All right. Uh, we're calling to order the meeting, the board of health meeting on Monday, November 10th. We are convening at 6:23 p.m. Um, and as soon as the quorum was represented.
Okay. So, uh, I I will ask our again I will ask uh Jodi, one of our citizens in Southwick, if there is any public comment, and if not, we'll go on with the meeting. Okay.
>> All right. Um, so Trice, did you get a chance to review the minutes from last meeting as did I? Do I hear a a motion to accept the minutes as we received them? >> Yes. >> And I, Terry Putnham, second the the
motion for that. So they are approved. >> Perfect. And uh we want to enter into a discussion about the health director vacancy. Okay. Um Ken, do you want to give us do you want to give a synopsis of where we
are now and what we're doing in the in the interim period at this point? >> Yeah, absolutely. So, um Thomas Hibbert left as the Southwick health director on 10:31. Um so, we've been without a health director for about a week. Um, I
don't know if you want to talk about potentially me being the interim and having Tom Fitzgerald and Tom Hbert as health agents, but that's kind of what been has been proposed. Um, so for the time being, I've been kind of the whole point of the shared service
agreement is kind of to pick up when things like this happen. So, as a shared service coordinator, I've been helping as much as I can without being appointed thus far. Um, so I've been dealing with some um, nuisance complaints last week as well as renewal season for our food
permits. Um, that's been really the big thing last week. I was at a conference last week, so I did miss a few days, but our public health nurses were always available to talk as health uh, health department representatives for the time being. Um, but I don't know how the
board wants to talk about it. If you want me to excuse myself, whatever you want to do. I know we have to wait next month to do the executive session. That has to be on the agenda in order to do that. But um I don't know if we want to talk about appointing Tom Fitzgerald and
Tom Hibbert as our backup health agents. How do you want to go about it, Terry? >> Why don't we talk about that first? >> Okay. Um and then we'll get well well before we get into that talk a little bit about what you have been doing uh as a uh as an assistant in your shared in
in your shared contract um shared services contract about what you've learned and absolutely and uh um >> what you what you would bring to an interim position. >> Yeah. So I started here at the South Health Department with shared service
agreement last June. So, uh, June of 2024. Um, I've worked with Tom extensively over the course of the last year and a half. So, he has really been a mentor to me when it came to inspections. So, I went out with him on all of his food and housing inspections and he's taught me a lot about septic.
Um, so I have all the credentials for housing and food. I have the serve safe manager as well as pools. I have the certified pool operator license and Tom's let me go out on the pool inspections in Southwick, the public pools. um as well as the house all the
housing with the state those trainings I've done. So for the interim position, I feel very comfortable doing all the housing, the nuisance complaints, um the food permit system. I know completely um permanipay munice. I'm very familiar with all those
systems that the town uses as well as our all the accounting um systems. I do that pretty much day in and day out with the grant. So I I'm for the grant side of things, I do all the budgeting, all the management of the shared service grant. I work closely with the two
public health nurses. Um, so that's kind of what I think I could bring to the role. I know the town. I've gotten to know the residents quite well. Um, which has been a privilege because it's a really unique community of people. Um, that I feel very lucky to know. Um, I care deeply about public health. I know
you guys know my background, but I do have my masters in public health and I do care about this word quite a bit. So, local government is where I want to stay. Um, any questions for me regarding that? Happy to answer anything. But Tom has been, you know, my the way Tom
handles public health is a lot aligned with me. I really respect him and I've been able to learn a lot from him over the last year and a half. So I would think I would take his style into my interim role. >> Okay. Trish, do you have any any questions or or any
comments? >> No, I think she's answered u most of what I think she needs to tell us um on her role itself. Uh I do would I would like to hear how she thinks um or what would be the most challenging thing for
her stepping into this role. >> Yeah. So for me right now would definitely be septic. So I've been looking to get into the soil evaluator course since I started in Southwick since I knew this community is majority septic based systems. Um I reached out
