HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING

DECEMBER 11, 2001

COUNCIL CHAMBER

Convened: 6:15 P.M.

Adjourned: 7:00 P.M.

 

Present were:      Chairman Councillor Dennis L. Irish

                             Councillor Juan A. Gomez

Councillor Michael C. Perotto

 

Also:                     Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Arnold Gurwitz

                             Deputy Cmsr. of Public Health Joseph G. McCarthy

City Clerk David J. Rushford, clerk

 

FLUORIDATION

 

Communications of the City Manager

 

1.       Relative to Dental Problem of Worcester’s Children.

           #21A CM December 5, 2000

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

SPEAKERS:        1. Jan Yost, 55 Whisper Drive, Worcester

                             2. Dr. John Gusha, Holden resident

                             3. Mary Foley, Mass Director of Oral Health, Shrewsbury resident

                             4. Debra Moore, 89 Tory Fort Lane, Worcester

                             5. Tamara Parvisi, Central Mass Oral Health Initiative

 

Chairman’s Order request the Administration request the input and assistance of several organizations involved in the recent effort to fluoridate the water supply to seek alternative solutions to the oral health problem documented in the City of Worcester.

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with information on grant funds available for targeting improvements to the programs that may be implemented to improve the oral health of Worcester children.

Recommend Hold

 

 

2.       Relative to Issues relating to Fluoridation.

           #21A CM February 6, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee September 24, 2001- Held

Recommend File

3.       Relative to Pre-school and School Based Fluoride Rinse and Dental Sealant Programs.

           #21F CM March 20, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend Hold

4.       Relative to Fluoridation, Holden and Ballot Questions.

           #16A CM April 3, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee September 24, 2001- Held

Recommend File

5.          Relative to Nationwide Comparative Studies Relative to Fluoridation.

           #21G CM April 24, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

6.          Relative to Rationale for increasing the Fluoride Content of Worcester's Water  Supply.

          #21D CM August 21, 2001

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

7.          Relative to fluoride content of the Worcester water supply.

          #21B CM September 4, 2001

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

8.       Relative to motions made regarding fluoride.

          #21B CM September 18, 2001

In Committee for informational purposes only

In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

9.       Relative to harmful effects from fluoridation.

           #21C CM September 18, 2001

In Committee for informational purposes only

In Committee September 24, 2001  - Held

Recommend File

10.      Relative to motions made relative to fluoride.

#24C CM September 18, 2001

          In Committee for informational purposes only

          In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

Communications  - other

 

11.     Helen Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the School Committee relative to number and location of pre-school and school based fluoride rinse and dental sealant programs currently being offered in the City estimating the percentage of City's children participating.

          #47 CC March 27, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

In Committee September 24, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

Communications of the City Manager

12.     Relative to developing a Plan to spray in the City of Worcester in 2001 against  Mosquito deposits.

          #21A CM March 13, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager to provide the City Council with a report detailing plans for spraying against mosquito deposits in the City of Worcester during calendar 2002.

 

13.      Relative to Medically Involved Students, per nurse in the Worcester Public Schools.

          #21A CM August 22, 2000

          In Committee May 10, 2001 – Held

Recommend Hold

 

14.     Relative to Recruitment Plan/School Nurse Staffing.

          #21E CM April 24, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend Hold

15.     Relative to current staffing in the Worcester Public Schools and at School based Health Centers.

          #21E CM May 15, 2001

Recommend Hold

16.     Relative to Funding for School Based Health Centers.

           #21F CM April 24, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend Hold

17.     Relative to Collaboratives between College Nursing Programs and City Public Health Nurses.

           #21C May 15, 2001

Recommend File

18.     Relative to Local College Nursing Programs.

          #21D CM May 15, 2001

Recommend File

19.      Relative to outlining what actually are the services that are provided in the Public Schools through the School Bases Health Centers.

           #23B CM August 21, 2001

Recommend Hold

20.    Relative to use of cromated copper arsenate on pressure treated wood on children's play equipment.

          #21A CM May 15, 2001

Recommend File

21.     Relative to Ordinances in effect in New England Cities and Towns that  establish a Penalty against the minor who purchases Tobacco.

           #21A CM April 3, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

22.      Relative to Ordinances in effect in New England Cities and Towns that establish a Penalty against the minor who purchases Tobacco.

