MINUTES OF MEETING
SHARON BOARD OF HEALTH
December 13, 2010
A meeting of the Sharon Board of Health was held on Monday, December 13, 2010, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Sharon Town Office Building. In attendance were Stan Rosen, Vice-Chair, Jay Schwab, and Suzi Peck.
D. J. Wilson: Discussion re Tobacco Regulations
D. J. Wilson, Tobacco Control Director and Public Health Liaison to the Mass. Municipal Association, provided a presentation. He reviewed that there has been
a recent movement toward banning the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.
This has taken place throughout Canada...in San Francisco...then Boston (77 pharmacies affected as of 2/11/09); Newton, Needham, Everett, Walpole, Lancaster. 97 pharmacies have been affected in MA...including all the chains. Includes big box stores...including Costco and Walmart. BJ’s has no pharmacies. This week D.J. will make presentations on this issue in Southboro and Somerville.
Stan Rosen asked how banning sale of tobacco products in pharmacies will help public health to reduce tobacco consumption?
D.J.Wilson: Fewer places you have that sell tobacco......fewer places kids can get cigarettes. Also, sales of cigarettes in pharmacies = .trigger for ex-smokers, e.g., to buy patch or nicotine gum they have to pass tobacco products. Also....does it make sense to sell cigarettes in front of store and inhalers in the back. Mass. Medical Association, American Public Health Association, agree that tobacco products should not be sold in pharmacies. D.J. stated that they have not seen anyone show up at hearings to testify; all have been in compliance by start date. Boston, which has an active tobacco program, has seen no complaints, violations, or suits. No evidence of stores opening up next door to pharmacies to take over the tobacco business. (So far 40 CVS and 11 Rite Aids have been
affected.)
Also: Sharon’s youth access regulation was one of the earliest...1995. D.J. can provide samples of updated regulations if the BOH wishes to incorporate the banning of sales in pharmacies; OR he can provide a separate regulation for the pharmacy ban.
Linda Rosen noted that, in recent years, pharmacies have wanted to be more of a partner in public health, e.g., providing flu vaccines and clinics; therefore, it doesn’t seem right for them to also sell tobacco products. She stated there are 2 pharmacies in Sharon...both selling tobacco products. There are a total of 6 tobacco sales licenses.
Stan Rosen stated that such a ban would reduce the number of stores that sell tobacco products in Sharon by a third. He noted that, since two board members are absent, the Board will wait to discuss this issue with a full board.
Former Horizons for Youth Property
Jay Schwab asked Jim Andrews for a recap/update on septic systems at former Horizons for Youth property. Jim responded that some have passed Title 5...the rest are all on cesspools. The town decided not to rent facilities tied to those cesspools. All the buildings to be used by Everwood Day Camp (6+ buildings) have been tied into 2 new septic systems, designed by BDO Engineering. Jim Andrews and Peter O’Cain conducted the inspection. At Jim Andrew’s request Peter O’Cain signed the inspection form. Suzi Peck asked that Jim Andrews have further discussion (with the Board) before signing over his authority.
Jim Andrews to provide number of campers and staff allowable.
As far as the Administration Building is concerned...proposed Montessori School....the system was approved by the BOH, but the town is renegotiating with the lessee.
Minutes of Meeting
VOTED: (Schwab/Rosen) unanimously to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 15, as amended.
Donations
VOTED: (Peck/Schwab) unanimously to accept donations in the amount of $215 for the purpose of defraying the cost of future flu clinics and other health promotions..and to deposit these funds into the Health clinics donation account.
Request for carryover of vacation hours
VOTED: (Peck/Schwab) unanimously to approve Sheila Miller’s request to carry over (use or lose) additional vacation hours into 2011. Linda Rosen stated that the additional number of hours (over the allowable 25 hours) will be no more than 25-30. The request will be forwarded to Ben Puritz and the Personnel Board.
Request to increase rate of “Interim Public Health Nurses”
Linda Rosen provided a proposal to increase the rate of the Interim Public Health Nurses (which are not covered by contract) from $21 (the rate determined by the BOH in 2002) to $24. The funding for these services is paid from the Health Revolving Fund.
VOTED: (Schwab/Rosen) unanimously to improve the modest increase...with clarification of the budgeting source, as presented.
School Food Service Permits
Stan Rosen noted that, following up on a question asked by Eric Hooper regarding why two licenses are required for the Community Center kitchens, but not for the schools, Linda Rosen surveyed the surrounding towns and found that each has separate licenses and PIC for each school. Carol Judd, Sharon School Department Food Service Director, there is already at least one certified food service person (the kitchen manager) in each school. There are 3 additional certified staff.
Suzi Peck stated that her opinion that we should leave things as they are, i.e., that all the kitchens are run by the school department..that it would be better to continue to deal with just one person if/when a problem arises. . Stan Rosen stated that we would still have the Food Service Director ...who oversees the entire program. He stated that he felt it would be better for each school to have its own license, e.g., what if only one school kitchen has a problem?
The Board deferred the discussion until there is a full board present.
Future meetings
Jay Schwab asked if the Board would consider changing the Feb. 28th and March 7th meetings to February 14 and March 7? Suzi Peck and Stan Rosen agreed. Linda Rosen will email Ed Welch and Andy Stead re their availability on those dates....before any change is made.
Jay Schwab also asked if the vote on chair and vice-chair could be postponed until he returns in February? The Board members agreed.
Potluck suppers
Suzi Peck noted that, following reading of legal opinion from DPH, she would like to look into possibility of allowing potluck suppers under the discretionary authority of the BOH. Linda Rosen noted the followup memo sent to Temple Sinai on this matter...stressing that potentially hazardous foods cannot be allowed; and that such potlucks may not be open to the public. She encouraged Suzi Peck to contact Kim Foley, Acting Chief of the DPH Food Protection Program.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM
| 
