HomeMy Public PortalAboutBoard of Health -- 2020-08-05 Minutes Town of Brewster
ET
C f °zw �+�1 % BREWSTER, M2198 MAIN
SACHUSET 5 02631 - 1898 Health Department
o ' o . V"? .
,S 4 Amy L. von Hone, R. S . , C .H. O .
Director
PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120
Q FAX : 508 . 896 .4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S .
zzz
Y = _ _�s •� brhealtba,brewster-ma. gov Assistant Director
WWW.BREWSTER-MA. GOV Tammi Mason
Senior Department Assistant
////������//1/tt111111111111
Board of Health Meeting
Wednesday August 5, 2020 at 7 :OOPM
Remote Participation Meeting
Board members on remotely: Carmen Scherzo, DVM , Chair; Penny Hausser Holeman, MPH , MA, MS, Vice Chair; Annette
Graczewski, MT (ASCP); Joe Ford and Jeannie Kampas
Board members absent: Joe Ford
Others present remotely: Amy von Hone, R. S ., C . H . O ., Health Director; Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant and
Dwight and JoAnn Ritter
Dr. Scherzo stated that anyone listening to the meeting that had a question or comment could email them to
healthboardmeetina@brewster- ma . aov .
1 . Chairman 's announcements
Massachusetts remains in the first step of Phase Three of the Four Phase reopening approach to revive public activity.
Under the first step of Phase three, movie theaters, museums, fitness centers and some indoor recreation facilities will
reopen as long as they follow industry specific protocols . Indoor gatherings are now capped at eight people per 1 ,000
square feet with a maximum of 25, while outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 percent of permitted capacity with a
maximum of 100 . Step II of Phase Three is unlikely to be allowed soon with the negative trend that COVID - 19 cases in
Massachusetts has taken recently. Step II would authorize indoor performing venues for live performances such as
playhouses and recreational activities such as indoor laser tag . These activities currently remain prohibited .
This has been an especially busy time for the Health Department with the governor requiring visitors, excluding visitors
from New England (with the exception of Rhode Island ), New Jersey, New York and Hawaii to complete the Massachusetts
Travel form and quarantine for 14 days unless a negative COVID - 19 test has been administered within 72 hours .
Mrs . von Hone told the Board that Rhode Island had been taken off the list of " low risk" states to be able to travel to
Massachusetts . There are 122 cumulative cases, 95 from long term care and 27 residents in the general population . There
were 7 new cases in the general population and 5 in long term care in the last few weeks . 3 of those cases can be
associated with the Chatham party, the rest are random . There has been no clusters so far in Brewster. Since the clusters
have appeared on the lower cape, pop up clinics have been held . Chatham had one a week ago for those that were
associated with the party and yesterday in Harwich there was one which tested approximately 154 people . They should
have those results in a few days . Additionally, to reach out to the young adult age group and be proactive, the Barnstable
County Health Department promoted a mask campaign video challenge on Tic Toc . This is on the Town ' s website . Any
BOH 8/5/2020 Minutes Page 2
new guidance that was given to the Health Department was sent out through an email to all Brewster Inns & Lodges with
regards to the new travel restrictions .
There was a second cyanobacteria advisory posting at Seymour Pond on July 25, 2020 . The Homeowners Association
posted the advisory as there is no public landing on the Brewster side of the pond . Per Department of Public Health
guidance, it is recommended that the advisory stay in place for at least 2 weeks to allow the algae bloom to abate . The
APCC' s (Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod ) recent testing has shown a steady decrease in numbers . Walkers
Pond is being watched closely.
Barnstable County Health Department will be holding a regional flu clinic in September on the 26th at the Barnstable
County Courthouse Complex from 8AM — 12PM . This will be a drive through event . Brewster will be holding their flu clinic
on October 22, 2020 from 1 PM — 4PM at Our Lady of the Cape Church . This will also be a drive through event and will
also be run as an EDS ( Emergency Dispensing Site) site .
The Brewster Ponds Coalitions Annual meeting will be held on August 8, 2020 and will begin at 9AM via Zoom . The
keynote speaker will be Sophia Fox, aquatic ecologist at the Cape Cod National Seashore . Her research has included
studying waste water pollution and the effects of nutrient pollution on food webs in Cape Cod waters . Advanced
registration is required . The deadline for registration is tomorrow at S :OOPM . Visit brewsterponds . org to register.
The Brewster Select Board has delayed the implementation of the Plastic Bay ban until January 1 , 2021 .
Mosquitos carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus have been found earlier than usual this year in Massachusetts . The
public is urged to protect themselves from mosquitoes and eliminate standing water for mosquitoes to breed .
2 . Citizen 's forum
None
3 . Dancing Spoons — Food Establishment permit application — 1273 Millstone Road
Postponed until the 8/ 19/2020 meeting .
4. Chillingsworth — dumpster complaint
Dr. Scherzo asked Mrs . von Hone if there had been an unannounced visits in the last 3 weeks . Mrs . von Hone stated that
unannounced inspections were done on 7/ 15/20 & 7/20/20 by Sherrie McCullough, Assistant Health Director and again on
7/22/20 by Adrianne Tardiff, Summer Inspector from County. At all three inspections, no discernable odor was detected .
Dr. Scherzo asked Mrs . von Hone if any Brewster official had been able to confirm that an odor was coming from the
dumpster since July 1 , 2020 . Mrs . von Hone stated that no one has been able to confirm any odor.
Mr. Ritter read a statement he had written with regards to all the problems he has had with the dumpster. He is
demanding that the Board make the Rabins move the dumpster.
There was talk about Conservation and if a new location would need approval . Mrs . Graczewski asked the Conservation
Agent to look at the plan, she has not answered as of yet.
Dr. Scherzo read a statement from Mr. Rabin with regards to what he has been doing to help this situation .
Dr. Scherzo read an email from Joe Ford with regards to this situation .
BOH 8/5/2020 Minutes Page 3
Motion : Having made an effort to be fair to both parties, a plan was made previously and Mr. Rabin is actively trying to
get this done and the plan should stand . At the discretion of the Health Director, a second trash pickup must be done on
Friday's if warranted by the service and business at the restaurant.
Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Hausser Holeman Vote: Jeannie Kampas — yes Action : Motion carried
Annette Graczewski — yes
Penny Hausser Holeman — yes
Carmen Scherzo — yes
JoAnn Ritter stated that she understood that the Board was doing their best with the situation . She feels that they are
moving in the right direction . She is hoping that moving the dumpster will be the solution to all this .
5 . Consent Agenda :
* 81 Zona Drive — Title 5 Inspection 300' pond setback variance
Motion : Approve consent agenda as noted
Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Hausser Holeman Vote: Jeannie Kampas — yes Action : Motion carried
Annette Graczewski —yes
Penny Hausser Holeman — yes
Carmen Scherzo - yes
6. Topics the Chair did not anticipate
None .
Informational items were noted .
Meeting adjourned at 8 : 05PM