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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health Meeting Minutes - 03 24 2010_201402051544358360BOARD OF HEALTH TOWN OF NANTUCKET MINUTES – MARCH 24, 2010 NANTUCKET SUPERIOR COURTROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Kopko, Ms. Roggeveen, Mr. Reinhard, Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Atherton. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. Chairman Kopko calls the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA I. Chairman Kopko asks for any comments/concerns from the public. None noted. II. Tick-Borne Disease Committee – Funding Discussion HO Ray introduces Dr. Malcolm MacNab, Chairman of the Tick-Borne Disease Committee who will present an overview of their Committee’s budget. Dr. MacNab presents his committee’s budget proposal to the BOH for their review and consideration. He mentions that there may be additions or deletions to this proposed budget relative to what the town would accept or prioritize as well as what the state may require the town to do (i.e. a survey of tick numbers ($20,000-$25,000) may or may not be included in the budget depending on state requirements). Chairman Kopko states that the BOH will need time to digest the information and will count on HO Ray to give the BOH guidance on this subject. HO Ray offers that an individual and a vehicle could address both tick-borne disease and mosquito control for the town but due to financial concerns, it may be a long-range plan to be taken on as the economy improves. Chairman MacNab mentions that although the deer reduction program was thought to be fairly inexpensive, there would be an individual needed to manage the program. He also states, with fair certainty relative to funding, that an individual can be found to perform disease surveillance. He also states an immediate request is that the town agrees to upgrade the education program. HO Ray agrees with the education upgrade request and feels it won’t burden the Health Department staff. There is discussion of an intern within the Health Department, but HO Ray states that hours of availability and housing are two concerns Nantucket would face. BOH Minutes -2- March 24, 2010 Ms. Roggeveen states that this is a good first step to putting forward what the town can do and how much it will cost for the future. Mr. Kopko mentions that the 2011 budget is set at this point. Mr. Reinhard states that he is concerned about the significant costs in the proposed budget and there is lots of competition for funds throughout the town. Chairman MacNab states that one example of fine tuning the budget is that the $22,000 deer reduction fee mainly consists of providing excess deer meat to the food bank ($70.00 per deer) and if someone volunteered to take care of this for the town, we could reconfigure that amount. Massachusetts does not currently allow excess deer meat to be given to a food bank. Mr. Atherton mentions that perhaps some neighborhood groups may step forward to fund some costs of this program. Chairman MacNab mentions the non-profit group on Shelter Island that has done so. III. Announcement – Home Rule Petition for separate Board of Health HO Ray announces that the Governor has signed the Home Rule Petition creating a separate Board of Health for the island. HO Ray thanks Mr. Curtis Barnes for his help in this endeavor, as well as Mr. Tim Madden. With regards to formation, HO Ray asks that applications for the Board of Health occur in August and appointment occur in September due to the busy summer season so that HO Ray can properly educate the new Board in the fall. BOH unanimously agrees to HO Ray’s request. HO Ray announces that on March 29th, there will be a meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the NHS cafeteria to ask questions of the Tick-Borne Disease Committee and HO Ray relative to the non-binding referendum question on reduction of tick-borne diseases. BOH is adjourned at 6:20 p.m.