[00:00:04]
I FEEL SO SPECIAL. OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO START THE REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING TODAY. IT IS
[I. Opening Statement]
NOW 734. IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE BOARD TO CONCLUDE THIS MEETING BY 9:30 P.M. ANY AGENDA ITEM NOT CONSIDERED BY 9:30 P.M. WILL BE TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE MEETING AS REQUIRED BY SECTION THREE D AND FOUR A OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT, HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC AND FILED WITH THE TOWNSHIP CLERK. AND NOW I'M GOING TO DO THE ROLL CALL FOR BOTH OUR BOARD OF HEALTH FOR MONTGOMERY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS ROCKY HILL DOCTOR SORAYA HERE. DOCTOR GRAYSON HERE, DOCTOR GEARY HERE. DOCTOR FAISAL IS NOT HERE. DOCTOR SHARMA. STEPPED OUT. OH. LIKE. OKAY. HE. I'LL DO HIM IN HERE THOUGH. DOCTOR SHARMA IS HERE. HE HAS JUST STEPPED AWAY. DOCTOR NEWMAN HERE. AND DOCTOR MOHAN HERE.
DOCTOR PRATT HERE. AND HEALTH OFFICER DEEWANGI PATEL HERE. STAFF SECRETARY JENNIFER FOSTER HERE. TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE LIAISON DENNIS ON. AND THE ADVISOR FROM DOCTOR MANDELBAUM. I KNOW HE IS NOT HERE. OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ROCKY HILL. DOCTOR. MARY GERMAINE. DOCTOR. HERE. THANK YOU. I WAS LIKE, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, DOCTOR. ROBERT OLSON. EXCUSE ME FOR THAT. DOCTOR PAUL LACAVA. DOCTOR JOSEPH PORTELL AND DOCTOR HEATHER PEARSON HERE. AND I THINK CATHERINE PLUNKETT WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT, ALTHOUGH MAYOR BOB URICH WILL BE THE LIAISON. OH, PERFECT. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I THINK LET'S FOCUS ON THESE. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? NO. NOTHING IN THE MAIL. OKAY. I'LL DO ROLL CALL AGAIN, DOCTOR SHARMA. OKAY.
[IV. Consent Agenda]
WELCOME, DR. SHARMA. OKAY. THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL MATTERS HERE, LISTED HERE UNDER ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE IN NATURE AND WILL BE APPROVED IN ONE MOTION. ANY MEMBER MAY REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE THREE MONTHLY REPORTS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 2024. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 2024, AND THE ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT FROM 2024. WE ALSO HAVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH HELD ON OCTOBER 9TH, 2024. SO WE'LL DO A MOTION TO APPROVE. SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL DO THE SAME FOR ROCKY HILL. YEAH.DO YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT THE REPORTS ARE FOR ROCKY HILL? SO I THINK ROCKY HILL, THE REPORTS ARE REALLY JUST FOR NOVEMBER. AND I HAVE THE PRINTED MEETING MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER MEETING IN FRONT OF YOU. THE MOTION TO MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER REPORTS AND THE SEPTEMBER MEETING MINUTES. YES. SO WE GOT THE MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A SECOND FOR ROCKY HILL. I CAN'T I CAN'T HEAR A THING. OH. SORRY, MARY. YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SECOND THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. I WASN'T SURE MINUTES. OKAY. OKAY. SECOND. PERFECT.
THANK YOU. MARY. OKAY, NOW WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE THE MEETING, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TOUR
[V. HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOUR & RECCOMENDATION TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE ON SPACIAL CONCERNS]
OF OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. YOU ALL ARE WELCOME. PUBLIC IS WELCOME. YES. AND WHEN WE COME BACK, I WILL. WE'LL REENTER THE MEETING AND START RECORDING AGAIN. PERFECT. THOSE ARE SOMEBODY WE HAVE TO MEET OUTSIDE. LET'S JUST GO OUTSIDE THE COMMENTS. YEP, YEP, WE'RE GOING TO IN A MINUTE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY. ARE WE READY, JEN? IF THEY ARE READY TO REPORT. OKAY. WE ARE READY TO RESUME. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US ON THE TOUR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT WAS ALSO VERY GENEROUS OF LORI SAVRON TO SPEND TIME WITH US AND TAMMY NOVAK TO SPEND TIME WITH US TONIGHT TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS. THIS HAS BEEN A[00:05:06]
CONCERN OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH FOR OVER A YEAR, OVER YEAR OR SINCE THEY MOVED IN. RIGHT. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME SAFETY CONCERNS. WE HAVE SOME PRIVACY CONCERNS. DIWANJI DO YOU HAVE I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND MAYBE SOME ACTION STEPS. OKAY. DEVANG DID YOU SAY YOU HAVE STAFF FEEDBACK? YEAH, I, WE DID COLLECT STAFF FEEDBACK AND WE SUBMITTED IT TO LORI. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE THAT WITH US? I CAN I CAN TALK TO LORI AND GET THAT TO YOU. THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE SOME STAFF FEEDBACK. I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT IT SAYS, BUT WE HAVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM STAFF ON HOW THE SPACE IS FUNCTIONAL FOR THE NEEDS OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. OKAY, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR SOME CONVERSATION AND MAYBE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF I WERE GOING TO APPROACH THIS, WHAT I MIGHT RECOMMEND WOULD BE TO HAVE DEEWANGI AND WHOEVER ON YOUR STAFF, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY USE THE OFFICE AND KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO GET A TEAM TOGETHER WITH WHOEVER ELSE YOU NEED, AND TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR OFFICE TO LOOK LIKE. I MEAN, AND MAYBE DO IT WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. LIKE, WE WANT THIS, WE WANT THAT. JUST PUT DOWN WHAT WOULD REALLY MAKE SENSE FOR YOU. AND THEN I WOULD HOPE WE COULD PRESENT THAT. OR YOU COULD GIVE THAT TO LORI OR THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND BRING IN AN ARCHITECT, OR BRING IN A PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN, WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS BUILDING, GET TO WHAT YOU NEED AS BEST WE CAN. AND THEN I THINK THE SECOND THING WE MIGHT WANT TO DO IS WALKING AROUND HERE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF WASTED SPACE. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN RECONFIGURE THINGS? CAN WE PUT UP WALLS? CAN WE TAKE WALLS DOWN IN OTHER PLACES THAT MIGHT HELP YOU WITH STORAGE? OR BETTER USE THE SPACE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME EVERYWHERE THERE'S WASTED SPACE. SO IF WE CAN GET AN ARCHITECT INVOLVED, IF WE CAN GET WHATEVER KIND OF PERSON THAT WOULD BE, IT MIGHT BE AN ARCHITECT AND SAY, WE COULD TAKE OUT THIS WALL, WE COULD PUT THIS WALL UP, WHAT DO WE NOT REALLY NEED NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS BUILDING AND WE MAYBE DON'T NEED A BIG MAIL ROOM, MAYBE WE DON'T NEED A RECEPTION DESK WHERE NO ONE SITS. MAYBE THAT STAIRWELL DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THERE. MAYBE GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE PEOPLE INVOLVED. SO I THINK OF RELOOKING AT THE WHOLE BUILDING IS IN ORDER BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY NOT WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION. AND ALL THAT'S FREE UNTIL YOU GET TO THE ARCHITECT. WHAT WAS THAT? ALL THAT? ALL THAT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING UNTIL YOU GET TO THE ARCHITECT. OKAY, SO. ANYBODY ELSE I MEAN, I ALSO AGREE THERE'S MAYBE PRIVACY CONCERNS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING SENSITIVE CONVERSATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH OR HOARDING OR, YOU KNOW, ANY OF THE OTHER SOCIAL CHALLENGES WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY, TOO. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN. YEAH. I THINK IF THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN KNEW THAT, THAT MAINTAINING THEIR PRIVACY WAS A CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE UPSETTING FOR THEM TO FIND THAT OUT. I'M SURE THAT YOU DO MAINTAIN IT, BUT NOT NOT EASILY.
YEAH. YEAH. SO CAN WE MAYBE AS A BOARD OF HEALTH PUT A LETTER OR RECOMMENDATION TOGETHER TO GIVE TO THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE THAT WE ARE BEHIND THIS EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SPACE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO? YEAH, I WOULD BE WILLING TO SIGN THAT AS A BOARD. I MEAN, I THINK ARE WE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS. YEAH, YEAH. YES. AGREED. WE SUPPORT THAT. AND I'LL ALSO I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GIVE DENNIS A HEADS UP SINCE HE'S NOT HERE. YEAH. YEAH, WE CAN ALSO HE DID MISS THE TOUR. YEAH. HE MISSED THE TOUR. YEAH. SO WE ALSO. OKAY. IT'S A COURTESY. YEAH. TO OUR TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE LIAISON TO MAKE SURE HE'S IN THE KNOW AND THAT THIS WILL BE COMING FORWARD. AND THEN HOPEFULLY HE CAN BRING IT TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AS WELL FOR US. HAVE YOU HAD ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COME BY AND SEE THOSE OFFICES? NO WE HAVEN'T. I'D BE CURIOUS TO GET THEIR OPINION. YEAH, MAYBE. OH MY GOODNESS. WE DO HAVE AN NJDOE LIAISON. WHO WHO DID COME. SO WE DID SHOW HER. SO YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE AWARE. I'M SORRY. COULD YOU SAY THAT AGAIN? WHO? THERE WAS A NJDOE LIAISON FROM THE DIVISION OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE THERE. THE OFFICE THAT OVERSEES LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. SO THEY THEY HAD SOMEBODY WHO CAME. IT'S A NEW PROGRAM. IT'S A LIAISON PROGRAM TO BETTER CONNECT WITH ALL THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE DOING THEIR ROUNDS. YOU KNOW, THEY DID AN INITIAL VISIT TO US. I THINK
[00:10:04]
IT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE DID TALK ABOUT THESE CONCERNS AND THE SPACE WITH HER AS WELL. I THINK THE ONE OTHER THING IS THAT THE SPACE IS THAT STORAGE SPACE, WITH THOSE THINGS SO HIGH UP IN THE AIR IS NOT SAFE. THAT'S. YEAH. THAT'S NOT GOOD. YEAH. YOU KNOW, SAFETY IS AN ISSUE. ONE MORE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHEN YOU ARE PROVIDING LIKE YOUR YOUR DESIGN OR SOMETHING, WHATEVER YOU PLAN AND THAT PLAN ALSO IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT, LIKE SOME ALTERNATIVE PLACES OR ALTERNATIVE SPACE AVAILABLE, PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT FEASIBLE OR PRACTICAL TO MAKE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACE OR DEPARTMENT. SO IF THERE IS A ROOM TO TAKE FROM SOMEWHERE AND ADD AS AN ANNEX OR WHATEVER MIGHT BE HELPFUL. SO COMING UP WITH MY POINT IS COMING UP WITH A PROPOSAL FOR THE ALTERNATIVE SPACE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO LOOK INTO THAT. OKAY. YES. OKAY. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA ITEM[VI. HEALTH OFFICER COMMENTS]
AND MOVE ON TO HEALTH OFFICER COMMENTS. SO DEVAANSHI DO YOU HAVE ANY DO YOU HAVE ANY. YES.DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS LEFT. SO. WELL THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING ON THE TOUR. AND I KNOW THAT THE STAFF APPRECIATED IT AS WELL BECAUSE THIS IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS OUR DAILY OPERATIONS, A LOT OF DISTRACTIONS. THERE'S ALWAYS YOU HAVE TO TAKE TIME OUT TO FIGURE OUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORK, HOW CAN YOU STORE THINGS. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TO DO? IT'S TOUGH TO DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS. IT ADDS UP. SO I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS BEING HERE. AND I'LL TALK TO LAURIE ABOUT SHARING THE STAFF COMMENTS WITH YOU. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS WE I THINK DOCTOR SHARMA HAD BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, AN IMPACT OR OUTCOMES REPORT REGARDING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WE DO THE THREE YEAR CYCLE. SO THERE IS A REPORT THAT THEY DID SHARE WITH US SOON AFTER OUR MEETING LAST MONTH. SO I CAN SHARE THAT WITH THE WITH THE GROUP, MAYBE AT THE NEXT BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING SO THAT YOU CAN READ IT AND YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT MEASURES AND OBJECTIVES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MEET BASED ON THE BASED ON WHAT WE HAD COME UP WITH IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN. SO THAT'S THE PAST CYCLE. AND THE NEW CYCLE.