to the training hub and unfortunately the class is not being rolled out until July. So that is a huge bummer. Um I'm really looking to take the you know take the course, take the exam, but that's going to be challenging as it's not
coming out until July for me. Um but I am sitting to take my registered sanitarian hopefully by the beginning of this year. January is like my goal. I'm committing a lot of my weekends to studying. Um so I feel ready to take that test. I just want an extra month of
studying um because it the test is quite expensive. So I I I want to pass on the first try if I can. >> And and um if you want to talk a little bit for Trisha's benefit what we've put into place or uh to to get you trained
on some perks and that in the in the in for the interim. >> Yeah. For the interim. So perks I feel comfortable to sit for perks. The only issue is without the soil evaluator course I can't do any of the local upgrade approvals. So, in this case, Tom Fitzgerald and Tom Hibert have uh
graciously said that they would help us out in Southwick by attending perks that they already know would need local upgrade approval due to, you know, their time here knowing the sand. Um, you know, going forward with that um would be great. And then I would also go
with them to the perks, learn as much as I can. I've been working really closely with the installers and the pumpers to kind of learn the most I can from their side of things um before I can take the course. Um so obviously there's a lot to learn and Tom Fitzgerald has has uh said
he would take me under his wing which I appreciate um as I learn the systems and all the different systems there are in Southwick. >> Okay, >> that's great. It does sound like the areas covered in the intro. >> Yes. And I know with budget and and that
being, you know, you never know what the budget's going to look like, but I do think in Southwick as looking at what Tom was able to accomplish in his three years here, the idea, I know we put it on our last year's budget, but the idea of either a part-time inspector or, you know, adding somebody else to our health
department, I think with the amount that South is growing, we really do need some help um in regards to inspections. I think Tom was great with septic and really did extraordinary work in that field and dealt with all the complaints, the housing complaints quickly and efficiently, but our routine inspections
with housing are definitely something that we need to commit more time to. Um, and with me not being able to do as much septic stuff right now as I'm still learning, my commitment would be get be to getting to the two routine inspections a year in all of our
establishments. all of our food establishments really need to be up to date. So, that would be my main priority um in the next couple of months. >> Okay. Okay. Very good. So, I think what I'd like to do and and Trisha, if you're
in agreement, why don't we um uh vote on appointing the health agents? And that would be um that would be Tom Hibert and Tom Fitzgerald who have uh Tom Tom Hibbert would be new as a health agent.
That's basically the the health agents are like pdeium um PRN people who could fill in for the for the um health director in times of vacation, extra extra work um uh etc. Um Tom Fitzgerald
has been an agent with us and has been on the books. Um but we we officially need to appoint for 2026 um to to get those those two on the books. So do I >> I do want to add Terry that they both
are looking for for for um pricing I I'll call it. I'm not really sure for budgeting reasons. They are looking for $75 an hour both of them. Um, that's kind of what they talked to me about. >> What's the current rate that we what's the way we have paid? >> Crystal Dug Gay, our agent in Westfield.
She is 50. Um, but she was appointed I want to say she set that standard or that hourly rate. I believe she said two years ago, but I could be wrong. Could be only a year. Um, but it was 50. And Tom Fitzgerald's looking for 75 and so is Tom Hibbert. I I I do think that
that's open to discussion. whatever works for the budget. Um, but that's the amount they told me. So, >> and not having the budget in front of me, you know, I I I I can't speak to that. >> Hourly wise, I don't know. I mean,
reviewing designs, this is kind of a low, you know, there's not a ton of designs happening right now. Um, but I I don't I don't know much about the South. >> That's tough to speak on without having Oh, sorry. That's tough to speak on without having everything in front of us
and knowing what the rate is. >> Exactly. So, I don't want you guys to vote on that aspect. I just wanted that to be put out. Um, just so you guys know that that's kind of the figure they're looking for. >> Um, I don't think you have to vote on that necessarily right now. I just wanted to make both aware of it. Gotcha.
