Board of Health

WINTHROP BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING MAY 11, 2021, 6:30 PM REMOTE PARTICIPATION BY ZOOM CALL TO ORDER: 6:37 pm. ROLL CALL: Bill Schmidt, Chair; Astrid Weins, Vice Chair, Marianne Dalton, Mem- ber PUBLIC COMMENT: Wendy Millar Page, Zero Waste Committee Chair: requesting guidance concerning Horribles Parade: how to manage state guidelines re 50% crowd limits in place until 8/1/21? Does this apply to crowd, parade participants, or both? Bill Schmidt, Chair requests email to BOH listing concerns, in advance of next BOH meeting, to be placed on agenda for discussion. Wendy will also contact Meredith Hur- ley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services in the interim to discuss logistics. REVIEW OF MINUTES, MARCH 9, 2021: d/t not receiving copies of minutes to re- view, deferring review and approval to next BOH meeting. PAST BUSINESS: STATUS: 59 COTTAGE AVENUE, REPORT FROM ISD: Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services states that matter is being handled by attor- neys. COVID-19—TOWN OF WINTHROP, PUBLIC MEETINGS, BEACHES, REOPENING, ETC: Meredith Hurley, Director of Public Health and Clinical Services reports covid cases are decreasing, 2.5% positivity rate currently. Over 56% total population Town of Winthrop residents have received at least one dose of vaccine. Once CDC issues vaccine authorization of 12-15-year-olds, this percentage will increase. Panel planned next week for parents with questions about vaccines for adolescents. 30% of parents of that age group are comfortable with vaccines, so education is needed. Panel will be via Zoom, information available on WCAT and Facebook Live, with the assistance of Mike Cabral, Executive Director at WCAT. Both graduation (Friday 6/4/21) and the prom (6/1/21) will be held out-of-doors. Reopening issues: Chamber of Commerce is sending out guidelines to businesses in response to questions concerning reopening. 1 Beaches: per state guidelines, no mask needed on beaches if social distance main- tained. Astrid Weins, Vice Chair expresses hope that with increasing vaccine rates, outdoor transmission concerns will decrease. Indoor transmission rates are still concerning. Astrid states document on state safety standards for public and semi-public pools was emailed to Seal Harbor for their reference, per their request for guidance. BLINK ROYALTY: Cassandra Harris, owner; Brandon Hyatt, RN, Aesthetic Nurse Spe- cialist. Cassandra is requesting licensing for the following: “pop up” shop every 2-3 months, offering botox and lip filler administered by Brandon. Astrid Weins, Vice Chair lists the items the Board requires before approval of license can be granted: For the establishment, separate room with sink, proof of insurance and the name of the supervising physician of Brandon. For the practitioner license: documentation has been received except for the following: certificates earned; training and work experience; what procedures will be performed; what substances in what quantity will be injected; how doses are calculated; and verifi- cation of hepatitis B vaccination and blood-borne pathogen training. Al Legee will inspect premises, and Brandon will submit all of the above except the dosing and prof of blood-borne pathogen training. He states that dosing is individual- ized per patient and that the pathogen training was a part of his nursing curriculum, not a separate training. Motion made to conditionally approve the license, pending inspec- tion clearance and receipt of all requested documentation. Motion approved, 3-0. CUMMINGS PHYSICAL THERAPY—JACQUELINE MCDERMOTT: Owner Jackie McDermott is requesting license for 2-days-a-week body art establishment permit. Astrid Weins, Vice Chair states all documentation has been submitted for practitioner permit except the following: proof of insurance/liability, and verification of hepatitis B vaccination. Al Legee states the establishment permit is pending inspection of prem- ises. Pending receipt of remaining requested items, and Al Legee’s inspection finding every- thing in order, motion is made to conditionally approve the Body Art practitioner and establishment license. Motion approved, 3-0. OUTDOOR DINING AT RESTAURANTS: Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Ser- vices states that inspections continue of outdoor dining establishments in Winthrop, most in compliance. KEEPING OF ANIMALS: ROOSTERS, ETC: Inspection done by Al Legee, Commis- sioner of Inspectional Services at 129 Cliff Ave, did not find any rooster there. Per Astrid Weins, Vice Chair, the housing of the rooster in Winthrop was temporary, as it was en route from Puerto Rico to California. 