2026-09-30 - Board of Health

00:05Good morning. I am calling to order the

00:07board of health meeting for the town of

00:09Shrewsbury. Today is September 30th,

00:112026 and the time is

00:158:02.

00:17Our first order of business today is to

00:19review and approve the minutes from the

00:22August 12th board of health meeting. The

00:24minutes of the last meeting were

00:25submitted electronically. Um, if there

00:27are no amendments to the minutes, I'll

00:29uh take a motion to approve the minutes.

00:32>> I'll make a motion to approve the

00:33minutes.

00:35>> Dr. Bidola,

00:37>> uh, a motion to approve as well.

00:39>> Okay. Uh, roll call vote. Miss Walker

00:41>> votes I.

00:42>> Dr. Bidola,

00:43>> I.

00:44>> Uh, Miss Versace votes I. And the

00:46minutes are unanimously approved.

00:50Um, moving on to the agenda. Um our next

00:52item on the agenda is to discuss and

00:54vote on a temporary moratorum on the

00:57community water Floridaation and until

00:59the status of the science forum and a

01:02subsequent board of health decision. I

01:04would ask at this time for um Miss

01:06Garcia if you can provide us a summary

01:08on the status of the discussion please.

01:10>> Yeah definitely. Um so as you all know

01:12the board of health has been working

01:13with a group of residents to design and

01:15execute a state of the science forum on

01:18community water fluidation. During this

01:20forum, experts chosen by each party will

01:23present the current scientific

01:24literature to answer four key questions.

01:27Those questions are, is community water

01:29fluidation at 7% a justifiable public

01:32health measurement for Shrewsbury in

01:342026 accounting for all current evidence

01:37on both benefits and risks. What does

01:39the current evidence show about the

01:41relative benefits of systemic fluoride

01:43ingestion versus topical fluoride

01:45application for the prevention of

01:47childhood dental carries including for

01:50vulnerable populations? What does

01:53current evidence show about potential

01:55harm to fetuses, infants, children, and

01:57other vulnerable populations from

01:59fluoride exposure in community water at

02:01the current fluidation levels including

02:03neurodedevelopmental effects? And the

02:06final question, what are the economic,

02:07distributional, and logistical costs and

02:10benefits of continued fluidation in

02:12Shrewsbury compared to alternative

02:14interventions for dental health equity

02:16and/or alternative measures for those

02:18who wish to avoid fluoride, water,

02:21fluoride, and water. Sorry, those were a

02:23lot of words. Um, during that

02:25discussion, after the experts give their

02:28presentations, a panel of residents and

02:30the board of health members will discuss

02:32those questions based on the evidence

02:33provided. And then following the forum

02:36at the next regularly scheduled meeting,

02:38the board of health will vote on a

02:40policy decision regarding community

02:42water fluidation based on the evidence

02:44prevented by both experts and the

02:46subsequent discussions at that fluoride.

02:48Due to some of the scheduling

02:50challenges, it's been difficult to find

02:52a mutually acceptable date for the

02:54forum. Currently, we're looking at early

02:57December

02:58or early 2027 and hope to have a final

03:01forum date in the very near future along

03:04with a backup date for any weather

03:07issues that we may come across in the

03:08winter. In the meantime, it was

03:10requested that the board of health

03:12consider a temporary water flidation

03:14moratorum until the final policy

03:16decision is made following the state of

03:18the science forum. So today we have that

03:20on the agenda for the board of health

03:22members to discuss and decide if you

03:24want to implement that temporary water

03:27flidation moratorum until that final

03:29decision.

03:32>> Do any of the board members have any

03:33questions about that before we take a

03:36vote?

03:37>> Um no the the purpose of the state of

03:39the science is really to just understand

03:41the scientific consensus um and to ask

03:44questions to the experts as well and

03:47then make an informed decision. Correct.

03:49Yeah. So, um during this process, both

03:51parties have brought forward different

03:54primary sources related to um the risks

03:57and benefits of water fluidation. And

04:00so, exactly the purpose of the forum is

04:02really to have a a great discussion and

04:04presentation of that evidence and then

04:07we have two really excellent experts who

04:09can speak in detail to that um

04:11information. So I think it will be a

04:13great opportunity for both the community

04:15and the board of health to really dig

04:16into um all of the most recent recent

04:19research that's out there.

04:22>> One question here. Has there been a

04:23moratorium previously prior to any uh

04:27older discussions on on this topic?

04:29>> Um I don't believe so. I'd have to go

04:32back and check for sure. I believe in

04:342020 there was a short period of time

04:37that the town of Shrewsbury did not

04:39flirtate the water due to um like supply

04:43chain issues that came up.

04:45>> Yeah. But otherwise um I don't believe

04:47there's been any other moratorums but I

04:49will double check and get back with that

04:51positive information after.

