This is the board of health meeting Thursday May 1st 6 PM the land use room president of the meeting is Sue Brasa Terry Putnham Tom
Hbert right um Trisha Leiniac will probably join us um hopefully when she's out of work and our secretary We don't have a secretary, but Cindy Barton is going to review the recording
and type up the minutes and Kaen will review them. So, public comment. Well, we're going to Yeah, you're Okay. All right. So, the minutes um I know they were sent
out today, the afternoon. No, I sent them with you. the original ones yesterday with you. No, but I am for your edits and I sent the edit the edits in the morning I sent. So, I don't know if you got to look at the edits or the original ones. The edits aren't much different than the originals. I'm I'm
fine with it. I don't I don't think the edits would would have made a whole lot of difference. I'm not sure which version I I looked at. Okay. So, do you want to make a mo motion to accept these people? I will certainly move that we accept the uh minutes as as edited and
submitted. Um, I second that motion. Um, Sue Brasa, yes. Terry Putnham, yes. We don't have um our nurse Trisha Settllo is on vacation. So, do we have a written
report from her? No, we don't because she she's been on vacation all week. So, she didn't I don't think she got to it before she left. Okay. So, we'll have to review that come next month. Okay. Okay. We do have with us Jessica Taylor from the master plan um who's going to
come up have a seat and speak with us. Not a lot of us here. You can come up to the table. Thank you for having me. Um as you mentioned, I'm on the master plan implementation committee. Um and our the committee members are all assigned
either a board or committee in town um to help kind of act as a liaison as we're implementing the master plan action items. So um you guys are assigned to me or I to you. Um so um you
know part of my goal would be to help you know clarify any questions that might come up on the on your action items. Um help coordinate with other boards if needed. And then um the committee is also going to be tasked with um keeping a progress report and a
report card to to report back to the select board as well. Okay. Um so I think our first um you know action would be to just prioritize your um lead and supporting roles for for the board of health. So,
I'm not sure if everybody's had a chance to look at the action items or if there's maybe any questions um that we can go through while I'm here today. Did you get to look at that first page? I did not. I'm opening it up now and
having a a a little issue getting into only two lead. Yep. Yep. So, only two lead um lead roles. So, those would be actions that you guys would, you know, obviously take the lead on and and and work on. And um there are supporting actions. It's a little bit of a longer
list. Um and we were looking for some priorities from from your group on those as well. Um but the I know Tom and I did this way back in the beginning. Oh, sure. Okay. And and I thought I had included that. I had sent that to you as well. I thought you had to. I was
telling you everything else today. I couldn't find it. I'll keep You emailed it, right? Yeah. Okay. I'll dig a little harder in my email. I mean, it won't I certainly don't mind sending it again. And did Trish send in anything? I don't think I resent I I didn't have Terry,
Maryanne, and um and Trish. So, I resent it to the three of them today. I I may be mis I may misunderstood because I thought we did it together that evening that that meeting that we looked at it. I I maybe that was it. You
had the same answers. Is that Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, I I'll go in and edit that. It's just what Mary you need? No, I got Maryanne. So, just um was Patricia at that meeting? I don't remember. I I if it was early on I pro I
I don't know. I don't remember. All right. And then I think you can I'm sorry. Is there any way you can share your screen, Tom, or or because I can't the the link is wanting my I'm on my work computer and it's not liking me trying to
link your your link. Yeah. I I was trying to do it as an attachment and my computer was not liking that. Yeah. Uhhuh. So, uh, well, if we could talk about it verbally that that, you know, because I don't remember it being really
extensive, but I don't know because the the meeting computer is not my computer. So, I don't know if there's an easy way I can share my screen and Okay. get it up on here. Try if let me see if I can if I can open
it some other way, but we can talk while I'm trying to do that. I hate to to hold everybody up. No, it's okay. And um I think I I notice here they had on the list Emily Brasa, but I'm assuming that should be you. I'm Emily Susan Br. Oh,
okay. Okay. So, I'll just put that in parentheses there. Okay. And so, yeah, I mean, if um you know, you think you guys have the the leads, I can take those. Um it doesn't have to be tonight. If you want to email them to
me, that's fine as well. Um and then I could submit those over to Norm. And then um I don't know um if everybody had a chance to look at the support actions as well. Yeah. Okay. For for the most part, we did. Yeah. And were there any questions on any of those that you guys
recall or I think the at least the two lead ones were pretty straightforward from what I could tell. Yeah. Yeah. The lead ones and just to keep um keep Terry in the loop. Um the two were enhanced townwide vector control
and education programs for ticks and mosquitoes. And the other one was maintain vigilance into the ongoing nature of the pandemic and plan proactively for similar health events in the future. Okay. And I believe we had picked that one to be number one. Yeah. In the vector to be
number two. Yeah. That that was mostly consistent across the board. Yeah. Except for except for except for Kaen. She picked opposite of everyone else. Single her out. I don't remember filling this out.
