HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 20, 2021 BOH Minutes for May 20,2021,adopted July 15 , _
:�pNT Cire> BOARD OF HEALTH i J! '
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4;7., Meeting
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:I~ Town of Nantucket
\yCp 3 East Chestnut Street
9' Nantucket,Massachusetts 02554
www.nantucket-ma.gov
Commissioners: Stephen Visco (chair),Malcolm MacNab, MD,PHD (Vice chair),James Cooper,Meredith Lepore,Melissa Murphy
Staff: Roberto Santamaria,Artell Crowley,Kathy LaFavre,John Hedden,Anne Barrett
— MINUTES —
Thursday, May 20, 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 pm by Mr. Visco.
Staff in attendance: R. Santamaria, Health Director; A. Crowley, Assistant Health Director; K. LaFavre,
Health Inspector;J. Hedden, Inspector;T. Norton,Town Minutes Taker
Attending Members: Stephen Visco; Malcolm MacNab, MD, PHD;James Cooper (no audio for the 15`part of
the meeting);Meredith Lepore;Melissa Murphy, Select Board
Late arrival: Melissa Murphy, Select Board, 3:51 p.m.
Other Speakers: Dawn Hill Holdgate, Chair Select Board;Amy Eldridge;Rose Ellen McCaig
I.ANNOUNCEMENTS
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. April 15,2021
2. April 30, 2021
Action Motion to Approve. (made by: MacNab) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-0//MacNab,Lepore, and Visco-aye
III. BOH APPLICATIONS REVIEW
1. Loan for Turk, 15 Marsh Hawk, 56-113.6, septic to sewer
Sitting Visco,MacNab,Lepore
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria–Sewer is now available. No objections.
Action Motion to Approve the loan. (made by: MacNab) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-0//MacNab,Lepore,and Visco-aye
2. Lift condemnation of 36 Essex Road
Sitting Visco,MacNab,Lepore
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria–We condemned this is 2019; it has changed hands and the new owner has worked
diligently to correct the issues. Believes the condemnation can be lifted. Explained why it had been
condemned for human habitation.
Action Motion to Lift the condemnation. (made by: MacNab) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-0//MacNab,Lepore, and Visco-aye
3. Appeal of correction letter- exposed septic tank- 36 Massachusetts Avenue, 6031-15
Sitting Visco,MacNab,Lepore
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria – Erosion had exposed the septic system; since the order was issued, the beach
accreted, and the danger no longer exists. No need to take action.
Action No action needed.
Roll-call vote N/A
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BOH Minutes for May 20,2021,adopted July 15
4. Allow a six-month extension on septic to sewer connection due to COVID 19: from 1/1/2019 to5/1/2019
Sitting Visco, MacNab,Lepore
Documentation Supporting documents and plans, staff recommendations.
Discussion Santamaria — The extension was for people who couldn't get contractors lined up during the
State of Emergency. By opinion of Town Counsel, the governor passed an order which extended
all permits for the time lost due to the State of Emergency. Because the governor has placed the
extension, no vote is needed, and we can deal with these internally.
Action No action needed
Roll-call vote N/A
IV. BOH BUSINESS
1. COVID-19 Update & Emergency Order Discussion
Discussion Santamaria — Gov. Baker stated on May 29th, all Emergence Orders will be lifted with the State
of Emergency is being lifted on June 15`h. We are now faced with the question; do we lift our
Emergency Orders on May 29rh or June 15th. He recommends May 29th. Suggests keeping the
outdoor dining so restaurants can maximize on that over the summer
MacNab — Feels we have to be careful; his experience is that when we get over confident, things
crash. Recommends we continue masking inside since we can't have someone at the boats
checking all the vaccine cards. This disease hasn't gone away.
Santamaria — Transit, hospitals, nursing homes and certain other locations will continue to
require masks indoors; he believes that includes the ferries and planes.
Lepore — Asked if that means on June 15th, life goes back to pre-COVID. She thinks this will
open the flood gates and let anything happen. We don't have enough people to control the
crowds. All those business have been preparing for a certain amount of traffic.
Santamaria—Every business can set their own regulations, but we can't force them too.
Visco—He thinks you'll still see a lot of people wearing masks.
Eldridge — If things lift, asked if the Town can implement a mask order after the State of
Emergency is lifted.
Santamaria—We'd have to write a regulation with a public hearing; he would recommend against
it because it might not hold up in court.
McCaig — It feels like we're tip-toeing around a dangerous situation. It means that on May 29th,
there is no more 6-foot separation or mask requirement. She feels the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) started off bad saying vaccinated people don't have to wear masks. The ramifications are
terrible;we should do what we can to keep whatever orders we have in place.
MacNab — He thinks we should do what we can to keep the mask order for inside in place. We
have an obligation to the community to do what we can to make them safe. Or we demand you
can't enter a business without your vaccination card.
Santamaria —Those who are able to come here are among the most affluent of the US and more
likely to have been vaccinated; the vaccination for that demographic is 70% to 80%. We've
vaccinated 9,000 people on the Island. We're looking at 20,000 vaccinated people out of a summer
population of 40,000; that isn't enough for herd immunity.
MacNab — He agrees with 99% of Mr. Santamaria's recommendation. He still has concerns
especially with the under 30s who come here to party and interact, and their vaccination rate isn't
as high as that for older, affluent people. We've done so well on Nantucket; we need to move
gradually forward.
