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TOWN OF MILLIS
BOARD OF HEALTH
Minutes of Meeting August 5, 2015
A meeting of the Board of Health was held on Monday, August 5, 2015, at the Veterans Memorial Building, Room #229, Millis, Massachusetts. Present were Barbara Thissell, Director; Bonnie Hilton, Chair; Kathleen Lannon and Brian Hoell, Board Members; and Vickie Philben, Administrative Assistant.
Also present: D.J. Wilson, Mass Municipal Association (MMA), representing
Tobacco 21.
Mr. Hoell moved to open the Millis Board of Health meeting at 7:01 p.m.
It was seconded by Mrs. Lannon. It was voted 3-0 to open the meeting.
Administrative Business:
Approval of Minutes:
July 20, 2015 – It was moved by Mrs. Lannon and seconded by Mr. Hoell to approve the July 20, 2015 minutes as amended. Mrs. Lannon, Ms. Hilton, and Mr. Hoell voted affirmative, 0 negative.
Nurse’s Report: The monthly report of the Public Health Nurse was reviewed.
The nurse’s report included an informational pamphlet entitled, “Firefighters and Bladder Cancer – Collaborations in Screening.” The Millis Fire Chief has requested the Health Department perform bladder cancer screenings for the Millis fire fighters. The Fire Department would pay for the cost of the screening materials. The Board voiced support of this effort.
New Business:
- Food Recalls – see attached.
- Food Inspections – Ms. Thissell summarized food establishment inspections completed since July 20, 2015:
- July 21 – Amvets
- July 21 – Sportsman’s Lounge
- July 27 – Marinho’s Pizzeria
- July 28 – Louie’s Pizzeria
- August 4 – Twist Bakery
- August 4 – Millis House of Pizza
- August 4 – Dunkin Donuts
- August 5 – Louie’s Pizzeria
- August 5 – Lilac House
- Temporary Food Event Permits
- Septic Improvements – Ms. Thissell summarized ongoing septic system improvements and/or inspections completed since July 20, 2015:
- 30 Brookview Road; Passed July 13, 2015
- 37 Cole Avenue; Passed July 22, 2015
- 23 Crestview Drive; Conditional Pass July 15, 2015
- Septic System Construction:
- 38 Dover Road; Disposal Septic Construction Permit issued July 23, 2015
- 19 Forest Road; Excavation inspection July 24, 2015
- 9 Cedar Street; Installation inspection July 29, 2015
- Various Complaints Received:
- 10 Crestview Drive – Hornets’ nest near utility pole
- McDonald’s – Men’s room sink is unclean
- 109 Acorn Street – Ponding issue
- Lumpy’s Liquors – Tobacco License
- 101 Dover Road – 10-Day Emergency Beaver Permit
Other:
- Shingles Vaccine – Ms. Thissell stated that the Metro West Foundation will be accepting grant applications in the fall. A grant application for shingles vaccines would need to demonstrate sustainability which may be difficult to achieve. Ms. Thissell further stated that if the Board decides to pursue the grant, the application would include a request for funding of a new refrigerator for the shingles vaccine. Mrs. Lannon stated that she did not support the Board of Health providing shingles shots to residents. Mrs. Lannon stated that the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program of the Department of Health and Human Services only covers flu and pneumococcal vaccines. Mrs. Lannon stated that the Board would be assuming liability for the shingles vaccine. Mr. Hoell agreed that the Board should not risk the
liability of providing shingles shots and further noted that the cost of the vaccine is prohibitive. The Board agreed that it would not be offering shingles vaccines to residents at this time.
- Food Inspections – Ms. Thissell commended Mr. DeLuca for the food inspections conducted, and clarity of reports completed.
- 109 Acorn Street – The owner of 109 Acorn Street left a phone message stating that home improvements completed at 111 Acorn Street are causing ponding on her property. Ms. Thissell forwarded the phone message to Mr. Giampietro, Building Inspector.
- Lumpy’s Liquors – Lumpy’s Liquors received a Tobacco License for its new location in Centennial Place. The opening date has not been determined yet.
- Bat issue – A Millis resident residing at 120 Norfolk Road called on August 5, 2015. A bat was found in her house early Wednesday morning. She called the Health Department who put her in touch with Brenda Hamelin, Animal Control Officer. Ms. Hamelin discussed the situation with the resident. There were four people sleeping in the home when the bat was discovered. The resident did not know if the bat had come into contact with any of the residents. The bat was not captured and therefore it could not be determined if the bat was rabid. Ms. Hamelin directed the resident to call the State Epidemiology Department for guidance and furnished the telephone number.
