelter during September  Faith based groups are looking to assist with emergency sheltering, and might be able to accommodate in emergency situations  We have been in contact with the Youth Council regarding changes in the CHINS funding.  The Greater Nashua Continuum of Care has begun planning for the 7th Annual Project Homeless Connect event scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th at Harbor Homes.  Dr. Storace: o Questions: None o Closed this part of the session  Public Comments o None o Public session closed Motion to Adjourn by Dr. Storace Seconded by Dr. Sharma All in favor: Aye Meeting Ended at 1:30 PM. In accordance with the 2012 BOH Meeting Schedule, the next BOH Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Barbara A. Scacco Administrative Assistant II City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services 4