Hill Holdgate — This is happening faster than anticipated; she was surprised at the timing and it
is scary. She agrees with Mr. Santamaria, we need to align with the Governor; it could cause
confusion of we create another regulation. People will move forward at their comfort leveL We
initiated these Emergency Orders to keep from overwhelming the hospital.
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BOH Minutes for May 20,2021,adopted July 15
Lepore — Agrees with Dr. MacNab. There's a lesson to be learned from the 1919 pandemic; it
went on longer than expected. Doesn't think it's a big deal to ask people to wear masks inside.
Even among the affluent, there is the subgroup of anti-vaxers. We have to protect our community.
From a medical perspective,it would be smarter to continue to require masks indoors.
McCaig—Agrees with Dr. MacNab and Ms. Lepore. We are a tiny island with not a lot of space
to move around in. When she was a 2"d-homeowner, she noticed a lot of entitlement among that
group. There is nothing wrong with requiring people to wear masks in a business. Having
businesses police themselves puts a burden on them when they've suffered already. She doesn't
think what Gov. Baker did was right. The CDC only said it was okay for vaccinated people to go
about without a mask, nothing more. Thinks the orders should remain in place at least until June
15th.
Santamaria—He pulled up the State vaccination records, among the 20 to 29-year-olds, there is a
50%vaccination rate.
Visco—He would side with Mr. Santamaria.
MacNab—He respects the Governor and his advisors and Mr. Santamaria, but he hasn't changed
his mind. He would ask for Mr. Santamaria to draft a regulation requiring masks indoors. It's crazy
to think that all of a sudden everything is fine.
Lepore — Gov. Baker doesn't have a medical or public health degree; she feels he's putting us all
in a bad position. It would be a lot of work to get a regulation in place.
Santamaria — He would recommend against a regulation. Named advisors to the governor who
do have medical or public health degrees. Suggested giving it a chance; if things go bad, another
State of Emergency could be put in place.
MacNab—If something happens,it will happen quickly,and we can't respond as quickly.
Lepore —She'd make a motion to keep the mask order in place until June 15th. That gives us time
to see how things progress.
Cooper—Indicated he still has no audio.
Recap of discussion for Ms. Murphy's and Mr. Cooper's benefit and discussion on Ms. Lepore's
motion.
Murphy—Asked Dr. MacNab what his concerns are about not having indoor masks.
MacNab — We don't know who or how many people are vaccinated. We can't have people
checking for vaccine cards. He sees no harm with extending this to June 15th. To extend beyond
that requires a regulation.
Cooper — Asks what happens if people come off the boat thinking everything has been lifted
when locally they are still in place;will they be turned away at the businesses.
Santamaria—That would be the harm from not lifting the orders.
MacNab —We can still have announcements requiring masks indoors. Many establishments have
masks to offer people. That is not our issue; our issue is public health. Lifting this tells everyone
that everything is fine;keeping the orders sends the message that COVID is still here.This virus is
going to be here forever; but he's not sure opening up everything right now is the right choice.
Extending to June 15th gives us time to see what's happening. Asked to move Ms. Lepore's
motion.
Lepore—Let us not forget that here are cases of vaccinated people getting COVID.
Murphy — Having heard the concerns, asked Mr. Santamaria what the public health risks are of
lifting the order before June 15th.
Santamaria — The risk to public health is lack of personal responsibility. The point of the
Emergency Orders was to keep from overwhelming the hospital; the vaccine is preventing most
hospitalizations. Opening on June 15th would have a minimal risk.
Murphy—Asked if there is a place where masks would be required.
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BOH Minutes for May 20,2021,adopted July 15
Santamaria — Transportation, hospitals, nursing homes, buses, private businesses that require
masks within the bounds of their business, and schools. If we keep the mask order in place
through June 15th,businesses have to require them.
Action Motion to keep the local Emergency Orders in place until June 15t. (made by:Lepore) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Not Carried 2-3//Macnab and Lepore-aye;Cooper,Murphy, and Visco-nay
Action Motion to rescind the local Emergency Orders in alignment with the Governor's lifting of
the State of Emergency. (made by: Murphy) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried 3-2//Murphy, Cooper, and Visco-aye;MacNab and Lepore-nay
2. Murphy—Asked about going forward with people coming here from other countries.
Santamaria—Reviewed the continued vaccination and education programs.
Murphy — Asked what the process would be if COVID cases increase after the lifting of the State of
Emergency.
Santamaria — Without a second declaration, we have nothing we can do; we would have to depend on
outreach. Even if we have a regulation,it would be impossible to enforce.
Lepore—Asked about updating mobile units.
Santamaria—That is done every day.
Murphy—Asked the current vaccination rate for the non-white community.
Santamaria — For Nantucket we are vaccinating 1 dose per capita; we've vaccinated about 28% of the
black community and 40% of Hispanic community.
Murphy—Asked if there is a residency requirement for vaccination.
Santamaria—All we need is name and date of birth to vaccinate someone.
V. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS USED
1. Draft BOH Minutes as listcil
2. COVIN Emergency Order
VI.AD OURN
Action Motion to Adjourn at 4:18 pm. (made by: MacNab) (seconded)
Roll-call vote Carried unanimously//Lepore, Cooper, MacNab, Murphy, and Visco-aye
Submitted by:
Terry L. Norton
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