- A resident called the office regarding mosquitoes several months ago. At that time she was directed to contact the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District to request mosquito control treatment. The resident called to say that the treatments were very successful and that she is very grateful to the Department.
- Health Fair – The Millis Health Fair is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 17, 2015. It will coincide with the Millis Flu Clinic.
- Medical Marijuana – The Millis Board of Selectmen met Monday, August 3, 2015. On the agenda was a discussion with a potential Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD). After discussion, the applicant received a letter of support from the Millis Board of Selectmen to the State permitting agency.
- Lyme disease – Mrs. Lannon, Board Member, Ms. Thissell, Health Director, and Ms. Drogosz, Health Intern, met with Massachusetts Fish & Wildlife to discuss the Town’s Lyme disease control efforts and the possibility of implementing a deer reduction program. The State stated that the number of deer per square mile is currently too high and should be reduced for the benefit of the ecosystem. Questions regarding access to private property and land owned by the Army Corp of Engineers, as well as other questions remain unanswered.
- Millis Board of Health Facebook page – A grant from Mass Health Officers Association (MHOA) was awarded to hire a graduate student to create a Facebook page. Ms. Hilton asked if the intern could also create a web site. Ms. Thissell will follow up with the MHOA and the Town Administrator. Ms. Hilton offered to work with the intern on creating these communication vehicles so as not to add extra work to the Board of Health staff.
- Ms. Hilton informed the Board that she attended a Home Safety workshop presentation from Chris Soffayer, Millis Police Officer, who introduced the Millis Police Department webpage. Ms. Hilton stated that she would like to see the Health Department create a similar site that would link to the Town website. Ms. Thissell will follow up on this request.
Scheduled Public Hearings & Discussions:
7:30 p.m. – Tobacco 21 Hearing - Present was: D.J. Wilson, Mass Municipal Association (MMA).
Mrs. Lannon moved to open the Tobacco 21 Hearing at 7:30 p.m.
It was seconded by Ms. Hilton and voted 3-0 to open the hearing.
Draft copies of the “Regulations of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products” were available to the public.
Ms. Thissell summarized minor edits to the draft regulations including the addition of a statement that the new regulations replace all previous tobacco related regulations in their entirety.
Ms. Thissell also distributed an Employee Affidavit form which will be given to the tobacco establishments for all employees to sign once they’ve read and understood the “Regulations of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products” and the State and Federal Tobacco Laws regarding the sale of tobacco products.
Ms. Hilton informed the Board that City of Boston Mayor Walsh announced today, August 5, 2015, that he is seeking to file an ordinance banning the use of “smokeless tobacco products” in sports venues across the city.
Ms. Hilton expressed interest in adding language, after appropriate public notice, to the tobacco regulations prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in public places and establishing smoke-free buffer zones around the entrances to public buildings. Mrs. Lannon expressed concern that the Board needed time to work out important details for these provisions to the regulations – such as enforcement and the levying of fines. Mr. Hoell concurred with Mrs. Lannon that additional thought should be put into these additional tobacco provisions. It was agreed that the Board would reconsider revisions to the tobacco regulations in six months
Mr. Wilson, MMA, informed the Board that a Metro West Tobacco Coalition representative will be available to visit the retailers with the new regulations, explain retailers’ new responsibilities, perform compliance checks, and enforce the new regulations. Mr. Wilson distributed a document entitled, “Checklist for Policy Decisions that make the Local Regulation Stricter than State Law” to the Board. The document provides smoke-free buffer zone language. Mr. Wilson also provided a list of municipalities that have approved local tobacco regulations.
Mr. Wilson said that he would contact Ms. Thissell with post-enactment procedures that are to be followed once the new regulations are approved.
The Board agreed to make the “Regulations of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products” effective November 1, 2015.
Mrs. Lannon made a motion to approve the “Regulations of the Millis Board of Health Restricting the Sale of Tobacco Products” to be effective on November 1, 2015. Mr. Hoell seconded the motion. It was voted 3-0.
Next Scheduled Meeting: Monday, September 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 213
At 8:23 p.m. Mr. Hoell moved to close the August 5, 2015 Board of Health meeting. Mrs. Lannon seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously to close the hearing, 3-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
Vickie L. Philben
Millis Board of Health
Administrative Assistant
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