THE CHART WAS JUST FINALIZED. SO WE WILL INCLUDE THAT IN YOUR PACKET FOR NEXT MONTH AS WELL.
THAT THAT INCLUDES ALL ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA THAT WAS COLLECTED REGIONALLY.
THERE'S SOME NATIONAL DATA IN THERE AS WELL. THERE'S A BUNCH OF MONTGOMERY SPECIFIC DATA, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND ROCKY HILL AS WELL. DEMOGRAPHICS AND. FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS. SO I THINK IT'LL BE IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT INCLUDES MORE MONTGOMERY DATA THAN IT EVER HAS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. NOW WE ARE BEGINNING TO WORK ON OR FINALIZING OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THIS NEW CYCLE, WHICH WILL BE 2025 THROUGH 2028. SO THE GOAL IS ONCE THAT THAT DOCUMENT IS FINALIZED, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE STAFF WILL MEET INTERNALLY. WE WILL GO OVER THAT WHOLE DOCUMENT TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONES WE CAN ADOPT, AND WE WILL THEN PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AND FEEDBACK. BOTH BOARDS OF HEALTH. SO THAT'S THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. WE ARE BEGINNING TO WORK ON OUR REACCREDITATION WORK. WE HAD SOME STAFF ILLNESSES SO STAFF WERE OUT, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON PLANS AND DOCUMENTS THAT WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP IN REVIEWING AND APPROVING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL MAKE SURE TO HAVE A STANDING REACCREDITATION ITEM ON THE AGENDA. AND THEN IF THE BOARD FEELS IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OR FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE, IF IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR THE BOARD, THEN LET ME KNOW. WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK ON ON CREATING THAT SUBCOMMITTEE OR WORKGROUP AS NEEDED. SO THERE JUST A HEADS UP. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DOCUMENTS COMING YOUR WAY FOR REVIEW AND FEEDBACK. WE'VE WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF OUTREACH AND EVENTS, ESPECIALLY THIS PAST MONTH, AS, AS YOU PROBABLY SAW IN THE REPORTS, WE ARE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE RUTGERS NURSING STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR FIELD WORK. SO THEY'VE BEEN HELPING AT SOME INFECTION CONTROL TRAININGS THAT WE'VE DONE AT STONEBRIDGE.
THERE WAS A GROUP FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP THAT WE WERE CONNECTED WITH. THEY ACTUALLY CAME. IT WAS IN THIS ROOM WHERE THE STUDENTS AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES CONDUCTED A
[00:15:01]
INFECTION CONTROL TRAINING AND BASIC FIRST AID TRAINING, AND IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED. SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL AND JUST HIGH NEED POPULATION VULNERABLE GROUPS TO GET THE WORD OUT. THERE WAS ALSO A REQUEST FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SOMEBODY FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ATTEND AN ESL FAIR AT UPPER MIDDLE SCHOOL IN NOVEMBER, AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING MORE ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING INTO TOWN THAT ARE NEW TO THE COUNTRY. SO THERE'S JUST A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY COME WITH, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THE CULTURE. THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO ACCESS BASIC RESOURCES AND NEEDS. SO THIS WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT INFO. AND THEN I KNOW I MENTIONED IT AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING. WE HAVE A GIRL SCOUT WHO'S WORKING ON HER GOLD AWARD PROJECT, ANGELINA BUSH. SO SHE'S JUST FINALIZING HER PROPOSAL FOR CREATING THE NEW RESIDENT PACKET FOR ANYBODY WHO'S NEW TO TOWN. BUT MAKING IT RELEVANT AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ALSO NEW TO THE COUNTRY. AND THIS IS THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE INCLUDING IN THAT PACKET, WILL BE BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE'RE COLLECTING FROM DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS AND FRUSTRATIONS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS ON, YOU KNOW, WE WISH WE COULD WE COULD EDUCATE PEOPLE ON THIS TOPIC OR WE, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE LAW? THEY HAVE TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, PET LICENSING, FOR EXAMPLE. SO JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THIS WELCOME PACKET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. SO SHE'S WORKING ON FINALIZING HER PROPOSAL, GETTING THE APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD AT THE GIRL SCOUTS. THEN SHE'LL BE COMING TO TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE TO PRESENT THAT APPROVAL SO THAT THEY CAN APPROVE IT AS WELL. AND THEN WE'LL I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S AVAILABLE. I WOULD LOVE FOR HER TO COME TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND TO TALK ABOUTENT THINGS THAE FOR US AND TO SHARE HER PACKET WITH US AS WELL. I HAVE A TREASURE RIGHT NOW. SHE IS AN UNDERGRADUATE PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENT AT RUTGERS. SHE'S A MONTGOMERY RESIDENT, MONTGOMERY ALUM. SHE'S HELPING US RIGHT NOW WITH OUR FOOD INSECURITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT. SHE CONDUCTED SOME KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK AS IT RELATES TO FOOD INSECURITY AND ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN TOWN. SO SHE'S SHE STILL HAS A FEW MORE INTERVIEWS LEFT. SO AS SOON AS THAT REPORT GETS COMPLETED, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE HER COME AND PRESENT TO YOU ALL AS WELL. SO THERE'S SOME DATA THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK AT TO HELP, YOU KNOW, MAKE SOME INFORMED DECISIONS IN TOWN. I'VE ALSO BEEN GETTING REQUESTS FROM STUDENTS, UNDERGRADUATE PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS THAT GRADUATED FROM MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL OR JUST FROM MONTGOMERY. AND I CAN I CAN ONLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE MAYBE TWO STUDENTS A SEMESTER. SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE INTEREST THERE, MORE