04:53>> Um I had a question. So if we were to um

04:57place this moratorum on um fluoride in

05:00the water, how long would it take the

05:02town to you know stop adding it to the

05:05supply so that the residents would know

05:08for sure you know kind of the status?

05:10>> Yeah. So I did speak with the water

05:12superintendent and it it's a pretty

05:13quick turnaround time. they could do it

05:15within a week um to to make sure that

05:18you know it doesn't have a big impact on

05:21any of the other water chemistry that's

05:23in place for water safety. So it could

05:25be a pretty quick switch.

05:27>> Okay.

05:27>> About a week.

05:28>> Okay. And if we were to, you know, take

05:30a vote on that, make that decision and

05:32we, you know, vote on that today either

05:34way, would it be effective just when

05:37they can do it? Like how does that work?

05:39I guess that was the question.

05:40>> Yeah, definitely. So, I would say that

05:42if you do um plan to if you do vote that

05:45way, I would in your vote set the date.

05:48Um so, you would say effective, let me

05:52just pull up a calendar.

05:57So, oh that's not a calendar.

06:01I'm just looking for like when a week

06:02from today is. So, you could say

06:04effective October 7th,

06:07the moratorum would be in place. And you

06:09know that gives time for the the water

06:10treatment plant to make the change as

06:12well um as notification to go out to the

06:15community.

06:16>> Okay. And then my other one my last

06:17question would be and just so that I

06:18just want to make sure that you know for

06:20the board here for us to make a decision

06:22that we're all on we understand that

06:24whatever decision is made today would be

06:27only until the next board of health

06:30meeting following the state of the

06:31science. So it because it's I I feel

06:33like at this time we can't say the date

06:36because we don't know like when the

06:37state of the science is. It could be

06:39anywhere from December through I think

06:41we said February or March depending on

06:43their their um availability. So that

06:46would be another thing right we would be

06:47stating as a group it would be only

06:49until after the state of the science.

06:52>> Yeah and that can be within the the

06:54motion as well. you would place that

06:56disclaimer to say until the final policy

06:59decision made by the board following the

07:01state of the science forum.

07:04>> Um, Miss Walker, Dr. Badola, any other

07:07questions about that?

07:10>> I do not have any other questions.

07:13>> No other questions that I have at this

07:15time. I would I would just name like if

07:17if we do have a specifically established

07:19process to really examine the state of

07:23the science. Um, you know, I'm I'm

07:26really leaning towards that we shouldn't

07:28make an interim change before really

07:30completing this process. That was this

07:31process was very much informed by

07:33residents. I want to hear residents I

07:36want to hear both experts before really

07:38making a decision. And I'm not sure if

07:39that there's enough for me to make a to

07:43at this time I don't have enough

07:45evidence to say we need to stop right

07:48now. So I would like to really examine

07:49it with during that process at state of

07:52the science.

07:53Okay. So I guess the next step would be

07:56um you know to take a vote you know to

07:59make a motion to take a vote. So um

08:03we would say are we let's talk about

08:06making a vote to place a temporary

08:08moratorum on the

08:12community water flidation. So what would

08:15you like to make a motion on? What what

08:16is your stance miss Walker?

08:18Um

08:19>> I just want to make sure we're I know

08:20what you're saying, but I think we need

08:21to be very clear. Yes. On kind of what

08:23we are um recommending at this time so

08:26we can then take a vote.

08:28>> Um yeah, I I would be recommending that

08:31u we we do not do a temporary moratorum.

08:34So if I I can make a motion to to not

08:37have that or is there I would there

08:40other folks that have different thoughts

08:41on on the matter?

08:42>> Yes. So you could either make a motion

08:44or continue discussion like amongst

08:46yourself on kind of where where you all

08:48stand um and what the rationale is. You

08:50know, I hear what Emily is saying of

08:52like really wanting to go through the

08:54process um and and hear from the experts

08:56before making a decision. So I think

08:58this is a good opportunity as the board

09:01um you know if Dr. or Karen um to kind

09:04of express like why why you're leaning

09:07one way or the other

09:09>> and I think you were pretty clear on

09:11your on your rationale for wanting to um

09:15continue it while we examine the

09:16science. So I'd love to hear from Dr.

09:18Bola on camera. So I had to put my

09:20glasses on to see you.

09:23>> Sure. No problem. I I agree that I don't

09:26believe we have enough review of data to

09:30this point in time to say that we should

09:32have a moratorum. Um and and so without

09:38evidence to support the decision to make

09:40a change, I I would uh instead support

09:44the the idea of leaving things as they

09:47are right now until that formal

09:48discussion is uh had and then we can

09:51decide at that point. So I I would

09:54support the idea of not having a

09:56moratorum.

