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Home My WebLink AboutBOH 04/07/2022Town of Mansfield Board of Health RECEIVED i.L RI,,S OFFICE April 7, 2022 Minutes niz ICY 10 A 9* OU Mission Statement: The mission of the Mansfield Board of Health is to protect,iprgse,,"# �rfdO improve the public health, environment, and wellbeing of our citizens through the enf6Nefh'6`nt bt ' federal, state, and local statutes and regulations, education and promotion of sanitary living and working conditions, and protection of the environment from disease and pollution. Present: Antonia Blinn; Chair, Graham Wilson; Clerk, Michael Healey, Ryan Maxwell, Amy Donovan - Palmer; Health Agent. Gautam Sharma; Holiday Inn Absent: Kasia Frenette March 3, 2022 • Motion to approve the minutes from March 3, 2022 made by Mr. Healey, 2"1 Mr. Maxwell. Approved 4-0. Chief Desrosiers on vacation this week, but he will attend next month's meeting and will provide updates. Ms. Donovan -Palmer understands they are transferring from COVID related work to public nurse work. Ms. Donovan -Palmer reports cases are low but has concerns about actual numbers because many people are only using home testing. Health agent looked at school cases to get additional information. • School cases last month (March): 8 students, 0 staff • School cases in the past week (3/27-4/2): 12 students, 4 staff Social media updates regarding COVID-19 moved from daily to weekly on social media. Ms. Donovan -Palmer shared concern over lack of booster shots for some groups. Ms. Donovan-Palmer's most recent social media push was focused on booster shots. Board reviewed booster recommendations. Second booster shot recommended for residents 50 or older as well as people with certain health issues. Number of clinics has decreased but there are still plenty of locations to receive a booster shot. • CDC COVID-19 Community Level: Bristol County, along with all of Massachusetts is listed as LOW. • Average Daily Incident Rate: on an upswing, 3 cases per day as of 4/7 compared to 1.5 cases per day at beginning of March. • Percent Positivity: On a slight upswing as well. • Mansfield's figures are right in the middle compared to other towns in Bristol County. • Hospitalizations: Data shows vaccinated people are still becoming ill, but much less than people who are not vaccinated. • Ms. Donovan -Palmer will check how the Fire Department acquires vaccinations in the chance they can provide boosters. Ms. Blinn discussed wastewater surveillance becoming more prevalent to identify COVID-19 trends. Mr. Healey asked if the Board could get that information even though Mansfield's wastewater services are shared with other towns. Mr. Wilson brought up whether it is worth looking at data for a shared community service such as wastewater treatment. Discussion on the possibility testing occurring at a point before all waste streams merge. Ms. Donovan -Palmer will investigate this. Mr. Sharma from Holiday Inn Mansfield was asked to attend the BOH meeting to discuss delays in paying of Priority and Priority Foundation violation payments. As of 4/4, Holiday Inn is current in all payments. Mr. Sharma apologized for the delay, stating that there has been turnover in the position that handles inspections at Holiday Inn. Mr. Healey asks Ms. Donovan -Palmer how many notices Holiday inn received regarding their violations. Ms. Donovan -Palmer states Holiday Inn was notified 3 times, including the initial notification. Discussion regarding the permitting and violation notification system focused on how the system works. Mr. Sharma assures the board that he forwards the notifications to the appropriate staff. Draft regulation changes on flavored tobacco additives and blunt wrap definitions were sent out by Ms. Donovan -Palmer. Changes were read to the board. Ms. Blinn noticed that changes use both the word "marijuana" and "cannabis". Ms. Blinn suggested consulting the MAHB regarding which word should be used in regulations. Town Warrant has a proposed regulation banning nip bottles in town for the May 19th Town Meeting. The two residents proposing the ban made request of the Board of Health to make a formal declaration regarding the ban. Ms. Blinn stated that at Select Board meeting, someone noticed that the wording of the ban made most nip bottles do not fall under the proposed ban. Ms. Blinn awaited a motion. No motion aresented. NONE Bristol -Norfolk Public Health Partners Coalition Grants Update: • Ms. Donovan -Palmer reviewed the agreement between the partner towns. • Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) outlines conditions for new towns to enter and for existing towns to withdraw. New towns approved by 2/3 of Advisory Board • Advisory Board Membership: One member and one alternate member appointed by Board of Health. Term length determined by Board of Health • Foxborough is lead municipality because this falls under the Shared Services Grant • Mansfield is lead municipality for the Contact Tracing Grant. • Ms. Donovan -Palmer reviewed Advisory Roles and Responsibilities. • Process to fill food and housing inspection positions ongoing. Epidemiologist process has been completed, but no formal announcement yet. Mr. Healey asked if there are other IMA's out there currently. Mr. Healey also asked if we are currently looking for more towns to join the IMA. Ms. Donovan -Palmer responded that they are not searching for additional town members at the current time. Ms. Donovan -Palmer stated that all member towns will have the same software for Health Departments and for Inspectors in the field to facilitate communication. • Motion to accept Bristol -Norfolk Public Health Intermunicipal Agreement made by Mr. Healey, 2"d by Mr. Maxwell. Passes 4-0. FOG: Continue to stay on top of reporting. Goal is for food inspector to take over responsibilities. PFAS: Shawn Precourt will be attending a future meeting to discuss PFAS Website/Social Media: Household Hazardous Waste Day is June 18th. Announcement went out today, 4/7. Ms. Donovan -Palmer highlighted the robust list of items the Mansfield Green accepts and encourages people to visit the DEP website to see what they can dispose of. Mr. Healey notes that stores in Mansfield take used lithium -ion batteries. Mr. Healey suggests that it may be a good idea to figure out a way to put information on what can go into a particular waste stream (hazardous or non -hazardous) at point of sale. Housing Inspections: NONE Grant Applications: NONE NONE Serv-safe training: Ms. Blinn asked if we know what the registration numbers look like. Ms. Donovan -Palmer responded we currently do not. Intern: Ms. Donovan -Palmer stated she has speaking with someone via email who would be a good fit for the position. Last year's Intern is now a Health Agent for Newton, MA. Plastic Bag and Straw Regulations compliance: Mr. Healey asked if Kevin Duquette can spot check for compliance during his location visit. Xfinity Update: Kevin Duquette will be their Food Supervisor again. Kevin has been in touch with Ms. Donovan -Palmer regarding Xfinity having their own food trucks permanently located around the complex to supplement the food stands. Ms. Donovan -Palmer is confident that all standards will be met. No permitting material has been submitted as of this meeting. MAHB: Ms. Donovan -Palmer stated they put on courses to help educate board members. She will send out updates to the board members for any member who wishes to attend. Ms. Blinn mentions it is public health week and she was asked to be on a panel at the Local Public Health Forum to be held April 15th. Ms. Blinn asked board members to share feelings and experiences over the time of the COVID-19 pandemic to bring to the Forum. Ms. Blinn adjourned the meeting at 8:40pm. i L1116 2 Clerk Date