12/17/2020 BOARD OF HEALTH Minutes

Home Browse Search

stated that it would be better to put this off for a couple of weeks,rather than walking away from this with regrets. Mr. Triverl asked if the Board of Health has number for our school population, ages 13-18, and where those numbers are going. Mr. Harrington answered that,state-wide,the trend is showing that the numbers for that age group are going down. Mr. Harrington noted that outside exposures are what caused the increase when the school-year started;transmission did not occur in school. Nurse Schakel commented that there had been 8 positives at the Middle High School since the school year began on September 161h, all of which were family/in-home transmissions, and were not contracted through sports. Close contact numbers are in the elementary school are primarily due to recess. Ms. Warden stated that a-symptomatic kids can look healthy and play well,but can still transmit the virus. Chair Baumgaertel stated that,with the data on hand, Board members did not appear to be comfortable taking a vote, and he preferred to see how things evolved with the numbers and with the state guidance before rendering a decision. Superintendent DeBoer mentioned the outbreak at a local dance studio. She inquired if the Board had any oversight on that type of organization and asked why it was allowed to continue to operate. Mr. Harrington responded that the Board of Health has oversight for any of the gathering-type businesses. He stated that a conversation took place with the dance group when the guidance changed, and the studio indicated they were going to continue to operate on a socially-distanced basis. Ms. Cantella commented that the way the state has put all of this business guidelines out puts the onus on the businesses owners to self-certify. The Board of Health does not have to do any pre-operational inspections and, unless we get a complaint about a particular location, we may not know what is specifically going on there. Mr. Harrington commented that the Board of Health has direct oversight over restaurants because we permit them,but dance studios are not issued any permitting other than occupancy through the Building Department, and would fall under state guidance for their specific sector. Nurse Schakel noted that the dance studio is an example of what she was cautioning about outside activities. Unlike the athletic programs where there is close oversight and contact tracing,the school has no control over those environments where privately run activities take place, and it is the non-school sponsored activities that are ultimately leading to student quarantines. There being no further comments or discussion,Veronica Warden moved to continue discussion of the school winter sports program until the meeting to be scheduled on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Motion seconded by Ernest Virgilio. Roll call vote: Ernest Virgilio (yes); Veronica Warden (yes); Brian Baumgaertel (yes). VOTE: Unanimous(3-0). Mr. Harrington will check availability of a room and notify Superintendent DeBoer once the meeting has been confirmed. S. Review and approval of request to act as Burial Agent — Deborah Dam!, Town Clerk. Mr. Harrington commented that a request had been made by the Town Clerk Deborah Dami to have the Burial Agent position changed from the Health Agent to the Town Clerk. When the electronic death registry was instituted in September 2014, approximately 50% of towns transitioned the Burial Agent to the Town Clerk. Both the Health Agents and the Town Clerks were given the ability to certify the death certificate as being complete, but Town Clerks are responsible for issuing the certified copies of the death certificate. Many towns have streamlined the process by having the Town Clerks perform both the review and certification, and issuance of the certified copies. 8