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Home My Public Portal About20230622 - Board of Health - Meeting MinutesHEALTH DEPARTMENT Town of Hopkinton,Massachusetts Monday,June 22,2023 MINUTES Members Present:Chairman Richard Jacobs and Nasiba Mannan Also Present:Shaun McAuliffe,Health Director;Simone Carter,Public Health Nurse Absent:Regina Miloslavsky Late Arrival(s): Early Dismissal: Mode of Participation:In Person The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m.by Chairman Jacobs. Public Comment-Members of the community are invited to share ideas,state opinions or ask questions Mary Ellen Gambon from the “Hopkinton Independent Local News”requested permission to record the meeting for purposes of the Board of Health news meeting article.Chairman Jacobs accepted the request. Board Reorganization Chairman Jacobs motioned to nominate Nasiba Mannan for the Vice Chairman’s position.Ms.Mannan accepted the nomination.Vice Chairman Mannan seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve the Board’s Meeting Minutes of October 3,2022 Ms.LaRoche requested approval of the Meeting Minutes of October 3,2022,as presented.Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the meeting minutes of October 3,2022.Chairman Jacobs seconded. Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve the Board’s Meeting Minutes of May 22 2023 Ms.LaRoche requested approval of the Meeting Minutes of May 22,2023,as presented.Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the meeting minutes of May 22,2023.Chairman Jacobs seconded. Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve the Director’s Canva Reimbursement Ms.LaRoche requested approval for the Director’s Canva subscription in the amount of $112.38,as presented.Mr.McAuliffe explained that the Canva subscription is for the creation of designs for the nurse department’s web page,social media events,booklets,etc… Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the Director’s Canva Reimbursement in the amount of $112.38,as presented.Chairman Jacobs seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve the Director’s MHOA Membership Renewal Expense BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 1 Approved July 24,2023 Ms.LaRoche requested the Board’s approval for the Director’s MHOA membership renewal for the year 2023 in the amount of $60.00. Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the director’s MHOA membership renewal in the amount of $60.00,as presented.Chairman Jacobs seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve the Director’s MassDEP/MHOA Virtual Conference Ms.LaRoche requested the Board’s approval for the Director’s MassDEP/MHOA Virtual Conference in the amount of $25.00,as presented. Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the director’s MassDEP/MHOA Virtual Conference in the amount of $25.00,as presented.Chairman Jacobs seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Request to Approve Director’s MHOA Quarterly Meeting Expense Ms.LaRoche requested the Board’s approval for the Director’s MHOA Quarterly June Meeting Expense in the amount of $75.00,as presented. Vice Chairman Mannan motioned to approve the director’s MHOA Quarterly Meeting Expense in the amount of $75.00,as presented.Chairman Jacobs seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Department’s Budget Summary for Week Ending June 23,2023 Ms.LaRoche presented the department’s budget for the week ending June 23,2023 for the Board’s review.She informed the Board that as of now the operating budget stands at $31,636.56.She further explained that there are several pending items that have not been processed that totals an estimated amount of $20,000 which will be deducted from the $31,636.56 leaving at least $12,000 in the operating budget to be expended by June 30,2023.Mr.McAuliffe noted that the department is in the process of ordering more state required items which will deplete the amount of $12,000 further once these items are placed and paid. Hopkinton Biosafety Regulation Approval Mr.McAuliffe noted that this regulation was requested by the Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager and presented a draft biosafety regulation to the Board for their review and approval.He stated that this regulation will govern future biochemical and biotechnology agent operations in town and in addition,by adopting the biosafety regulation,the Town will become certified as a biosafety entity by the Chamber of Commerce.Biotechnology/biosafety companies with agents requiring BSL-3 (airborne virus)as defined in the regulation shall be presented before the HBC (Hopkinton Biosafety Committee)and if approved,the Health Department will issue a permit.A biotechnology/biosafety company with agents requiring a BSL-4 (ebola,marbury virus)shall be prohibited.He noted that the members of the HBC will comprise of the following representations:Health Department,Hopkinton Emergency Management Committee, Company Representative,Town Leadership,Chamber of Commerce and Westborough Sewer Commission for strict oversight since they oversee the vast majority of the wastewater flow from Hopkinton.Mr. BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 2 Approved July 24,2023 McAuliffe also informed the Board that the City of Cambridge developed and adopted this template with Cambridge’s specifics in consultation with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection which is being utilized for the Town of Hopkinton. After a brief review,Chairman Jacobs noted a few errors in the draft regulation.Chairman Jacobs motioned to have the edits made and placed at the Board’s next meeting to move forward with a hearing for adoption.Vice Chairman Mannan seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Strategic Planning Discussion Mr.McAuliffe voiced that Town Counsel forward the changes to the MAPC/Collins Center and that they have accepted the edits.The contract is now with Town Counsel to place in final format.He anticipates that the contract will be ready for the Chairman’s signature within a few days. Public Health Nurse Report Nurse Simone updated the Board with the following: LBOH Count -Events Per Disease and Classification in Jurisdiction Classification:confirmed,contact,probable,suspect Event Dates from 05/01/2023 to 06/21/2023 Jurisdiction(s)selected:HOPKINTON Jurisdiction(s)used for report:HOPKINTON The report contains confidential information.The data are current as of 06/20/2023 and are subject to change. Disease Status Num of Cases