Committee Report - PHPS - 3-29-16 — File 201163

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 1 of 5 Printed 4/10/2016 March 29, 2016 REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived John M. Connolly Chair Present Mary Jo Rossetti Vice Chair Present Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Present Others present: Alderman Robert McWatters, Alderman Mark Niedergang, Chief David Falon - SPD, Nancy Bacci - HHS, Patty Contente - SPD, Patrick Wardell - CHA, Mark Albanese - CHA, Kathy Betts - CHA, Mary Cassesso - CGA, Gay Koty - HHS, Charles Sillari - Clerk of Committees The meeting took place in the Committee Room and was called to order at 6:00 PM by Alderman Connolly and adjourned at 7:30 PM. 199520: That the Administration prioritize a public health initiative to control the opiate abuse epidemic, including nearby health and educational institutions and any other available resources. Several representatives from Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) spoke about the opiate abuse epidemic and directed their comments to: • The overwhelming need to get the necessary help to properly refer individuals to psychiatric services, • Ways to deal with the epidemic • State and insurance company reimbursement, • Deficit reductions, • Preserving services while making appropriate changes and reductions, • Servicing vulnerable populations, • How Somerville can utilize resources, • Time and energy spent on primary care, integrated mental health and recruiting internal workers to deal with addiction, • Evidence based ways of providing the best possible care, • Patient waiting time for admittance to a program and • Funding for nurses, medical assistants and nurse practitioners.

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 2 of 5 Printed 4/10/2016 Alderman Rossetti inquired about the possibility of prioritizing patients from Somerville and Cambridge and asked about the defunding of detox beds in Somerville. She also asked how MassHealth impacts a patient’s treatment. Alderman McLaughlin expressed concern about treatment aftercare. Chief Fallon stated that CHA is a great partner for the Police Department and went on to discuss crisis intervention training for police officers. Chief Fallon also spoke about a mental health count in Cambridge and grant funding. Ms. Contente discussed intervention strategies and outreach efforts. Mental health reports are being tracked and there has been a shift in age to younger people who are in need of help. She spoke about a life skills program and programs available for different grade levels, adding that the process will be started in May. Ms. Contente also discussed supervision, vigilance, concussions and alternatives to pain management. Chief Fallon spoke about problems with Fentynol and reported that there has been no reduction in the use of Narcan. Ms. Koty spoke about intervention with school children, grants and new initiatives, adding that a new curriculum is being looked at. Ms. Bacci spoke of the ways to identify resources to help those in need. A member of the public discussed the Angel Program in Gloucester. Chairman Connolly expressed his desire to have CHA work collaboratively with those in the community and stated his intention to meet quarterly to identify common problems. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 192737: That this Board’s Committee on Public Health and Safety arrange for representatives of Riverside Community Care aka Somerville Mental Health Association, to appear before the Committee to explain where the programs are and how the City can assist them. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200846: That the Administration inform this Board of efforts to assist Riverside Community Care, formerly at 78 College Avenue, in finding a new location for its mental health day treatment program. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200878: That the Commissioner of Public Works update this Board in writing on the street lamp contractor’s repair of street lamps since the last Public Health and Safety Committee meeting. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 3 of 5 Printed 4/10/2016 200518: That the Mayor or his designee report at this Board's January 14, 2016 meeting on the large number of malfunctioning streetlamps and to update this Board the status of the contractor(s) responsible for their maintenance. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200140: That the Chief of Police, the Chief Fire Engineer and the Director of Traffic and Parking consider a "Don't Block the Box" program at key intersections that impede the flow of traffic and present a public safety hazard, and report back to this Board in writing within 30 days. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 198097: That the Director of SPCD update this Board on its public education campaign concerning appropriate bicycling in central business districts. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 198956: That the Administration develop with this Board a strategy to analyze the increasing use of Runway 33L at Logan Airport and document the adverse noise impacts. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199100: That this Board supports the efforts of the Logan Community Advisory Committee and requests that the FAA re-examine its Runway 33L policies to reduce noise complaints. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199724: That the Chief of Police and the Chief Fire Engineer appear before the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety to discuss concerns regarding #198703 and #199522 for public safety at Assembly Row and citywide. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199948: That the Chief of Police provide this Board with a list of all notices sent to property owners pursuant to Ordinance 9-97 (nuisance control) in the last two years. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200074: That the Administration update the Committee on Public Health and Safety monthly on data for Logan Airport Runway 33L, and that the City engage Wig Zamore and communicate with officials from Cambridge and other communities on this matter.

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 4 of 5 Printed 4/10/2016 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200309: That the Administration arrange for Matrix Consulting to appear before this Board's Public Health and Safety Committee to report their findings on public safety. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200216: That the City Clerk invite the Logan Airport Community Advisory Committee representative to this Board's next meeting to recommend action for the increased impact of Logan air traffic. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200311: That the Administration provide this Board's Committee on Public Health and Safety the names of the Community Cabinet members mentioned at the Committee meeting on 11/17/15. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200479: That the MassPort Community Advisory Committee seek to address Logan Airport noise, pollution, and traffic issues by sponsoring a regional citizens' forum, an online runway database, and federal research. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200519: That the Chief of Police consider deploying body cameras for all police officers, and prepare a feasibility report within 30 days for this Board's Public Health and Public Safety Committee. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200522: That the Supervisor of Inspectional Services and the Director of Engineering report to this Board on the 12/31/15 collapse of the carriage house roof at 13 Tufts Street, and explain the inspections and procedures before a building permit is issued for work on old buildings. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200587: Ben Asack submitting comments re: establishing a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 5 of 5 Printed 4/10/2016 RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200641: That the Administration consider implementing a Certified Emergency Response Team as outlined by FEMA. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200759: DPW Commissioner responding to various Board Orders submitted 1/14/16. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200765: That the Supervisor of Inspectional Services inform the Beacon Street Star Market of the city's regulations for cleaning and removing snow from commercial parking lots, including the restrictions on hours and the impacts of noise on the surrounding residential area. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200776: That the Supervisor of Inspectional Services dispatch NIT personnel to investigate 10-12 Prescott Street for code violations and report the findings to this Board. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200785: That the Supervisor of Inspectional Services monitor the gate at Maxwell’s Green that prevents cars from entering Clyde and Warwick Streets, and enforce the original development permit by ticketing Maxwell’s Green when the gate is left in the up position. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 200980: That the Commissioner of Public Works clean the parking lot at the American Legion Post on Glen and Tufts Streets, that the Director of Traffic and Parking paint parking lines there, and that the Chief of Police regularly monitor the site for illegal dumping and parking. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 200989: DPW Commissioner responding to various Board Orders submitted 3/10/16. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED