Board of Health

Approved 11/7/19 BOARD OF HEALTH ` BOROUGH OF TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY BOARD MEETING, September 26, 2019 Board President Howard Bader called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The announcement was made regarding compliance with the Sunshine Law. The following members were present: Howard Bader Etta Frankel Maria Xylas Berton Greenberg Mark Alvarez Absent: Daniel Feit Michael Basista Also present: Council Liaison Lauren Dayton Ruby Parra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist Valerie Nicolosi, Board of Health Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made to approve the minutes of June 13, 2019. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor; none were opposed. OLD BUSINESS Councilwoman Dayton updated the board on the progress with establishing a chapter in the Borough Code for the Board of Health. The project is in the hands of the Borough Attorney. She will follow-up as needed. NEW BUSINESS The Annual Flu Clinic has been scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2019, in the McCandless Room at Borough Hall from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Flyers have been distributed throughout Borough Hall, the library and the senior center. Postcards will be mailed to prior participants. A press release was sent to the newspapers. The event has also been posted to the Borough website and message board. The board briefly discussed the inspection of nail salons within the Borough. As of now, Ms. Parra does not conduct an inspection unless there is a complaint. Nail salons are presently inspected only by the state when opening. Members of the board noted that many of the salons in the borough are filthy and very unsanitary. Some salons give away food and drinks that have been left out all day. Many nail salons also do makeup and hair. The board would like to have an ordinance requiring that nail salons have inspections at least once a year by the Borough. Councilman Dayton will reach out to municipalities which have such ordinances and report back to the board. This item will be placed on the next agenda for discussion. Approved 11/7/19 Tenafly Board of Health September 26, 2019 Page 2 REPORTS OF STAFF Ms. Parra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, reviewed her report which covered June 14, 2019-September 15, 2019. Many inspections were done at numerous food establishments. Seventeen (17) food establishments received satisfactory ratings. Six (6) businesses received a Conditional Rating; Ms. Parra will re-inspect again in the future. Inspections were done at four (4) locations with pools and five (5) day camps. There was one (1) temporary event in the Borough, which required temporary permits for vendors. Spot checks were done at five (5) establishments in the Borough. There were five (5) dog bites reported. All animals were licensed. There was follow up after reports of human and animal exposure to rabies--a raccoon was killed by a dog and a pet gerbil was euthanized. Ms. Parra explained the numerous complaints outlined in her report. Complaints varied from service animals being on top of a table outside a restaurant, refrigeration breakdowns causing spoiled fruit and excessive garbage and overgrown grass on private property. All complaints were addressed by Ms. Parra or the Code Enforcement Officer. Ms. Parra also revised and printed all the weekly pool laboratory tests for public recreational places, issued a summons for an unlicensed dog and filed notices of violation for dumpster maintenance and roof maintenance. There were two (2) OPRA requests which required providing information to the Borough Clerk. She also conducted two (2) inspections for septic system decommission on Knickerbocker Road & Sunset Lane. Mr. Sam Yanovich, Health Officer, was not present at the meeting; however, board members had received his September 2019 report. The report covered the following topics: Influenza 2019, Mosquitoes/West Nile Virus (WNV) & Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Immunization exemptions and E-cigarette disease. The board had a brief discussing regarding the dangers of vaping and nicotine. It was requested that Ms. Parra visit 7-11 to see if they are selling these products. It was suggested that an article be put in the newsletter regarding the Borough’s ordinance against smoking in public places. Mrs. Nicolosi will reach out to the Deputy Borough Clerk for this ordinance. The next meeting of the Board of Health is Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in the Richard D. Wilson Committee Room. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 p.m. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor of the motion; none were opposed. Respectfully submitted, Valerie B. Nicolosi Board of Health Secretary