Tuesday
May 2, 2007
Regular meeting of the Monson Board of Health was called to order by Chairman Gary Allard at 7:30 p.m. with members Robert Bator, Dr. Richard Smith, Jane Jacobs and Phyllis Klick present. Also present: Gregory Boyce for his interview for tobacco contract work in Monson, Kathleen C. Norbut, Coordinator for Hampden County Medical Reserve Corps, Jeremy Bedson, Emergency Management Director, and Lorri McCool, Health Inspector.
Mr. Gregory Boyce met with the Board to be interviewed for the Tobacco Grant position left vacant by Mr. Ernie May. Mr. Boyce is a full-time student and part-time police officer in Montague. Mr. Boyce had worked in Monson with Sarah McColgan when she was the Tobacco Grant Coordinator. After discussion, Dr. Smith moved to appoint Mr. Gregory Boyce to fill the vacancy, seconded by Mr. Bator and so voted. Mr. Boyce will contact Beverly Hirschhorn in Longmeadow for a list of the outstanding grant requirements in Monson.
The Board signed and initialed bills and necessary paperwork.
After review of the minutes of the previous meeting, Ms. Klick moved to accept the April 18, 2007 minutes, seconded by Mr. Bator and voted unanimously.
Lorri McCool met with the Board in conjunction with Ms. Norbut and Mr. Bedson to discuss the MRC as well as various other issues. Ms. McCool informed the Board that the situation involving Mr. Philip Mederios and his tenant Ms. Lynda Estridge, is no longer a Board of Health issue; it is now a tenant/landlord issue and the Board now has no authority. They will need to resolve it in court. Mr. Mederios has complied with all Board of Health directives.
Ms. McCool informed the Board that she was served papers today to give a deposition, along with members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, at Attorney Rooney’s office in Palmer on May 10th in regard to 78 Silver Street, property owned by Haley.
Kathleen Conley Norbut, Hampden County MRC Coordinator and Mr. Jeremy Bedson, Emergency Preparedness Director, met with the Board to discuss the MRC and to answer any questions the Board might have on the program. Ms. Norbut will hold this position until at least the end of August. Ms. Norbut stated that Monson has some volunteers that have signed up to serve on the MRC in case of an emergency. She further stated that Monson will need many more volunteers, and they will not necessarily need to have a medical background. They will need a CORI check done on any person who volunteers. Mr. Allard suggested that applications could be given out to interested parties on Saturday during Bulky Day.
Ms. Norbut brought up the subject of the bacterial meningitis exercise on April 12th at UMass. Boards were notified by email. Not everyone checks their email every day or many may not have access to email. Ms. Jacobs asked what would happen in an emergency without phones or email. The Board will have to discuss this and how to handle this situation. So many different groups and departments will need to coordinate and form one program for response. Mr. Bedson will be coordinating these departments.
Ms. Norbut also informed the Board that Sarah Ryan of WAQY/Rock 102FM in East Longmeadow would air an interview with Ms. Norbut in regard to the Medical Reserve Corps early morning on Sunday. Ms. Norbut will get a copy of the tape, which could be shown at a later time/date on MPACT channel.
Mr. Bedson informed the Board that the Fire Department call boxes will be eliminated in town. The Board requested the Fire Chief be asked if the siren could remain as the signal is loud and can be heard throughout town, which would prove to be helpful in an emergency. Mr. Bedson will check on this.
May 2, 2007 Page 2
Ms. Norbut asked the Board what their relationship is with the Monson Developmental Center. The Board informed Ms. Norbut that they met with Jane Arthur, and the Monson Developmental Center is very receptive with allowing a building for Monson to use as a dispensing site should the need arise. There is a large medical refrigerator in the Board of Health office, which should be moved to the dispensing site. Ms. Arthur will be asked to Emergency Preparedness meetings. Ms. Norbut will contact Ms. Arthur. The Board would like to meet again on this subject with Ms. Arthur; therefore, Ms. Norbot and Ms. McCool will contact her for an update.
Ms. McCool suggested to the Board that someone could be contacted and asked to come in to perform a tabletop exercise with the town to act out an emergency. The Board of Health thought this was a good idea. Mr. Bedson could set this up as the town’s Emergency Management Director. This could be coordinated with all town departments.
After discussion, the Board agreed that copies of the handout form seeking MRC volunteer will be handed out on Bulky Day to those who are interested. Letters will need to be sent out to medical personnel and asked if they are interested in volunteering. Ms. Jacobs offered to mail the letters out to medical personnel in a few weeks.
A phone call had been received in the Health office from the Department of Public Health in regard to a collection of needles on Hazardous Waste Day. Ms. Klick felt this was a good idea and will be in contact with the state department.
Ms. McCool also informed the Board that Monson has approximately $1,300 to spend from Hampden County Coalition. Ms. McCool suggested that a photo-copy machine could be purchased with these funds, as the secretary must leave the office vacant when she is running copies, i.e. preparing for a meeting, copies of septic information for residents, etc. Dr. Smith suggested the Board purchase chairs for the Board members and use the chairs they presently are using for visitors. The Board asked Ms. Taft to seek prices on photocopiers and chairs for the next meeting.
Ms. McCool has been working on the personal disaster preparedness brochure and she will email it to Ms. Taft, who will then forward it to Mr. Allard.
Responsibility of the Board of Health
Beavers – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
Body Art Regulations – Mr. Bator had nothing to report.
Bulky Day – Ms. Klick informed the Board members that the dumpsters are being delivered for the electronics. Barricades will be necessary for traffic control. Ms. Klick will speak to John Morrell and the Police Department on this. The Board members will meet on Saturday at the Town Office Building at 7:00 a.m.
Communicable Diseases/West Nile Virus – Ms. Jacobs had nothing to report.
Emergency Preparedness – Mr. Allard stated this had already been discussed.
Finances – Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
Floor Drains – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
Food Safety – Mr. Bator had nothing to report.
Hazardous Waste Day – Ms. Klick had nothing to report.
Health Fair – Ms. Jacobs had nothing to report.
Housing Safety – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
Press Relations – Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
Recycling – Ms. Klick had nothing to report.
Tobacco – Already discussed previously.
Trash – Ms. Klick had nothing to report.
Wells – Mr. Allard had nothing to report.
May 2, 2007 Page 3.
Discussion followed on the agenda item on the tobacco grant renewal for FY08. This will be placed on the agenda for the meeting of May 16th and Ms. Taft was asked to make a copy of last year’s suggestions/requests for the Board to review at the next meeting.
The Board read the correspondence.
Ms. Taft will contact Hampden Sign to ask if it is too late to add the location of Household Hazardous Day to the banner. Mr. Allard is scheduled to pick the banner up tomorrow.
At 9:30 p.m. Mr. Bator moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ms. Jacobs and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Monson Board of Health
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