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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 18, 2021 BOH Minutes for March 18,2021,adopted Apr. 15 BOARD OF HEALTH Meeting ~ Town of Nantucket 3 East Chestnut Street r �\ Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554 www.nantucket-ma.gov Commissioners: Stephen \risco (chair), Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD (Vice chair),James Cooper, Meredith Lepore, Melissa Murphy Staff: Roberto Santamaria, Artell Crowley, Kathy LaFavre,John Hedden,Anne Barrett, Madison Humphrey — MINUTES — Thursday, March 18, 2021 This meeting was held via remote participation using ZOOM and YouTube, Pursuant to Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Order Regarding Open Meeting Law Called to order at 3:00 p.m. by Dr. MacNab. Staff in attendance: R. Santamaria, Health Director;K. LaFavre, Health Inspector; T. Norton, Town Minutes Taker Attending Members: Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD;James Cooper; Meredith Lepore; Melissa Murphy, Select Board Absent Members: Stephen Visco I. ANNOUNCEMENTS II. PUBLIC COMMENTS -ANI MEMBER OF THE I't BLIC MAI ADDRESS COMMIISSIONLRS Al THIS TIME 1. None III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. February 18, 2021 .Action Motion to Approve. (made by: Murphy) (seconded) Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper, Murphy,Lepore, and MacNab-aye IV. BOH APPLICATIONS REVIEW 1. Loan request for 2 Kelly Road, 43-13, septic to sewer (two houses) Sitting MacNab, Cooper, Lepore,Murphy Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations. Discussion Santamaria-No objections. Action Motion to Approve. (made by: Murphy) (seconded) Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Lepore, Murphy, Cooper, and MacNab-aye 2. Loan request for Jensen, 4 Fisher's landing Road, 38-157, septic repair Sitting MacNab, Cooper,Lepore, Murphy Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations. Discussion Murphy - Disclosed she has a working relationship with the applicant that is not related to this request. Santamaria-No objections. :Action Motion to Approve the loan. (made by: Murphy) (seconded) Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper, Murphy, Lepore, and MacNab-aye Page 1 of 3 BOH Minutes for March 18,2021,ado.ted A.r. 15 VI. BOII BUSINESS 1. Discussion of Emergency Orders Santamaria — He's happy to say vaccinations are moving forward and number of cases is below factor 10. Over the next month, he will be working on a phased stepdown of Emergency Orders; he hopes to have that plan ready next week. Some Emergency Orders will continue through the summer. The State is going to Step 4 of the Phased Reopening plan. If members want to see an order amended in any way, asked those changes be emailed to him. Lepore — With it having been a year, what happens if we see an uptick in cases, increased enforcement and issuance of tickets. People coming to have a good time should follow our rules. Asked if there is testing of any of the Corona variances. Santamaria — The Task Force is still in place. Some tickets have been overturned and some upheld in court. We requested BioBots to test the sewers for the variances. For people, the primary care physician has to request testing for the specific variance. He can ask the hospital for more clarity; he'll do that after the meeting. Lepore — April vacation, if parents are vaccinated and kids under ten, they don't have to be tested. She sees this as an issue causing our April numbers to be higher,like after the February school vacation. Murphy — The Governor just announce when Step 1 of Phase 4 will start. Confirmed that Nantucket is in line with the State. Asked if there is any cause for concern that we should highlight for the public. Santamaria — The only order stricter than the State is our mask order; the State has adopted some of the CDC guidelines and we have not. Murphy — The Brazilian variant was found on Cape Cod, so it is coming here, if not already here. This is not the time to relax on our vigilance of mitigation efforts. Santamaria—Cited an article, Ask People to be Safe Not Perfect;we are at that point. MacNab—Asked about the demographics of the recent cases. Santamaria — Almost all cases of the 21 cases were attributable to travel— either had travelled or been exposed to some who had travelled. Of the last 30 cases, the great majority are minorities along with a number of eastern Europeans; he doesn't have the ages. MacNab — Asked if the R Number is calculated (no). We need to follow that more closely. He's not looking forward to making things less restrictive,particularly with the April vacation coming up and what will happen when visitors start coming here. Santamaria — The plan we will submit is not for immediate implementation. When we look at our numbers, the forecast is showing the Nantucket R Number around 1,which means CO-ID-19 is still endemic. Murphy—Asked what data set would be used to relax the mask order in keeping with CDC recommendations. MacNab— He would want the mask orders to remain unchanged through the summer. Santamaria—We are looking closer to September to lift the mask order in its entirety. Cooper — Confirmed that the mask order would be enforced all summer. Asked if the boats and planes will he in keeping with our local regulations. Santamaria—The boats have been. He doesn't know about the planes;we'd have to request that. MacNab— He'd like to be wrong and say in June or July we could take our masks off; but it is hard to predict. Santamaria — Reviewed what he presented to the Select Board two weeks ago regarding the calculation of herd immunity. Murphy—There is a reverse question to relaxing restrictions, asked if there are scenarios where we might consider becoming stricter. Santamaria — Because it's such a dynamic situation, a large part relies on the ability to test for the variants. The Wisconsin Variant has shown a resistance to the vaccine. Murphy— Pointed out that it's important for the BOH to be transparent with its decision process. Santamaria—We have to look not only at economic health but mental health as well. Macnab — Everyone will have to be vigilant and follow the rules. There is no manual, so we have to look at all the factors and data in making decisions going forward. Page 2 of 3 BOH Minutes for March 18,2021,adopted Apr. 15 2. Pool Environmental Impact Study MacNab —Apologized for not having the environmental impact study on pools ready; he hopes to have that next month to present to the BOH. Lepore — She's amazed at the number of pools on the Island; she's been watching the Historic District Commission meetings and is sad to see the number of pools going into homes that will be used for only a couple of weeks a year. Murphy—Asked the basis of Dr. MacNab's evaluation. MacNab— Environmental impact. He promises to have a draft version of an environmental assessment. Murphy—Asked for an update on the regulations for pools. Santamaria—Looking at it internally but haven't been able to get a draft together for Town Counsel review. 3. Tick-borne Diseases MacNab—Asked for an update on tick-borne diseases at the next meeting. Santamaria—There's been a lot of communication on that. MacNab— He wants to look at the 2020 numbers, on-going research, and a new product. Santamaria — He's been talking with Martha's Vineyard about redoing the deer-count flyover. In 2019, he connected with Debbie Sicilliano about partnering to do a full outreach connection research group here; he can get back in contact with her to get that up and running. Two summers of data have been lost because of COVID-19. VII. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS USED 1. Draft BOH Minutes February 18, 2021 2. Emergency Orders VIII. ADJOURN Action Motion to Adjourn at 3:39 pm. (made by: Murphy) (seconded) Roll-call vote Carried 4-0//Cooper, Murphy, Lepore, and MacNab-aye Submitted by: Terry L. Norton Page 3 of 3