The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Ronald Broman. Also present were members Edward Sheehan, Mary Ann Gray, Ted Whittaker, Allen Ward, Health Agent Judith Giorgio and Secretary Dianne Langlois. The minutes of October 19, 2009 were approved. The correspondence was reviewed.
Action Items
Potassium Iodide: Distribution in progress.
Chatham Medical Reserve Corps; Public Health Emergency Plan.
Update with Jean Roma, MRC;
Jean Roma introduced herself to the BoH as the new Medical Reserve Corp. Barnstable County Dept. of Health volunteer coordinator for the Cape towns. She updated the BoH on the status of the MRC program at this time.
Jean understood the BoH frustration with the previous coordinator and the delays associated with updating the volunteer’s data base. Jean stated that her staff and herself have been and will continue working on updating and processing the volunteers applications.
Jean stated that there are 44 MRC in Massachusetts and since Governor Patrick and President Obama have declared MA State of Emergency related to the H1N1 pandemic it has activated the local MRC. There are 15 communities on the Cape. With this activation of MRC it also means liability coverage for MRC volunteers and other volunteers under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Jean noted that the MRC still needs clinical and non-clinical volunteers. MRC volunteers are primarily retired personnel and it would be great to recruit some younger volunteers as well.
Jean informed the staff and public that she had met with Judy Giorgio, Allen Ward and Mary Ann Gray who are on the Chatham Steering Committee and came up with some areas of where volunteers would still be needed.
- behavioral health components
- interpolator services
- strengthen volunteer commitments
- action plan
Jean stated that there are 6 large regional shelters on Cape Cod which is easier to staff with volunteers. Cape Cod Regional Tech in Harwich and Dennis-Yarmouth are the two closest to Chatham.
Mary Ann Gray suggested putting together a brochure with information related to what belongings to bring to the shelter.
Ron Broman stated the importance of Chatham being self sufficient when an emergency occurs. Jean Roma and BoH concurred.
Ron questioned if volunteers would be covered by liability and by whom. Jean handed out information of coverage for volunteers under Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Ron Broman suggested scheduling an MRC volunteer training session.
Jean Roma informed the BoH that progress in being made and will continue to work with Health Agents Coalition and towns steering committees. She further stated that she also wishes to work on a strategic plan for the next several years.
Review revisions to: Real Estate Transfer Regulations;
Present: Gloria Freeman
The BoH is in receipt of the most recent revisions to the regulations which was discussed and reviewed.
Ron Broman suggested that Section 3; General Requirements & Transfer of Title
3.2 g. which read: transaction involving properties where all the structures are connected to the Town of Chatham Municipal Sewage System be removed.
The BoH briefly discussed and agreed to remove.
Ron felt that in section 8 Penalties wording should be added “by the Board of Health at a legally notified hearing.” Ron noted that he wanted the person to appear before the BoH who then if deemed necessary would issue the fine.
Ed Sheehan stated that he felt section 7; Enforcement addresses the fines.
The BoH and Health Agent discussed the penalties section in length. It was then agreed that the wording be added.
Gloria Freeman suggested that the wording be added after the word “appropriate” instead of after “enforcement”. The BoH agreed.
Section 8; Penalties to read:
To provide for more effective enforcement of this regulation, where judged appropriate by the Board of Health at a legally notified hearing, the use of non-criminal dispositions shall be implemented for enforcement.
Judy is to revise and distribute regulation for BoH review before the public hearing scheduled on November 23, 2009.
Adjourned: 8:50 p.m.
Approved: December 14, 2009
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