MONTGOMERY, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS REACHING OUT. SO IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF, PLEASE LET ME KNOW, BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE INTEREST AND NEED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERING INTERNSHIPS THAT I GET, I GET ON A WEEKLY BASIS. SO IF IT'S NOT GIRL SCOUTS, IT'S HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS, IT'S HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, OR IT'S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OR GRADUATE STUDENTS LOOKING FOR PLACEMENT AND LOOKING TO JUST VOLUNTEER TO HELP. BUT THAT'S JUST WANTED WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE. AND WE HAVE AMRITA PAL, WHO GRADUATED FROM MONTGOMERY. SHE WILL BE. AND YOU ALL HELPED. I THINK YOU APPROVED TO HAVE HER COME ON BOARD AS AN INTERN FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER, SO I'LL JUST SUBMIT THAT TO ADMINISTRATION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT. YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET HER SQUARED AWAY TO START WITH US AS WELL. WE ALSO NEED INTERN DESKS AS WELL. SO AS WE GET INTERNS AND, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THERE'S A NEED, THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED IN PUBLIC HEALTH. WE YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN WE CAN HAVE THEM USE THE LIBRARY MEETING ROOMS. SO YES, A LOT OF WORK WITH NURSING STUDENTS, PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNS, HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS, WHICH IS WHAT WE LIKE TO SEE. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT HELPS THE STAFF. IT HELPS US, YOU KNOW, MEET A LOT OF OUR DELIVERABLES WHILE WE'RE ADDRESSING THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, COMING AT US UNEXPECTEDLY, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCIES OR DISEASE OUTBREAKS. ANY OTHER COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF? WE ALSO WERE AT THE MONTGOMERY CROSSINGS HEALTH RESOURCES FAIR THERE. WE HAD THE SOMERSET COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES, THE COUNTY BEHAVIORAL CARE NAVIGATOR, THE NEW JERSEY COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND, THE OFFICE ON AGING AND JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES. THERE. THEY[00:20:03]
THEY HAVE A TON OF RESOURCES THAT I THINK WAS VERY VALUABLE FOR US TO LEARN ABOUT BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, SOMERSET COUNTY, THEY HAVE A TELEPHONE REASSURANCE PROGRAM THAT I WANTED EVERYBODY ON THE ON THE BOARDS TO BE AWARE OF. THEY PROVIDE REGULAR TELEPHONE CALLS TO RESIDENTS AGED 60 AND OLDER WHO ARE LIVING. SORRY, MARY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR ME. OKAY, SO THEY PROVIDE TELEPHONE REASSURANCE, REGULAR TELEPHONE CALLS TO RESIDENTS AGED 60 AND OLDER WHO ARE LIVING ALONE OR HOMEBOUND, WITH NO ONE LOCAL TO ASSIST THEM, OR THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING ISOLATION, DEPRESSION AND THE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ASSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S WELL-BEING AND IS TO ASSURE THE INDIVIDUAL'S WELL-BEING AND SAFETY, AND TO PROVIDE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REASSURANCE. SO WE WEREN'T AWARE OF THAT PROGRAM, BUT I THINK THERE IS A NEED TO CONNECT PEOPLE IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY TO, TO THIS RESOURCE. THERE'S ANOTHER PROJECT LIFESAVER PROGRAM THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S A RAPID RESPONSE PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROTECT AND LOCATE MISSING RESIDENTS WHO WANDER DUE TO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA, DOWN SYNDROME, AND AUTISM. THE PROGRAM DOES REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO WEAR A PERSONALIZED TRANSMITTER ON THEIR WRIST OR ANKLE, AND A CAREGIVER BE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVICE IS WORN AND OPERATIONAL. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BASED ON SOME OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WE'VE COME ACROSS, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER A GREAT RESOURCE TO, YOU KNOW, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT AND JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES. THEY HAVE SOME GREAT PROGRAMS AS WELL. THEY HAVE A FREE NEW SOCIAL GROUP FOR LOCAL OLDER ADULTS. THEY ALSO HAVE A SOCIAL LEARNING GROUP FOR KIDS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 18. THEY ALSO HAVE A PARENT AND SIBLING SUPPORT GROUP AND A FAMILY MENTOR PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN OF SPECIAL NEEDS. AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A SEPARATE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM, WHICH IS GREAT. SO WE YOU KNOW, WE KNOW OF FAMILIES THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS, FROM THESE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT FOR US TO MEET AND TALK TO THE DIFFERENT VENDORS THAT CAME TO THE CROSSINGS. AND THESE ARE ALL COUNTY RESOURCES. AND THEN BUT NOT NOT INCLUDING JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, BUT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH US. AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HELP THEM CONNECT TO OTHER GROUPS IN TOWN SO THAT THEY CAN SHARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOW THEY CAN HELP. SO THE OTHER THE NEXT REGARDING THE NO SMOKING SIGNS, WHICH THE BOARD HAS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT BACK. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. SO WE SO I TALKED TO ADRIJA WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD. SHE'S OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INTERN AND RESIDENT. SO WE'RE GOING TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT. WE HAVE TAKEN FEEDBACK FROM THE SAFETY COMMITTEE. SO THEY'VE IDENTIFIED LOCATIONS FOR US TO PUT THE SIGNS UP. WE'VE CREATED A SIGN THAT, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SHOWED YOU, BUT SIMPLER FOR NO SMOKING AND VAPING. AND CITING THE NEW JERSEY STATE LAW. