Minutes 3-16 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Board of Health
Subcommittee:
Date: March 16, 2022
Place: Via Zoom
Board Members Present: Dr. Justin Jordan,MD, William J. Alpine, Jr., Esq. and
Susan Higgins
Board Members Absent:
Others Present: William Burke, Director of Public Health, Teresa Kirsch, Public Health
Nurse
Recorder: Karen Alpine
Mr. Alpine called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Ms. Higgins motioned to approve minutes of the February 24, 2022 meeting. Dr. Jordan
seconded the motion. All were in favor by roll call.
Tuck Point Condominium Trust and Hannah Village have submitted lifeguard waiver requests to
the Board. Mr. Burke explained that both organizations are perennial applicants. In answer to
Dr. Jordan's questions, he explained the lifeguard, pool inspection, and testing requirements for
public and semi-public pools in Beverly. Votes by roll call, first on Tuck Point, then Hannah
Village, were both unanimously approved.
Mr. Burke said that Danielle Spang, a representative from a citizens group, along with Jenna
Mayer, were online to speak to the Board about a rat problems in the city. Ms. Mayer presented
her expert public health recommendation, Best Integrated Pest Management. Then Ms. Spang
shared another PowerPoint Presentation. It explained what she saw are the problems, then gave
her recommendations for mitigation, using other cities as examples. She would like there to be
measurable goals, only one portal for reporting and tracking complaints, and funding for
resources.
Mr. Burke thanked Ms. Spang and Ms. Mayer for their work with the Health Department and the
Mayor's Office. He noted the Health Department recently mailed information on rodent control
to the City's Food Establishments. He has met with the Mayor and other Departments in regard
to rodent control as a community issue.
Dr. Jordan moved to have all complaints entered into one system. Ms. Higgins believes that
evidence based information is critical, and seconded to have a centralized database. Mr. Alpine
agreed, as long as the technology was feasible. A vote by roll call was unanimous and the motion
carried.
Mr. Burke had updates for the Board. The way to count Covid deaths has changed. Ms. Kirsch
was unable to unmute to give the Covid case counts. She will forward the numbers to the Board.
The annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day is scheduled for April 23, but has not
yet been advertised. Clean Harbors, the service vendor, has not yet sent the contracts.
Mr. Burke will be arranging a zoom presentation for the Board by Northeast Mass Mosquito
Control.
The FY23 budget process started on Monday, March 14 with departmental submission due on
March 25. Department heads were instructed to do a level service budget. The budget included a
request for reclassification of the Sanitarian and Public Health Nurse to higher step levels. The
Inspector position is still vacant. There will be interviews soon. In the meantime, two part time
Inspectors have been hired.
The Board discussed if and how they can influence the City to increase the budget for next year.
The Board spoke about the extra work required by the Health Department during Covid and the
need for greater resources, including adding a third inspector to handle existing work.
Dr. Jordan motioned to ask the Mayor for another inspector. Ms. Higgins seconded. Vote by
roll call, and the motion carried.
Dr. Jordan motioned that information for the Board be sent to a Drop Box or similar, instead of
relying on emails for communication. Ms. Higgins seconded. Vote by roll call was held, and
the motion carried.
In response to Dr. Jordan's inquiry in regard to how the Chairman is selected, the Board
discussed electing a new Chairman in September, after the summer break. Upon further
consideration, Mr. Alpine motioned to have Dr. Jordan assume the Chairman position
commencing in September, 2022. Ms. Higgins seconded. Vote by roll: all yes.
The meeting will adjourn from Executive Session.
The next scheduled meeting is April 20, 2022.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Alpine