Board of Health

BOARD OF HEALTH BOROUGH OF TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY BOARD MEETING, March 10 2022 The meeting of the Board of Health was held on the above date. Mr. Howard Bader, 2022 Board of Health President, read the Board’s compliance with the Open Public Meeting Law and called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The virtual meeting was held via Webex. The following members were present: Howard Bader Dr. Michael Basista Berton Greenberg Dr. Theresa Bervetti Mark Alvarez Also present: Councilwoman Julie O’Connor Jim Fordoko, Health Officer Omar Stovall Board of Health Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of January 12, 2022. Mr. Greenberg voiced that in the minutes that it expresses different amounts of COVID-19 booster shot. Mr. Stovall expressed that he’ll update the minutes. The Board of Health agreed to approve the minutes as corrected. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor; none were opposed. OLD BUSINESS Violations on 15 South Browning. Omar Stovall Board of Health Secretary updated the Board of Health regarding a letter sent to the owner of 15 S. Browning Avenue which was sent by the Borough Attorney via Garuteed Suspena, He continued that the a third party vendor went to the property to provide cleaning services. Mr. Bader asked if there was any feedback. Jim Fedorko, Health Officer of Mid-Bergen Regional Health Commission expressed that Ruby Parra went to the property on the day of clean-up and that the clean crew removed two dumpsters of garbage. He added that property had at least 50-100 bicycles on the property. He added that the cleanup didn’t have enough room in the dumpster for the bicycles. He added that there was no feedback. Tenafly Board of Health March 10 2022 Page 2 NEW BUSINESS/CORRESPONDENCE BOH Meetings Mr. Bader asked how committees are having meetings in-person Mr. Stovall explained that the Mayor and Council, Planning Board, Senior Services, Environmental Commission are being held in-person. He added that the Zoning Board of Adjustment does their meetings virtually. Dr. Basista expressed that he prefer the virtual method. Mr. Greenberg expressed that he is okay with a hybrid approach. Mr. Alvarez expressed that is okay with a hybrid approach, Councilwoman Dr. O’Connor expressed that she is in favor of the hybrid model. The Board of Health agreed to leave the meetings as hybrid. REPORTS OF STAFF Mr. James Fedorko, Health Officer, presented Ruby Parra, Registered Environmental Health Specialist reported and reviewed his January/February 2022 report. Board members had received this report via email. Council liaison Councilwoman Julie O’Connor read Student liaison Gaby Beck’s following report into the record: Hi Councilwoman O’Connor, I hope all is well! I unfortunately am unable to attend Thursday’s Board of Health meeting due to a show I scheduled months in advance. Here is a brief midyear report in lieu of my meeting attendance: Around Tenafly, students, parents and school employees all wondered whether it was time for New Jersey to return to life before the pandemic or if another crushing setback lurked around the corner. As the mask mandate in select NJ schools has been lifted, numerous students and educators in Tenafly have decided to forgo masks and accelerate the path to a “new normal.” Others seemed uneasy to be shedding a mask that, for some students, had become as much a social crutch as a safety precaution. On estimate, approximately half of students and a small number of educators/ administrators continue to wear their masks. Many students and teachers are fearful of exposing their family, friends, and community to the virus (or unwillingness to reveal their faces). With numerous students having access and frequently taking at-home tests, many teens have increased accountability and freedom to unmask and socialize. Throughout the next two weeks, we will examine the number of cases, and whether or not unmasking is a feasible and safe reality in Tenafly. Tenafly Board of Health March 10 2022 Page 3 The next meeting of the Board of Health is Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m. A voice vote carried the motion. All voted in favor of the motion; none were opposed. Respectfully submitted, Omar K. Stovall Board of Health Secretary