Watertown’s Health Department has received more than 100 complaints about rodents since the beginning of the trash strike. At their meeting the Board of Health also heard about the start of the City’s body work regulations, and approved a life science company’s permit.
A short Board of Health Meeting on Aug. 20 concluded without any conversation about newly proposed tobacco regulations, but did see a permit approval and some general Health Department updates. Talks about the regulations did not progress as Board of Health member Kim Netter was recovering from a medical issue so was unable to vote, and member Dominic Amirtharaj was not able to attend the meeting.
The board will hold a conversation about the new regulations during their upcoming meeting on Sept. 17, and will subsequently hold a public hearing, which many retailers and a national tobacco collaborative have already expressed their interest to participate in, with Director of Public Health Abbey Myers clarifying, “we’re going to make sure to publicize when we have the public hearing,” and adding that it was expected to be a “packed house.”
Body Works Regulations & Rodents
Body works permit applications went live on Aug. 1, and Myers said that 17 establishments had so far been recognized as body works or body works-adjacent, and have been directly contacted by the City and notified of the permit.
Body work includes Reflexology and/or Asian Bodywork, Myers said, including, but not limited to: Accupressure, AMMA Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang, Five Element Shiatsu, Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Japanese Shiatsu, Jin Shin Do, Bodymind AcupressureTM, Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu Amma Therapy, Traditional Thai Massage, Tuina , Zen Shiatsu, and Ayurvedic medicine or other practices as they become known.
The new regulations also require all establishments to allow “periodic inspections” by the staff from the Department of Health, as well as other “authorized agent(s).”
Some problems with accessing the application form through OpenGov have popped up in the last month, but Principal Department Assistant Maureen Foley was credited for her efforts in fielding complaints, which the Department is now in the process of fixing.
The rodent problem was also brought up, which with the ongoing trash strike have been a steadily growing problem throughout the city. Myers noted that the department had already received 120 rodent complaints since the start of the strike on July 1, which was double the number of complaints up to August of last year.
She mentioned that any rodent complaints were investigated by the department, and that while curbside trash pickup had resumed, commercial dumpsters were left “on the backburner” and had filled up with rodents.
Myers generally reiterated suggestion she had provided in the previous Board of Health meeting, asking for residents to clean their homes of any leftover food sources, standing water, and potential harborages.
City Councilors also praised Black Earth Compost, which offers free weekly composting pickup to Watertown residents “in buildings with fewer than 8 units, that have city-provided trash and recycling pickup.” Residents can find a signup form for Black Earth services here.
Republic Services provides curbside trash and yard waste pickups, and offers a bi-weekly recycling service. Residents are encouraged to place bins and bags curbside on their scheduled pickup days. An emergency trash, recycling, and yard waste site at 148 Waltham St. is open to residents Monday-Friday, from 7:30 am to 3:30 p.m.
Up-to-date updates about the strike can be found here.
Permit Approval
VidaVinci, a biotech company which is “on a mission to pioneer a new modality to end all modalities,” had protein scientist Arshil Master present the company’s plans and current procedures, with a focus on bio-safety. The permit was for the company’s new lab in the dedicated life sciences building at 66 Galen St., and was approved after a few clarifying questions about Master’s presentation.
Master described the current project as, in very simplified terms, finding a molecule which would be able to go after “targets that were once thought undruggable.” He also went into depth about the lab’s safety procedures, which were already fleshed out for the new lab.
On the related topic of bio-safety, Watertown resident Linda Scott made a public comment asking whether any progress had been made on bio-safety inspections in municipal buildings across the city.
Myers said that this was at the top of her to-do list, and that after discussing with Cambridge – who she touted as a leader in bio-safety – the department had decided to train staff internally in bio safety, for which a plan will be rolled out in the “next few months.” A bio-safety inspection form will also be created by the Biosafety Committee.
Department of Health Updates
It was announced that one of the City’s three health officers had left to pursue another opportunity closer to home, and that an application for the position had been posted internally. The application will be opened to the public after the 25th, and Myers said, “anyone who has a degree in public health and wants to become a health inspector, please apply.”
Some certifications would be included on the application, but Myers noted that many of these could be acquired online for free, and she also expressed that the City would be happy to train those who may not have all the proper certifications or training.
Public Health Nurse Shuang Shen was touted for her efforts in leading the City’s monthly First Aid & CPR trainings, which cost $40 per person and last 4 hours per class. Residents are encouraged to sign up, which can be done through the Department of Health website.
Attention was also drawn to the sharps kiosk behind Parker Annex, which, since its opening a month and a half ago, has already been filled up numerous times. Myers also reiterated that small sharps containers, which can be obtained from the department, are available for safe disposal of needles and any other sharp medical instruments.
Myers and Board of Health member Jessica Malefant agreed that the location and availability of sharps kiosks and other collection methods had to be publicized further, both physically with fliers and online on social media, though no further action was discussed.
Watertown also has household sharps collection days which are held throughout the year at City Hall, and future collection days can be found on the Health Department’s website.