Executive Committee Meeting Agenda

BCBOHA Executive Committee Meeting

January 23, 2014 – 12:45 PM

BRPC, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 1 Fenn St., Pittsfield, MA

Executive Committee Members Present: Gina Armstrong, Jeff Kennedy, Scott Koczela, John Olander, Mark Pruhenski, Ron Stant

Executive Committee Members Absent:

Others Present: Soloe Dennis (MDPH), Charlie Kaniecki (MDPH), Gale LaBelle (Becket)

Staff Present: Laura Kittross, Sandra Martin, Diane Persson

12:47PM – Call to order by President Jeff Kennedy

· Minutes of November 20, 2013

o R. Stant motioned, S. Koczela seconded, unanimous approval of minutes

· Reports

o Used to be contractor reports

o Now, report will be a combination of all staff activities under PHEP, BCBOHA, MRC, Faith Based, and TURI

§ Let L. Kittross if format works/doesn’t

o R. Stant motioned, S. Koczela seconded, unanimous approval of reports for November and December

Financial

· Treasurer’s Report

o November and December expenses were ~ $2,200 with the large expenditure in November for the dinner meeting

o Balance of $60,476

o Treasurer’s Report is BCBOHA income from installers, chokesaver, small grants; MRC funds of ~$4,000; and WMPHA scholarship funds of ~ $1,900

o R Stant motioned, J. Olander seconded, unanimous approval of Treasurer’s Report

· Grant Budget Reports

o Includes PHEP, BCBOHA, MRC, TURI and Faith Based

o On target for spending (a little under because Tom Matuszko is not using as much admin money)

· BCBOHA Invoice to BRPC

o BCBOHA contracts with BRPC to pay for BCBOHA activities (septic installers, chokesaver, etc.)

o BRPC needs to invoice BCBOHA

o Process is TBD; but, ideally, Linda should directly invoice BCBOHA via President and Treasurer and Treasurer should write check

§ G. Armstrong needs to be added as a signatory, M. Pruhenski needs to be taken off

§ Also have to determine the frequency of invoices (quarterly, monthly)

· G. Armstrong, S. Koczela, M. Pruhenski and R. Stant all voiced that invoicing should be quarterly

· R. Stant motioned, M. Pruhenski seconded, unanimous approval to have BRPC invoice BCBOHA quarterly

Appointment of new member at large, Gale LaBelle

· J. Kennedy introduced G. LaBelle, Chairperson of the Becket Board of Health

· G. LaBelle said she has years of experience in the health field and as a volunteer (nurse at Baystate, going for her Masters degree, MRC volunteer, former BRPC Executive Committee member)

· Executive Committee has a Member at Large opening and can appoint someone until the next election

o S. Koczela motioned, G. Armstrong seconded, unanimous approval to appoint Gale LaBelle to Member at Large seat

Updates

· L/SAC Update

o Joint meeting with DPH

o Minutes from November sent, no December

o January meeting took place – conversation focused on HMCC

· WMPHA Update

o May 8th – housing seminar – scholarship money is available

o Totally Title 5 will be in October

o L. Kittross emailed MHOA about how the DEP seminar is in Auburn (not Western MA)

§ Was told there used to be 4 seminars, now there are 3, and there will mostly likely be 2 next year

§ It’s very difficult for people to get there CEUs

· That’s why BCBOHA efforts are so important

§ L. Kittross will add training schedule to next agenda – please bring suggestions

· HMCC Update – Dec. 2 meeting, January 30 meeting, alternate for 1/30 mtg

o Hospitals, EMS, Community Health Centers and Public Health will form as a response group during emergencies

§ PHEP money will go to HMCC (a large amount of the funding will come from PHEP because the other disciplines don’t have large grant budgets)

§ Only one will form in Western MA

o Eastern part of the State doesn’t want them. Western MA is used to talking with everyone already.

o First meeting will be held on January 30th at the Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield

§ Want to know what resources we have and what are we doing now that we don’t want to lose.