           #21D CM April 24, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

23.     Relative to Police regarding the possession of Tobacco Products in the Worcester Public Schools.

           #23A CM May 1, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

23. Relative to rigorous policy concerning the sale of tobacco to minors.

          #21B CM June 19, 2001

Recommend File

25.      Relative to June Enforcement Activities relative to Sale of Tobacco to Minors.

           #21B CM July 17, 2001

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with an update on recent enforcement activities aimed at reducing the incidence of the sale of tobacco to minors in the City of Worcester.

 

26.     Relative to policy penalizing minors for purchasing tobacco illegally.

           #16A CM August 21, 2001

Recommend File

27.     Relative to Health Insurance Costs for the Current Year and Future Years.

           #13B CM April 3, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

28.     Relative to tackling the issue of Health Care Costs.

          #13A CM July 17, 2001

Recommend File

29.     Relative to concluding Health Insurance negotiations.

          #13E CM August 21, 2001

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with an update on the most recent round of negotiations on health insurance coverage for municipal employees and retirees.

 

30.             Relative to Mercury Thermometer Exchange.

          #21A CM May 29, 2001

Recommend File

 

31.     Relative to Mercury Thermometer Ordinance.

          #21C CM November 13, 2001

Recommend File

32.     Relative to Community Health Program.

          #21A CM October 31, 2000

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

33.             Relative to the Community Health Program Summer Report -

          June/July 2001.

          #21D CM July 17, 2001

Recommend File

34.      Relative to the Community Health Program Monthly Report -

          September - 2001.

          #21A CM October 9, 2001

Recommend File

35.     Relative to Henry Lee Willis Center/Survey on Needle Exchange.

          #18F CM July 17, 2001

Recommend Hold

36.     Relative to status report concerning the work of the Task Force studying the issues of the transmission of AIDS and HIV reduction.

          #21B CM November 13, 2001

Recommend Hold (Invite to the next meeting, ask the new Chairperson first)

37.     Relative to morbidity and mortality rates in drug overdose cases.

          #21C CM September 4, 2001

Recommend File

 

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with comparative mortality rates for drug overdose deaths between Worcester and other cities in our region.

 

38.     Relative to the number of cats housed in the City of Worcester.

          #21B CM March 13, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

39.     Relative to cataloguing of death certificates.

          #21A CM September 4, 2001

Recommend File

 

Communications - other

 

40.     David J. Rushford, City Clerk transmitting Drug Overdose Deaths Report.

           #83 CC August 21, 2001  

Recommend File

41.     Helen Friel, Assistant to the Superintendent/Clerk of the School Committee relative to staffing of health services in the Worcester Public Schools.

          #46 CC March 27, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

Petitions

 

42.     Michael W. Galvin request City Council to protect the public and mandate responsible ownership through the licensing of cats and developing strict enforcement guidelines for control of cats.

          #12 CC August 22, 2000

          In Committee January 29, 2001 - Held

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

43.     William S. Coleman, III request to place before the voters in the November 2001 Municipal Election: Do you feel all medical information, evidence and facts regarding the transmission and spread of HIV that causes aids has been presented to you in a proper manner?  Were you informed enough to make a decision on the establishment of a needle exchange program in the City of Worcester?

          #18 CC January 16, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee August 21, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

44.     William S. Coleman, III request to place before the voters in the November 2001 Municipal Election: Do you support the establishment of a state funded needle exchange program with treatment on demand in the City of Worcester?

           #19 CC January 16, 2001

          In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

          In Committee August 21, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

45.     William S. Coleman, III request City Council place on the November   municipal election ballot a non-binding petition relative to the  establishment of a treatment on demand/needle exchange program in the City of Worcester.

           #7 CC May 8, 2001

          In Committee August 21, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

46.     William S. Coleman, III request the City Council to ask voters in this years November election the following question: Do you support the establishment of a state funded drug treatment program which would provide an opportunity to help people who are seeking medical care?

           #35 CC September 4, 2001

Recommend File

47.      Samuel Rosario request City Council to impose a temporary moratorium of  six months on the Body Art Establishments (Body Piercing, Tattooing and Branding/Scarification)

           #13 CC January 30, 2001

           In Committee May 10, 2001 - Held

Recommend File

 

Order 

 

48.     Councillor Dennis L. Irish and Councillor Michael C. Perotto requesting Administration to furnish data allowing a comparison between the City of Worcester health status indicators and those of Worcester County and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as described in the July 2000  “Community Health Status Report” as issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resource and Services Administration.

           #19 CC December 5, 2000

          In Committee May 10, 2001 – Held

Recommend File

Chairman’s Order request the City Manager provide the City Council with a status report from the HIV/AIDS Task Force.