Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2020-10-08

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, October 8, 2020

 Staff Liaison’s Village Hall
 Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings
 7:00 p.m.


 AGENDA
 U




Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting is being held virtually. Members of the public who wish to comment as to
an item on the published agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to Bruce A. Jones with the Skokie
Health Department and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented and read during the relevant
portion of the meeting. Written comments also may be submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org by mail to
Village of Skokie, Attn: Bruce A. Jones with the Skokie Health Department, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, 60077;
or via the Village’s drop box located by the public entry to Village Hall

 I. Call to Order
 Statement to be read by Chairman Dr. Werner:
 Until further notice, meetings of the Board of Health will be held electronically, with a majority of
 members participating via remote access in order to comply with the State of Illinois Gubernatorial
 Disaster Proclamation. Members of the public who wish to comment as to an item on the published
 agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to Bruce A. Jones with the Skokie Health
 Department; and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented and read during the
 relevant portion of the meeting.
 Written comments also may be submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org by mail to Village
 of Skokie, Attn: Bruce A. Jones – Interim Director of Health, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois,
 60077; or via the Village’s drop box located by the public entry to Village Hall.

 II. Approval of Minutes

 III. Covid & Flu Updates

 IV. Chair’s Report

 V. Director’s Monthly Report

 VI. Old/New Items of Business

 VII. Citizen Comments (See information at top of page)

 VIII. Adjournment.

 Next Meeting: November 12, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
 Staff Liaison’s Village Hall
 Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings




#571438 V1

Skokie Board of Health
 Meeting Minutes
 October 8, 2020

Present Excused Absent
Mr. Abbasi Ms. Urbanus Dr. Dave Dr. Gaynes
Dr. Drachler, Emeritus Mr. Usman Ms. Maureen Hanlon Ms. Margaret Keeler
Ms. Nickisch Duggan Dr. Vernon Dr. Shim Ms. Ruth Varma
Ms. Juliet Haido Dr. Werner Ms. Moy-Wooten
Dr. Linn Dr. Williams
Mr. Pandya Sibyl Yau
Dr. Sood


Bruce Jones, Susan Reisberg, Staff


 A. Call to order:
 The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Dr. Werner, Chairman. Dr. Werner reminded that
 the meeting is being recorded and read a statement that meetings will be held electronically until
 further notice per the State of Illinois Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Members of the
 public may submit questions to Mr. Bruce Jones and they will be presented and read during the
 relevant portion of the meeting.


 B. Approval of Minutes:
 The minutes of the September 2020 meeting that sent to members electronically were approved as
 well as the agenda by consent.


 C. COVID-19 & Flu Updates:
 Mr. Jones apologized for the absence of Ms. Reisberg but was glad to report that Skokie’s
 positivity rate is at a steady 3% for the last 2 weeks, where Cook County is at 5%. Skokie
 residents and businesses have been very cooperative with following the safety measures. The
 Health Department conducted its first seasonal flu shot clinic on September 30th he stated it was
 well received. This year there were changes made to ensure proper social distancing. They
 changed the appointment flow from 250 appointments per hour to 100 appointments per hour and
 were still able to vaccinate 844 residents during the clinic. Dr. Werner asked if all the contact
 tracers have been hired for COVID. Mr. Jones stated all planned contact tracers have been hired
 at this time, but closely watching the budget just in case more are needed. Dr. Werner also asked
 if “Point of Care” testing is being done at the Long-Term Care Facilities and if there is data on
 the results? Mr. Jones replied at this time the facilities have received the testing materials, but the
 data is still being processed. Dr. Vernon offered to give Mr. Jones his references with the state to
 assist him in further processing the data. No other questions and the discussion ended.