You did really. Yeah. I don't remember this at all. I don't know why I would have put that as my answer. Yeah. Yeah. Kaylee. Interesting. So, really on here then? If we already have Terry's and if Terry was
in agreement with us, it was just Patricia and I don't know if we'll ever get it from Patricia, right? She's working, right? But um um well and we can submit um what you guys do have, you know. Yeah, that's fine. So it sounds
like um Tom, Terry, Sue were all two and then one. Kaen was one then two. And did you say Karen and Karen and Trisha? Trisha were both the
same. The two in one. Yeah. Okay. So then it's and I I think I the in the documents I gave you the most up to date. Okay, great. Perfect. So I'll I'll put in the other ones. I'll send it all to you tomorrow. Okay. So you have it. Great. And then the for the
support because I know that's a much you know it's a longer list if you have those ready or even if you have um some of the team members and maybe if you're waiting for one or two that's fine except for one person. Well, I can take those as well. And so yeah, so we have
it already. Perfect. It's easier if you email it to Jessica. Yeah. Yeah, that would be wonderful. Give it to her. Okay. And no questions on on any of the items or anything. Um well, what exactly are we supposed to
do? I mean, we itemized it, but then what? Yeah. Sure. Sure. So your lead actions um we would have you start those whenever you're ready. Um you know the the plan is obviously it's the 2040 plan. So um you know it's a it's a big
extensive plan. Um but these are actions that you know would have been assigned to you and you guys can start them as soon as possible. Um, some I don't know if either one of these are already in process where you may maybe there's things that have come up in the past
where you've already talked about or started a plan for. We've already done a pandemic planning and things like that, don't we? Yeah. Um, the pandemic planning is kind of an ongoing thing um under the guidance of
um DPH. So, that's something we're kind of always always working on. Um the nurses also um track there's a statewide software called Maven of Mass Massachusetts
uh epidem virtual epidemiological network. Um so any of like reportable illnesses um go in there and they track that and follow up with with residents if need be. Um so that kind of all goes in with
that one. And then um the edge we don't we're not part of there's the Pioneer Valley mosquito control district for vector control. Um we're not part of that. I think it was probably talked about years ago and it was fairly expensive so I don't think it was done
but um throughout the summer the nurses do um and we cover six towns the nurses part of our um shared service district. Mhm. Um but throughout the district and throughout Southwick they, you know, have some promotional stuff for ticks and mosquitoes and that sort of thing.
Okay. So, that one we do a little bit, but the um Okay. The other one we pretty much That's ongoing. Yeah. Okay. That will never change. That will be forever ongoing. How do you found like five ticks? Oh, really? Oh, they're crazy this year,
right? Yeah. They're very bad. Yeah. Um, so it sounds like just so when I I report back. So the so um the pandemic plan that one's already like underway in process. Do you think you guys need to
enhance what like the current plan or is it are you comfortable where? Um no it it definitely needs to be to be enhanced. Okay. Um, I participate in the Hampton County Health Coalition,
um, which is our regional, uh, public health emergency preparedness coalition. So, we get funded, um, mostly from the feds, but it channels through DPH. So, we have a lot of like deliverables, and there's certain certain things DPH wants us to focus on
every year for our for our planning. So, okay. Um, so that was kind of ongoing and okay, what all of the towns had planned before the pandemic, the state just threw out the window and then did their
own vaccine clinics at like the Eastfield Mall and Okay. Even though we've been maintaining these plans for like 20 years, they were like, "Nah, we're doing our own thing." So, so that because of how that all went down, I think people are starting to look at things a little differently, which is good. Um, but it means that all our
plans need do need to be updated and modified. So, and I think you raised a good point, Tom. I think incorporating some of the lessons learned since that that was put into place would be great. Yeah.
Okay. Um, do you want to go through some of these support actions quickly? Sure. The accessory dwelling units, you're already involved in that, right? you um you expect those um not the ADUs though the the ADUs are different from
the um from the short-term rentals. So the ADU That's right. Okay. So that that's that bylaw is going to be in place. Yeah. And they just come to us for well receptic or whatever. So whatever. Right. I think that I think
that bylaw is going to be on town meeting this month. I don't remember. But is it if it's a state? Well, the state the state law passed, but now um in Southwick and I think a lot of communities are updating their zoning
regulation. Okay. To play nice with the state law because a lot of the state law would supersede it, but a lot of people zoning said no, you can't do that. So now they're going to try to make it so it's consistent. All right. So they would just Okay. And then the uh tiny
homes, I mean, if they if the planning board allows it, they just have to have septic in their well, right? Okay. And that that actually um in the housing code, there's some restrictions on like tiny homes and things like that. So they
actually in certain cases depending on exactly what they want to do need to get a permit from the board of health um in order to have I can't remember what they call it in the code. I have to look it up. Are there people like wanting to build a tiny home
in here or you're being proactive? I think just I think it's just being proactive for 2040. Okay. maybe u climate change preparedness. Anything in any of your meetings talk about climate change?