So Trish, what we might want to do uh in without without a salary is to vote to appoint them um uh an all pending we'll vote to appoint them pending you know
successful um uh salary negotiation >> for lack of a better term. >> That sounds great. So, do you want to you want to move that move for that or you want to just sec I can do it and you can second if that's what you want to do.
>> Either uh I make a motion for um Tom Fitzgerald and um Tom Heber to be agents for the town of salary. >> Okay. Pending pending success >> salary. >> Yep. Pending this um salaries that are negotiated.
>> Yeah. I think some of the And I see Joe Joe flipping through his his uh town budget that he just happens to keep in the kitchen. >> Oh, I appreciate that. >> Yeah. No. So, so more more information to come on that. I believe there will be some room for salary negotiation with
the with the difference in pay from a from an experienced um health director to if if the town budget allows things like other budgets that I've worked with that you can move things around from from line item to
line item. Um so we're talking a $25 difference per hour. >> Yes. >> Okay. And what's the average perk? Is that about a 4h hour? >> It can be some sandy areas. You could be there for an hour. More, you know, some
harsher sands that would require a little bit more time, they can range, they can take a long time. So, that's my, you know, that's a concern. Um, but reviewing a a plan, which would is mostly what we really need is is
reviewing the plans and doing the final inspections, those are probably one to two hours. It's it's nothing, you know, really extensive hour-wise. >> Okay. Joe, do you have something to say, sir? >> Sure. Under board of health operations,
you have a consultant line, which I believe would come out of um budgeted for this year was $2,000. >> Okay. >> So, you have room in there to start doing something with somebody for sure. Then normally if that gets low, you can always come in front of the finance
committee for reserve fund transfer um to continue on because at the same breath your uh health director salary is uh 78,000 which technically wouldn't be being used right now. So you like you said you you have room to play with but there is
monies in there to start doing something. >> Okay, great. So Trish, are you comfortable if we look reook at our uh motion? >> Yes. My only question is
what would her since she's taking on a role on the interim? We're not voting on that currently or are we today? >> I'm thinking it we can vote on that, but if you feel like we need more discussion, you know, you and I can go into executive session and and discuss.
So, I just kind of feel like it for her benefit as well because she's taking on a role that has more responsibility and she should probably be compensated for that as well. That's just my thought out loud. >> I did want to add that I did reach out to our state manager because currently
I'm grant funded under my shared service coordinator role. So, I wanted to see the ethics of I'm still getting my shared service coordinator role and I'm taking on the interim position with Southwick if if that's how you guys go. um if I take on the interim role um how it would go about if I was taking say a
stipend for the difference in adding the interim position or if I was taking I I'm not sure how they didn't get back to me yet was how I was going to end that. Um so I don't know how that would work. I think they would prefer if I was keeping my shared service coordinator role for now to just do a stipent with
the town of Southwick >> and and that makes sense, >> right? Hey. So, I just want to know because that'll interplay with the budget. >> Yes. >> And and my my thoughts are what whatever we do, whether it's a stipend or or we
we decide to to um uh if the decision is made from the grant that it's now coming out of the the the health u the board of health budget, it's not going to reach the salary that Tom had because he was
an experienced health director. That's that's why I'm saying there's a little I think we've got some play there. >> Okay. >> But we can certainly no pressure on my part to to revisit. I just didn't know if that made a difference for you, but no, we can certainly talk about that in
executive session. >> I think that would be good. >> Okay, let's we'll do that. Um, so we've got the motion and and I seconded the motion. So, all in favor of of uh doing
the the health agents pending pending getting that $75 an hour that they both request. Um all in favor, please say I. >> I Trish Leiac >> and I Terry Putnham. So, that's carried
uh by the by the quorum that we have in place. Um let's why don't we finish uh the rest of the meeting that the the rest of the agenda and then we'll just we'll we'll dismiss and go into executive session. So do we've got
>> we didn't put executive session on the agenda. >> Okay. So we can't do that. >> We can't unfortunately. We can in December once it's on the agenda. But yeah, >> thank you for keeping me straight. That's that's >> No, I apologize. I should have thought I should have asked you um if you wanted that on the agenda for this one. So, I
do apologize. >> Nope. I didn't anticipate the discussion that we've had. So, it's all good discussion. So, nope. Keep that. Thank you for keeping me legal. >> We we don't we don't >> we don't want to get me illegal or get the board of health on on on the hot
seat. Um so, why don't we go on then with uh Trisha, you got a copy of uh Trish's report, nursing report? Yes. >> Did you see anything that you have questions about or that we need to get back to Trish on?
