BOARD OF HEALTH Mission Statement:
The mission of the Essex Board of Health Department is to assess and address the needs of the Essex community, in order to protect and improve the health and quality or life of its residents, visitors, and work force. This charge is carried out by health promotion, community health services, public outreach and education, as well as promulgation and enforcement of Health Department, Town and State regulations
Board of Health Calendar Year 2009 Annual Report
In 2009, Board membership remained unchanged; Board Chair was Lynne Marchetti, L.M.T, Dr. David Driscoll was member and BOH physician, and Marlene Sanders, R.N. was Board Clerk. Elaine Wozny remained as Board Administrator, Kim Paskalis, R.N., continued in the part time position as BOH Town Nurse, Ann White continued as Board of Health Administrative Clerk and Mario Salvatore continued as our contracted food service inspector.
In 2009 the Board of Health -
· Issued 12 Disposal Works Construction Permits.
· Held 1 school Seasonal flu clinic and 3 public seasonal flu clinics. Held 1 school H1N1 clinic. Held 3 combined Seasonal & H1N1 clinics. This resulted in 322 seasonal flu vaccinations and 620 H1N1 vaccinations. This is a 36% increase over last season’s (237) administered seasonal flu vaccines, with no comparison to 2009 H1N1 vaccinations.
· Performed seasonal weekly monitoring and water sampling at 1 semi-public town swimming area. Performed monthly sampling at two public swimming areas.
· Performed 1 semi-public pool inspection.
· Investigated 11 complaints.
· Reviewed 24 Title 5 Inspection Reports.
· Issued 8 septic system abandonment permits for properties connecting to public sewer.
· Reviewed 24 building permit applications.
· Reviewed 34 septic system design plans.
· Witnessed soil testing on 9 existing & proposed lots.
· Performed 127 inspections of food service establishments.
· Licensed 33 Septic System Installers.
· Issued 3 Recreational Camp for Children licenses and performed associated inspections.
· Issued 49 Food Service Permits (Retail, Establishment, Non-profit, & Catering).
· Issued 31 Temporary Food Service Permits.
· Issued 7 Milk & Cream permits.
· Issued 8 Septic Haulers Licenses.
· Issued 35 Keeping of Animals Permits.
· Issued 4 Retail Tobacco Sales Permits.
· Issued 2 Bed & Breakfast/Hotel/Motel Permits.
· Provided investigation and followed up as required by MA Department of Public Health for the following 13 reportable diseases and animal reports:
Hepatitis, Type C - 2 cases Group B Streptococcus - 1 case
*Lyme Disease - 4 cases Latent TB - 1 case
*Babesiosis - 1 cases Animal Bites - 1
Pertusis - 1 case Animals tested for rabies - 2
* tick borne diseases
Although the traditional BOH activities of septic system oversight, restaurant and housing inspections, etc. remain a fundamental part of our responsibilities, we continue to evolve and expand our efforts to outreach to the public in education and preventive issues that we feel are crucial for the health and welfare of our citizens. We hosted 3 presentations of the documentary movie on Lyme Disease “Under Our Skin” along with a forum discussion on Lyme Disease with local and national panel experts. Our annual health Fair was cancelled this year due to last minute rescheduling complications. However, the scheduled flu clinic and training on “Emergency Planning for the Family” and emergency “go kit” preparation did occur. We plan to resume the Healthfair in 2010.
Two successful projects the BOH worked extensively on this year were the planning and running of our first annual Essex Youth Triathlon and H1N1 flu protection planning and vaccination clinics.
We first heard of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus entering the U.S. from Mexico in early spring. We watched closely as this novel influenza strain first spread across our country, then the world. Although there was no vaccine available in the early stages, the Essex & Cape Ann Boards of Health acted quickly with our partners in the Cape Ann Emergency Planning Team (CAEPT), and especially with our schools to keep the public informed on how to minimize this threat. During the summer months we met several times and worked closely with our school nurses and Superintendant to prepare for the new school season. Seasonal flu vaccines were offered to our student population early, both at our local elementary school & regional high school. Immediately upon availability of the H1N1 vaccine, those at highest risk were
vaccinated in and out of the school system. Additional groups were vaccinated as vaccine became available. It is because we planned thoroughly with our dedicated school nurses that our delivery system was prepared and successful. We worked closely with all Cape Ann BOH’s to run public clinics. By sharing personnel, supplies, support, and equipment, we were able to successfully hold public clinics on a rotating basis throughout the Cape to effectively reach a greater number of people. Although not over yet and still unpredictable, in 2009, H1N1 did not evolve to the full danger it could have. It did give us the opportunity to run and improve our mass dispensing clinics, work closely and strengthen relationships with our responder partners, and prove to the public that in the event of an emergency we can respond successfully. The Cape is lucky to have the strong working bond between response disciplines that we have forged and strengthened through the years of planning. Our
thanks to everyone who helped from our four communities; most especially school nurses, neighboring BOH’s, Fire, EMT’s, Red Cross, and countless other volunteers.
