Donna S. David, R.N., M.N., Chairman
David B. Alper, D.P.M., Vice Chairman*
Robert M. Eisendrath, M.D.
STAFF
Donna Moultrup, R.N., C.H.O., Director
Ellen O’Doherty, Administrative Assistant & Clerk of the Board
Patrick McCormack, M.P.H., Sanitarian & Sealer of Weights and Measures**
John Maguranis, Animal Control Officer
Janet Amdur, LICSW, Outreach Worker
Rick Chasse, Youth Services Coordinator***
Ann Marie Thistle, R.N., Public Health Nurse
Disease prevention and health promotion are the primary goals of the Health Department, and are overseen by a three member elected Board of Health. State and federal departments of health mandate certain activities and suggest others based on research and national statistics. The Guidebook for Boards of Health guides local officials in mandated and suggested activities, considering local conditions and available resources.
The Health Department staff spent considerable time this year archiving material dating from the 1800’s for long-term storage and packing other material for short-term storage. In July, the Department moved to a modular unit located behind the High School, shared with the Recreation Department and the School Administration. The transition was relatively smooth and the Department will remain there until the renovation of the Town Hall Annex is complete, sometime late in 2004.
Food sanitation is one of the most important activities of the Health Department because of the potential for serious foodborne illness. The annual food service seminar focused on integrated pest management and the choke-saving workshop continues to provide important local training.
There are approximately 76 food service establishments in town, including retail food stores, restaurants, catering establishments, bakeries and schools. Between one and three inspections are done at each of those establishments throughout the year depending on the relative risk of the operation and their level of compliance. Ice cream trucks, mobile food trucks, church halls and temporary food service events add approximately thirty additional inspections. Over 230 food service inspections are done each year. Three establishments closed; one new catering establishment opened; two were renovated and opened under new management; and three changed ownership.
The Health Department, under the authority of the State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410.000 Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation, responds to residents' complaints concerning possible health and safety violations in rental housing. After an inspection is done, an Order Letter is written to the property owner. The Health Department frequently facilitates negotiations between tenants and landlords, so that violations can be corrected as quickly as possible. Cases are occasionally resolved after court intervention. There were 20 new housing complaints during this year, two of which involved lead paint.
In addition to housing complaints, the Department responded to approximately 89 nuisance complaints that included inappropriate garbage/rubbish storage and disposal, air quality concerns, electric sanding, rodent problems and general safety issues. The Department is also responsible for inspecting the 3 tanning salons, 7 day camps, 11 swimming pools at 6 sites, 5 muscular therapy establishments and the air quality at the municipal ice rink. Although the Board of Health promulgated Body Art regulations in 2001, there are no establishments in town currently. Two applications for permits under the Biotechnology Regulations were received late in 2003 and it is anticipated that those permits will be issued in early 2004.
The Health Department continued its efforts to mitigate noise and odor complaints associated with a plating company in town. A number of changes were made this year that will significantly reduce the air pollution from this source and continued noise reduction from the installation of new equipment is anticipated in early 2004. The Health Department also worked with the Housing Authority to mitigate air quality concerns involving mold at Waverley Oaks, an elderly housing complex. Storage units in the basements were systematically cleaned and repainted and residents’ belongings are now being stored in plastic bins inside the storage units.
The Board of Health is responsible for subsurface sewerage systems in the Town, under the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) regulations, commonly known as "Title 5." There were three connections to town sewer, replacing old septic systems, and there was one new system installed as part of a large home renovation project. The Agreement between the town and the contractor for the Concord Avenue sewer project was signed at the end of the year.
Belmont is a "delegated community" of the Office of Child Care Services, and as such, licenses the group day care, nursery school and after-school programs in the Town. There are 12 day-care and nursery school programs and six after-school programs located in the public schools. The Health Department is responsible for licensing these programs every two years and for complaint investigations. Two programs moved to different locations this year. Family day care homes, both regular programs with no more than six children and large family day cares with no more than ten children, are licensed directly by the Office of Child Care Services.
The Board of Health contracts with Care Group Home Care for nursing services at town-sponsored clinics. A blood pressure clinic is offered on the first Wednesday each month at the Belmont Library. Pneumonia clinics were suspended due to State budget cuts eliminating the funding of pneumonia vaccine for health departments. The flu vaccine allocation from the State decreased this year but participation at the three Health Department sponsored clinics decreased as well. It is believed that the availability of vaccine earlier in the fall in the private sector has decreased demand at the Health Department clinics. 458 doses were distributed at the three clinics held at the Senior Center, the High School and the Health Department office. After the clinics were over, the number of flu cases throughout the
country increased earlier than usual. Sudden demand for vaccine exhausted the supply and increased telephone calls from residents looking for vaccine, especially for their children. There were 52 cases of communicable disease followed up by the Public Health Nurse.
