HomeMy Public PortalAbout20150803 - Board of Health - Meeting MinutesBOH August 3, 2015 Minutes Page 1
BOARD OF HEALTH
Town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts
18 Main Street, 3rd Floor Meeting Area
Monday, August 3, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES
Members Present: Paul Winshman, Chairman; Jennifer Belesi, Vice Chairman,
Dr. Phillip Cohen
Also Present: Edward Wirtanen, Board of Health Director
Absent:
Late Arrival: Chairman Winshman arrived at 7:50 p.m.
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Vice Chairman Belesi.
The Board congratulated and welcomed Mrs. LaRoche to the Board of Health as a full-
time employee.
Request to Approve Board of Health Meeting Minutes
Mr. Wirtanen requested that the Board approve the meeting minutes of July 13, 2015.
Dr. Cohen motioned to approve the Board’s July 13, 2015 meeting minutes.
Vice Chairman Belesi seconded.
Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in favor.
Century Health Systems FY2016 Renewal Contract/Juanita Allen Kingsley
Vice Chairman Belesi welcomed Ms. Allen-Kingsley and asked her for the highlights of
the VNA contract. Ms. Allen-Kingsley said that the VNA have increased their fees by
25% for their services. She stated that they have not increased their rates in a few years
and that the increase is due to the VNA losing money for the services that they provide.
Ms. Allen-Kingsley informed the Board that the VNA is offering outreach programs that
are now becoming more in need of and that they will no longer hold flu clinics due to the
drop in clientele and the expense of buying the vaccine. She also said that the services that
Hopkinton uses them for are very few. The contract is a “pay as you go” and that the
VNA’s fee will now be $75 per hour instead of $60 per hour with a 30 day termination
notification from either party.
Vice Chairman Belesi asked for Mr. Wirtanen’s opinion regarding the contract and
services. Mr. Wirtanen said that it has become evident that the flu clinics given by the
Department are declining and that the clientele has dropped drastically in the last few years
due to the fact that now you can get the vaccine from your primary doctor and other
locations like Walgreen’s and CVS.
Dr. Cohen agreed that the VNA is wise to put their funds to other areas of service since the
flu shots can now be acquired by other entities.
BOH August 3, 2015 Minutes Page 2
Dr. Cohen asked Mr. Wirtanen if the Hopkinton bylaws prohibit a medical clinic in the
center of town, and if so, would CVS be consider a medical clinic. Mr. Wirtanen said that
Hopkinton Drug is the alternative and that they conduct flu clinics at their facility. Dr.
Cohen asked if other vendors providing the flu clinics were equal or lower than the VNA’s
cost to administer the flu shots. Mr. Wirtanen said that the VNA’s cost is lower than the
other vendors.
Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen both felt that it would be prudent to continue having
a contract with the VNA in case of an emergency.
Vice Chairman Belesi motioned to approve the Century Health Systems (VNA) Contract
as presented. Dr. Cohen seconded.
Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen in favor.
Vice Chairman Belesi requested that Ms. Allen-Kingsley send information regarding their
outreach programs to the Board.
Mr. Wirtanen asked if the Board wanted him to issue a notification that the Board of
Health will no longer be offering flu clinics. The Board agreed with Mr. Wirtanen’s
suggestion.
Update of Innovative Alternative System (Old Generation RUCK System)/88 Winter
Street-New Owner(s), Tom Mihlbachler
Mr. & Mrs. Mihlbachler explained to the Board that he met with Mr. Wirtanen earlier
today and has delivered the 6 year contract for the Ruck System and the first water quality
report test as requested which passed the coliform item. He said that had communicated
with Mr. Wirtanen in regards to him not being available at the Board’s prior meeting to
update the Board and apologized for the delay and the confusion of what he had to do as
the new homeowner of the property. He indicated that he was not made aware of the
Board of Health conditions or history of the property by either the real estate agent or his
lawyer.
Mr. Wirtanen said that Mr. & Mrs. Mihlbachler are fully versed with the maintenance of
the Ruck System and what is required from them as of today. He also indicated that the
second water test will be conducted in 6 months as requested.
Dr. Cohen explained the urgency in keeping the maintenance on the Ruck System so that
there will be no contamination to them as homeowners and their neighbors. He also
suggested that since the initial water test for coliform failed they may want to ask their
neighbors if they would consider testing their water to ensure that their water was not
contaminated.
Mr. Wirtanen declared that given the new owner’s plight he believes it would be unfair to
hold them to the $50 fine and asked the Board if they would consider waiving the fee.
The Board agreed and waived the $50 fee. Mr. & Mrs. Mihlbachler thanked the Board for
their understanding and for waving the fee.
BOH August 3, 2015 Minutes Page 3
The Board thanked Mr. & Mrs. Mihlbachler for coming before the Board and updating
them.