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH WITH TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE. AND WE'RE GOING TO ASK THEM TO. TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE. AND THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE FOR THE BUILDING. IT'S WE'RE MISSING NO SMOKING SIGNS IN AND AROUND THE BUILDING. SO WE WANT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SMOKE FREE AIR ACT AND THE INDOOR SMOKE FREE AIR ACT. SO WHY CAN'T YOU JUST PUT THEM UP THERE REQUIRED? WE NEED TO WE NEED APPROVAL. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT. WE HAVE TO DO IT. BUT WE STILL NEED PERMISSION. OKAY. YEAH. SO I WILL HAVE ADRIJA COME AND PRESENT TO YOU ALL. THANK YOU. WE DID. WE HAD HOSTED A HEARING SCREENING HERE ON DECEMBER 9TH, AND WE HAD ABOUT 30 INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTENDED AND THREE THAT AT LEAST THREE THAT WE KNOW OF THAT NEEDED FOLLOW UP WITH THEIR PROVIDERS. SO IT WAS THE HEARING SCREENINGS ARE ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT FILL UP VERY QUICKLY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO SCHEDULE THEM EVERY SIX MONTHS. SO WE TALK TO THE SCREENER AND SHE'S GOING TO PENCIL US IN TO MAKE SURE SHE'S COMING OUT HERE AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS. SO IF SHE HAS AVAILABILITY, AVAILABILITY AND IS ABLE TO COME SOONER, SHE WILL. BUT AS SOON AS WE POST ABOUT THE HEARING SCREENINGS, THEY THEY GET THEIR FULL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS MOSTLY BY APPOINTMENTS ONLY. WE LEAVE SOME ROOM FOR WALK INS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIBRARY[00:25:05]
BEING HERE FOR A LOT OF OUR EVENTS THAT WE DO HOST, WE TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF WALK INS BECAUSE OF THE LIBRARY, BUT THAT'S GREAT. THE HEARING SCREENINGS HAVE BEEN VERY POPULAR. AND I SO JUST BACK TO THE STUDENTS. SO I DID RECEIVE EMAILS FROM TWO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE MONTGOMERY RESIDENTS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO IF ANYBODY IS AWARE OF ANY PLACEMENTS FOR THEM, LET ME KNOW. I'LL TRY MY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. BUT AGAIN, IF SPACE BECOMES AN ISSUE, I WON'T, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO HOUSE THEM HERE. I THINK THE NEXT STEP I THINK SO. OH THE OTHER LAST WAS REGARDING INFECTIOUS DISEASES. WE SO WE ARE WE ARE SEEING SOME OUTBREAKS IN LONG TERM CARE CENTERS WITH NOROVIRUS AND OUR BEHAVIORAL CARE FACILITY WITH WITH COVID.BUT WE DID SEE A THERE WAS A SMALL OUTBREAK IN A CHILD CARE CENTER FOR WALKING PNEUMONIA. AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT ON THE NEWS, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY IN THE SCHOOLS IN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I KNOW THERE WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS EARLIER, BUT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. OUR REGIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ASSIST US WITH ANY OUTBREAKS THAT WE COME ACROSS. IF THERE ARE ANY BIG OUTBREAKS, I WILL BE SURE TO LET THE BOARD KNOW. I'LL LET KERRI-ANN KNOW. BUT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, A VERY SMALL ONE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, COUGHING AND. A LOT OF INFLUENCE, A LOT OF SICK PEOPLE WALKING AROUND. BUT WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SCHOOLS. WE'VE SHARED OUR OUTREACH PACKETS WITH THEM. I HAVE I HAVE A SAMPLE HERE, AND THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS, YOU KNOW, RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFECTIOUS DISEASE OUTBREAKS THAT OCCUR IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS, REALLY IN THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY HAVE ALL OF OUR CONTACT INFORMATION. THEY CAN CALL US OR CONTACT US AT ANY TIME, ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. AND WE'VE INCLUDED OUR REPORTING DISEASE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT'S STATE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW. WE'VE INCLUDED GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTROL OF OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE SETTINGS, WHAT THE EXCLUSION CRITERIA IS AND WHEN TO EXCLUDE CHILDREN. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS AS IT RELATES TO RELEASE OF INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATIONS, AND ALSO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS. BECAUSE WE DO, WE DO. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING IMMUNIZATION AUDITS IN THE SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS. OUR NURSES WILL BE BEGINNING.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEGUN SCHEDULING THOSE. AND THE GOAL IS TO GO OUT TO DO THOSE AUDITS IN JANUARY FOR MONTGOMERY AND FEBRUARY IN BRANCHBURG. AND ROCKY HILL AND ROCKY HILL. THANK YOU, BOB.
THANK YOU. SO I CAN I CAN SHARE THE OUTREACH PACKETS WITH YOU. WE'VE ALSO CREATED A PROVIDER OUTREACH PACKET WITH SIMILAR INFORMATION, JUST JUST INFORMING PROVIDERS ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE AS THEY GET NEW STAFF, SOMETIMES THEY ARE UNWILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT'S RELEVANT TO A PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THEY'LL JUST SAY, WELL, IT'S HIPAA. I CAN'T SHARE ANYTHING WITH YOU. SO THERE'S IT JUST TAKES UP TIME TO EDUCATE THEM OR TO THEN ESCALATE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, AT THE PRACTICE. SO WE'RE WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS PROACTIVE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WILL HELP. AND IT IT IS HELPING. BUT WE ARE LEARNING THAT WE NEED TO DO IT ON AN ONGOING BASIS BECAUSE THERE'S TURNOVER EVERYWHERE. SO EVEN EVEN IF WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH TIME WITH ONE FACILITY, THEY YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE SOMEBODY NEW, WE JUST HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON. COOL. I THINK THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT FOR ME. I HAVE A QUESTION ACTUALLY. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE UPDATES. I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION, AS YOU WERE MENTIONING ABOUT THIS NEW RESIDENCE PACKET.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, DO THEY HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT LIKE BASICS OF HEALTH INSURANCE? WHAT. BECAUSE MANY TIMES I SEE THAT IN OUR LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE GROUPS AND POSTED WHO IS THE DOCTOR WHOM I CAN GO TO, WHO IS THE ENT? WHO IS THE DERMATOLOGIST? WHEN I SAY LIKE JUST CHECK WHO IS IN YOUR NETWORK OR WHO IS YOUR TIER ONE? THEY HAVE LIKE NO IDEA WHAT TIER ONE MEANS. WHAT'S IN-NETWORK MEAN? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT BASIC INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE GOING TO IN-NETWORK TIER ONE PROVIDERS,
