2003-02-27 Regional meeting
City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board:
Board of Health
SubcommitteeRegional Boards of Health Group Meeting
:
Date:
February 27, 2003
Place:
Beverly Council on Aging
Board members present:
Frank Carbone Jr., MD, Joseph W. Walsh Jr. and William J. Alpine Jr.,
Esq.
Board members absent:
Others present:
William Burke, Director of Public Health
Recorder:
Judith Balboni.
Chairman Carbone opened the meeting at 7 p.m. He welcomed all and expressed gratitude for
attending. This is the fifth meeting being held for regional health boards. The purpose of the
meeting is to share some of the issues that are facing each community and to discuss handling of
such.
Other cities and towns represented were Danvers, Salem, Saugus, Middleton and Swampscott.
Also represented was Coastal No. Shore Tobacco Control Program, No. Shore Tobacco
Collaborative, Mass. Dept. of Public Health, and New England Mosquito Control.
Chairman Carbone introduced Walter Montgomery, Director of Northeast Massachusetts
Mosquito Control and Wetlands Management District. Mr. Montgomery gave a very detailed
account of work being done in our communities responding to West NileVirus, a threat again this
year. New management plans are being set up with each community. Communities vary on what is
best for them. Larviciding of catch basins and truck spraying are just two procedures done.
Chairman Carbone asked what each community was doing. Beverly, Danvers, Middleton and
Salem all do spraying and larviciding catch basins. Saugus has a large marsh area and they do
aerial spraying. Swampscott does nothing. Dr. Block, Swampscott is not convinced of the benefits
or risk reduction of the procedures. He is very concerned about the use of pesticides and the
environment. He would like to see more data available. More information is available through the
Massachusetts Pesticide Board.
Joyce Redford from North Shore Tobacco Collaborative spoke on the status of ETS and Youth
Access Regulation in the Clean Air Works North communities. Middleton is just beginning to
address issues in their community. Mr. Demeritt from Middleton Board of Health had lots of
questions for the other cities and towns that have already paved the way.
No date was scheduled for future meeting. However, a suggestion was made to invite
representatives from state to another meeting to discuss issues.
Meeting came to close at 9 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Judith Balboni