Open Session (Unanticipated Topics)
Dr. Cohen requested of Mr. Wirtanen if he would be able to devise a better way of having
the rabies vaccine administer. He explained that he recently had a bat issue in his home
and had the animal control inspector involved and was instructed of the confusing and non-
efficient way of getting the vaccine administered.
Mr. Wirtanen informed Dr. Cohen that the Animal Control Inspector and its process now is
under the Town Manager not the Board of Health. He said that this item was taken from
the Board of Health’s authority several years ago with the creation of the Town Charter.
Dr. Cohen requested that Mr. Wirtanen send a letter to the Town Manager requesting a
better and more efficient process to deal with the rabies vaccine.
Mr. Wirtanen acknowledged Dr. Cohen’s request.
Request to Appoint Board of Health Representative to the Zoning Board of Appeals
(ZBA)
Mr. Wirtanen said that the Zoning Board of Appeals is asking if the Board would be
interested in having a representative at the Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, if so, an
appointment will be needed. He also said that the last appointment made for this Board to
the ZBA was in 2012. Mr. Wirtanen suggested that if the Board does not appoint someone
to the ZBA that a letter be issue to them and the Planning Board to consider the Board’s
concerns in regards to new lots being constructed or waiver’s being granted on wetlands
and open detention areas which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes (EEE and WNV) and
is a protection concern for the owners and rental occupants. He also requested that the
letter include a request for them to follow-up on various approved developments that have
been built near wetlands and detention areas.
Chairman Winshman indicated that the does not have a conflict of not having a
representative to the ZBA and feels that if a situation arises that warrants a member to
attend the ZBA then a member would be appointed. He asked his fellow members if they
would be interested in being appointed and they both declined due to full personal
schedules.
Informational Correspondence
Mr. Wirtanen informed the Board that the following is for their information and review.
NACCHO-Forces of Change
CMMCP-August Schedule
Notice Health & Human Services-First Positive WNV Mosquito
MADEP Groundwater Discharge Permit-Legacy Farms
Tobacco Compliance Check Results, June 23, 2015
BOH August 3, 2015 Minutes Page 4
Scheduling of Future Board of Health Meetings
The Board will meet on the following dates:
Monday, August 24, 2015
Mondays, September 14 & 28, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
Mondays, November 2, 16 & 30, 2015
Monday, December 14, 2015
Payroll Authorization and Discussion of Process
Mr. Wirtanen requested Chairman Winshman’s signature and payroll authorization for the
following weeks and vacation request.
≈ August 3-8, 2015
≈ August 10-15, 2015
≈ September 15-25, 2015 (Vacation)
Chairman Winshman asked Mr. Wirtanen what was the previous process regarding the
singing of his payroll. He explained that the Town Manager asked him why he had
changed the process and informed him that Elaine Lazarus, Director of Land Use and
Planning, should be the person signing his payroll not the Chairman of the Board of
Health.
Mr. Wirtanen explained to Chairman Winshman that when the Town Manager
consolidated the departments the Board of Health was placed under Land Use and
Planning’s organization structure and the signing of his payroll was given to her to sign.
The reason that the Board has been signing his payroll to-date is because at one point Ms.
Lazarus was out on a medical issue and was not available to sign the payroll. Since then
the Board has signed his payroll. Mr. Wirtanen indicated that the Board at that time
accommodated the Town Manager with that request but had their reservations having his
payroll signed by Ms. Lazarus instead of the Town Manager, since he signs Ms. Lazarus’s
and other department head’s payroll too.
After Mr. Wirtanen’s explanation a discussing ensued in regards to why would a
department head sign another department head’s time sheet since the Board of Health is
autonomous from the Town Manager. Both Vice Chairman Belesi and Dr. Cohen
disagreed with the Town Manager’s structure of payroll singing and voiced their concerns
and it’s inappropriateness of the Town Manager to have the Director of Land Use sign Mr.
Wirtanen’s payroll. Mr. Wirtanen stated that he feels that once again the Town Manager is
undermining his position as a department head and the Board by this action.
Chairman Winshman said that he will meet with the Town Manager and speak to him
regarding the Board’s concerns regarding the payroll signing structure.
Chairman Winshman only signed Mr. Wirtanen’s vacation request not his payroll.
BOH August 3, 2015 Minutes Page 5
Vacation Request Authorization for Administrative Assistant
Mr. Wirtanen requested Chairman Winshman’s signature for Mrs. LaRoche’s vacation
request.
≈ August 24-28, 2015
Chairman Winshman signed Ms. LaRoche’s vacation request.
ADJOURN:
Vice Chairman Belesi motioned to adjourn at 8:45p.m. Dr. Cohen seconded.
Chairman Winshman, Vice Chairman Belesi, and Dr. Cohen in favor.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nidia LaRoche
Board of Health Administrative Assistant