 D. Chair’s Report:
 Dr. Werner reported on the equitable distribution of COVID vaccine once it becomes available.
 He stated he took part on a conference call, the CDC and FDA tasked the National Academy of
 Medicine to come up with framework on how they could get the vaccine distributed to the
 community. The plan is broken down in phases:
 The first phase: Front-line health workers and those with underlying conditions. Phase 2: critical
 workers in high-risk situations, teachers, child care workers, those with underlying conditions that
 put them at moderately higher risk and all people under 65 who are in prisons. Phase 3: Young
 adults, children and people who work in in essential industries. Phase 4: Covers anyone else who
 has not been vaccinated. He opened the floor for questions. Mr. Jones stated the presentation puts
 it in good perspective on what should be done. Mr. Werner replied this would be a good model
 for the Health Department to follow. Dr. Vernon stated the State has a taskforce that he is a part
 of and they have a very detailed plan for distribution, administering and recording. Dr. Werner
 thanked Dr. Vernon for his info from the state level and the discussion ended.

 Dr. Werner stated on last month’s report that Human Services was providing residents with rent
 assistance. He reported the CDC has now issued an eviction moratorium and questioned if that
 would that have an impact on the support of Health & Human Services. Mr. Jones says in lieu of
 the departure of Beth Lindley, Mr. Brian McHugh is the lead and he is looking into the statistics
 on that matter.

 Dr. Werner wanted to remind everyone to vote, take the census and get a flu shot! Also, he
 mentioned there are helpful guidelines in the NewSkokie Newsletter on how to safely trick or
 treat this Halloween. Dr. Vernon added the State has issued guidance on Halloween and how it
 could be safely celebrated, and he offered to share that with the group. He also mentioned the
 State will be coming up with how to safely celebrate other upcoming holidays.


 E. Directors’ Monthly Report:
 Mr. Jones reported “Best Wishes” to Beth Lindley she took a new position with the Michigan
 State University School of Social Work. Her Last day was 9/11/20 Bruce will serve as the Interim
 Director of Health & Human Services.

 Health & Human Services conducted three training workshops in September by zoom. The three
 workshops were provided in 3 languages Arabic, English and Spanish to accommodate all the
 participants. The workshop objectives were to explain the Village of Skokie Human Services
 mission and the services provided. There were 53 participants. The Open Enrollment Part D Tool
 Kit was released at the end of September to start preparing for Part D Open Enrollment from
 October 15th to Dec. 7th. We will be reaching out to our SHIP volunteers to see how to best
 move forward with Open Enrollment this year. There will be an online Part D Sign-up Assistance
 Event hosted by the Skokie Library Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.

 Discussion: Dr. Drachler asked where David Clough went. Bruce replied he took a position with
 School District 69 and he will be handling data. Dr. Drachler added he will be missed. Bruce did
 add that before Mr. Clough left he established all the data and graphing links for COVID19 on the
 Village Website which has been very helpful in keeping the community informed.

 F. Old/New Items of Business:
 Old items:
 a. Dr. Werner spoke on the flavor vaping issue; the Board of Health does not make policy. In
 2005 Dr. Drachler and Dr. Williams proposed a letter to the Mayor dealing with the Tobacco
 21 issue and it was adapted in the ordinance it is today. He stated they will take the same
 approach for the vaping issue by sending a letter to the Mayor. Mr. Usman agreed that
 sending the letter to the Mayor would be a great start. Dr. Werner stated from the last meeting
 they will add a public safety announcement in the May NewSkokie Newsletter about Bicycle
 safety. Also collaborate with local bike shops for discount on bike helmets.

DOCS 582032
 New items:
 b. Mr. Usman proposed that the board visit the issue with garbage and recycling. He would like
 to see smaller garbage containers and larger recycling containers and that restaurants sort
 their garbage and the Village come up with some incentive to assist this effort. Dr. Werner
 thanked him for revisiting that issue. Dr. Drachler added that he has requested for years that
 businesses in Skokie need to recycle. He mentioned other towns don’t charge a fee for
 recycling only for landfill which could help with expenses. Dr. Werner asked Mr. Jones to
 discuss off line with him later. Mr. Jones closed out the discussion with stating he will follow
 up with Public Works to see if they can come speak before the board about the topic and data.
 Discussion ended.


 G. Citizen Comments:
 Mr. Jones check for citizen comments on the website and none were submitted.


 H. Adjournment:
 Meeting adjourned at 7:39pm.



 Next Board of Health Meeting:
 Thursday, November 12, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
 Board of Health Members-Virtual via Zoom Meetings




DOCS 582032