>> Nope. >> Okay. Me either. It looked it looked fine. Um, so I'll turn the old business unless Do you have anything from the grant perspective and I know that that that the that the uh if if we were to offer the interim that that that there's
still that issue of who pays for what. Um, so that we'll we'll certainly keep that on the burner. But anything else from what you've done from a shared uh >> um for the grant, I just want to put on the record that we do have the food drive going um for Thanksgiving and just for you know what's happening in our
government with the SNAP benefits. We want to be really c um weary of that and respectful of that um for our community members. So those are available in all town halls. We're also considering doing a clothing drive in December. Um that's very important to us as well. Um, and we
are this week we we've been exploring we've had a lot of um calls about sharps disposal boxes. So I've been working last week I went to the Massachusetts Health Officers Association conference and I did uh a conference meeting about
opioid abatement funds. So I'm kind of I know we talked a little bit a while ago about pooling the resources. Our boards decided not to do that. Um they didn't think it was beneficial. um which is unfortunate, but I I understand it. Um so now we're kind of looking at individually in our grant towns, how do
we spend this money to help the opioid epidemic? How do we access Sharps disposal boxes? Um so more to come on that probably next month. I' I'm working closely with our harm reduction um specialists in Western Mass trying to come up with some ideas.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um, and now why don't we go on to old business if you want to tell us any progress on the the well rigs and um the perk expirations. So I don't have many updates for the old business. I know Trish sent me all of
those uh she sent me the email with all of the surrounding towns what they do regarding their perk tests and their regs. So I appreciate that. I've been getting through some of those towns. Um, I think I don't know how you guys want to go about this, but I do think adopting one of our surrounding towns is
probably our best bet. Um, I still have to look more closely into that, but with the perk expiration, I would love if Tom Fitzgerald could join us for our meeting next month so he could kind of discuss that more. I I think, you know, the expiration date can extend. The the
chance of the chance of the soil changing that much in such a short period of time is unlikely. You never know, but um is unlikely. So hopefully he can join our next meeting and and kind of help us adopt maybe some new regs.
>> How does that sound to you, Trish? >> Uh it's glitching a little. Um are you there? >> Yes, we're here. >> Okay. I I caught the tail end of what she said, but I think she was talking about the time for the um her tests. Length of time. >> Yeah. So we're and she encourages us to
invite Tom Fitzgerald who can tell us who who can who can be the the official um being able to tell us what the what he recommends and and if there is any danger of extending the perks um a little bit and I know you had said last
that that we probably do want to set rather than have it be infinity um that and and it would be good to to have him have him uh weigh in on that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. And if you need me to resend that email with all the information because I
put it in a chart map, >> please do if you don't mind. Please do. >> No, not at all. Not at all. >> I don't know how I missed that one, but please do. >> That's very helpful to see what the other towns are up to. >> Yeah. >> With similar soil as us. It's been really It's been great.