Um not a ton. I think that it's just like an increase in all of our emergency weather events and all that sort of stuff. Um and and Tom, do do we the emergency preparedness does does that include
things like crowd strike any of those thing? You know what if the town computers went, you know, down and all of that? Do we have any backup? I don't I don't know. That would be an emergency management question. Okay. I
think that's in um I think there's some last time I looked at that I think there's some IT stuff in there in the uh the townwide emergency plan. All right, the next one is working with Sfield to protect water quality in
the Kangaman lakes, addressing septic issues, erosion, water foul that contribute to loading algo blooms. Um, we address septic systems. We address we test the water for the beach.
Yeah. Um, Yep. And that that this one is a lake management is the lead organization. So, so yeah, that wouldn't be an issue if they needed any uh advice or assistance on on that and doing anything over the line in
in Southfield might be uh a little difficult, but Right. All right. The next one goes back to having talks with guest speakers to educate the people about climate change,
temperatures, rainfall, flooding. Um, that's conservation. Yeah. I mean I know um one of my undergrad degrees is in environmental science and so I know
if they're still there a lot of the faculty um at Westfield State. Oh nice. So if you need any resources to reach out happy to do that. Great. um enhance consistency in permitted activities and enforcement in regards to
natural resources and storm water. What does that mean? Can you read that again, Sue? quote, enhance consistency in permitted activities and enforcement in regards to
natural resources and storm water. So, I could go back and um look through the chapter again, but I would take that as making the permitting more consistent. Um that the conservation commission is lead on that. So I can ask
um for some more clarification. Um it is also in the climate change chapter six. Yeah. Okay. Um I could ask for a little more or look to see if we can clarify that a little. Um but I would
imagine when they're ready, I'm not sure where it stands on their priority, but I would imagine when they're ready, they would reach out to you guys for some support and maybe some more context to that one. Yeah. Yeah. The most common overlap with conservation is um if
someone is installing a septic system or a well and they are within the setbacks of a of a wetland or something like that. Um so I think that if they needed any advice on that that would be a huge lift. Sure. To make sure everything is
consistent I think is good. Boy this next one I thought we put down I thought we put this one as number 10. Establish a fund and funding position for a town grant writer to assist various departments, boards, and commissions to apply for
available funding for infrastructure maintenance, historical preservation, conservation, business development, etc. I thought we put that as 10 because we had we had Kaen and we had the grant. Yeah. Well, I think that's for that
important to us. That's for other grants I think beyond ours. Everything whenever we see a grant though we do, you know, pass them along to the other boards. Trisha's very good about that. So if she sees anything, it goes to different boards. So
all right. Okay. I thought this one we had we had more. Okay. The next one is evaluate the solid waste transfer stations continued continued viability, future costs, environmental implications as well as opportunities to improve on
recycling and waste volume through programs such as curbside pickup, pay as you throw, etc. Um, I think that's an important one. Yeah, I think that's already in process by the DPW. Um, I believe they've
already started doing some research on that. Good. And they actually do a nice job down there. They do a good job. Yeah. I love the transfer stations. Yeah. To separate everything out and Yeah. That's Yeah.
Um develop an engaging electronic newsletter sent approximately every two years or monthly. every two weeks or monthly by town hall to town residents and taxpayers that provide municipal updates, health and safety news, local
events, resources, recreational, cultural, and civic opportunities, and emergency response preparedness with the aim of improving town outreach and communication. Consider student I mean, that's a good idea. Consider having a student intern
help with development. I like that. I think that's important. Yeah. I think that's fun. It's interesting how when you fill these things out to when you read them again because we had that pretty consistently. That was everyone's
lowest priority. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. I think a lot of things have happened since we did that. I'm not sure. Yeah. Newsletters don't go out in the mail now, do they? because we've never gotten any. Yeah, not that I'm aware of. I don't think so. Senior
center. I've looked at their newsletter. Really? Yeah. I for me at least I think I put it pretty low because like there's already there's already the website and you can do a lot with that. So I think I think if you in my head it was like if
not that it would be our uh thing to do. It's the um would be Nicole's job according to this. Um but just when you have something that you have to like get out monthly it's like one more and then you have a slow month and you're like oh what am I going to put in there? So I was like we can already put stuff on the
website whenever we need it. So um so I think that was my personally my thinking for that. Mhm. And you know, being of the the aging, I'm sorry, seasoned generation, having something on email may not, you know, work for for a lot of
people in town. So, right, that that's why I'm I'm, you know, I'm I'm advocating for my people. This would be probably an e an e newswsletter. It It does say electronic.