Group A streptococcus DISEASE_STATUS_CONFIRMED 1 Hepatitis B DISEASE_STATUS_CONFIRMED 1 Lyme Disease DISEASE_STATUS_PROBABLE 5 Lyme Disease DISEASE_STATUS_SUSPECT 2 Novel Coronavirus (SARS, MERS,etc) DISEASE_STATUS_CONFIRMED 18 Novel Coronavirus (SARS, MERS,etc) DISEASE_STATUS_SUSPECT 2 Tuberculosis DISEASE_STATUS_CONFIRMED 5 BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 3 Approved July 24,2023 Tuberculosis DISEASE_STATUS_SUSPECT 1 ●MAPHN Conference May 3-4,2023 25th Anniversary of MAPHN Hopkinton will take leadership role ●Program Planning Ongoing ○Vaccines for Children ○Community Risk Reduction and Narcan Training ○Healthy Brain Initiative ○STEADI Program ○Wellness and BP Clinics /Senior Center outreach /weekly at Senior Center ○Fall flu clinics ○Strategic and Nursing Program development ongoing as per Director ○BOH Storage for EDS and Strategic National Stockpile must meet guidelines–example of sample procedure ●Community Outreach ○Covid Test remain free to public at Town Hall Main Lobby,Library ○FDA granted 15 month shelf-life extension to iHealth Covid tests–see https://ihealthlabs.com/pages/news ○Narcan training/Fentanyl Testing/Free Narcan available through Health Department ○Recurring monthly training open and FREE to the public is ongoing to educate our community on Substance Misuse Disorder,Narcan administration,and harm reduction.These training are available through our regularly scheduled classes and upon request ●Public Service Announcement: Compass Medical suddenly closed its physician group practice locations on May 30, 2023.If you are a patient at a Compass Medical office,there are resources available BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 4 Approved July 24,2023 for you to access your medical records,seek new care,or to continue your care with your primary provider.Providers,pharmacists,and former Compass Medical employees can find resources under Notices and Complaints.MDPH has a list of resources here for clients of Compass for southeastern MA. Director’s Report The Director updated the Board with the following: Food and Housing Inspections - 1.We are closing out the 70 Main Street complaint.We received a certification that the lead paint in the occupied unit had been abated.The owner intends to work with Fire Prevention and Building to close out the smoke detector violations. 2.Kelechi has sent the renewal notices to the food permittees. 3.We have ordered the requisite equipment that the MDPH had stated all local health departments should have on hand.We have held off on the XRF gun for lead detection until Kelechi and I are certified lead determinators. 4.Kelechi will be attending a housing seminar in my place on Wednesday as I have a mandatory meeting with the MDPH. Well and Septic - 1.I attended a fantastic seminar on septic design and installation.I intend to enroll Kelechi in the same seminar. MDPH Work - 1.The Director will attend a MDPH sponsored seminar on PFAS at the end of the month. 2.The compliance assessment recommended that I obtain my Certified Health Officer certification.I intend to start the process later this spring. 3.I have a mandatory meeting with the MDPH on the summer internship.I’m meeting with the new intern on Tuesday. 4.We will be working with the MDPH and Youth and Family Services to develop programming that the opioid settlement monies will utilize to cover.At present,approximately $47,000 has been distributed to Hopkinton.Hopkinton opted not to accept the lump sum distribution from Janssen. The Public Health Nurses and I will be attending a week long harm reduction,curriculum development and project management seminar with Y&F Services June 5-8,2023. 5.The Director will be working with the MDPH’s vector borne disease staff on updating our tick education kits. 6.The Department and the APHC of the MDPH have entered into an agreement to develop a rabies education mailer for all clerk’s offices in the Commonwealth. 7.Simone and I will be working with the MDPH to update our emergency response and hazard assessment plans. Regulation Review and Updating – 1.The Director is awaiting an update from Legal on the status of the BioSafety regulation that was drafted. Grants - BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 5 Approved July 24,2023 1.I submitted a $20,000 grant request to the MWHF to cover a portion of the costs associated with the Strategic Plan.I’m trying to secure an additional $10,000 from the MDPH/public health collaborative. Allergen - 1.We will be posting allergen awareness signage at the playgrounds around the community.The signage will advise parents /guardians to wash children’s hands after they eat to avoid the spread of allergens onto the playground equipment.The project was presented to the Department by a student of the Hopkins School.The signage will be mounted by the facilities department of the school and health department. Regulatory Enforcement - 1.Kelechi and I will enroll in “smoke school”this fall,as the MDEP has announced some changes in the air pollution regulations that will place some field assessment responsibilities on local health departments. 2.The Director is developing a PFAS in Private Well webpage for the Department.The page will be utilized to inform the residents of the EPA’s and MDPH’s current policies,PFAS sources,etc. Strategic Plan - 1.Legal completed a markup of the contract.It was forwarded to the Collins Center.The Collins Center’s legal department rejected it.MAPC has agreed to take the lead on the project and they will be submitting their own contract to the Town. Other - 1.Our files and equipment have been relocated from the former 147 Hayden Rowe location.After several movers had failed to show,David Deltorio’s team moved all of our records themselves.We are grateful. 2.Nidia has met with IT to discuss the digitization of our files and the conversion to digitized applications and permitting. 3.We need to submit an article for the Special Town Meeting so that Health and Youth and Family Services can access the opioid settlement funds. 4.We are working with HR to provide Emilia and offer to join our department. 5.I have completed the goals and reviews for the team.They will be submitted this week. ADJOURN:Chairman Jacobs motioned to adjourn the Board of Health Meeting at 6:55 p.m.Vice Chairman Mannan seconded.Chairman Jacobs and Vice Chairman Mannan in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Nidia LaRoche Administrative Assistant BOH June 22,2023-MEETING Minutes Page 6 Approved July 24,2023