| The meeting convened at 2:00 PM. Present
were Chairman Louis Fazen, III, Members Ruth C. Brefka,
and Nancy A. Sacco, Public Health Director Paul C. Pisinski,
Administrative Assistant Barbara M. Luther and Leslie Chamberlin,
Public Health Nurse
The minutes of the December 14, 2005 and January 8, 2006
were approved with one clarification.
Vouchers totaling $397.98 were approved for payment from
the Board of Health Budget.
PETITIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
None scheduled for this meeting
REPORT ON CORE DIRECTIVES
Tobacco Control – Latest Tobacco
Compliance Check (1/27 thru 1/29) 100% compliance no violations.
Mrs. Sacco shared the information she had found regarding
the rate at which Massachusetts kids are using tobacco products.
She noted that smoking kills more people in Massachusetts
than accidents, alcohol, AIDS and drugs, or murders combined.
Mr. Pisinski noted lobbyist efforts and successes in diverting
tobacco funding away from prevention and educations programs
to almost any other deficit programs. He advised that it
was only after the State government realized that they could
lose funding in litigation that they reinstated programs
in larger cities for compliance checks. Southborough has
joined with Worcester in compliance checks, but there still
is no money for education. Mrs. Sacco advised that she had
not had success in locating Ms. S. Webb regarding the calendar
program and Southborough School’s participation in
it. Dr. Fazen gave Mrs. Sacco a number by which to reach
her and Mrs. Sacco will speak to Ms. Webb at the Massachusetts
Medical Society about the program as well as requesting
any additional information she might have on smoking education.
Mrs. Brefka would like to see if there is any feed back
regarding the effect of the calendar program.
Emergency Preparedness
Board Members were given a copy of an application to participate
in an Avian Flu preparedness conference. Mr. Pisinski has
signed up for the March 7th conference and Mrs. Sacco filled
out an enrollment for the March 21st conference. Both will
be held at the Shrewsbury Town Hall. Mrs. Chamberlin has
already attended a conference on preparing for and handling
a pandemic. She advised that it appears that Natick, Framingham
and Grafton are the only towns right now that seem to have
begun an Emergency Preparedness planning. Dr. Fazen noted
that the Governor of Massachusetts is scheduled to speak
on Avian Flu. He will try to find out when and would like
to attend the session. The focus appears to still be on
individual towns, which are divided in regions for Police,
and Fire and Public Health none of which are coterminous.
Mr. Pisinski explained that the Local Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC) was Southborough’s most active emergency
preparedness group, but has not met regularly since the
coordinator retired. He was from the fire department and
they are in the process of employing someone to fill his
position. The position of LEPC Coordinator was a full-time
40 hour per week position, and also fills in on fire department
calls. Noting that the Fire Departments focus is more on
disaster response, Mrs. Chamberlin shared her concern that
the Southborough Board of Health, which the State has charged
with public health emergency preparedness, does not have
medical staff ready to volunteer. Dr. Fazen suggested that
the Board make use of the town’s cable access and
the Emergency Planning mailing to encourage people to volunteer
for an Reserve Emergency Response Corp. as well as volunteers
to greet, organize, and carryout other functions needed
in a situation where mass inoculations were needed or during
some other type of medical emergency requiring a community
response. The Governor is proposing a bill that will protect
individuals who might participate in such a service to the
community, much like the “Good Samaritan Law”.
Dr. Fazen moved that the Board of Health request a meeting
with the LEPC. Mr. Pisinski explained that the LEPC would
not be involved in something like the avian flu, but would
take over as command center during a disaster with the Board
of Health being responsible for public health issues. Mr.
Pisinski has taken a course on National Incident Management
Systems (NIMS), which teachs those involved in an emergency
the proper terminology to use and the chain of command.
It is believed that all members of the Board and staff will
be required to take the course. Chief Mauro will inform
the office when the next course is scheduled. The Board
asked the Administrative Assistant to send him a note expressing
their interest.