Despite the lack of State funding for tobacco control, the Health Department has continued to support education and retail compliance checks. The Elementary School Nurses, the Health Department’s Public Health Nurse and the D.A.R.E. Officer from the Police Department all collaborated to bring the tobacco prevention education program, “Breathing Easy,” to all of the third grade students. Compliance Checks to insure that tobacco retailers are not selling tobacco products to individuals under the age of eighteen are also being carried out to the extent possible. There were three compliance checks this year with two tickets written during the first, no tickets during the second and five for the final one. There is strong belief throughout the State that compliance with the law is decreasing now that the
tobacco funding is no longer available.
This was the second year of having a full-time Animal Control Officer on duty and there was regular patrolling of parks and conservation areas. The presence of coyotes in this community was a major issue. Many residents were happy to see the wildlife flourish. A significant number of domestic cats were killed by the coyotes, however, and there is great concern that it will be difficult for the coyotes to co-exist safely in this densely populated community. The ACO sponsored an evening educational workshop on coyotes and spent a significant amount of time educating residents on safety issues involving wildlife.
The movement to create a dog park was slowed considerably by the Conservation Commission’s decision to not include it in its plan for Rock Meadow. The Kennel By-law Committee proposed a kennel by-law that successfully passed at Town Meeting. The by-law prescribes an annual licensing process that includes an inspection by the ACO as the Kennel Inspector for the town. The by-law imposes a 25 dog limit on boarders at the kennel on any given day and only one dog can be walked outside at any one time. The intention of the by-law is to decrease the nuisance noise affecting the abutting neighbors. The fines for violations of the animal control by-law were also increased corresponding to the number of citations issued over a twelve month period.
Most animals impounded by the Animal Control Officer are eventually re-united with their owners; unclaimed animals are available for adoption. There were 13 Belmont residents bitten by animals, two animals bitten by another identified animal, and nine animals were found to have bites of unknown origin. Three specimens were sent to the State Lab for rabies testing and all were negative. Belmont participated in the statewide rabies clinic day held on the first Saturday of April each year. There was also a fall rabies clinic with a total of 46 animals vaccinated against rabies at Health Department sponsored clinics. Ever since the Health Department started giving three year rabies shots to cats also, the fall clinic, in particular, has been poorly attended, so that clinic will be discontinued in 2004.
The Health Department's Administrative Assistant again facilitated the elementary school dental program. The Kindergarten classrooms were supplied with materials for four units on dental health during a specific month assigned to each school. Books, tooth models, plays, videos and other materials to be shared are delivered to each school at the beginning of its "Dental Health Month." Dr. Jolle Hami again volunteered her time in the classrooms, which was greatly appreciated.
The Outreach Worker continued providing individual and family therapy, case management, and crisis intervention services to provide support to Belmont families. This office moved with the other Health Department services to the modular unit behind the High School. A coordination of services was emphasized this year between the Outreach Worker, the Youth Services Coordinator, and the Police Department. Further collaboration with the Schools is anticipated for 2004.
Belmont continues its participation in the Minuteman Hazardous Products Facility located in Lexington. Eight towns comprise the core group operating the facility, although many other towns are able to send residents with either the town or the resident paying the fee. It was also open to small businesses again this year, and the Health Department did send information to possible small quantity generators identified in the community. Belmont continues to pre-register through the Health Department office to insure that the program stays within its budget. 277 households, an average of 35 at each collection, participated from Belmont, which is approximately 7% of the total participation. Each of the last four years, more than one hundred Belmont residents visited the site for the first time. The site will be
open a total of eight Saturdays, April through November, in 2004.
Belmont is one of 20 cities and towns that comprise the East Middlesex Mosquito Control Project. It has been in existence since 1946 with Belmont being one of the original five towns. Each city and town contributes funds towards the overall maintenance and administration of the District and then additional funds cover specific services provided to each community. Mosquito control specific to Belmont includes adult mosquito surveillance by trapping, helicopter Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) application in a small area of Beaverbrook Reservation and catch basin larval control. Because the land area of Belmont is quite small, one benefit of the town's support of the District is the mosquito control activities actually carried out in adjacent towns with large areas of wetlands.
The threat of West Nile Virus, carried primarily by container-breeding mosquitoes, continues to dramatically affect the workload of the Health Department. Dead crows with no signs of trauma are still being sent to the State lab to be tested for the virus, July through September, although the number dramatically decreased this year. There were 21 calls to the Health Department about dead birds; only one of those birds was a suitable specimen for testing and it was not positive. All catch basins were larvicided this year in mid-July with Altosid and again in August with primarily Vectolex by Health Department and Highway Department staff. Under the Nuisance Regulations commercial establishments with tire storage were checked a couple of times to insure that they were in compliance. No tickets for inappropriate
tire storage were issued this year.
Bioterrorism preparedness continues to be an important aspect of the Health Department's work. The Sanitarian attended Incident Command Training this year and all of the staff attended a Risk Communication seminar. The Director facilitated the completion of two surveys on preparedness: one from the State Department of Public Health and one from the federal Office of Domestic Preparedness. An “Emergency Planning Group” was assembled, including the Health, Police, Fire, Communications, Emergency Medical Services, Public Works and Emergency Management Departments and the Town Administrator’s office, to complete the surveys. This group is continuing to meet on a monthly basis to expand on the current “Community Emergency Management Plan.” The Health Department is anticipating
receiving some grant money in 2004 to facilitate planning and equipment purchases. The State’s Region 4B, of which Belmont is a member, hired a coordinator and began planning for the disbursement of additional grant money that will be made available to towns within the region.
Cable TV and the local newspaper continued to be used to share information concerning programs, clinics and health education. The Action for the Community Elderly (A.C.E.) Committee continues to provide opportunities for representatives of agencies serving the elderly in Belmont to network and offer support to each other. Participation in the Massachusetts Health Officers' Association (MHOA), the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA) and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB) helps insure that the Department has the most current information for Belmont's residents.
Two new programs came under the administration of the Health Department this year: The Sealer of Weights and Measures and the Youth Services Coordinator:
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
After the retirement of the former Sealer of Weights and Measures, the position was moved into the Health Department and the duties were assumed by the Sanitarian on July 1st. The Sealer enforces all laws and regulations relating to the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices and the weight, measure and count of commodities offered for public sale. Some new equipment was purchased and all forms were computerized. A fee schedule was passed at the Special Town Meeting held in November. Thirteen gas stations with a total of 109 gas meters; 15 taxicabs; 5 pharmacies; three businesses with scanners and 22 other measuring devices are inspected by the Sealer each year.
YOUTH COMMISSION
David B. Alper, D.P.M., Chairman
Catherine Caruso Terese Chipman
Brenna Feeley Karen Freidberg
Donna Griswold Maria Murphy
Dr. Martin Norman Susan O’Regan
Eugene O’Brien Anna Winston
Robert Palladino
The Director of Youth Services, Devorah Bunton, resigned this year and the program became administratively a part of the Health Department in July. A 19 hour position, Youth Services Coordinator, was created to facilitate programming for the Youth Commission. The Health Director assists the Commission in daily administrative tasks while the program goals are created by members of the Youth Commission, whose members are appointed by the Board of Selectmen.
The major task of this year was to rebuild the program and plan activities within the Commission’s goals and a decreased budget. Events included movie nights for the Middle School and High School students; a trip to the Omni Theater during a school break; recruitment of youth volunteers for a respite program planned by the Council-on-Aging; co-sponsoring a 9th grade family night and coordination with other groups providing services to students and their families.
The opening of a Youth Center, for ages 11 to 15, on Friday nights at the Butler School is one of the most anticipated events of 2004 after months of planning this year. “Belmont Unplugged” will also be a highly publicized program in the month of March, 2004 that will encourage families to unplug electronics and plan simple family nights of fun. The Recreation Department is cooperating by providing things for families to do, and the highlight will be a no-homework, no-sports, and no-activities night for Belmont students on March 11th.
An expansion of student volunteer and community service opportunities, further collaboration with other town departments and community groups, and the coordination of a town-wide youth and teen calendar are just a few of the goals for 2004.
Special thanks to all of those members of the Commission who gave so willingly of their time, especially during the transition, but are no longer members of the Youth Commission: Robert Dally, John Deignan, Janet Foley, Joseph Harvey, Margit Liander, Sarah Malconian, Noreen Millane and Elizabeth Karger.
Finally, the staff and Health Board members would like to thank the other town departments, boards and commissions for their support and assistance throughout the year. Special thanks go to the Highway Department staff for help with the larvaciding.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna L. Moultrup, RN, CHO
* Dr. David Alper was re-elected to his sixth term in April.
** Patrick McCormack assumed the duties of the Sealer of Weights and Measures on July 1st.
*** Rick Chasse began as the Youth Services Coordinator on July 14th.
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