Around Town

OP-ED: How Safe is Watertown from a Bio Lab Emergency? Part 3

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CSET, Georgetown University

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

In my interview with Mr. Larry Ramdin, Watertown’s Director of Public Health, I focused mainly on the nuts and bolts of permitting and keeping track of bio labs entering Watertown as a safety issue. After our telephone conversation, I followed up by sending this interview to Mr. Ramdin to review. I’d like to thank Mr. Ramdin for his input. At my request, Mr. Ramdin sent me the most recent list of bio labs in Watertown. Although the list contained 63 separate entries, at least 14 had the same company name as another, which Mr. Ramdin explained in some cases indicated two divisions of the same company.

Government

Rodent Control to be Discussed at Follow Up Meeting by Human Services Committee

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Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashRodent control will be discussed by the Committee on Human Services on Dec. 15, 2022. The following announcement was provided by City Councilor Tony Palomba:

Please join me and my colleagues on the Council’s Committee on Human Services for a follow-up meeting on the rodent problem in Watertown and efforts to establish a citywide rodent control plan. The meeting of the Committee is on Thursday of this week, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the Second Floor of City Hall, 149 Main St.

Around Town

Watertown Holding Household Sharps Disposal & Collection Day

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The Watertown Health Department will be collecting needles, syringes and other household sharps on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at City Hall. The Health Department provided the following information. Syringes may be discarded by bringing them to the Household Sharps Collection days. Follow these tips (PDF) while handling syringes.

Around Town

Watertown Health Department Offering Flu Shot Clinic

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The Watertown Health Department will be offering the influenza vaccine for Watertown Residents (age 18+) on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 1st floor – Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room, 123 Main St., Watertown. Please use the following registration link to sign up your appointment and secure your dose: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/watertown?calendar=61d94aef-0681-4297-8276-af4030d5149d

The clinic is open to everyone with or without insurance. Walk-ins are welcome. Please bring your ID and health insurance card(s) with you (if you have insurance).

Around Town

Health Department Running Flu Shot Clinic for Residents 18+

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The Watertown Health Department will be offering influenza vaccine to Watertown Residents (age 18+) on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room. Please register for your appointment and secure your dose. The clinic is open to everyone with or without insurance. Please bring your health insurance card(s) with you (if you have insurance).

Around Town

Health Department Running Two COVID Vaccine Booster Clinics

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

Watertown Health Department will be hosting an Adult Moderna Booster Clinic on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. & August 9, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library on the 1st floor in the Savings Bank Meeting Room, 123 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472. Register for July 19, 2022 clinic

Register for August 9, 2022 clinic

CDC recommends everyone ages 5 years and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. Some people should receive two boosters. You can mix and match vaccines. Your booster does not need to be the same vaccine brand as your original COVID-19 vaccination.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Concerned About Loss of Staff From Health Department

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(The following was first presented to the City Council during the Public Forum at the July 12, 2022 Council Meeting)

I am speaking to you about my concern over the long-standing problems within our Health Department. My information is from my attendance at Board of Health meetings, a review of minutes of public meetings, and my communications with members of the community and City staff. I read a statement at the January Board of Health meeting detailing my concerns, and what I described has since grown worse. In essence I asked the BOH to look beyond the Department Head reports and examine the reasons so many talented people are leaving our city vulnerable during what was such a critical time. I am appealing to the City Council to exercise their charter-mandated oversight responsibility and hold an Executive Session to address the situation. 

My key concerns within the Health Department are:

• An alarming attrition rate: around 8 employees in the last 3 years.

Government

Physician Wanted to Serve on Watertown Board of Health

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is seeking a Physician to be a member on the Board of Health for a term expiring February 2023. Board of Health members develop policy, rules and regulations that guides the Public Health of our community in Watertown. State law requires that at least one member of the Board is a Physician. The Board of Health provides for fulfillment of its duties under M.G.L. 111:5, 26-33 and other sections including enforcement of the state Sanitary and Environmental Codes, reporting diseases dangerous to the public health, and enforcement of other applicable state and local laws and regulations. The Board of Health determines the health needs of the community (and the health services available to the community) in terms of the size and characteristics of the population, specific health problems, and environmental conditions.