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Home My Public Portal AboutDraft Board of Health Minutes 1-31-2019 BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING January 31, 2019 Watertown Administration Building, Third Floor Conference Room PRESENT: Dr. Barbara Beck, Secretary; Richard Arnold, Board Member. Excused Dr. John Straus, Chairperson Staff. Larry Ramdin, Director of Public Health CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Richard Arnold called the meeting to order 7:08 pm Minutes Minutes: Minutes of the November 26, 2018 meeting were approved with corrections (Beck, Arnold 2nd) 2-0 Re-Organization of the Board Dr. John Straus was elected Chair of the Board per requirements of MGL Chap I I I Section 27. Beck, 2nd Arnold, 2-0) Public Comment: 1. Elodia Thomas resident 67 Marion Road, claimed that the links on the minutes were not working and the meeting was not duly constituted meeting as it did not meet the posting requirements for the law. Larry Ramdin Director of Public Health response that the minutes and agenda were posted with the required 2 day notice as required by law 2. Councilor Vincent Picirilli , suggested that the minutes and draft law be posted earlier and can be sent out as a newsflash Regulating Biological Research Laboratories Public Comment Mr. Arnold-reviewed the rules for the comment period: • each individual will be permitted to speak for 3 minutes • comments must be specific to the draft regulation • The Board will not be engaging with the commenters but receiving their comments • If time remains after all comments are received, the board will entertain comments from previous presenters will have an opportunity to provide additional comments. • Written comments while not necessary will be appreciated 1 1 Page Dr. Heather McManus • Typo on Page 2 Exempt section 3F • Concerned about the 3 of members and make-up of the WBSC recommends increasing the size of the committees • Committees must be more balanced • Written comments will be submitted Dr. Mia Leiberman • Clearly spell out fines and penalties • The Variance procedure should be clearly spelled out • BL2 work is not regulated • Need to add further definitions • Define Community member • Add more clarity to qualifications for IBC member who is not a municipal employee Elodia Thomas • Lexington does not allow BSL3 • Include penalties for compliance failure • Questions why changes made to draft • Need to have a better handle on biosafety • Sam Lipson of Cambridge Health Department is an expert we should get his input Vincent Piccirilli- Town Council Vice President • Clarify how the WBSC is comprised • How is the person selected, define designee • SA Committee member needs to be better defined i.e resident who is not an employee or affiliated with the applicant Paula Halpin • There should be at 2 additional members with at least 1 being a public member • S.6 ` All institutions shall allow at least one inspection per year • P5. Restrictions: edit having outside agency or institution conflict. Should indicate that individual should not be in an way be associated with the institution • The board should consider the appropriateness of BSL 3 facilities in Watertown David Stokes • The Board should provide a red-lined copy of future drafts that indicate changes so the public can follow the original script and changes Department Update • Larry Ramdin informed the BOH that Kristel Bennet, has had her baby , a boy. • Rajit Gupta has successfully passed his CP-Fs credential examination 21 Page PYogram Planning and Priority Setting The Board deferred to program planning for future date Future Meeting Scheduling Doodle poll will be done to schedule the next meeting. Department Updates Meeting adjourned a 9:00 p.m. (Motion Dr. Beck, second, Richard Arnold 3-0) Respectfully submitted: Larry Ramdin, Director of Public Health Approved: 31 Page