Dr. Fazen shared a conversation he had with Doug Haley of
Acton regarding the “Call-Down System” that
Region 4A coordinators are asking for. When asked what happened
if people on the list were away, Mr. Haley said that phones
just don’t get answered. Mr. Pisinski explained a
time when the town in which he was a member of the Board
of Health had a rabid possum and found that people at the
State Laboratory were not available 24/7. Public Health
clinicians look at 24/7 differently than hospital staff
and private medical practices. Dr. Fazen reminded members
and staff of the “call card” for the State Lab
which promises a 24/7 answer. Each member, the Public Health
Director and Public Health Nurse all have one. The Southborough
“Call-Down List” was sent to Region 4A and lists
the Board Chairman as the first on the list, the next longest
serving member second on the list, and the newest member
third on the list.
Board Members and Staff to sign Region 4A Non-Disclosure
Document – Board Members and Staff signed
Non-Disclosure Documents.
Mutual Aid Agreement
The members received and quickly reviewed the Mutual Aid
Agreement. Mr. Pisinski explained that a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) is not the same as a Mutual Aid Agreement. The MOU
is often a precursor to a Mutual Aid Agreement, which must
be approved by the governing bodies of both or all towns
involved in the agreement. The MOU expresses interest in
having a Mutual Aid Agreement. Often times participant towns
require the town receiving aid to pay their personnel. All
these issues must be looked into, resolved and brought before
the Town Meeting. Dr. Fazen said that he spoke with Mark
Orham, the Public Health Director in Ashland. Dr. Fazen
advised that Mr. Orham said that he believed both Ashland
and Hopkinton would be interested in having a MOU with Southborough.
Dr. Fazen and Mr. Orham further discussed the possibility
of the three towns having one person to inspect restaurants,
one to handle Septic issues, etc. rather that having one
person wearing several hats. Dr. Fazen would like to have
a copy of the MOU available at the next meeting. Mr. Pisinski
explained that it really is not the department heads that
would make the decision to even begin the process of combining
the three towns Board of Health Services, but the elected
Board Members. Mr. Pisinski explained that when Nashoba
Valley towns joined together, none of the towns had any
staff. Without this type of scenario most towns are very
parochial and don’t want to loose staff by merging
with other towns for their daily responsibilities. Mr. Pisinski
will contact his counter parts in each town and will get
the names and telephone numbers of the Chairmen for each
town. Dr. Fazen moved that he be authorized to contact the
Chairs of Ashland and Hopkinton to see if within the next
two years Southborough and the other two towns develop a
collaborative. Mrs. Brefka suggested the two year time span
for beginning to develop a collaborative due to the many
responsibilities on the Board to put together an Emergency
Preparedness Plan as soon as possible.
The Board Members will review the Mutual Aid Agreement model
provided by Region 4A before the next meeting. Dr. Fazen
asked if Town Counsel could review the Agreement before
the next meeting. He moved that the Southborough Board of
Health agree to form a Mutual Aid Agreement with another
town or towns in Region 4A after Town Counsel reviews and
approves the document. The motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Fazen also suggested that the Board block one full hour
during an upcoming meeting to discuss only the Emergency
Dispensing Site Plan.
Wellness/Obesity
Mrs. Brefka asked if there is anything from the Massachusetts
Association of Boards of Health or the Department of Public
Health that the Board might be able to give to the Schools
regarding obesity. Mrs. Sacco advised that from what she
has seen the schools are doing a good job. Mrs. Chamberlin
agreed that schools are spending a lot of time on Health
and Obesity. Mrs. Sacco offered to look on the web site
for information on obesity.
Executive Session – 4:30 PM Under M.G.L. Chapter 39,
S23B 9 Chairman, Dr. Fazen moved to close the regularly
scheduled meeting and entered into Executive Session under
the above mentioned Chapter and Section. Mrs. Sacco and
Mrs. Brefka voted, yea. The Board ended the Executive Session
and resumed the regular meeting at 4:40 PM.
BUDGET
Public Health Director’s Contract – Dr. Fazen
explained changes in the wording to Mr. Pisinski’s
contract that stated that Mr. Pisinski could only work 750
hours per year and not exceed 15 per week. This was added
to ensure that he would not work over the limit established
by the Retirement Program. After much discussion regarding
the type of schedule needed for Mr. Pisinski to properly
fulfill his charge of overseeing Septic System Issues, the
Board voted unanimously to delete the 15 hour per week limitation.