It's an electronic newsletter. You know, in a way, it'd be nice to have everything in one newsletter rather than go in and have to click on for each the boards. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. And then uh yeah, nurses are always sending out
lots of information. Trisha is okay. Establish a master plan implementation committee. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot to that. Um but it kind of just gives you an idea of what we would be will be doing as the
as the committee. So do we have a committee? Yes. So right now it's myself um Diane Gail. So we um so the um the charter was that it has there has to be one select board member, one planning board member. So, we have Diane, uh,
Dave Spina, Norm Shaver, and then we're actually, we had a committee member that had to step back. So, we're going to be looking for a new one. So, is there five? There were five there. There's four right now. There will be five. Yeah. Yeah. Now, is this um committee
appointed? Yes. Yes. Elected. And you're appointed for how long? Um, as far as I'm aware, a year. So, we'll be coming up um we were appointed in July, so we'll be coming up again um for reappointment for the upcoming year.
Seems like it should be more than that. Yeah. You know, since this is ongoing. Yeah. Yeah. I'm not sure if they'll maybe change that duration, make it a little easier. Um so, they have to, you know, find people every year. Um or, you
know, have have us voted in or what, you know. So, yeah. Or who volunteers. Yeah. So, um that's that's all I had. Um I know we're just trying to wrap up priorities for everybody. Um so Tom, if you don't
mind emailing them over what you guys have um I'll bring that back to to the committee. Norm's keeping kind of our master schedule um for all the priorities and then it would just be, you know, from there um on working on
your two lead items. And I'll make a note that it sounds like both of them are already a work in process. Um but that you're going to be enhancing um and expanding on both of those items. So we'll note it as a work in process and then um you know I'll just I'll check in
with you guys. Um we don't have a schedule for how often. It might depend on what committees are you know working a little bit faster than others maybe. So um but you know I'll check back with you guys and let you know if there's any other like immediate next steps. So, all
right. And you guys feel free to reach out anytime if you have any questions on on any of this. So, very good. And I you might have said it, but just to clarify, so for all of the support ones, um I mean, if we have something really good to offer, it's good to be
proactive, but we don't necessarily need to be proactive on them. Kind of more of a wait and see approach. Yeah, exactly. If you had a suggestion on any of the support ones, um we can certainly relay that back to the committees. either if you guys know somebody on that committee directly or if you want me to to relay
it back, we can certainly do that um for you know suggestions. Um I did make a note of um that you might have potential resources available for that one connections or connections. Yes, not officially will be on new board members.
Oh, okay. Great. Well, am I running on a post? You know, it's part of I believe so. Yeah. So, I'm in it. Yeah. Yeah. I see you're um someone puts up a really good writing campaign. So if you want I could make
you know let the conservation commission know when they get to that you might have some connections that would be useful. Um I'm pretty sure um the chair of the environmental science is still there and he was a a friend. Okay.
Okay. Great. That's all I have for today. Thank you so much. It was great to meet all of you. Thanks for allowing me into your you have any more comments or questions for Jessica? No. No. Thank you. Great. All right. Very good. Thank
you all. I appreciate it. Okay. Amend your contract. Yes. Did you already add it in here? I did. So, the you can't see them that well, but the highlighted portions, the gray highlight is uh the changes. So,
Terry, did you get a copy of Tom's revised letter of employment? He has to add the cell phone. I'm sure I did, but I may not have opened that because I think that came with your I think you sent everything kind of at one time. Yeah, that was that one I sent at like
five around five o'clock and I actually forgot to do the letter my contract in the first one. So, I sent a quick follow-up email right after. However, um, was this something we were going to look into to see if the grant was going to pay for the phones? Yes. So, at our
last board meeting, they were waiting for some more information. It wasn't quite clear to me what information they needed. I think they just wanted written how much it would be per month, which I did send to them. Um, yeah. So, I think
they just need to vote on it again. Yeah. So, and I I worded it in here vaguely. Um, so I said Hampton County Health Coalition, we no longer be funded um funding mean cell phone. Uh, Mr. Hibbert shall receive a cell phone
through with service through the town of South Phone Plan. So if it's through the grant, um the it's still through the town of South phone plan. So that way we got out. They still get the Yeah. money. Yeah. So we we I believe it will be put
in the budget just in case because we don't know for sure if the grant to so yeah. So we don't know if the grant will pay for it or if um well if the if the group will vote for it or if DPH will approve us to use it, but I think in both cases they will.
