Minutes 4-22-21 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Board of Health
Subcommittee:
Date: April 22, 2021
Place: Via Google Meets Webinar
Board Members Present: William J. Alpine Jr. Esq. and Susan Higgins, PE
Board Members Absent:
Others Present: William Burke, Director of Public Health and Teresa Kirsch, Public
Health Nurse
Recorder: Karen Alpine
Mr. Alpine called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Ms. Higgins motioned to accept the amended minutes of the Board of Health meeting of March
24, 2021. Mr. Alpine seconded the motion.
Old Planters Brewery has requested a variance of the 2013 Federal Food Code 6-2-2.15, Outer
Opening Protected, to open their overhead doors. Mr. Burke discussed that during the pandemic
breweries needed to serve food along with drinks. Breweries are required to obtain a food permit
from the Health Department or have a permitted food truck on premises or remain closed. Ms.
Higgins raised a question about pest management. Mr. Burke cited the Federal Food Code
section. Ms. Higgins motioned to approve. Mr. Alpine seconded the motion.
Mr. Burke had updates for the Board:
The budget for FY2022 has been submitted to the Mayor. Aside from increases in office and
clinic supplies, it is essentially level funded. It is anticipated that the department will continue to
receive funding from FEMA and the Cares grant for Covid related expenses.
Mr. Burke and Karen Alpine have interviewed candidates for the open part time Principal Clerk
position. A candidate has been offered the job today. Interviews for the part time clerk in the
Dental Clinic will be held via Google Meet on Tuesday.
Ms. Kirsch and Mr. Burke have had initial conversations with the Mayor in regard to filling the
vacancy on the Board left by Dr. Carbone. They will continue to pursue this and are open to
suggestions from the Board.
The Regional Collaborative's proposal for a vaccination clinic at the O'Keefe Center at Salem
State University has been approved by DPH. It could, however, be several weeks before the state
is able to allocate vaccine to it. Important to note: this was before the pause on the Johnson &
Johnson vaccine. The collaborative communities are Beverly, Danvers, Lynn, Marblehead,
Middleton, Saugus, and Swampscott.
Ms. Kirsch has been involved in small second dose clinics at Senior Housing. She spoke about
case counts and the question of breakthrough cases of fully vaccinated people. She and the other
nurses are still investigating positive cases, including working with schools and colleges.
Inspection staff is still providing guidance to businesses and investigating complaints of non-
compliance.
Within the next few weeks the City is switching to a new permitting software system. The
change from View Permit to Central Square is scheduled for early May. Karen Alpine has
worked behind the scenes to ensure functionality for the Health Department. There are several
full day end user training sessions scheduled in early May.
The Household Hazardous Waste Day is scheduled for this Saturday at the Beverly High School.
Hours are 8:00 to 12:00. The fee will be $20 per carload. Salem residents are allowed to attend.
There will be COVID precautions taken.
In response to a question from Ms. Higgins', Mr. Burke said that he has not heard from Joyce
Redford of North Shore Tobacco Control.
Ms. Higgins motioned to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Alpine seconded.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:37 p.m.
The next scheduled meeting is June 24, 2021.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Alpine