[00:30:04]
THE COST OF CARE IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY LESS. AND THE INSURANCE COULD BE PROBABLY LIKE 100% BASED ON THEIR INSURANCE PLAN. HOWEVER, IF THEY HAVE AN INSURANCE WHEREIN THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIKE NO COVERAGE FOR OUT OF NETWORK, THEY END UP SEEING SOME PROVIDER, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY RECOMMENDED IT. AND THEIR BILLS ARE GOING TO BE HUGE AND IT CAN INCREASE THE MEDICAL DEBT TOO. SO YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. YEAH. REALLY LIKE HEALTH LITERACY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SAY LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER USES THESE INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT TO EVEN THEY ARE IGNORANT. AND WHEN THEY'RE COMING FROM OUT OF COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, THESE TERMINOLOGIES LIKE BASIC THINGS THEY DON'T KNOW. YEAH. NO, WE I CAN DEFINITELY LET HER KNOW ABOUT THIS AND ASK HER IF SHE'S TAKEN, YOU KNOW, IF SHE HAS ANYTHING ABOUT INSURANCE IN THERE. I KNOW WE, WE HAD HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR LOCAL PHARMACISTS IN TOWN. HE WAS SAYING THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR EDUCATING RESIDENTS ON WHEN THEY ARE SELECTING THEIR INSURANCE PLANS, WHAT THEY NEED TO LOOK FOR, HOW THEY GO ABOUT DOING IT, AND WHO THEY GO TO WHEN SELECTING. BECAUSE JUST FROM PEOPLE BRINGING IN THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS, HE CAN TELL, LIKE THEY'RE RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS WHERE THEIR INSURANCE IS NOT COVERING IT AND THEY'RE THEY'RE PAYING SO MUCH MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IF THEY HAD JUST SELECTED ANOTHER BETTER PLAN, THEY WOULDN'T RUN INTO THIS ISSUE. AND SO HE HAD BROUGHT THAT UP TO US. I MEAN, I WONDER SOMETIMES THIS GET COVERED IN LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE PEOPLE LIKE, WHO CAN HELP THEM OUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO CHOOSE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY THING. I MEAN, I HAVE A SUGGESTION. MAYBE WE COULD DO LIKE A HEALTH LITERACY WORKSHOP WHERE YOU CAN HAVE PHARMACY COME. MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY EDUCATING ABOUT HOW INSURANCE WORKS, YOU KNOW, BASIC STUFF BECAUSE THIS I MEAN, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LITERALLY I MEAN, I SEE THIS AS A PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS LIKE, WELL, MY INSURANCE SHOULD COVER IT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COVERAGE IS. AND I THINK THAT CREATES A LOT OF STRESS. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, A LOT OF THIS INFORMATION I DO SEE ON OUR MONTGOMERY FACEBOOK PAGES, THERE'S ALWAYS PEOPLE ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION FOR A VET FOR THIS. FOR THAT IT'S FINE TO GET THE REX. BUT I AGREE WITH DOCTOR MOHAN. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IF IT'S IN-NETWORK OUT OF NETWORK? THEY HAVE NO IDEA. AND I THINK MEDICAL DEBT IS A HUGE PROBLEM IN MONTGOMERY, BUT IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY. SO I THINK MAYBE A BETTER EDUCATION. LIKE FROM OUR TOWNSHIP PERSPECTIVE, WE COULD DO A LITERACY WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING. OKAY. I KNOW WE ARE A LITTLE LATE IN THE SESSION, BUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, BUT YEAH, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO CHOOSE THEIR INSURANCE. LIKE, YOU KNOW, BY OCTOBER, I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD OPEN ENROLLMENT. THERE IS ALSO I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF ONLINE RESOURCE FOR THAT THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, PUT A LINK TO, TO THAT SO THAT SOMETIMES IT BECOMES TOO MUCH LIKE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. LIKE WHAT? YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. IT'S BASICALLY LIKE BASIC TERMINOLOGY. WHAT DOES THIS WORD MEAN. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. COVERED TIER ONE. BUT I'M ALSO THINKING IF WE COULD PUT SOMETHING UP ON THE WEBSITE WITH JUST THAT. SO IT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE, NOT JUST A WORKSHOP, RIGHT. YEAH. YEAH. LIKE A VOCABULARY. AND I ALWAYS SAY LIKE CALL THE ONE 800 NUMBER IN YOUR INSURANCE CARD. LIKE THERE IS ALWAYS A REPRESENTATIVE WHO COULD HELP YOU OR GUIDE YOU LIKE EVEN THAT BASIC. YEAH. THEY DON'T GET IT EITHER. THAT'S A PROBLEM. BUT THERE IS A NEED ACTUALLY LIKE AVERAGE I WOULD SAY EVERY WEEK WE GET A REQUEST LIKE FOR RECOMMENDATION. AND WHEN I SAY THIS LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT? LIKE YOU KNOW, WOW. YEAH. SO THAT'S YEAH, I MEAN MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO INCLUDE IN THE PACKET THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING. YEAH. YEAH, YEAH.BECAUSE WE CAN REDUCE SOME MEDICAL DEBT. YEAH. OR PREVENT, PREVENT, PREVENT MEDICAL DEBT.
YEAH I CAN LET HER KNOW. THANKS. YOU COULD PROBABLY HAVE HER COME AND GIVE A TALK TO US. WE'D LOVE TO LOVE TO MEET HER. I MEAN, THIS IS FOR HER. FOR THE GOLD AWARD. GOLD AWARD? YEAH. YEAH.
SO WE CAN ALSO PROBABLY MAKE SOME FORM OF PROCLAMATION FROM THE BOARD OF HEALTH. LIKE TO COMMEND WHAT SHE'S DOING. YEAH. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. YEAH. OKAY. I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD, YOU'RE DONE. NO, I THINK I THINK THAT'S IT. WE WILL SEND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT A BOARD OF HEALTH ORIENTATION FOR NEXT YEAR. YEAH. SO STAY TUNED. TUNED. OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE THE ORIENTATION IN JANUARY AT THE JANUARY BOARD OF HEALTH OR FEBRUARY? DOES IT MATTER? I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT IN FEBRUARY. FEBRUARY? OKAY. SHOULD WE PUT A VOTE TO IT? OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A WE'LL SAY FEBRUARY. YES.