Um so so that way either way it's through the town of South phone plan whoever pays for it and then that would just be a $600 in our budget that we don't have to worry about at least while the grant is in existence which is hopefully a long time. So
Terry, it says as the Handen County Health Coalition will no longer be funding municipal cell phone cell phones, comma, Mr. Hibbert shall receive a cell
phone with service through the town of Southwick's phone plan. Yes. Is that what it's called? Phone. Is it called telephone plan? Phone plan? Do you know exactly it's called? I'll double check. Yeah. Before I send it out for e
signature. All right. Make sure it's right. But maybe cell phone plan. And then the other changes um at the top I just added and the revision date. Um the I believe since the grant first started the name of the grant
changed. So I any reference to the shared service grant I just the official title is the mass DPH public health excellence grant. So I updated those and then um on oh I didn't maybe I didn't
highlight that [Music] where oh I did highlight that um the stipened it says to be paid in increments of um 2500 every three months. It was previously 5,000 every
six months, but the grant requires that we do it quarterly. Um, so I just updated I didn't change the amount. I just updated that to reflect how we actually do it because we're changing it anyway. So why not make it as accurate as possible? Do you do you follow what
we're talking about, Terry, since you don't have not the last part, you know, the cell phone? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. when we got to the 2500 or the 5,000, you lost me a little bit. Okay. So, yeah, the the way the wording in the contract previously was I get annually for the
grant I get a $10,000 stipend. Um, so the way it was worded in the contract was 5,000 twice a year. Um, the grant from DPH requires that we pay it uh quarterly. Okay. So, I just updated it
to be 2500 every 3 months um to be consistent with the grant. even though that's how we were already doing it. Okay. Thanks. Did we meet with you six months after we hired you? No. No. Did we meet with you at least a year after
we hired you? Well, I mean, we had our meetings. This is going This is going on your second year, right? I'm going on my third year. February 1st was my two-year anniversary. Started in 23.
Okay. It says here, Terry, that we're supposed to meet with Mr. Hibbert six months after hire for the purpose of discussing with the board his performance. And they were supposed to meet with him at least once each year.
Oh, for the purpose of discussing his performance. Alrighty then. Poor. Are you Are you sure we never did one? I don't think we did. You're just doing such a good job that it's not That's You know, it was kind of
a moot point, Tom. Well, thank you. Yeah. Well, that's just something to keep in mind if Yeah. Okay. So, you're going to get the real name of the phone plan. Yeah. Put that on there. Yeah. And then I'll just send it out for e signature. Yeah. Um, and I feel we have
to vote on this, Terry. Um, so I make a motion that we accept the changes in Mr. Hibbert's letter of employment. um one being the change of the name of
the grant. Another being um have being paid um in increments of 2500 every three months instead of 5,000 twice a year. and also the fact
that he's no longer going to have a phone through the Hampton County Health Coach and and so that the town of Southwick uh he'll fall under the town of Southwick's telephone plan. Okay, I second that. Okay. All in favor? Terry
Putnham. Yes. Does that cover? I think that covers it. Yeah. Great. Okay, good. So, this is good until June 30th, 20126. Then you have to renegotiate with Tom
which Tom will let you know. Yep. Okay. Um, so for the grant meeting that we have for the advisory board. I'm currently the number one for Southwick and Terry, you're the number
two. So, I don't know if you want to wait till the next meeting and and probably hopefully Trish will be here. Um, Trish will be at the meeting so that we can talk and and I'd like to to
know, you know, I I get the emails, but again, if I haven't thought that that was my major responsibility that I I, you know, especially when I'm working, I haven't looked at that. So, I'd like to know a little bit more about what, you know, how often the meetings are, what
the responsibility is, and that kind of thing. And if we could talk about that at the next meeting, that would be that would be good. And then Erica will be there, too. So, can find out what Erica's hours are too. Right now, they meet Tuesdays at 2:30.
Um, what every two months, three months. Yeah. And we're trying to change that. It's we have a difficult time getting participation from the other smaller towns. So, um Kaen did a survey
to all of the all the boards to see when they wanted and would you say it's looking like we might the the most popular times were Wednesday afternoon or Wednesday evening? Yeah, it's kind of a mix right now. So, I actually spent today kind of talking with some of the
board members. We might need to some towns need to switch their primary and secondary board member because there's just too many there's not one good time. I know there might never be but right we need one where there's like four to five
board members who can meet. So I we have to there's some work to be done but that should be figured out by next next month. So I'll be available to to meet. When is the next meeting? It is May 13th
and that's when we're going to vote on um the ne the day and time for the district meeting. When's the town meeting? You'll still be you'll still be a board of health member technically. I think it's the 20th is town meeting.
It's the week after the election. Yeah. What's the election? T the second Tuesday in May. May 13th. Yeah. All right. So, I will be on that meeting. Okay. You have to remind me. Yeah. But you guys already said goodbye to me. Oh yeah, we did. So you can still
come or if Terry's available that day because Terry's already the the backup for secondary. Yeah. Yeah. May third the middle of the day is you know I can do evenings because if I'm traveling I can still go in but but middle of the day for people who
work outside of town government is is is going to be tough. Yeah. So, is it going to be May 13th at 2:30 still? Yeah. So, for the till the end of the fiscal year, it's going to be 2:30 and the hope was for 26 change it. I don't think during
the day works for, you know, we have a lot of people who work full-time in non-governmental positions, so we do need to change it. So, hopefully they vote to to do. What happened with that? So this is the um our our public our
shared service grant is uh we have the western Hampton County Public Health District. We have Southwick, Talon, Granville, Blandford, Russell, and Montgomery. Um so that grant pays for
the nurses. Um it pays for Caen. And we also get some we don't have like a shared inspector although Kaen's going to be doing some inspections for us. Um but we have some like shared inspection equipment among the towns and we do some other the nurses do a lot of classes and
everything for all six towns. Um so that grant has an advisory board which is made up of um a primary. They each town gets one vote. So there's a primary and a backup representative for each town. Okay. In your primary right now. Yeah.
