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Town Government & |
Departments: Board of Health
2006 Town Report The Board consists of three elected members from the community. The term of office is for three years. The Board oversees a staff of 4 full time employees (Executive Health Officer, Administrative Secretary, Public Health Nurse and Health Agent) and two part time employees (Health Clerk and a Food Inspector). The Board of Health’s jurisdiction and responsibilities includes such activities as adult immunization programs, domestic abuse, crisis intervention, Food Establishment licensing and inspections, surface water quality enforcement, tobacco control program, rabies control, West Nile Virus surveillance, local emergency planning, Right-to-Know program, septic system approval and inspection, bioterrorism response, Body Art licensing, recombinant DNA licensing, group day care licensing and inspection, communicable disease surveillance, massage, camp licensing, tanning salon licensing, building permit review, subdivision review, private well permitting, housing code compliance and much more. This year the Board has been working on updating some of their outdated regulations. The Board spent the first part of the year working on and approving significant changes to the Board of Health Massage Regulations. These changes not only pertain to the Massage Business but also updates requirements for Massage Therapists. During the second part of 2006 major changes were developed and are under review to the Board of Health Animal Regulations. These regulations establish for such animals as horses, bovine, geese, pigeons, etc. for the protection of the animals and the environment. It is expected that these regulations will be finalized and adopted in early 2007. This year the Public Health Nurse conducted a number of Influenza Clinics at a variety of locations from our senior housing units to the Town Hall. As a result, over 2000 residents received their “flu shot” this year free of charge. In addition to our yearly influenza clinics, our Department has been preparing for an anticipated Influenza pandemic. As part of this planning, a Town Meeting Article was prepared and approved by the Town Meeting, which authorized the Hingham Board of Health to enter into an Intermuncipal Mutual Aid Agreement with Region 4B member communities. As a result, an agreement was drafted and signed by the Board and the Region. of Health’s Tobacco Regulations. The Board is pleased to announce that were no sales of tobacco products to minors during unannounced compliance checks, of local retail vendors, by the South Shore Board of Health Collaborative during 2006. This is the result of good public education along with strict enforcement of the Board Kirk Shilts, D.C., Chairman Permits issued in 2006 by the Board of Health are as follows:
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