WE EASE BACK INTO IT. WE HAVE THE REORGANIZATION MEETING. OH YEAH. YEAH THAT'S TRUE. IT'LL BE
[VII. NEW BUSINESS]
BUSY. OKAY. I THINK WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS. AND I'M GOING TO ASK MARY YOU, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD WITH NEW BUSINESS FROM ROCKY HILL FIRST? OKAY. THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING IN ROCKY HILL, BY VIRTUE OF OUR MAYOR SHARING WITH US THAT THERE WERE[00:35:04]
THREE DIFFERENT EPISODES OF PEOPLE WHO APPEARED TO BE HOMELESS, WHO ARE NOW NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, LIVING IN THEIR CARS AND OTHER PLACES IN ROCKY HILL. BUT I DID REACH OUT TO GRETCHEN CRAIG, WHO'S THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF HUMAN SERVICES IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND SHE PUT ME ON TO THE HUMAN SERVICES RESOURCES GUIDE AND SUGGESTED THAT. SO I'M IN THE PROCESS NOW OF TRYING TO VALIDATE THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT THEY LIST THERE. THEY MAKE IT VERY CLEAR IF SOMEONE IS HOMELESS OR IF A FAMILY IS HOMELESS, THEY NEED TO GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO GET THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION TO UTILIZE ANY OF THESE RESOURCES, BUT I'M IN THE PROCESS NOW OF VALIDATING THAT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE LISTED IN THE GUIDE ARE CURRENTLY, WHAT ACTIVITIES OR SERVICES THEY ARE PROVIDING, AND DO THEY HAVE OPEN VACANCIES AT THIS POINT WHERE THEY COULD ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IF THAT? IF THE ISSUE ARISES AGAIN, SO IT'S NOT COMPLETED YET, BUT HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH IT WILL BE. I WILL HAVE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT MANAGERS THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF DOING AT THIS POINT. MAY I ADD ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WAS? TO DIVANJI? TO SEE? DO THE DIFFERENT BOARDS OF HEALTH HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER WHEN PHARMACIES ADMINISTER IMMUNIZATIONS? NO. OR IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF AFFECTING CORPORATE THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS? BECAUSE I REMEMBER CALLING ONE OF THE PHARMACIES, I WILL LEAVE IT UNNAMED WHEN THEY WERE STARTING OUT ALL THE FLU VACCINES IN JUNE AND JULY. AND I GOT A CALL BACK SAYING, IF WE DON'T ADMINISTER A MINISTER, ADMINISTER AT LEAST FOUR OF THOSE VACCINES PER DAY, WE GET ZINGED BY CORPORATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WAS NOT THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO. SO THEIR CORPORATE IS ASKING THEM TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS. AND THAT'S YEAH, I KNOW THAT THE BOARD OF HEALTH, WE CAN'T WE CANNOT DICTATE THAT. I THINK THE PRIMARY THING WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IS IT A PROVIDER OR PRACTICE FACILITY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE REQUIRED RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES. BUT I MEAN, FOR IT IS TOUGH FOR US TO DICTATE THAT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, IF THERE'S A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THAT COMMUNITY. MARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT TOWN OR WHAT? IT WAS? IT WAS IN, IT WAS IN WOULD BE CONSIDERED PRINCETON, RIGHT ON THE JUNCTION OF MONTGOMERY AND PRINCETON. IF YOU IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE PRACTICE OR THE GROUP OR THE PERSON THAT'S ADMINISTERING THE VACCINES, IF YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH ME, I CAN LET PRINCETON HEALTH DEPARTMENT KNOW AND THEY CAN DO SOME EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO THAT PLACE. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL THAT WILL HELP. I DOUBT THAT IT'S AS MUCH AN ISSUE WITH INDIVIDUAL PROVIDERS. IT'S THE CORPORATE INFLUENCE OVER THE MAJOR. SINCE SO MANY OF THE PHARMACIES HAVE TAKEN OVER A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE VACCINATIONS. ARE THERE ANY, ANY REGULATIONS OR ANY ANY GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC OR SOMETHING ON VACCINATION? YEAH, WE HAVE UTILIZED THAT. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT'S CALLED ACIP, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S WHY CDC AND THE ACIP IS THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES. SO THEY MEET AND THEY RELEASE THE SCHEDULE FOR UNTIL 18 YEARS AND 18 AND ABOVE. SO THAT'S WHAT PEDIATRICIAN OR INTERNAL MEDICINE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. SO YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE ANY VACCINE TO SECOND. YEAH I THINK WHAT MARY IS SAYING IS IT'S THE PHARMACIES THAT ARE MAYBE DOING THIS RIGHT. THEY'RE ADMINISTERING THE FLU SHOT. IT'S NOT A PHYSICIAN OR NOT. THE INDIVIDUAL PRACTITIONERS ARE THE THAT ARE DOING LIKE, WHAT COULD WE USE THAT WHOSOEVER IS THE ENFORCING. AUTHORITY TO USE THOSE THAT THEY COULD NOT GO BEYOND THE, BEYOND THE GUIDANCE FROM CDC OR OR PRACTICAL, PRACTICAL GUIDANCE. YEAH. I MEAN WE CAN ENFORCE THAT. BUT WHOSOEVER IS THE AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW A IRRESPECTIVE, EVEN IF IT IS BUSINESS OR PHARMACY OR OR PHARMA COMPANY, THEY HAVE TO STILL FOLLOW THOSE GUIDANCE.RIGHT? YEAH. AND WHAT WE CAN DO, MARY TOO, IS WE CAN REACH OUT TO IF WE IF YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, GET US SOMETHING ABOUT OR JUST SUMMARIZING WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE CAN SEND IT UP TO OUR CONTACTS AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK THERE MIGHT IS THERE A STATE PHARMACY BOARD? YES, IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE THERE'S A MEDICAL BOARD. SO I GUARANTEE THERE'S A FIRST
[00:40:04]