>> Um, and no health director's report, I would assume. No, just from last week as there's been no one. Um we did send out the renewals for food permits. So, we're getting a lot of um you know, permits coming or
payments coming in. Um I've been kind of going through those, making sure everybody has all of their attachments correct. Um so, that's been good. Seems like the system is working well. We've gotten a lot of people in the first week giving putting in their permits, which is great and very unusual. So, this is
very exciting for us. Um, and then we are running into, it used to be Fusion Bar and Grill, I believe was the name of it last year, and now it has separated into Drift Coffee Cafe and Lakeside Tavern. So, I'm trying to get in touch
with them. I've been having a little bit of trouble, but I'm going to try to get in touch with them about, are you guys going to do one food permit? Are we doing two? You know, what's happening there? Um, I know some there's been some things going on there, so I'm not sure if management's changed. I'm not sure,
but I will have an update for that next week. >> Okay. >> Um, and then lastly, >> and before we move off of that, I guess my question would be, what do the food establishment regs require when you've got two? >> If it's the same owner, they can put F
or sorry, it used to be Fusion. they can put Lakeside Tavern and Drift Cafe as one food permit if they operate, you know, together and they have a shared kitchen. If they have two separate kitchens, I would probably ask them to do two. Um, just because it seems like it would be two separate entities. I've
never been to that facility, so I'm not sure if they do have two kitchens or not. Um, but kind of looking at their menus, I I I don't I haven't seen anything regarding their two systems. They seem very different and operating hours are different. So, I'm leaning
more towards two food permits, but there's an opportunity for one if they if they really push for that, but we'll see. >> Okay. So, we can talk about that next month. So, >> Yep. >> if you don't mind adding that. >> Yeah, no problem. >> And then finally, just for last Friday,
uh we went out to a nuisance complaint of 515 College Highway. Um, we got a complaint that they, uh, somebody had turkeys outside of the facility. Um, we're still working with the building inspector on that one to kind of get the
zoning correct. I'm not very familiar with zoning, but um, according to Alvin in planning, it is a business restricted area. So, I just went out on Friday to ensure there was no, you know, health safety issue. And there wasn't. There was no no complaints on my end. There
was no trash. The turkeys seemed to be well taken care of. Um, animal control said they were going to be out. I'm not haven't followed up if they did actually get out there on time. Um, but it will most likely be building and and and planning doing something about removing
the turkeys. Um, but yeah, so that's what I was up to last week. >> Always a new experience. >> It is. 70 turkeys in a very small spot was >> right on College Highway was new, but you know, I'll take it.
>> How many turkeys? 70. 70. And he the reason I was really there was just to make sure that he wasn't selling them. Um because obviously then that would become a USDA issue. Um but he he is not selling them. They're for personal consumption. So
>> yeah. >> Okay. But they're aware of the followup that's taking place. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And there's no no health no health concern there. >> Okay. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Well, anything else? Trish, do you have anything to to that we haven't
addressed? >> No, I think we've covered everything. >> Okay. All right. Well, uh, do I hear a motion to adjourn? >> Are you going to appoint Sorry. Are you appointing uh at least me to be able to do the
inspections and stuff or >> Trish? I know we had talked about other having more conversation. Um what what is your preference? Are you comfortable enough to appoint in an interim position?
>> I am I think she's very well prepared, had the educational background to do it and everything I've heard from her sounds fantastic and she's already found an area that needs to be worked on and has um a little bit of a priority. So I think she's on top of it.
>> Okay. And and for my benefit, I would say I'm impressed that you already have goals. >> Yeah. >> As far as the interim position, um I I'm impressed that you've taken it upon yourself to um uh to to look for the
soil class that you want to to make sure that you are are enrolled in um and that you've gotten to know you you've you've had the incentive to learn the process while Tom was here. uh and are willing
to um um uh uh take it on. >> And I I want to add I'm fully aware that this is interim for now and I am I I have if you guys want to post externally. I know Naen has posted internally. I understand completely
posting it externally because if the town I work for the health district so I I you know I work in Southwick and also the five other towns. I want to do what's best for Southwick. I really truly care about this town and the residents. So, I urge you guys to post externally because if you get a
candidate who has their sanitarian, has the soil evaluator and everything is perfect, I would love to work with them. I would love to continue doing inspections and working as a shared service coordinator in Southwick. So, I'm fully okay with this being interim for now. Want to make sure that we can
get some inspections done um while we're hiring. Um, but Naen has expressed or HR I should say has expressed that they've had a challenge with hiring. Um, but I think posting externally might be might be great. Um, just to see just to see if
we get somebody. I just want that to be put out there because I I really want a health director here that can do everything for you guys and we don't have to wait. >> Okay. And I think those are the kinds of things that we'll we'll do executive session. We'll we'll talk about um what
we're going to go to Naen with um for a permanent position and and we'll talk with Naen as as well about you know uh as an interim what what the the the uh salary that we can offer on an
interim basis as well. So that will be in the December meeting that we'll talk about that. Um, Trish, if you are comfortable, um, I I will actually make the motion. I'll move to appoint Kaen Simmons. Is did I say your last name correct?
