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Home My Public Portal AboutBoard of Health -- 2021-11-17 Minutes Town Of Brewster 4N, p, �` !?/ 2198 MAIN STREET Health Department � DSC f o � `+$1 i�r BREWSTER MASSACHUSETTS 02631 - 1898 Amy L. von Hone, R. S . , C. H. O . Director PHONE : 508 . 896 . 3701 EXT. 1120 FAX : 508 . 896.4538 Sherrie, McCullough, R. S . ' . ` brhealtlt@brewster-nia. 00v Assistant Director peon PpF1A� �0 ��`` WWW.BREWSTER-MA. GOV Tammi Mason Senior Department Assistant Board of Health Meeting Wednesday, November 17, 2021 , at 7 :OOPM Remote Meeting Board members attending remotely: Penny Holeman, MPH , MA, MS, Chair; Jeannie Kampas, Vice Chair; Joe Ford and Kimberley Crocker Pearson , MS, MD, MPH Board members absent: Annette Graczewski , MT (ASCP) Others attending remotely: Amy von Hone, R. S ., C . H . O ., Health Director Anyone wishing to listen to the meeting can do so via Live Broadcast ( Brewster Government TV Channel 18) or by Livestream at www. livestream . Brewster- ma . gov or video recording (www.tv . brewster- ma . gov) 1 . Call to order Meeting was called to order at 7 :OOPM . 2 . Chairman 's announcements A Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday November 23, 2021 , from 1 1A — 5PM at the Brewster Police Department, 631 Harwich Road . Appointments are required . You can call 508 - 862 - 5663 or go to www . capecodhealth , org /give - blood . All blood that is donated here stays on Cape Cod . 3 . Citizen 's forum i { None . i 4. Covid update 3 Mrs . von Hone stated that the most recent data shows that we are in another surge . Last week we had 17 new cases and it is around the same for this week. It is widespread throughout the community and there is considerably more activity in middle and high school . She stated that she is not seeing as much transmission through the schools, it is mostly positive parents who then spread it to the family. We will probably continue to see an increase in numbers throughout the holiday season . Boosters are important. Pfizer boosters for ages 5 - 12 were just approved . i i 3 BOH 11 / 17/21 Minutes Page 2 The Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment has been holding vaccination clinics every Thursday at their building which is off Route 6A at the courthouse complex in the Harbor View room from 10 :OOAM — 2 :OOPM . You can register online at the Barnstable County website or walk in . All 3 vaccinations are available . Most larger pharmacies are also offering the vaccine . Vaccination rates are still the same as it has been the last few months . People should still be vigilant, wear a mask and get vaccinated if possible . Dr. Pearson stated that we are not seeing a major spike in hospitalizations according to the data that she has read . Mrs . von Hone stated that this was correct, and it is one of the positives of the vaccines . Dr. Pearson stated that it doesn 't seem like we are closing the gap between those who have gotten a single dose and those that are fully vaccinated in the 2 upper age groups and asked if these numbers are corrected for mortality. Mrs . von Hone did not have an answer for that. Dr. Pearson asked if there was a program in place in the nursing homes to administer boosters . Mrs . von Hone stated that major pharmacies are still offering those services and the VNA has been involved in giving the boosters at some of the nursing homes and for employees who need 1 " and 2 "d shots . As for the long -term care facilities, routine testing is still being done and that' s how the positive cases are being identified . 5 . Continued discussion on potential partnerships/liaisons with community groups Ms . Holeman stated that this Was put on the agenda because of a discussion that came from Mrs . Graczewski, who is not in attendance tonight so she would like to put this off until she is here. 6 . Discussion on continued inclusion of informational items Mrs . von Hone stated that she brought this up to the Board to see if they still wanted to continue receiving the amount of information they receive in their packets, specifically the monthly reports on the SWWTF' s and I/A systems Dr. Pearson stated that she wasn't sure what her role was with regards to these reports . i Mrs . von Hone stated that there is not much the Board can really do as these are permitted by DEP . The SWWTF engineers come before the Board every February and give an annual report. I Dr. Pearson believes that the I/A reports that come in are valuable . She spoke about attending the Poison Control meeting once a month and asked if anyone would be interested in hearing about it or receiving information under this section of the meeting . Ms . Holeman stated that we should keep the I/A reports on agenda until we have the presentation about how to understand the reports and then maybe reassess . Mrs . von Hone stated that anything a Board member may want to put in " informational items" can email her, and she will include it on the agenda . 7 . Johan Window ( Penny Holeman) Ms . Holeman stated that using this helps a person to understand issues and explained to the Board what it meant. She wanted to make them aware of the tool and that it could be useful . BOH 11 / 17/21 Minutes Page 3 8 . Discuss new ongoing agenda item " items for next agenda " This stemmed from the Boards last meeting . Will be a place holder for items that want to be brought up . 9 . Liaison Reports Dr. Pearson stated that Warrant Articles #9 (Stormwater Management) and # 10 (Nitrogen Loading Calculations) passed at Monday nights Town Meeting with overwhelming support . The Board of Health will have to come up with regulations now. Mrs . von Hone stated that she will be meeting with Mark Nelson from Horsley-Witten to look over a draft regulation . 10 , Matters not reasonably anticipated by the Chair None 11 , Next meeting : December 1 , 2021 Noted 12 . Informational items Noted Meeting adjourned at 7 :45PM i i