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Home My Public Portal AboutBoard of Health -- 2020-07-15 Minutes „��t+l�+, l►I�r��11��,,,,,,,, Town of Brewster 2198 MAIN STREET Health Department `% x nz crax �. �'�4 f o 6� D FR � � �1 G1?k BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS 026314898 Amy L. von Hone, R. S . , C .H . O . 4 a ? Director �' PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 0 zT FAX : 508 . 896 .4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S . 6 = _�'s •� brhealth,i brewster-ma. pov Assistant Director WWW. BREWSTER-MA. GOV Tammi Mason �j�//��1J111lllllllllla�3Senior Department Assistant Board of Health Meeting Wednesday July 15, 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 Others present remotely: Amy von Hone, R . S ., C . H . O ., Health Director, Sherrie McCullough, R . S . , Assistant Health Director and Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant 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 Dr. Scherzo stated that Massachusetts moved into the first step of Phase Three of its gradual plan to revive public activity on July 6, 2020 . Under the first step of this phase, movie theaters, museums, fitness centers and some indoor recreation facilities will reopen as long as they follow industry specific protocols . Bars and night clubs will remain closed . Indoor gatherings are now capped at eight people per 1 , 000 square feet with a maximum of 25, while outdoor gatherings will be limited to 25 percent of permitted capacity with a maximum of 100 . Still prohibited activities are street festivals, walk- a - thons, road races, bike races and other outdoor organized athletic or recreational events that gather large numbers of participants or spectators outdoors . Dr. Scherzo asked Mrs . von Hone to give an update on COVID - 19 and the number of active cases in Brewster in the last two weeks . Mrs . von Hone stated that as of 7/ 15/2020, there are 108 cumulative cases, 90 of which are in long term care facilities . There was notification yesterday of 1 new positive case . Of the 108 total cases, there are 4 potentially active cases . A lot of the new cases are people that are asymptomatic who are being tested for routine care . She stated that schools are pulling together plans that are being mandated by the State to get the kids back into the schools in the fall . She also spoke about upcoming flu clinics in October. Dr. Scherzo stated that Dr. Robert Redfield , Head of Communicable Disease Center, has stated that if everyone throughout the Country wore a mask, the COVID - 19 Pandemic could be stopped in the next few months . Please wear a mask as COVID 19 Order 31 mandates and help suppress this pandemic, no one wants Massachusetts to regress as California has . There have been over 40, 000 hits to the Reopening Cape Cod website . This site, as well as the Town ' s website, are excellent sources of information for people travelling to Cape Cod . BOH 7/ 15/2020 Minutes Page 2 Dr. Scherzo and Mrs . von Hone participated in a Brewster Reopening Advisory Coalition zoom meeting last Wednesday which was hosted by Peter Lombardi . Town officials, Kyle Hinkle, Executive Director of Brewster Chamber of Commerce and members of the Brewster business and organizational communities facilitated the free flow of COVID - 19 information between the Town and the business community. An impressive example of cooperation in this pandemic . The Brewster Reopening Advisory Coalition is scheduled to continue to meet regularly as we go forward . The Brewster Ponds Coalitions annual meeting will be held on August 8, 2020 at 9 : OOAM 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 . Visit brewsterponds . org to register. Dr. Scherzo stated that he listened to an excellent presentation on the " Biology of Powassan and other Tick Borne Viruses" . This presentation is currently available at the University of Massachusetts Extension Agriculture website . Governor Baker has proclaimed July 12 - 18, 2020, to be Hurricane Preparedness Week in an effort to emphasize both the Commonwealth ' s potential vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes and the importance of preparing for their impact, including taking necessary precautions during the COVID - 19 public health emergency. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use this week to prepare for hurricanes, tropical storms and other emergencies . Make an emergency plan of how your family would communicate, evacuate and shelter in place that addresses the needs of all your family members and pets . There are six regional emergency storm shelters in Barnstable County. The two closest shelters for Brewster residents are Cape Cod Regional Technical High School and Nauset Regional High School . However, the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School is under construction and the Harwich Community Center will temporarily serve in its place . Sheltering at a hotel or relatives house may be safer than a regional shelter, especially if you are a high risk participant . More information can be found on the Town ' s website : www . brewster - ma . gov . 2 . Citizen 's forum None I Discussion and possible vote on Drummer Boy Events — summer 2020 Dr. Scherzo stated that the last time the Board discussed this, it was decided there would be no events in June at Drummer Boy Park due to the COVID - 19 outbreak. Since then, the State has come out with some guidelines for outdoor events in the COVID - 19 Order #44 . There are some potential events scheduled for August but it would be up to this Board to decide whether or not to allow them . Dr. Scherzo feels that if events did occur, they should meet any State guidelines . Mrs . von Hone stated that the Board made a decision on June 3, 2020 to suspend all permitted events through July. This is not any type of specific event, but all events that were permitted and organized through the Select Board ' s office . Town Counsel did make a determination that the Governor' s order #44 does include these types of events and would be limited to 100 people . There are potential craft fairs and weddings in September that are still on the books . Motion : Approve outdoor events at Drummer Boy Park as long as they follow State guidelines . BOH 7/ 15/2020 Minutes Page 3 Motion : Joe Ford Second : Annette Graczewski Vote: Annette Graczewski — yes Action : Motion carried Joe Ford — yes Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo - yes 4. Consent Agenda : * 31 Robbins Hill Road — Title 5 & local variance requests *44 Mayflower Road — Title 5 Inspection 300' pond setback variances Dr. Scherzo stated that 31 Robbins Hill Road is keeping their existing septic system . No additional bedrooms are proposed . Motion : Approve the consent agenda as noted . Motion : Joe Ford Second : Annette Graczewski Vote : Joe Ford — yes Action : Motion carried Annette Graczewski —yes Penny Hausser Holeman — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo - yes 5 . Discussion and vote to support "Accelerating Improvements in Massachusetts Local Public Health System " Dr. Scherzo stated that there are 351 individual Health Boards in Massachusetts which can create a lot of different opinions . This can help solve the problem of underfunding, having equal credentialing for all the Health Departments, consistent enforcement, combining certain functions of the Health Departments to become more efficient with municipalities . This is the outcome of a long process that has been going on for a number of years in Massachusetts . Motion : Move to support the acceleration of this plan Motion : Joe Ford Second : Penny Hausser Holeman Vote : Joe Ford — yes Action : Motion carried Penny Hausser Holeman —yes Annette Graczewski — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo — yes 6. Topics the Chair did not anticipate Dr. Scherzo stated that the Health Department had received another complaint about the Chillingsworth dumpster. It will be on the August 5 , 2020 agenda . Informational items were noted . Meeting adjourned at 7440PM