HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - BoH - 12/15/2015 Board of Health Meeting FINAL
December 15, 2015
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COHASSET BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES
DATE: December 15,2015
TIME: 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: COHASSET TOWN HALL—SELECTMAN'S OFFICE
41 HIGHLAND AVENUE,COHASSET,MA 02025
Board Members Present: Robin Lawrence(RL)
Elizabeth Kirkpatrick (EK)
Harvey Dickstein (HD)
Recording Secretary Present: Chrissie Dahlstrom, Board of Health
Administrator
7:03 P.M. Administration
VOTE TO APPROVE NOVEMBER 18, 2015 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member HD to approve November 18, 2015 meeting minutes
SECOND: Member EK
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
VOTE TO APPROVE OCTOBER 14, 2014 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member RL to approve October 14, 2014 meeting minutes
SECOND: Member HD
VOTE: 3 —0 MOTION CARRIES
VOTE TO APPROVE NOVEMBER 3, 2014 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member RL to approve November 3, 2014 meeting minutes
SECOND: Member HD
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
VOTE TO APPROVE DECEMBER 9, 2014 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: By Member RL to approve December 9, 2014 meeting minutes
SECOND: Member HD
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
7:07 P.M. VOTE TO APPROVE NOVEMBER 18, 2015 WARRANT
MOTION: By Member HD to approve November 18, 2015 Warrant
SECOND: Member EK
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
7:09 P.M. Set Up Next Meeting Date
Board will meet January 19,2016 at 7:00 P.M. in the Town Hall Basement.
7:10 P.M. Public Health Nurse Report:
Nurse Reports: 127
• Nursing Visits: 96
• Home Reports: 6
• Office Visits: 90
Board of Health Meeting FINAL
December 15, 2015
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Keep Well Clinics:
• CEA/Willcutt Commons: 6 clients
• Harborview: 8 clients
Community Outreach/Meetings:
• 11/4/15 Flu Clinic held at Sunrise Assisted Living Center
• 11/17/15 Flu clinic held at the Paul Pratt Memorial Library
• 11/19/15 Webinar with Mass Department of Public Health regarding vaccine storage and
handling
• 11/24/15 Conference call with Massachusetts Emergency Management Office to discuss the
actions the State is taking to prepare for possible outbreaks of highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
(Bird Flu) this fall and/or next spring.
7:14 P.M. Director of Public Health Report
Cohasset Safe Harbor Coalition:
SS is working with a small group on the Drug Free Community Grant which includes Peter Pescatore,the
Chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Town of Cohasset. If Cohasset is awarded the
$125,000/year grant for up to 5 years, we will hire one full time and possible two part time employees to
be responsible to build a safe, healthy, and drug-free community. These individuals will be under the
Board of Health umbrella. The grant application will be released in January and is due at the end of
March. SS meets with the group several times a month as the work is very extensive. SS is receiving full
support from Chris Senior.
Sewer Discussion:
Jack Buckley assigned a student to help gather data from our files on the age, type, installation date and
latest Title 5 septic systems in the area of South Main Street. SS is helping to map this data for the Sewer
Department.
7:30 P.M. Tobacco Discussion— Bay State Community Services
In attendance for this Agenda Item: Sarah McColgan(SM), Plymouth; Larissa Swenson(LS), Norton;
Christine Murphy(CM), Cohasset
LS informed the Board that although tobacco use is down among Americans between grades 8-12,there
is a concern over the high rate of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette)use. Only 14.2% of 12th graders viewed
e-cigarettes as harmful. Tobacco advertisements are targeted towards young children and the cigarettes
now come in sweet flavors that would appeal to the youth. The nicotine in e-cigarettes is vaporized and
inhaled. E-cigarettes are cheaper ($0.79/ea) than the high cost of cigarettes ($10/pack), making the e-
cigarette the first choice among the young, and it is easy to purchase. To help solve the problem SM
spoke of how other towns are trying to resolve this issue.
• No tobacco product sales permits to be issued to new retailers within 500 feet of a school
• Limit flavored "other tobacco products",including e-cigarettes,to adult-only retail tobacco stores
• Raise the minimum legal sales age from 18 to 21
• Refine the fee structure to stores selling tobacco to minors
There are no stores within 500 feet of any schools. The Board would like to cap the number of stores
allowed to sell tobacco from 10 to 8. Within those 8 stores allowed to sell tobacco, adult-only tobacco
sellers would be allowed to sell flavored tobacco. The Board would also hike to increase the age of those
purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21. The issue of raising the age, limiting the sale of flavored tobacco and
lowering the number of stores selling tobacco will be discussed at the next meeting,January 19,2016.
Board of Health Meeting FINAL
December 15, 2015
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8:15 P.M. VOTE TO ADJOURN MEETING
MOTION: By Member RL to adjourn the meeting
SECOND: Member EK
VOTE: 3 — 0 MOTION CARRIES
NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE TOWN HALL
BASEMENT