Board of Health Meeting

Monday, December 23, 2024, 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm
Town Hall Office Meeting Space
A meeting of the Board of Health

Meeting of Board of Health

Members: (Quorum)

• Present: Kathy Llamas, Chair, at 5:00 PM
• Present: Emily Sweet, Member, at 5:00 PM
• Present: Daniel Sheff, Member, at 5:00 PM
• Present: Hanna Sherman, Member, at 5:00 PM
• Present: Regina McNeely, Member, at 5:00 PM

Also Present:

• Carl Nelke

See original Agenda Draft Minutes * * *

Meeting opened: 5:00 PM

Meeting closed: 6.00 PM

0. Meeting Preliminaries

   • Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).

   • Minutes Approved: Mon, Dec 9 - Board of Health Meeting

1. Mail and invoices

   • General Discussion...
     4 pumping reports, 1 Title V report (453 Hart Road)

2. Title V Agent report

   • General Discussion...
     453 Hart Road - Title V Inspection and D-box replacement

3. Meetings / Trainings attended by board members

   • General Discussion...
     Emily - Rabies training, Barn Inspector training
     
     Kat - Public Health meeting with MDPH; speakers/presentations, discussion
     
     Bird flu and other topics

4. Health and wellness report

   • General Discussion...
     Respiratory illnesses still relatively low:
     Percent of ED visit due to respiratory disease is low at 14.2%
     Expected to increase after the holidays
     Not too late to get vaccinated for COVID and Flu
     Sidewalk sign?
     COVID: rates are low; wastewater surveillance in Amherst and Sunderland low, beginning to rise in S Deerfield, expected to rise in January after holidays
     ED visits 0.9%
     Vaccine rate for town 31.4% (increase 1%)
     Flu: rates rising, low severity of disease low to date
     ED visits 0.8%
     Vaccine rate for town 37.4% (increase 1.2%)
     RSV:
     ED visits 1%
     Vaccine rate statewide 32.1% (increase 0.5%)
     
     Bird flu - being closely monitored for possible emergence of human to human spread
     
     Impact of drought on private wells -
     Most recent state drought report was Dec 6, still Level 3 Critical statewide
     state survey: With over 500,000 residents relying on private wells, the Commonwealth would like to gather information on potential impacts on the water supply of these residents. We ask that local public health officials complete a short, five question survey to help estimate the extent of this impact: https://forms.office.com/g/NhDHSJRmqf.
     Hanna will send to Kat for review, to see if we can/will respond
     Aquatic health - town pool
     The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the release of the Model Aquatic Health Code’s (MAHC’s) fifth edition. The MAHC is a set of guidelines intended to prevent injury and illness at public aquatic venues, such as pools, hot tubs, and splash pads, and created in a collaborative effort between public health officials and aquatics sector leaders.
     Who monitors the town pool?
     Do we as BOH pass on this information to the pool committee?
     FRCOG does their permitting. Testing is done weekly.
     BOH will pass this information to the current president of the pool association.
     
     DEP webpage on wells - history back to 1970’s
     Gina will share link to the site
     Laurie to update Conway information

5. Food services and inspections

   • General Discussion...
     Permit issued to Owl’s Nest Lodging
     
     Pending permits -
     Conway Grammar School, Natural Roots, A Country Retreat, Beaumont’s Berries,
     Sweet Sweets, Conway Sportsman’s Club
     Apparently not yet Baker’s or the Conway Inn

6. FRCOG contract renewal

   • General Discussion...
     Signed by Kathy, to be voted on by the Selectboard at their 12/30/24 meeting

7. Opioid fund expenditures - current and future

   • General Discussion...
     Recommendations pending from Hanna - will plan to present recommendations at Feb 10, 2025 BOH meeting.
     
     Narcan boxes have not yet arrived, pending signature of the agent who will be monitoring. Kat to follow up. Locations not yet finalized. Public Safety Building not yet built.

8. Monthly article for the Conway Currents / website

   • General Discussion...
     January content: drought and private wells safety

9. Unanticipated items of concern that arises after posting

   • General Discussion...
     Gina to meet with Randy about well regulations.
     
     Tobacco regulations - Daniel, Hanna
     Schedule time on January 13 agenda
     Question from Ilana: Does Kat need to recuse herself?
     Small town - everyone’s connected
     A question for others in town leadership, legal team
     Kat plans to recuse herself. Randy will guide BOH on how/what to do.
     
     Webinar training,
     January 16 2pm Zoom: NACCHO - Crisis Communication - partnering with emergency management, crafting clear, concise warnings, actionable response instructions, building trust (registration link in Dec 19 The Pulse newsletter)
     
     Hygiene kits for shelter - we have 24 now from MAPHCO, allotted to towns by population. To be stored at the school

10. Public comments

    • General Discussion...
      None

11. Meeting Wrap-up

    • Next Meetings:
      1. Mon, Jan 13, at 5:00 PM "Board of Health Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
      2. Mon, Jan 27, at 5:00 PM "Board of Health Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space
      3. Mon, Feb 10, at 5:00 PM "Board of Health Meeting" -- Town Hall Office Meeting Space

The listing of matters is those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.

Minutes prepared by Daniel Sheff