09:58>> Okay. So I I I hear what you guys are

10:01saying. Um I've actually been really

10:03involved in the conversations um from

10:05the board side um attending all the

10:07meetings. Um I agree, you know, from and

10:10I've you know done an extensive review

10:12of the literature. Obviously haven't

10:14heard both experts at this time. I I

10:16have you know what is on paper at this

10:18point. Um I feel that um you know for me

10:23I am I'm actually I'm leaning towards

10:24the moratorum um for the reason being

10:27that um I think it you know I don't

10:29think that there's a detrimental effect

10:31of us to stop it but you know I do

10:33understand that there is a benefit to

10:35continuing as well. Um but doing like a

10:37risk benefit analysis on my end um I

10:41think that it would give us time to

10:44analyze the evidence um while also

10:47showing that we are trying to in good

10:49faith really do an a lit review to make

10:51sure it's um what's in the best interest

10:53of the town. So that's just kind of my

10:54stance. But I think as a group we should

10:56um take a vote and decide how we want to

10:59proceed um moving forward if everybody's

11:02comfortable if we have more discussion

11:03we want to have or questions to each

11:05other on kind of where we're standing on

11:07this. I mean I think we've all put a lot

11:08of time in on our own. I know um we've

11:11spent time reviewing literature

11:13>> um and making our own conclusions which

11:16is great but you know I think at this

11:18point it's time just to kind of come to

11:20a decision at least in the interim um

11:23while we kind of move forward with this.

11:24said, "I'm excited to see that we're

11:26going to have a lot of involvement from

11:27the community, the experts. I'm excited

11:29to hear what they have to say. Um, we've

11:31been talking about this for a long time.

11:33So, I think it'll be a good discussion

11:35and, um, a lot of community involvement,

11:37which I'm looking forward to." So,

11:40>> so,

11:42um, would somebody like to make a motion

11:44to take a vote?

11:45>> Sure. Um we could I can make a motion to

11:48vote on a temporary um moratorum on

11:51community water flidation until the

11:53state of the science forum and

11:55subsequent board discussion.

11:56>> Okay.

11:59Would you like to second that? Dr.

12:01Podola.

12:03>> Yes, I I will I will second that motion.

12:05>> Okay. So, we're going to take um a roll

12:07call vote at this point. So what the

12:09board is voting on at this time is we

12:11are voting to place a moratorum on

12:13community water flidation until the

12:15state of the science forum and the

12:17subsequent board of health meeting to

12:19make a decision. So Miss Walker, do you

12:21vote um in favor or against?

12:24>> I vote against a a no.

12:26>> Okay. Dr. Bedola, how do you vote?

12:30>> I I also vote nay or no against the

12:33moratorum.

12:34>> Okay. Um Mr. Asi, I vote in favor of the

12:37moratorium. So at this point there is a

12:392 to1 split. So majority will take

12:41precedent. So at this time we will not

12:43place a moratorum on water flidation. We

12:46will continue um our current practice um

12:50until further discussion.

12:53>> Okay.

12:55So the next item on the agenda is to

12:57vote to appoint the Massachusetts Health

13:00Officers Association as tobacco agents

13:02for the board of health.

13:04>> Yep. So, um, this is very similar to the

13:08agreement that we entered in with the

13:11Massachusetts Health Officers

13:12Association last year to help with some

13:14of our tobacco enforcement. Um, this

13:16year, our local inspectors will be doing

13:18what we call education checks. So, this

13:21is when we go into establishments and

13:23make sure that they understand the IDing

13:25requirements, they're not selling

13:27products that are prohibited in the

13:29state of Massachusetts, they have all

13:31the appropriate signage. Um, but the

13:33other type of inspection that takes

13:35place is called compliance inspections.

13:37And this is when we send somebody who's

13:38under the age of 21 into a tobacco

13:41establishment to see if they can make a

13:43sale. Um, during these inspections, the

13:46individual under 21 um, they don't have

13:49produce an ID or anything. They just

13:51look to see if the the clerk will sell

13:53them the tobacco without IDing them. Um,

13:56so because we don't have too many

13:58establishments, it's not feasible for us

14:00to really hire somebody locally to do

14:02that. So Massachusetts Health Officers

14:04Association offers this partnership um

14:06where they will actually manage those

14:08compliance checks. So they'll they'll

14:10hire that individual um who's under 21

14:13years of age and go escort them to do

14:15these inspections. So today we're just

14:18asking the board of health to appoint

14:20them as an agent so they can go out and

14:21conduct these inspections.

14:24>> Perfect. Okay. Any questions about that,

14:25Miss Walker? Dr. Bedola?

14:28>> No questions.

14:29>> Okay. Um, I'll make a motion to appoint

14:32the um Massachusetts Health Officers

14:35Association as to agents for the board

14:37of health.

