Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Spending topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
GBPH approves printing and contact-tracing spending, and plans N95 fit testing for regional nurses
Summary
GBPH approved printing 1,200 multilingual tick cards and updating brochures, and authorized using remaining contact-tracing funds to buy hand sanitizer, first-aid kits, sunscreen refills and an N95 fit tester to support regional nursing and school districts.
At the May 21 remote session, the Greater Buroughs Partnership for Health approved several spending items intended to use available public-health (contact-tracing) funds and support outreach materials.
Printing and outreach materials: Staff had asked members how to split 800 previously approved tick cards across five languages; members voted to increase the run to 1,200 cards, distributed in English, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Spanish, and to reprint 600 updated brochures (translations included). (A motion to print 1,200 tick cards in multiple languages and to update GBPH brochures passed; the mover was not recorded in the transcript.)
Contact-tracing spending: Members authorized purchases using remaining contact-tracing funds for branded giveaways and supplies. The group endorsed ordering roughly 800 hand-sanitizer units and 800 branded first-aid kits (the working plan was ~200 per town), sunscreen refills for dispenser stations and an N95 fit tester with a limited number of N95 masks for regional fit-testing of nursing staff. During the discussion staff cited approximate unit prices of about $8.45 for hand sanitizer and $27.25 for first-aid kits; prior-year sunscreen refills (24 units) cost approximately $1,900.
N95 fit testing: Taylor described an identified need to fit-test school nurses and other regional nursing staff and proposed buying a fit tester (the device does not expire; test solution is a consumable) and small numbers of masks for immediate use. Members supported that purchase and asked staff to coordinate logistics for providing fit tests.
Votes and procedure: The motion approving contact-tracing spending was seconded by "Jen from Westboro," and recorded affirmations in the transcript included Taylor (identified as "Taylor from Southboro"), a Boilston representative and Jen Sullivan. Staff will confirm final quantities, pricing and procurement timelines and present purchase details at the next meeting if necessary.
The meeting also discussed equipment needs (air-quality vs. moisture meters) and directed staff to consult the training hub and local fire departments to determine whether borrowing equipment is feasible before purchasing.
