Wednesday
November 4, 2009
Regular meeting of the Monson Board of Health was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Dr. Richard Smith. Members present: Margaret Harrison, Jane Jacobs and Phyllis Klick. Member absent: Gary Allard. Also present was Health Agent, Lorri McCool, and School Nurse, Karen Fedora.
Ms. McCool and Ms. Fedora met with the Board to discuss the H1N1 flu and how it is affecting the schools. Ms. McCool informed the Board that shipments of the vaccine will be made over time. Every week the Board must register with the state how many doses of the vaccine are given and to which age group. Dr. Smith asked Ms. McCool if she has been notified by the Superintendent, Patrice Dardenne, of the number of school children who have become ill. Ms. McCool informed him that she has been notified by Mr. Dardenne and she does speak to him a few times a week. Dr. Smith would like the Board to be kept apprised of the absenteeism from the schools. He asked Ms. Taft to email Mr. Dardenne and ask him to email the Board of Health once a week on the number of ill children absent from school. These emails will be forwarded to Board members.
Ms. Fedora informed the Board that Mr. David Norton, the School Physician, is willing to help out. He is a great resource if the Board needs him. .
Ms. McCool and Ms. Fedora discussed with the Board how the inoculations would be administered. Information would be given to the press and M-PACT notifying women who were pregnant and had not seen their OBGYN to contact the Board of Health if they were interested in receiving the vaccine. The Board will need their names, addresses and phone numbers. Ms. Fedora stated she and two nurses would give the inoculations. The clinics can be held at the school as she has already gotten permission for this. For children who will need two doses, we can give the first dose, and then notify them when the second dose comes in.
Ms. Fedora explained that hand sanitizers were in place and children are encouraged to wash their hands frequently. Last Tuesday (60) children were out at Quarry Hill, on Wednesday (120) were out and this Tuesday (220) were ill. If there is a large number of children out ill, schools will have to close, and as there are only three nurses, if two are out sick, the schools would have to close. This week the bus drivers are being hit with the H1N1 flu. (15) Children were sent home from school, as it hits very quickly. They leave home fine and are ill within a few hours. Some doctors are giving out Tamaflu and are suggesting that even if they had the flu before, they will still need the H1N1 shot.
Ms. McCool and Ms. Fedora discussed the order for inoculations – pregnant women, nurses, high risk students and pre-schoolers. With the first batch of vaccine, pregnant women who have not received the shot from their OB/GYN may call in and register with the Board of Health if they are interested in receiving the shot. The shots take (10) to (12) days to work. We will need to know their names, addresses and phone numbers.
The Board thanked Ms. McCool and Ms. Fedora for attending the meeting and keeping them up to date on the vaccine.
Ms. McCool also informed the Board that she has inspected all the schools, as well as Maria’s Pizzeria and Big Jimmy’s Pizzeria, both on Palmer Road, and they all passed inspection.
November 4, 2009 Page 2
The Board read and reviewed the minutes of October 21, 2009. Ms. Harrison moved to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Dr. Smith and so voted.
Board of Health responsibilities:
- Beavers – There was nothing to report.
- Body Art Regulations – There was nothing to report.
- Bulky Day – Someone had suggested to Dr. Smith at the last Bulky Day that it would be better if the tent was moved to the back and cars go around the school in reverse direction from what they travel now. Ms. Taft was asked to contact Mr. Allard for the names of the two people who put up the tent so thank you letters can be sent to them.
- Communicable Disease – Ms. Jacobs informed the Board that there were (7) reported cases of Lyme disease and (2) Hepatitis C’s.
- Emergency Preparedness – Ms. Harrison informed the Board that the last meeting was cancelled.
- Finances – Dr. Smith had nothing to report.
- Floor Drains – There was nothing to report.
- Food Safety – There was nothing to report.
- Hazardous Waste Day – At the last meeting Mr. Allard had asked if one could be held by using funds from the trash program. Also, it was suggested that the residents pay for the service.
- Health Fair – There was nothing to report.
- Housing Safety – There was nothing to report.
- Medical Reserve Corps – Ms. Harrison and Ms. Jacobs are going to a meeting in Chicopee on Monday.
- Outdoor Hydronic Heaters – Ms. Taft reported that one day last week Mr. Cardano had stopped in the office and spoken to Ms. McCool. He wished to give her a “heads-up” as the Smiths were using their boiler, and he thought they were using coal as they have no visible seasoned wood.
- Press Relations – A press release will be sent to the papers in regard to the H1N1 vaccine for pregnant women.
- Recycling – Ms. Klick informed the Board that she felt that possibly there could be a recycling center at the site of the Monson Developmental Center when it closes. Perhaps Palmer would join Monson and it could be feasible as a regional site. A possible benefit would be selling the material for profit. We would have to have approval from the state to do this.
- Tobacco – There was nothing to report.
- Trash – Ms. Taft asked how to handle complaints from neighbors who are complaining because someone has placed large items on the tree belt, which will not be taken away by Allied Waste. She was asked to send letters directing them to take the item in and bring it to Bulky Day in the spring.
- Wells – There was nothing to report.
November 4, 2009 Page 3.
The Board signed all correspondence and initialed all bills.
The Board read and responded to the correspondence.
At 8:45 p.m. Ms. Harrison moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ms. Jacobs and voted unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Monson Board of Health
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