WHAT IS A BOARD OF HEALTH AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
The Park Ridge Board of Health is the autonomous policy making board which, as mandated under state law Title 26, is charged with the duty of ensuring that mandated public health services, as indicated in N.J.A.C. 8:52 Public Health Practice Standards, are carried out in Park Ridge. Members are appointed by the mayor and council. The board consists of seven regular members serving a three year term and two alternates, one of which is a two year term and the other a one year appointment. A board of health is not a health department. Provision of mandated public health services is through a contract with a health department under the administrative direction of a licensed health officer. Health inspections for the community are carried out by an environmental health specialist, who works for the health department under the direction of the health officer. The secretary of the board of health is an employee of the town and is the liaison between the health department and the board. The secretary also collects Vital Statistics for the community. The board of health meets regularly on the third thursday of the month under the Sunshine Law as an open public meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.

A BIT OF HISTORY
Emergence of Boards of Health: In colonial America, smallpox was especially devastating to both natives and settlers. With so many people dying, the recording of vital records was essential. In 1639 the Massachusetts colony ordered all births and deaths to be recorded. In 1701 laws requiring isolation of smallpox were passed. In 1799 the first Board of Health was formed in Boston with Paul Revere as its chairman. Paul Revere, among other professions, was a dentist.

WELL CHILD CARE CLINIC
Provides well visits, physical examinations and immunizations for newborns through pre-school age children. The Clinic is conducted by the Hillsdale Board of Health and is held at the Hillsdale Municipal Building, located at 380-Hillsdale Avenue. Clinic hours are from 9AM-12PM on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Call Lois Kohan, Public Health Nurse, at 201-666-4800 ext. 1528 for an appointment. Please bring a record of any previous immunizations to your appointment. If non-English speaking, it is necessary to have someone to translate.

ADULT HEALTH CLINIC
Provides blood pressure checks and general health information. The clinic is conducted by Bergen Care Home Health. It is held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 12:00 noon - 1:30 PM, during the Senior Citizens Meeting at the Park Ridge Elks Lodge on Sulak Lane in Park Ridge.

The Rabies Clinic is held at the Park Ridge Utility Garage on Sulak Lane in the month of October. Date to be determined.

The Flu Clinic is held in the Community Center at the Municipal Building in the month of November. Date to be determined.

The regular meeting of the Board of Health shall be held in the Municipal Building at 53 Park Avenue at 8:00 PM on the following dates:

President: June Bertini
Vice President: Dr. Marilyn Miller
Council Liaison:  Gerry Maughan
Dr. Joan Valas	Catherine Roy
Christine Deppert	Louis Meyer
Peggy Scheulen	Laura Viscovic
Dr. Robert Lincoln

January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
September 2006
November 2006
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
January 2008
March 2008

BoardofHealth@borough.park-ridge.nj.us - or call, 201-391-3430
The Bergen County Department of Health Services: 201-634-2600.