· S. Koczela said he doesn’t want to lose local representatives coming out and helping towns with emergency plans

o Need that resource to provide assistance and push to get work done

o Locals know the community (everything starts as a local emergency and we have the local knowledge)

· L. Kittross doesn’t want to lose the regional relationship building (REPCs, 1st responders, etc.)

o Those relationships build trust that allow us to work well together during an emergency

· S. Martin doesn’t want to lose the ability to increase capacity and create partnerships

o RFP will be sent out for entire Western MA

o L. Kittross and S. Martin are representatives and attend meetings together

§ S. Martin will be in California for January 30th meeting

§ L. Kittross wants to know if someone wants to attend in S. Martin’s place

· CHI Update – forum Jan 24

o At Berkshire Hills Country Club from 8AM – 11AM

o Forum will focus on 6 target areas

Grant Updates

· Current:

o FY 14 PHEP – on target

o TURI – planning training

o WHRSAC Faith-based (rest centers) – moving forward

o Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) – on target

· Received:

o WHRSAC Public Information Officer training

§ One will be in Berkshire County, one in Pioneer Valley in late Spring

· Pending:

o Prevention & Wellness Trust Fund

§ BCBOHA would work on indoor air quality (2nd hand smoke)

o Tufts Foundation – Healthy Aging (LOI) (New Application)

§ T. Matuszko, B. Orsi and L. Kittross summited for healthy brain initiatives

Old Business

· Request to hire Region 1 RC

o When Don Snyder retired, 4 Counties requested to hire their own, similar to how other Counties have.

§ Told no; but, we may be able to sit in on early hiring

§ Katie Kemen has taken on role in the meantime

§ We’ve been told that there is no plan not to hire a new RC; but, L. Kittross suspects it will be rolled into Gail Bienvenue’s position

· Sharps program – meeting w/ elected officials, bill 1480 support

o Sharps cannot be thrown away anymore

o 3 communities have some sort of program (Egremont, North Adams, Williamstown)

o Jim Wilusz at Tri-Town set up meeting with elected officials

§ Smitty Pignatelli has introduced a bill that would require anyone who sold them/distributed them to take them back

· Letter of Support to be drafted – L. Kittross would like J. Kennedy to sign it

o M. Pruhenski motioned, S. Koczela seconded, unanimous approval to have J. Kennedy sign on behalf of the Coalition

· BOH Orientation Class – Greenfield

o Originally scheduled for January. Postponed indefinitely. We are will to go; but, our costs need to be covered.

New Business

· PWTF Confidentiality Agreement

o BHS was required to sign it as part of the application and would like all the partners to sign as well

§ Nat Karns and Mark Maloy vetted agreement

§ R. Stant motioned, M. Pruhenski seconded, unanimous approval of J. Kennedy signing on BCBOHA’s behalf

· Temporary Food Class for Spring?

o G. Armstrong asked about cost

§ BOH – free, Vendors – small fee

o J. Kennedy wants one in Williamstown

o M. Pruhenski wants one in Great Barrington

· Food Establishment Inspector Training

o FDA funding/WMPHA funding

o $1500 for Nancy Simonds-Ruderman to design and teach

§ Whole day training centered around inspection form

§ Looking for help from senior health agent

§ Anyone who goes through the class could have Nancy come out and help with an inspection

o Charge ~ $25 for people to attend

o S. Koczela has spoken with Bountifare in Adams to host

§ Could do an unofficial walk through inspection as part of the class

o S. Koczela motioned, G. LaBelle seconded, unanimous approval to pay Nancy Simonds-Ruderman up to $1500 to design and teach a food inspection training

Upcoming Events

· CHI Community Forum - 1/24

· EDS Training - 1/27

· Pittsfield EDS Training – 1/27

· WMPHA Housing Seminar – 5/8, Totally Title 5 Fall Seminar – 10/7

· Lead Determinators – need 10 people (C. Kaniecki and L. Kittross will compile list and advertise)

· Inspector Safety Training with Captain Gaynor – Tuesday morning in February

o J. Kennedy would like CEUs

· BOH Orientation – in July

2:20PM – Adjourn – S. Koczela motioned, G. LaBelle seconded, unanimous approval to adjourn