PHARMACY BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE WE CAN ASK THEM TO THERE'S A LICENSE OR THERE IS. YEAH. AND WE CAN EVEN HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH ASSOCIATION HELP US WITH THAT SO THAT IT GETS TO THE RIGHT BOARD AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND, AND SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN HELP, HELP US WITH, EVEN IF THE DATA IS REPORTED TO YOU BY THESE, HOW MANY THE NATURE OF THE VACCINE BEING GIVEN AND HOW MANY ARE BEING GIVEN PER DAY OVER THE YEAR? I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY HAVE THOSE RECORDS. WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD SHARE THEM WITH YOU IS ANOTHER STORY. YEAH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WOULDN'T BECAUSE THE, THE UNFORTUNATELY THE FLU VACCINE IS NOT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT IT UNLESS IT'S FOR A MINOR. SO WE WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF THOSE NUMBERS. BUT YES, THE PHARMACY BOARD OR THE, THE CORPORATE PHARMACY ASSOCIATIONS WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THAT DATA. YEAH. SO AND ALSO OH SORRY. NO I WAS GOING TO SAY I CAN. OH SORRY I CAN'T SEE YOUR LIST. THAT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD. STAND UP. MAJOR CHAIR. NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY MARY, I CAN I CAN CERTAINLY ESCALATE IT UP THROUGH MY, MY CHAIN AT THE STATE. AND THEN WE CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH ASSOCIATION AND SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US. THANKS. OKAY. SORRY. CARRIE ANN. NO, NO. IT'S OKAY. THE OTHER THING, TOO, I THINK WE CAN DO IS REMIND OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WHEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE TIME TO HAVE VACCINATIONS ARE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WE COULD PUT LIKE A RECOMMENDED VACCINE SCHEDULE OUT ALSO TO COMMUNICATE TO THE TOWNSHIP TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN YOU SHOULD GET YOUR FLU, YOUR COVID, ETC. VACCINE. GREAT IDEA. YEAH, LIKE MARY IS THIS AMONG SENIORS, OLDER ADULTS THAT ARE GETTING THE VACCINE THAT EARLY, SHE DIDN'T SHE DIDN'T SPECIFY. I MEAN, I SAW TWO OLDER ADULTS THERE MYSELF THAT DAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHERS WERE LIKE, BUT SHE JUST MADE IT CLEAR IT WAS REGARDLESS OF AGE OR ANYTHING, THEY WERE TO GIVE AT LEAST FOUR A DAY OR THEY GET ZINGED. OKAY, ANY NEW BUSINESS FROM ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS FROM MONTGOMERY. SO USUALLY I GO DOWN THE LIST AND SAY TOWNSHIP THERE'S BUT TOWNSHIP ISN'T HERE.THEN I GO TO SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO NOT HERE. SO IT'S UP TO YOU EMS ANY. YEAH. SO FOR EMS, I'M GOING TO THROW ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS UNDER THE, UNDER THE BUS HERE. SO WE DID ACQUIRE A NEW MEMBER FROM THE BOARD. SO WE NOW HAVE CHRIS WHO'S OUR NEWEST MEMBER. SO WE'LL WE'LL BE TAKING THE EMT CLASS I THINK IN JANUARY IS WHAT I HEARD. YES. IN JANUARY. SO THAT PROGRAM IS A STATE IS A STATE SANCTIONED TRAINING PROGRAM. IT'S FOR ARE YOU TAKING THE ONE IN HILLSBORO ANCESTOR. YEAH. SO THE CLOSEST ONE IS THE SOMERSET COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES ACADEMY.
OTHER THAN THAT, NEXT WEEK AT THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, EMS IS GETTING RECOGNIZED. I THINK I MENTIONED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, EMS MONTGOMERY EMS GOT RECOGNIZED ON THE STATE LEVEL AS VOLUNTEER EMS OF THE YEAR, BUT FROM THE EMS COUNCIL. AND SO NEXT WEEK, THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE IS MAKING A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF THAT AWARD. I WOULD RECOMMEND.
CONGRATULATIONS. I MIGHT ALSO SUGGEST THAT RIGHT AFTER THEY GET THAT AWARD, PROBABLY ON THE AGENDA, THE NEXT THING WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO STICK AROUND AND ASK THE COMMITTEE TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY. I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING, BECAUSE IF MORE PEOPLE GET UP AND ASK, PUT PUBLIC PRESSURE ON THEM TO GIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY CAN GIVE TO THE EMS, WHICH THEY'RE CURRENTLY NOT DOING. SO I KEEP ASKING, BUT IF YOU GUYS ALL ASK, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE LAST TWO MEETINGS FOR THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, YOU WILL SEE OUR DOCTOR NEWMAN FEATURED AT PUBLIC COMMENT ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF ALL THINGS HEALTH IN MONTGOMERY AND ESPECIALLY EMS. SO WE THANK HER FOR THAT. WE THANK HER FOR HER HER ADVOCACY FOR HEALTH IN THE TOWNSHIP. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NEWMAN, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, SHOULD DO IT TOO. THEY WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE. SHE IS A PROFESSIONAL. YES, I WILL SAY THAT. AND I'LL. I'LL WORK WITH SID TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME STATISTICS AT THE.
BECAUSE I GUESS THE NEXT MEETING WE HAVE IS IN JANUARY. SO WE'LL HAVE MAYBE 20, 24 STATISTICS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE BOARD. THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? ANYTHING FROM. THE BOARD? NOPE. I SHOULD HAVE
[00:45:01]
RECOGNIZED YOU TOO. WHY DON'T YOU. WHY DON'T YOU JUST COME AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES TO OUR OUR OUR OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT FROM ROCKY HILL SO THEY KNOW WHY YOU'RE HERE. SINCE WE LOCKED YOU OUT, MIKE. SHE WAS LOCKED OUT. OH, NO. LUCKILY, IT WAS NOT COLD. AT LEAST I HAD THE WHOLE BUILDING. YEAH, SHE COULDN'T GET IN. OH, GOD. HI. MY NAME IS VARSHA SANTOSH KUMAR. I'M A JUNIOR AT MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ALSO PART OF YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. SO I'M JUST HERE AS, LIKE A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THEM. AND YOU ARE A CADET, AND I'M A CADET. I'M MONTGOMERY EMS. YEAH. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND FOR VARSHA WAS WAITING FOR US. SHE COULDN'T GET IN. SO. THANK YOU. OKAY, GUYS, I THINK THAT'S IT. AND AGAIN, THANKS. THE ROCKY HILL BOARD OF HEALTH FOR JOINING US. IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE TOUR. IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU WITH US. I LOVE OUR JOINT MEETING. YEAH. WE SHOULD HAVE MORE JOINT MEETINGS. YEAH. THAT'S GREAT. WHY NOT? SO HAVING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO DISCUSS THE MEETING WILL NOW ADJOURN AT 8:59 P.M. SO MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. OKAY.SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. DOCTOR. SHARMA. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. BYE. TEXAS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.