Another major BOH accomplishment in 2009 was the BOH’s first annual Essex Youth Triathlon, paid completely by donations and entry fees. This concept was born in the fall of 2008, when the Board considered preventative measures to help residents and neighbors. We determined that encouragement of early physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits can lead to healthy adult habits that may delay or prevent the onset of obesity and the many diseases and health risks associated with it. We pursued this concept and with the help and hard work of many, we held our first Youth Triathlon at the Manchester Athletic Club on October 11th. Over 140 youth, aged 5-14 registered for this event, a huge number for the first year. We applied for & received a grant to help subsidize the costs of
the 2010 Triathlon, which will be used toward our goal to continue and grow this event.
Our relationship with our seniors continues. One of our presentations on Lyme Disease was held at the Senior Center and well attended by the members. In addition to offering immunization clinics, our nurse offers a free monthly blood pressure clinic at the Senior Center. The BOH partnered with the Senior Center and Northeast Health Systems to set up monthly presentations by NE Health Systems on topics of interest, varying from safe gardening to dealing with depression during the holidays.
Our outreach to and working relationship with our school expanded in 2009. As noted, we worked closely with Donna Smith, the school nurse on H1N1 planning and vaccination. Additionally, our nurse worked with the school by helping to administer seasonal vaccine, sat on a H1N1 informational panel sponsored by the Manchester/Essex schools, and offered a presentation to students & families on Lyme Disease.
Emergency response personnel of Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester and Essex have joined forces to advance our pandemic and all emergency response planning. We are proud to be an active part of this planning group, which in 2009 evolved to the Cape Ann Regional Emergency Planning Team (CAEPT), allowing us access to funding, recognition, and services beyond our previous capacity. Our BOH Administrator and/or Nurse sit on a number of subcommittees, including Education and Care Delivery. It is through the relationships and plans formed in the CAEPT that Cape Ann was timely and successful at running over 15 free school and public Cape Ann H1N1 vaccination clinics (3 in Essex) and as many seasonal flu clinics (6 in Essex). In October, the CAEPT sponsored an informational public forum on H1N1. The CAEPT also sponsored two
provider forums to keep vaccine providers informed on H1N1, answer their questions, and get their feedback.
In addition to the CAEPT, our Board of Health belongs to a larger Health emergency response collaborative with area communities of Danvers, Beverly, Salem, Peabody, Lynn, Saugus, Gloucester, Nahant, Rockport, Marblehead, Swampscott, Hamilton, Wenham, and Manchester-by-the-Sea. The North Shore/Cape Ann Emergency Response Collaborative has valuable emergency preparation information, including available educational trainings on their website, www.nscalert.org, as well as information on how you can become a much needed
volunteer to help your community in the event of a health emergency.
We continued our recycling program for the replacement of mercury thermometers and our sharps (syringes, lancets, etc.) collection program. Please call our office for information on either of these programs or for suggestions as to a program you would like to see implemented.
We continue to provide professional and prompt services and disseminate information to the public. We worked closely with the town’s Animal Inspector, Pam Stone on animal bites/scratches that require follow up to prevent the spread of rabies. We work to assure the safety of Essex residents & those who visit our community by permitting and inspecting our permanent and temporary food service establishments. We seasonally sampled & monitored our public & semi public bathing beaches in town and close them to swimming when the bacterial limits are exceed.
We are proud of the continuing efforts of our Board and staff to continue traditional and innovative work toward the continued health and safety of our community. We continue to attend seminars and meetings to remain current in many of the vast and expanding Board of Health responsibilities including topics such as emergency planning, bloodborne pathogens, Citizens Emergency Response Training, Title 5, recertification in food sanitation and pool operation, and regional emergency response training.
BOH meeting are scheduled for the second and fourth Thursday of the month. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. If you would like to discuss an issue, please call our office in advance to be placed on the agenda.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynne Marchetti, BOH Chair
Below:
Essex Board of Health Administrator, Elaine Wozny, at the 2008 Cape Ann Emergency Preparedness Tabletop Excercise for a pandemic flu outbreak.
photo by: Lynne Marchetti
First Annual Health Fair that took place October 25, 2008, held in conjunction with the popular 26th Annual Essex Clam Fest brought many interesting organizations to the Essex Fire Station. Some photos below:
 Adoption/Foster Children  Weight Watchers  H.A.W.C.(Help for Abused Women and Children)Essex Board of Health Information Table & Blood Pressure Clinic
(above left) Public Health Nurse, Kim Paskalis with Essex Board of Health Administrator, Elaine Wozny at the Board of Health information table.
(above right) Our volunteer nurse for the Blood Pressure Clinic.
 (Photo: Table~ Participant PFLAG. BEHIND PFLAG: Acupunturist, Herbalist, Entrpeneuer: Mike Arsenault
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