2 COMMISSIONER OF INSPECTIONAL SERVICES UPDATE: Plastic Bag ban deadline is in effect as of 5/1/21, extension granted to Winthrop Market to 5/15/21. Per Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services, no complaints thus far about ban. If a business is found violating ban, they will get a warning initially, and subsequent viola- tion will be subject to a fine. Question posed to Bill Schmidt, Chair, by a local store owner: does ban extend to citizens of Winthrop wishing to re-use plastic bags at local stores? Discussion: the purpose of the ban is to prevent further production of plastic bags. Use of plastic bags brought in for personal use by customers will fade ultimately by attrition. Also, banning citizens from using plastic bags for personal use not practi- cal nor enforceable. Bill will email store owner to inform the use of reusable bags should be encouraged, but a ban on personal use will not be implemented. TOBACCO SALES REGULATION, ENFORCEMENT: d/t Bonny Carroll, Director of the Six City Tobacco Initiative email alerting BOH of some pertinent changes in lan- guage of tobacco sales regulations, voting to approve final draft is deferred until next BOH meeting. BOH will review revised draft in the interim. PROBLEM PROPERTIES—SHIRLEY ST (3), SIREN ST: Al Legee, Commissioner of Inspectional Services states that problems such as debris, trash, rats, fighting between tenants have originated from these properties for at least 7 years during his term at In- spectional Services. Officer Terence Delahanty recently filed a nuisance complaint in court against the owner. BOH would need to become involved if properties need con- demning, but Al states that properties in question do not meet that criteria. RABIES CLINIC: BOH received email requesting information on rabies clinic. BOH does not manage this; Bill Schmidt will forward inquiry to both Town Clerk and Animal Control Officer Mark Van Buskirk. NSPHC-ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS GROUP: Next meeting is 5/19/21 @3pm, Bill Schmidt to attend. Bill reports that independent air monitors have been set up that may help Winthrop pursue mitigation from Massport. GLYPHOSATE ADVISORY: Maryalice Sharkey and Carol Walker of Mothers Out Front make an impassioned plea for a town-wide proposed ban of the herbicide. Discussion: The Town of Winthrop already does not apply any glyphosate-containing products to any town properties. A strong advisory is recommended, by the Board, and Astrid Weins will continue to review documentation sent to BOH by MOF in order to help formulate a revised advisory. Further discussion of a ban in the future may be considered, but board members cite need for public hearing on this, consult with Town Council, and the problem of enforc- ing such a ban on private citizens. Maryalice thanks the Board for their consideration. 3 TOWN FY22 BUDGET: Per Bill Schmidt, Chair, budget by Town Manager, currently on leave, proposed dramatic changes to Town of Winthrop Health Department. The pro- posal would establish a Health and Human Services Department, with Meredith Hurley at the head of this new department. MOSQUITO SPRAYING: Winthrop is part of Northeast Massachusetts Mosquito Con- trol District, which manages all mosquito mitigation; this membership continues to ben- efit the Town. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: Wendy Millar Page, Zero Waste Committee Chair states that according to the current ordinances (Chapter 13.12, Public Services) the BOH is allowed to amend the chapter when deemed necessary to protect public health and safety. Wendy lists new procedures re trash/recycling collection are coming soon. This should occur sometime this summer, no firm date set yet. These changes include new barrels (one per household), and a recycling hybrid sys- tem. This will be discussed in more detail at next BOH meeting. Wendy asks in addition any advice/guidance the Board can provide concerning strate- gies to reduce waste at the schools, Senior Center, local restaurants, etc. Chair Bill Schmidt will connect with Wendy between now and next month to discuss these initia- tives by the Zero Waste Committee. MOTION TO ADJOURN: 8:02 pm, approved 3-0. Respectfully submitted by Marianne Dalton, Member 4 5 6