>> Simon. >> Simon. Sorry about that. >> Okay. >> I can't even pronounce my daughter's name half the time. Um, especially after a long day. Uh, but I I move to appoint Kaen Simons as the interim health director.
um pending pending salary negotiations, etc. Um do I hear a second? >> Um I second that motion. >> All in favor? >> All All in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> Trish Leiniac says I. And Terry Putnham says I. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Well, we'll get to work on the specifics of that as soon as I get back in town. I'll set up another meeting with Naen. >> Um, >> take your time. >> But no, that so that gives you that
gives you uh uh an interim name after after so when you're talking to Fusion or you're talking to to um uh the turkey man. Um that you that gives you a little uh uh the position the temporary. >> Yeah, definitely makes it a little a
little easier to explain my role. >> Um yeah, great. Anything else? Did we miss anything that we need to to Yes, sir. Joe, we will allow public comment even though it's past the 10 minutes. >> I'll get I'll get you in trouble
anyways. That's just how I roll. Um, couple things. Executive session, I would put it on the next few months >> on your thing and then you don't have to have it, >> but if it's there should something come up because you're going to be in a lot of influx for the next few months able to have executive. So, put it on there
and you don't have to have it, but it's there to cover you. >> So, like a standing standing agenda item that that's a very good point. Thank you. >> At least for a few months until you guys get things figured out because you may have to go executive session like that and you didn't know two days before your meeting. >> Um, >> that sounds wonderful.
>> Other part is uh believe it or not, I I deal with a lot of board of health inspectors with my businesses and um you're correct. There's nobody out there. I believe Northampton isn't has quite a few and for some reason I seem to talk to a lot of people and they um
they're in the same boat like the the young lady I dealt with for the threeount fairy little sanitation site she's going to school she's learning it but you know you got the serve safe so you you're there as far as the the restaurants go and and and it's common sense too a lot of this is really common
sense yeah so I don't think you're getting hurt by making her the intern one bit definitely aggressive. I like to see that she and to be young and still want to stay into town work like this. That's wonderful. And as far as pay goes, the employee handbook does state
how she gets paid, but I don't think you and I'm not sure if you're actually an employee of the town. Now, however that grant works, I don't know, but >> I am an employee of Southwick. I just I'm kind of trying to find >> it's in there. >> I'm trying to find the ethics of still receiving grant funds while also I just
want to make sure with ethics that everything is fine for us. >> Thank you. That's all I have. >> Yeah. Thank you, Joe. Thank you for Thank you for that extra information that that >> that's very helpful. >> That helps Trish and and and me and and Kaen to feel comfortable about about
what we're doing. And thank you for keeping us honest. And that's a wonderful both of you and that's a wonderful uh idea to to make a a standing agenda item as a potential executive session. >> Yes. >> That way we don't have to say, "Oh, we
didn't put it on the meeting." We we've got it. So, I I like that a lot. Um >> Yeah, that's a great idea. >> Yeah. Um and and we are Trish and I know Erica and I are open to all those ideas. um because we're we're we're learning board of health or or this side of board
of health kind of kind of as we go. So, thank you. We we welcome all comments and all suggestions. >> Um anything else that we need to discuss or would someone like to move that we close at 6:55 p.m.
>> I can make the motion to close if >> and I second >> there's nothing else. Okay. Y >> I second the motion. So we are closing the meeting and Trish thanks.