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Home My Public Portal AboutBoard of Health -- 2021-03-17 Minutes Town of Brewster W 2198 MAW O { JER �F� ��% BREWSTER, MASSACHUSETTS ET Health Department T S 02631 - 1898 5.,•4 Fey Amy L . von Hone, R. S . , C . H. O . Director u r PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 Q = FAX : 508 . 896 .4538 Sherrie McCullough, R. S. Y — •� brhealth@brewster-ma. gov Assistant Director Tammi Mason ��$ R' 9 �i8 \,\\�� WWW. BREWSTER-MA. GOV Senior Department Assistant /lllllf Il I I l 111411// Board of Health Meeting Wednesday March 17 , 2021 , at 7 : OOPM Remote Participation Meeting Board members present remotely: Carmen Scherzo, DVM , Chair; Penny Holeman, MPH , MA, MS, Vice Chair; Annette Graczewski, MT (ASCP) and Jeannie Kampas Board members absent : Joe Ford Others on Remotely: Amy von Hone, R . S ., C . H . O ., Health Director, Tammi Mason, Senior Department Assistant, Richard Peter, Weston & Sampson, Joe Smith , NSU Water and Robert Reedy, J . M O ' Reilly & Associates, Inc ., Dr. Scherzo stated that for anyone wanting to listen to the meeting can do so via the Town of Brewster livestream at http : //video . brewster - ma . gov//cablecastPublicSiteZ? channel = 1 or on Channel 18 and anyone that has a question or comment could email them to healthboardmeeting@brewster- ma . gov 1 . Call to order Meeting was called to order at 7 :OOPM . 2 . Chairman 's announcements Dr. Scherzo stated that the Brewster Water Department will begin testing for perfluorates in our drinking water next month as new Minimum Contamination levels have been established for fluorinated compounds by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection , The Select Board at their last meeting on March 1 , 2021 , voted to reinstate the single use Plastic Bag Ban beginning July 1 , 2021 . As of March 1 , 2021 , the Commonwealth of Massachusetts moved forward into Phase 3 , Step 2 . Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters and other indoor performance spaces are allowed 50% capacity. Also, effective March 1 , 2021 , restaurants are only subject to the requirement of 6 feet between tables . Effective March 22, 2021 , event venues and public settings will be limited to 100 indoor and 150 outdoor. Private settings, such as residences, will still be limited to 10 indoors and 25 outdoors . Also, effective March 22, 2021 , the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will move into Phase 4, Step 1 . Indoor and outdoor stadiums, having a capacity of 5, 000 or more, will reopen with 12% capacity. Approximately one -third of Brewster residents have been vaccinated . 75 % of Brewster residents over 75 have been vaccinated . As of March 22 , 2021 , individuals 60 and older plus certain workers are eligible to be vaccinated . As of April 5, BOH 3/ 17/21 Minutes Page 2 2021 , individuals 55 and older and residents with one medical condition are eligible to be vaccinated . As of April 19, 2021 , the general public over the age of 16 is eligible to be vaccinated . At our February 17, 2021 , Board of Health meeting Dr. Scherzo stated that the British variant of COVID - 19 is more contagious, doubling every 10 days . He mistakenly said that 1 case becomes 10 cases after 10 days, 10 cases becomes 100 cases after 20 days and those 100 cases become 1 , 000 cases in just one month . What he meant to say was that 1 case becomes 2 cases after 10 days, 2 cases becomes 4 cases after 20 days and 4 cases becomes 8 cases after one month . He apologized for the incorrect information . As Dr. Scherzo will not be running for an additional 3 -year term on the Board of Health this May, there will be an opening for anyone who wishes to serve on the BOH . Papers must be submitted to the Town Clerk for the BOH position by April 6, 2021 , to be on the May 15, 2021 ballot . Dr. Scherzo asked Mrs . von Hone to give a COVID - 19 update to the Board . Mrs . von Hone stated that new active cases seem to be steady. They are running between 8 - 10 new cases over the last 5 weeks . She also noted that the vaccinations are going very well . It is still expected that there will be a vaccine shortage through April . She noted that the Health Department is working with Outer Cape Health to hold a clinic for senior housing and also for getting homebound people vaccinated . 3 . Citizens' Forum None , 4. Richard Peter - Weston & Sampson — annual report for Ocean Edge Mr. Peter stated that the plant had 2 exceedances, one in February on the 17th where total nitrogen was 13 and another in December on the 7th where the total nitrogen was 14 . 8 . Upon retest, that one went down to 9 . 2 . The plant itself is operating very well . Mrs . von Hone asked if Mr. Peter thought the numbers went up because they stayed open during the winter this year. Mr. Peter stated that July, August and September were the highest months for flow and it did go down after that. He did wonder if the weather had anything to do with the higher nitrogen numbers for February and December. 