And Terry is secondary. Yes. Okay. And it's very hard to get a quorum. Yes. To get four. I can imagine. Yeah. Yeah. And we have to have four or we can't have a meeting.
Kaen, do you think you could send that survey to Terry, Erica, and Trish? Yes. Can you send me Erica's email though? I don't think I have. Okay. Yes. Then yes, I can. Um and then and then depending on
their answers and depending on what the uh the group decides for our meeting time on the 13th, then that will advise the Southwick board's choice at our next meeting on who should be the representative. So yeah, I will send
that. Cool. Um so we don't have a nursery report. Do you know anything about this foundational public health services review or general updates? Do you know anything about that? That's all Kaine.
Kaine. Okay. Um, so we completed the foundational public health service review. I submitted that to the state and Kyla, our consultant from BME Strategies, who ran the review, is going to be at our district meeting on May 13th to um show us our results. So,
it'll kind of give us a good sense of where we're at capacitywise when it comes to the main public health principles that we're trying to um trying to get to. I'll put um when it comes to public health. Uh so, I think
we did a good job. I submitted the best answers that I could with um limited resources. So, I think I think it was good. Um general updates for the district. It was a busy month in April, so we got to do some good work. There was some presentations with the nurses.
I know that they've sent out their previous reports, maybe not from April, but um Trisha will definitely be sending that. Uh Trisha and I also were able to do a vape prevention night in Southwick with the Southwick Regional School District. I think that was pretty successful. Um we were able to film
that, so it's up on our website now. So that's good. Also, we're closely monitoring uh the measles outbreak. Um, Patricia, Maryanne and I have talked a lot about, you know, vaccine hesitancy, working on that, building trust with the towns. So, I think that's we're we're
plugging along, doing the best we can with that. And now we're really focused on our work plan, the budget, and setting a new time and date for the meetings. So, we're hopeful. I think we're on the right track for the next fiscal year, and we're going to do some
some good work. Now, thank you. When um when do we get the new budget? Um I think the finance committee I think they finalized the proposal for town meeting. No, but I mean for the
grant. Oh, for the grant. Um voting on it in June. Um but the roll the roll out from the state is the next PH meeting which is May 21st. So, we'll kind of get a good look at what the work plan's going to look like and how we have to
allocate the budget for that. And then, not much is changing though, I think, budget-wise, from last year. When do we have to return what is unspent? August. When we
return whatever we return, does that include a certain percentage from what the town would get? Yeah. Yeah. The town gets their their share. They get 15% of spent funds. Yeah.
15% of spent funds. Okay. They changed that. It in previous years it was 15% of the award. So, it ended up being a little more for the town and it was it was cleaner, too, because now we've been I just had to
talk to DPH today to figure out how because usually for during the year we kind of bill it out a couple times just so we don't so we keep track of it and stay ahead of it. um look at how much we've spent and then um Laura will do an
invoice and then we'll pay the invoice to the town their their cut. Um but DPH said we can cuz we're like if we need to get the funds out in the fiscally still in the fiscal year but we won't know exactly what we've spent to calculate
the 15%. So she's just said whatever is left subtract that from what we return and it will just stay in the town's general fund. So have has that covered the town expenses for this grant? I I
mean I would guess so or at least close to it. Um, we'd have to like I think it would be too much work to determine if it actually covered it because you know there's some hours from accounting, some hours from
the treasurer it and you know the treasurer, you know, I don't know if that would the extra time it takes to do your three your three uh paychecks every month. I don't know how much how much time that adds up significantly, but Um, so it' be
get a good amount though. I I would think this Yeah, Jim puts this on the um the website, but that's another update. So they the board did approve um for the Western Hampton County District to get their own website. So we're in the development
with a company called InTouch Web Designs and he's hopeful that that will be able to roll out in June. So we won't have to go through it anymore. Um, and Trisha, Maryanne, and I and Tom will have access to input information into that website. So, that'll be nice.
And they will have the live uh meetings on the site. Yes. Yeah. Put the link directly on that site. Yeah. And we figure that's better because like you know for people in Southwick to see the stuff for the grant on the Southwick
website is fine but I think it could get confusing for people in the other towns of you know having to go to the Southwick website to get the the shared service stuff. So it be on its own own site for all all six towns. From talking with residents they didn't even know it
was a thing that it was part of the Southwick's website. So, I think it'll be nice to have a separate entity. Yeah. And then can you monitor it to see how many people actually access the site? Yeah, I think so. Yeah.
Okay. Any uh questions or comments, Terry? No. Thank you. Pardon? Before we move on. No, I'm good. Thank you. Tom's report. Great. Okay. All right.