Attorney Siegel also had removed Mr. Pisinski’s eligibility
to receive the Town’s Longevity Payment and the Board
voted unanimously to reinstate that town wide benefit for
full-time personnel. Dr. Fazen will have a letter sent under
his signature explaining the changes that the Board has
voted. The letter will also ask attorney Siegel to return
the contract with the changes incorporated and signed, so
that the Board can execute the contract at their next meeting.
Upcoming meeting with Advisory Committee – Mr. Pisinski
advised the members that the Warrant for the budget goes
to the printer on February 22, 2006. However, he has not
been able to get a date and time from the Advisory Committee
regarding the Board of Health’s appearance before
them. He requested that as many members as possible attend
the meeting because their input as residents and elected
officials is what is needed to advocate for the proposed
budget. Dr. Fazen explained to Mrs. Chamberlin that the
request for her additional 2 hours per week is likely to
be included on a 2 ½ override article. Mr. Pisinski
provided the Board Members with a recapitulation of the
budget as the year draws to a close and showed areas within
the budget that will be overdraw, but are balance by areas
of the budget that will have funds remaining at the end
of the year. The negative balance is estimated at -$2,521
and the positive balance in other line items is projected
at $3,253. This means that the department should be able
to continue to pay for the Public Health Nurses hours, for
the extra cost of gasoline and other unexpected expenses,
while still returning approximately $700 back to the general
fund at the end of the fiscal year. Mrs. Chamberlin explained
the list of reportable diseases as mandated by the State
Department of Public Health. She explained that as long
as nothing happens, such as a TB case or some other large
contagious outbreak the town will be okay, but even one
TB case can eat up several hours each week for several weeks
to insure that the patient takes proper medications. Mrs.
Sacco will speak for the Board at the Advisory Committee
meeting regarding the nursing issue. Mrs. Chamberlin explained
a campylobacter case that occurred in Southborough. The
patient was a food handler at two restaurants in other towns,
and lied to the doctor about the occupation. The patient
attempted to hide the facts from Mrs. Chamberlin also, but
through her follow-up the restaurants were inspected, the
person was found to be a food handler and was pulled out
of work until a negative specimen was provided. There have
also been two cases of malaria in Southborough recently
as well as pertusis cases. The Board was also advised that
it was problems which occurred due to lack of inspections
that caused Westboro to increase the staff at their Board
of Health many years ago.
NEW BUSINESS
Emergency Planning Brochures - Dr. Fazen requested 1,200
brochures, however, it has been determined that there are
4600 households in Southborough. Mr. Pisinski was asked
to contact Ruth-Ellen Sandler and other towns to see if
they have any extra brochures that Southborough can have.
If no other brochures can be located a decision will be
made at the next meeting as to how to distribute the brochures
we have. Dr. Fazen would also like to include information
on the Reserve Emergency Response Corp. in hopes of recruiting
individuals.
Public Safety/Highway Safety Initiative
“Focus Shifts to Parents” Dr. Fazen has found
that the regional high school is forming a group to look
into drinking and driving, and the use of seat belts among
our young people. He would like the Board Members to be
involved in this issue as part of the Public Safety/Highway
Safety initiative. There is a meeting to be held at the
high school of February 9, 2006 to discuss what parents
and the community can do to help our young people. Mrs.
Luther was asked to contact the Superintendent of Schools
and let him know that the Chairman of the Southborough Board
of Health would be in attendance, and will be prepared to
participate in the meeting.
CTY Phone System
Mr. Pisinski attended a presentation of this phone system.
This system is similar to “reverse 911” but
better. Messages can be sent to every household in town
or to a specific demographic area, either mechanically or
using a recorded message. The School Department has this
system and uses it to inform parents of school cancellations
and school committee meetings. This is something that emergency
planning people are looking into purchasing. The cost right
now is $16,560 per year ($3.60 per household per year).
Environmental Consultant on a Retainer
Mr. Pisinski reported that the Board of Selectmen removed
the Board of Health Article requesting $10,000 to have an
environmental consultant escrow account. The Board of Selectmen
amended their article to include the Board of Health as
having access to their account to hire a consultant if needed.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM
Respectfully submitted by: Barbara M. Luther, Administrative
Assistant to the Board of Health
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