5 . Joe Smith — NSU Water — annual report for Pleasant Bay Health & Living Center Mr. Smith stated that the plant operated very efficiently throughout the year. They had 1 exceedance in February. 6. Joe Smith — NSU Water — annual report for Maplewood Mr. Smith stated that the system continues to have treatment efficiency difficulties in meeting compliance with permit limitations . A modification was made with DEP and is under review . 7 . Robert Reedy- J . M . O ' Reilly & Associates, Inc. — annual report for White Rock Commons BOH 3/ 17/2021 Minutes Page 3 John O ' Reilly was present. He stated that total Nitrogen has been staying around 15 . 1 PPM . There were no adjustments made to the system . There was a slight spike in April and May, but it was back to normal in June . Mr. O ' Reilly stated that they would also like to request to eliminate the monthly sampling of total nitrogen . Quarterly testing will still be done . Motion : Grant the request for relief of monthly nitrogen sampling as long as they maintain DEP standards for general use approval, and they still do quarterly testing for nitrogen . Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman — yes Action : Motion passed Annette Graczewski -yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo — yes 8 . Chad Simmons — Coastal Engineering Co ., Inc . — annual report for Brewster Landing Mr. Simmons was unable to make the meeting . This will be rescheduled for the first April meeting . 9 . David Michmewicz — Coastal Engineering Co ., Inc . — annual report for CCSC Mrs . von Hone stated that this typically doesn 't come before the Board . The camp has been closed . 10 . Discuss proposed revised tobacco regulations Formatting and other minor changes were discussed . A final draft will go to Town Counsel for review and brought back before the Board . Motion : Approve the draft with the changes made . Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman — yes Action : Motion passed Annette Graczewski — yes Jeannie Kampas — yes Carmen Scherzo — yes , 11 . Appoint Animal Inspectors Motion : Appoint Sherrie McCullough and Linda Brogden Burns as Animal Inspectors for the upcoming season . Motion : Annette Graczewski Second : Penny Holeman Vote: Penny Holeman -yes Action : Motion passed Annette Graczewski -yes Jeannie Kampas -yes Carmen Scherzo -yes 12 . Discuss Food Service Permit in house approvals Dr. Scherzo read the policy to the Board . All food service permit applications with the exception of ones that need variances or HACCP plans will be approved by the Health Director or Assistant Health Director. The two exceptions will need to still go before the Board for approval . BOH 3/ 17/2021 Minutes Page 4 Mrs . Graczewski asked if the paperwork and procedures (with the exception of a Board meeting ) will remain the same . Mrs . von Hone stated that applicants will still have to fill out all the paperwork, meet with the Assistant Health Director and have an inspection prior to issuing a permit. They will not need to wait for a Board meeting in order to operate the business . Mrs . von Hone read a statement from Joe Ford who could not attend the meeting . He is not in favor of approving the permits in house and would prefer they still all come before the Board . There were technical difficulties at this point and Dr. Scherzo decided to hold off on approving this until the entire Board could be in attendance . 13 . Discuss Eversource Yearly Operational Plan Dr. Scherzo asked the Board if they wanted to send a letter to the Selectboard that they are not in favor of Eversource using pesticides . Mrs . von Hone stated that she had spoken with the Town Administrator and the Selectboard is aware of the plans for spraying . They will be filing comments on the Yearly Operational Plan by the April deadline . They are also planning a public discussion in the near future . Dr. Scherzo will put together a letter to the Selectboard with the Board of Health ' s comments . 14. Liaison reports There were no updates for the WQRC . Dr. Scherzo stated that on February 23, 2021 , the Community Preservation Commission voted to grant $ 183 , 000 to build the dog park. Together with $ 225 , 000 from the Stanton Foundation, that gives the Town $408, 000 . The Town had previously accepted the base bid . Finance Committee needs to approve this still . The Selectboard has already approved it . There is also $ 50, 000 from the Friends of the Brewster Dog Park to cover " other" items . Mrs . Graczewski stated that the Recycling Commission will meet next week. 15 . Matters not reasonably anticipated by the Chair None . 16 . Next meeting April 7, 2021 Noted . Information items were noted . Meeting adjourned at 8: 30PM