So, um, what do we got? Septic. Um, a lot of deboxes this month. Um, and approved a couple plans. Um, but 11 Patriots, seven Pond View, nine Lauren, and 45 Lexington were all debox
replacements. And at the two Gable View, and 67 Tannery, I approved the uh, new construction um, plans. Gable View is technically a repair, but they're adding a bedroom, so it's considered new construction. And 67
Tannery is actually new construction. Uh a few perks. 250 College Highway. Um that is that old, um farmhouse in front of the the dairy. Um,
and I believe they're going to knock the house down and and uh build a new I think it's in really bad shape on the inside. So, they're going to build a new uh place there. So, perks there. 21 Fred Jackson was a repair and um two to
Lakemont Street. 250 College Highway, the one where their like garage in the back has collapsed. Yes. Yes. They're actually separate properties. So where the driveways, it looks like it would all be
together, but the the 250 College Highway is its own property owned by one person. And then the 246, no 256 College Highway is the one that goes back and has the garages and
all the cars. And that one's in housing for it. So, uh, we've That has been ongoing. that's been ongoing for I think the oldest record I saw back was like 2003 for that one. Um so so that one I think we have an
inspection with all the cars. We have to go back on the 26th um to to see if he got rid of all the cars. I think that's his deadline. So, um, but this one is it looks it everyone
thinks it's one one property, but it's actually cuz the driveways are kind of connected. But anyway, um, to Lake Mont Street, that one is was a house that they that was actually kind of interesting. They um knocked down the
house and then after the house was gone, they got a title five inspection done and it passed. So, they're going to rebuild the house on the same footprint, and they would have technically been able to connect the new house to the old system. They would had to get a permit for the connection, but it would have
been no big deal. Uh, but they got a variance from the um zoning board of appeals to push the house back so it wasn't so close to the road and that actually put them over the old tank and
too close to the old seepage bits. So they and they were already started construction and everything when we realized this. So they um they sewer isn't on that street. It's on
Point Grove. So but it's very close to the end of Point Grove. So they if they really needed to they could have connected to sewer. Um but they wanted to see if they could put in a septic first because it would be cheaper. And we did the perk and they So they going to remove what's there and put the How
big is this lot? It's pretty small. Quarter acre. Not even. So they're going to have to remove what's there to put a new one in. No, there's there's some some virgin area in the front that was good good sand. So the system will be in the front. There was more room in the front since they moved the house back.
So it's town water, right? Yep. Yep. Town water. So, so that was an interesting one, but it worked out in the end for them. Um 21 North Longard, I've got to reach back out to him, but I know I know he's still working on getting the water
connection. I think um I think someone filled out a plumbing permit. Um so, we'll see how that goes. Uh is that that's the one we've been talking about for Yes, the the RV and the with the intermittent use. Okay.
Um 59 College Highway. I believe everything's been done there. I played uh was playing phone tag with the landlord for a little while and then I've got to follow back up with him because we um never never got anything scheduled. Um briefly, what was that? Uh
that is that um p like it's a little past the big Y. Um it's like it looks like it used to be a motel or something, but it's an apartment building with maybe um 10 10 units kind of up the hill. They just cleared all used you used to not even be
able to see it and they just cleared the everything on the hill. Um the inspection was for the septic system. No, that Oh, this I'm switching into housing now. Um so that was a the a tenant had complained and um some
nothing too crazy, some minor issues. Um, and I, like I said, I believe they were corrected, but I need to go out to verify that. Um, 80 bungalow, that one I also need to follow up on. I, as far as I can tell at this point, it's just the outside
stuff. Um, and maybe some more work cleaning up the basement, but um, last I talked to them, there was a plan in progress. It was slow going, but um, but hopefully that will be done soon. um 108 Point Grove Road. That was
a housing case from like my first month or two that I started. Um then the tenant the tenant left before the time was up. So the landlord just kind of let it sit for a long time. No one was living there. Um but finally I think they're trying to
sell the building. Um so finally fixed up that apartment and um it's now reoccupied. So I went through and made sure all the violations were corrected and issued them a certificate for that. Um 14 Depot Street
um that was the hot water um in one of the apartments there. I believe they corrected that, but once again have to do an reinspection. 35 Miller Road was a um short-term rental that um I inspected with
uh building and fire and that was no issues there. 440 College Highway um that was another short time short-term rental in addition to the other one you did last month. Yep. Okay. Yep. Um 440 College Highway was a
um tenant complaint. there was a a number of issues and uh that was just this week I did that inspection and as far um the landlord actually sent me a couple pictures. They've already started working on everything. So um I think that one will hopefully get resolved
pretty quickly. And 58 Bergkshire Drive was another short-term rental. Birkshire Drive or Birkshire Avenue? I think Bergkshire Drive. Do we have a Bergkshire Drive in town? I I don't know. Where is it? on the water. Is it
Is that Birkshire A? I think that's Berkshire A. Yep. We just No, your town. Oh, yeah. Berkshire Drive is in Westfield. That's my old town. That's why. Okay. So, what was going on at Birkshire? Another short-term rental. No, no
issues. um food service. Uh couple more food trucks, all events, concessions, and Patruno's place. And um while we're talking about food service,
are all the restaurants paid up? Yes. We got everything in order out certificates. Y um have you done any restaurant lately? That's I'm always on my to-do list, but I've I've really got to get out there. um cuz I am behind on that.
