Monday, December 9, 2024, 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm
Town Hall Office Meeting Space
A meeting of the Board of Health
Meeting opened: 5:05 PM
Meeting closed: 5:55 PM
Meeting Opened / Attendance Taken (see above).
Minutes Approved: Tue, Nov 12 - Board of Health Meeting
General Discussion...
16 system pumping record reports
Invoice Pioneer Women’s Health, Part of opioid settlement
$60 dues Mass Health Officers Association - renewed membership
General Discussion...
No report, Agent not present
General Discussion...
Kat - DPH meeting
Gina - Mass Health Officers Association meeting
Laurie will scan and email report, notes
Daniel - CPHS Oversight Board highlights
After Action Report on Mosquito Palooza
Approved recommendations:
Organizational changes - who is in the organization
Closer connection with emerg management directors EMDs
Each town ask for a meeting with EMD by April 15th - FRCOG can come
We may dedicate one CPHS oversight board meeting to meet with EMDs
*Budget
Overview - FRCOG collects fees from towns
Primarily from:
$163K from town assessments
$95,000 resident permit fees
FRCOG then leverages these to obtain grants, which provide services to towns at no added cost
Town fees pay for (only) 27% of the budget
$290K out of around $1M is paid by towns
The rest (73%) is grant-funded
FY26, starting July 2025
Conway assessment - FY25 assessment was $11,500
FY26: an inc of $300 to 11,800 (2.5% inc)
Primary driver of inc’d cost is health insurance costs (11% inc)
*Nursing Report
Vaccinating for Flu and COVID, not yet for RSV
COVID: Franklin county 22% vaccinated, much better than 16% state-wide
Flu: state and county both around 33%
Trend: fewer vaccines are being provided at clinics
Reasons:
less interest overall, esp in COVID
More people are getting vax at pharmacy
Mix of other factors
Getting only one at a time
Last year, vax were not available before clinics - a lot of demand at clinics
This year, planned vax clinics in Oct, then vax’s were available in Sept
So less demand for clinics
FRCOG nurses aggressively getting to vulnerable homebound residents
Do a lot of home visits - central part of the program often find another need to address once they are there
Takes a lot of time, dollars, effort for each mobile vaccine clinic
Is it worth it?
FRCOG stands in support of public health measures
A model of public health
so continue
General Discussion...
Infectious Diseases:
Bird flu (Avian flu) - risk is increasing - NY Times article 11.26.24
Concern for next pandemic
Pertussis/Whooping cough - increasing in adolescents in MA, not locally
Walking Pneumonia, Mycoplasma bacteria - being seen locally, tho rates unknown bc not required to report
Clade 1 mpox - 1st case in CA in November
COVID: rates are very low, expected to rise in January
Vaccine rate for town 30.4%, higher than state-wide
Flu: rates rising slowly
Vaccine rate 36.2%, higher than state-wide
RSV:
Vaccine rate 31.6%
Tick-borne diseases:
2024 so far: 149 cases in CPHS areas (Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, other)
Lower rate than last year
Drought: still at critical level
Upcoming programs/trainings: (to be posted on BOH website)
Tuesday, December 10: Public Health Nurse Meg Ryan will represent the Cooperative Public Health Service at the Senior Resource Fair, hosted at Greenfield Community College from 12 - 2pm. The Fair will host local organizations that enhance the quality of life of older adults through engagement or support.
Thursday, December 12: At 6pm (online) there's a Tobacco Control Workshop for Boards of Health. Learn more about emerging nicotine products, the role of the local board of health, and what services are available to your town through the Mass Health Officers Association and the Pioneer Valley Tobacco Control Coalition. Info and RSVP at this link.
Reducing Harm, Promoting Safety: A Public Health Perspective on Firearms
12/19 Virtual Quarterly Meeting Registration now open!
Title: Reducing Harm, Promoting Safety: A Public Health Perspective on Firearms
Date and Time: December 19, 10 am - 11:30 am, virtual
Speakers:
Kathleen Berry, MA Public Education Lead, Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention
Heidi Porter, MPH, REHS/RS, Director of Health and Human Services, Town of Bedford
Learning Objectives: At the end of this training program, participants will be able to:
Explain facts and trends from gun violence research
Describe prevention strategies and community engagement programs
Identify resources to support harm reduction
Model Tobacco Sales Regulation Information Training
Registration is now open for three available dates
Description: This program will provide an overview of the new model tobacco sales regulations with technical assistance providers. It will also go over policy and strategy recommendations for improving local tobacco control. The most recent model regulations will be provided to attendees following the course.
This information is being provided for legal educational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. Legal advice can only be provided by your municipal attorney.
Date and Time:
Friday, December 13th, 2024 at 10 am
Monday, December 16, 2024 at 9:30am
Monday, January 6, 2025 at 1pm
Learning Objectives:
Review of tobacco control model regulation with technical assistance providers
Education on how to work with your board of health on adopting or updating your tobacco sales regulations
New policy recommendations and strategies.
General Discussion...
Randy - renewal season; Baker’s to be renewed
Shelburne Falls Rd - Randy sent letter, never heard back from her
Anecdotally, she has not had food out for sale recently
General Discussion...
None
General Discussion...
Three applications ready for signature. Signed by Kathy and Gina, Emily can sign soon (by Dec. 31st)
General Discussion...
11/25 balance $34,156.11
After 7413.99 payment for defibrillators
Invoice outstanding for Pioneer Women’s Health
Ending balance of $27,997.11
That will be available for Conway to spend
Hanna will look into further programs and bring recommendations to the Board
General Discussion...
Chief Bates - report of couple living at Earthworks camp
No heat, electricity, potable water
FRCOG to visit the site - Randy will follow up
Can’t have temp housing without approval from BOH
General Discussion...
Tabled to next meeting
Randy - DEP regs in newspaper
Give them advance notice of public hearing
Could do with BOH meeting - post it as a 5:30 hearing
Randy or Ilana will be present - will affirm it was advertised and that Baker’s was advised
Also advise how to open, conduct and close the meeting
General Discussion...
Tabled - waiting to hear back from EMD/Amanda
General Discussion...
Hanna and Daniel to submit and share with the Board
Kat has resigned from Conway Currents
General Discussion...
Carl submitted his resignation to the Board - moving to Buckland - Effective 12/31/2024
Kat proposes that we turn permitting services to FRCOG
May reduce our assessment further
Discussion
FRCOG lead time for plan review, perc tests, soil tests currently about 3 weeks, down from about a month, Less for emergencies
Final inspections: 48 hrs
Title V - FRCOG witnesses them - Gina offering to review them as they arrive
Local upgrade approvals
Gina recommends they come before the Board to comply with code
Private wells
Consider if Conway should have our own regs or adopt FRCOG
FRCOG will proceed with ours or theirs as we choose
Gina to discuss with Randy
If not FRCOG, Conway would have to search for another agent
Hard to find, likely to cause significant delays
Single agent - delays if they are away
FRCOG - multiple agents available
Motion to expand contract with FRCOG, seconded by Hanna
Approved unanimously
FRCOG will take over effective 01/01/2025
MOTION, moved by Kathy Llamas, seconded by Hanna Sherman: to expand contract with FRCOG.
Pass: Aye: Kathy Llamas, Hanna Sherman, Regina McNeely, Daniel Sheff. Not Present: Emily Sweet.
General Discussion...
None
Minutes prepared by Daniel Sheff
Minutes approved on Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025
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