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Health director reports rise in building permits, 50 radon kits distributed and a small federal preparedness grant at risk
Summary
Health Director Jen Ielson told the commission that building permits rose from 28 in December to 58 in January, the department distributed 50 free radon kits, and one federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness (FEP) grant of about $11,000 could be at risk pending federal decisions.
Jen Ielson, New Canaan health director, briefed the commission on Jan. permit activity, grants and environmental health items during the commission’s Feb. 9 meeting.
“Building permits have picked back up from December. It went from 28 in December to 58 in January,” Ielson said. She also reported one new food-service plan review for Flour, Salt & Water at East Avenue in the former New Canaan pizza shop, with a planned spring opening.
Ielson said septic installations were down in January because of frozen ground and that the department recorded one new, non-elevated environmental lead case; staff are working with the property owner on an abatement plan. The department received 50 free radon test kits from the state and distributed them to residents; there was a waiting list of more than 70 people. Ielson said results are returning but that elevated radon readings do not trigger a town order to remediate — they are for residents’ information.
On grants, Ielson said the workforce-development grant that funds the town’s public-health nurse was front-loaded and already in town coffers, while the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness (FEP) grant was “a little over $11,000” and its future is uncertain pending federal decisions. She told the commission that the town’s quarter-two reimbursement check for the FEP grant arrived faster than expected; the transcript showed the amount unclearly, and the department should be consulted for a verified dollar figure.
Ielson also reminded commissioners that the health department and human-services presentations to the Board of Finance were posted on the town website and that the department’s budget is under a 0 percent increase for the coming cycle. She said the department will use Everbridge to promote a Valentine’s Day “coffee talk” on heart health and noted higher seasonal respiratory infections and continued concerns about suicidal ideation among ages 10–17.
Ielson closed by saying most of the town’s grants had been secured under the prior administration and that the department would not seek town supplementation if some small federal grants are cut; she said the town is not heavily dependent on federal money.
No formal actions or budget votes occurred during the report; commissioners were invited to watch the Board of Finance presentation later that evening.