Okay. So, but um the meetings I don't I should have deleted LAPC. We didn't have LAPC meeting recently. Uh Ham County Health
Coalition um working on the budget and trainings and everything for next year. Um we had a meeting today and um and then also we've been working on um we had to do a big survey with our
consultant and it kind of ties into um what Jessica was saying for the updating our plans and all that. So that's kind of an ongoing thing that we've been doing with them. And um I don't think oh Western Mass Public
Health Association. So, this is kind of interesting. The um I have a meeting in two weeks. The state, so we have through the grant, we have the um inspection software that we pay for. Um and the
state is coming out with inspection software that's going to be free to every city in town. Um they say it's going to roll out in the fall, but I think this year we're allowed to pay for our current inspection software and next year we
have to use the state one. Um so there's not a lot of information out about it yet. Um so that will be that will be interesting. But in a couple weeks, I have a um because I'm on Western Mass Public Health Association, they um
wanted to have a meeting to kind of tell some of us. Um and who's paying for the state one? The state. So, we won't have to pay the state. They'll just they're just I wonder how long they're going to pay for it for. I know. I don't know. And wonder what it's like compared to what we Right. That's that will be
interesting to see. So, I'll get a first glimpse in a couple weeks. And does the company that we have now know that this is coming out? Yeah, they do. Yep. And what is our contract with the company we have now? A year. Uh, I think it's Yeah,
we renew it every year, I think. So, um, so that will be interesting. And then the other thing I'm not sure about is I think I've heard both both ways. Um, I don't know if the state software is going to include
permit. So, we're getting the e- permitting through the town for Southwick, and I don't know if that will be part of this. So, nice, huh? It would be the town would be happy to save some money. Um, it's decent. Right. Right. So, so that will be that will be
interesting, but I'll be getting a first uh first glimpse at that. So, um, so that's all I got. And then our our next meeting would normally be
June. Oh, why doesn't it just show me the calendar? Oh, I got to click that. June 5th, but I will be out of town. Um, so we could do we could do the
week before. It's May is a five looks like it's a fivew week because we're meeting on the 1st today. So, it's kind of a long month. Um, so we could do the 29th of May and then skip June or we could do June 12th.
June 12th is wide open for me and my husband will be on his leg home for that cycle. So, okay, June 12th is good for you. Is June 12th good for you, Terry? Good. June 12th and and uh May 29th. So, we probably ought to check with with uh
Patric with Trish, too. Um, so so yeah, June 12th, June, uh, May 29th are are both good. I think you should have one in June. Yeah. Well, it's up to you. Yeah, it's about
the same, you know, the same number of of weeks, but yeah, we can we could certainly talk about that. And Erica, so you would be able to do the May 29th that. So, is the Thursday before the holiday?
Well, it's just when my husband's he's a pilot, so he's gone. When he's gone, he's gone. Yeah. So, it depends on child care unless uh you want kids running it, right? June 12th. Yeah, June 12th, then. Okay.
All right. Or I can drop them off with you as I go by and They like horses, do they? They see them every morning. They're like horsey. And then they think the chickens are skunks. They're like, "They're skunks in the chicken coupe." I'm like, "No, those
are just funny looking chickens." Oh, yeah. That's right. The poofish. Yep. Okay. So, June 12th. And hopefully uh I'll let Trisha know, Patricia know. So, that way hopefully she can make it. It's
a Thursday. Yeah, Thursday the 12th. And we can talk about, you know, with with her schedule and and you know, child care and stuff uh uh with you, Erica, we could certainly talk about a schedule maybe going forward at that meeting, right? Yeah.
Yep. And we will also at that meeting um just so it's on both of your radars is the board will need to appoint a new chair. Okay. So, um, so just have that in the back of your head. And also lastly, before we
close, I just want to say thank you to Sue for 44 years of service to the town on the board of health. Wow. Not exactly. A little less. All right. Maybe 40. 40.
Wow. The town is very lucky to have you. Um, I've been lucky to have you for my first two years here. you've been a great resource to me. So, thank you very much. And if I uh if I need anything, I won't hesitate to call you anyway. So, we already told you you're on our speed
dials. So, thank you. So, do you have anything else? I I don't think so other than to wish you well in your semi-retirement. We're not counting it as real retirement. Yeah. Commission meetings. Uh, all
right. So, thank you and um make a motion to adjourn. I'll make it at uh 7:03. And I second. Terry Putnham votes yes. Uber votes yes. Thank you. Thank you, Kaen. Thank you, Sue. Thank you for your service. Thank you.