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Norwalk
Health Department
Board of Health Actions
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October 10, 2006
8:00 AM
Library
Call to order at 8:05 AM
Present: Board of Health – Ken Lalime, RPH, Martha Lemmon, PE (by phone), John
McNamara, MD, and Edward Tracey, MD
Staff – Tim Callahan
Minutes of September 12, 2006 meeting
Dr. McNamara proposed a correction to the minutes. Under Geese insert the following
“of “a variety of bacteria in the feces of geese, including but not limited
to ecoli, giardia, campylobacter”.
A motion to approve the minutes as corrected was made by Dr McNamara, seconded
by Dr. Tracey and passed unanimously.
Influenza Clinics and Mass Dispensing Drill
The Norwalk clinics are scheduled for November 7, 13, 14, 16, 20 & 27. The
locations are St. Mary and St Phillip’s halls and the Health Department. Reminder
post cards will be mailed this week to patients advising them to call for an
appointment. A media campaign will begin in two weeks. An additional 500 doses
of vaccine is expected in the next two weeks. Delivery is later than desired
but the vaccine manufacturers are not expecting supply problems.
The Mass Dispensing Drill is set for October 28th at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan. A sufficient number of Norwalk Health Department staff has agreed to work. School nurses from Norwalk and New Canaan have committed to assisting. David Reed, MD, New Canaan Health Director and Susan Dahill, a New Canaan resident are recruiting a large number of volunteers.
Tall Grass & Weeds
At the request of the Health Welfare & Safety Committee of the Common Council
information was collected on ordinances addressing tall grass and weeds. The
Norwalk ordinances do not address this matter. Action on complaints of tall
grass and weeds is taken as part of the solution to violations of public health
ordinances. An example is a vacant piece of land strewn with debris and infested
with rodents. The local ordinance allows for an order to exterminate for rodents.
In order to effectively exterminate, tall grass and weeds are cut down.
In other Connecticut communities’ elimination of tall grass and weeds is addressed in anti- blight ordinances and in housing and health codes. The anti blight ordinances address appearances rather than public health. The public health ordinances in Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford focus on the effects to human health from pollen bearing plants. A discussion ensued. Considerations are the lot size, location, and density of population. The Board asked Mr. Callahan to meet with the Inspectors, get their input and bring this matter up in November.
Geese
Most of the information found on Canadian geese focused on moving them from
public places. After discussion, the Board concluded that the role of the Health
Department is to establish the health and environmental risks posed by Canadian
geese make these findings public and advocate for action that will minimize
the risk to the public’s health.
Public Health Brand
The National Association of City and County Health Officials as part of their
strategic objective to increase communicate the value provided by local health
departments has adopted a local health brand. The brand is a three-pointed shield
in blue, white and tan. The word Prevent Promote and Protect appear under the
shield. The brand will be used in conjunction with logos already in use by local
health departments.
A motion to adopt and use the local health brand was made by Mr. Lalime, seconded
by Dr Tracey and passed unanimously
School Entry Physicals
Physical examinations were once again offered just prior to the opening of school.
This year 58 children received physical examinations. This number is about average.
An Expected strong demand for physicals due to staff turnover in the pediatric
department at the Norwalk Community Health Center did not materialize. Several
changes were suggested for next year. Children with health insurance that covers
the physical examination will continue to be charged and given a receipt that
their parents can submit for reimbursement. Children without health insurance
will not be charged. A motion to approve this policy was made by Dr McNamara,
seconded by Mr. Lalime and passed unanimously.
Other Business
A walking program was recently unveiled in Middletown. According to the Middletown
Health Department staff the idea came from the NorWalker program.
The Community Health Center Inc., a federally qualified health center based in Middletown was recently awarded federal funds to establish an adult dental program in Norwalk. A site is South Norwalk has been identified and will be ready by late spring 2007. In the meantime CHC officials are interested in leasing space at the Health Department for an operatory. The unit is self-contained and does not require water or waste lines. Mr. Callahan is scheduled to meet with their representatives this week.
Adjourn 9:20 AM
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