14:40>> Dr.

14:42Thank you. Okay. So, we'll take a roll

14:43call vote. Um, Miss Walker votes I.

14:46>> Dr. Badola

14:48>> votes I.

14:49>> And Mr. Zachi votes I. um unanimously

14:51approved to appoint the Massachusetts

14:53Health Officers Association as our

14:55tobacco agents for the board of health

14:56of Shrewsbury.

14:57>> Awesome. Thank you.

14:58>> All right, the next item on the agenda

15:00is to review and discuss our director

15:02updates. So, Miss Garcia.

15:03>> Yeah. Um I'm going to be honest, like I

15:06don't think I have too many updates.

15:07Most of the other updates come in the

15:09other sections um of our staff. They've

15:11been very very busy. Um we're doing a

15:14lot of our strategic planning work. So,

15:15I appreciate everybody um who provided

15:18input on that. um we're going to be

15:21receiving our environmental scan which

15:22is going to be based off of all of that

15:24stakeholder feedback that um Victoria

15:27collected. So we're excited to really

15:29hear um what our partners are looking

15:31for, how we can improve our coordination

15:34with them um to enhance public health

15:36services. So I'll I'll leave the rest of

15:39the updates to the the other sections.

15:42>> Great. Thank you, Miss Garcia. Any

15:44questions on the board before we move

15:45on?

15:46>> No, not at this time.

15:47>> No.

15:48>> Okay. Um, next we will review and

15:51discuss the regional public health nurse

15:52updates.

15:53>> Yep. So, I will give those. Bridget um

15:55is out working on some cases this

15:58morning. Um, but she did provide me with

16:00updates. So, during the month of August,

16:02she completed six case investigations

16:05um through the Maven system for

16:07Shrewsbury.

16:09Those cases included foodborne

16:10illnesses, but none of those cases were

16:12tied to restaurants in town. There are

16:14also still tickborne diseases coming

16:17through. So that's definitely, you know,

16:19remains a risk up until the first frost.

16:22Um, you can still find ticks even when

16:24it feels pretty chilly. So just a good

16:26reminder, especially when folks are out

16:28enjoying the fall weather to be taking

16:30those precautions of wearing, you know,

16:32long layers, checking for ticks when you

16:34get home and and back inside from the

16:36outdoors. um for arbo virus activity. So

16:40that's um mosquitoborn diseases in

16:43Shrewsbury. Our um triple E risk level

16:46is low. I don't believe I've seen any um

16:49positive cases of triple E yet this

16:51year. Um the West Nile virus risk is

16:54moderate. There have been a handful of

16:56human cases and positive mosquito

16:58samples in town um and surrounding

17:00areas. So when we have a moderate risk

17:03level, we really just remind residents

17:04that they should reduce standing water

17:06around their home. So frequently

17:08emptying buckets, bird baths, tires,

17:10anything that can collect water. Use

17:12insect repellent to help prevent

17:14mosquito bites and reduce the risk of m

17:16mosquito-born disease. Um also limiting

17:19outdoor activities from dust to dawn

17:21whenever possible because that's when um

17:24the diseasebearing mosquitoes tend to be

17:26more active. So you tend to see them

17:28around those times. Um, and then just an

17:31update on respiratory illness season. We

17:33are approaching the fall and winter

17:35months. Um, and we've already started to

17:37see cases of influenza and pertasus or

17:40whooping cough come through. Um, so this

17:42is a little bit early that we're seeing

17:44some of those cases trickle in. So this

17:46is just an important reminder for

17:47residents to stay up to date on

17:49recommended vaccinations, practice good

17:51hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes,

17:53and stay home when they're feeling ill

17:55to reduce the spread of respiratory

17:57illnesses. Um,

18:00that's the updates from Bridget.

18:02>> Great. Those are some excellent updates.

18:04Thank you. Um, our next item on the

18:07agenda is to review and discuss the

18:09regional pulse public health coordinator

18:11updates.

18:14>> I don't know. Alison, Alison, are you

18:15on? Oh, great. Allison's here. Thank

18:17you, Alison.

18:18>> Good morning. Hi, everybody. Um, just a

18:21couple updates to complement what

18:22Annette has already shared. Um, first

18:25and foremost, we are in the midst of the

18:27community health equity survey. So, I

18:29know we've shared a little bit of

18:31information about this before, but just

18:32as a reminder, this is a DPH le

18:34initiative which is really focused on um

18:37the root causes of health inequities

18:39across our communities. So, it is a

18:41statewide effort. Excuse me. Um, and it

18:44will it's a survey that's open through

18:46the end of November. It only takes about

18:4810 minutes to complete and it's actually

18:50available to anyone uh who's a

18:52Massachusetts resident above the age of

18:5312. We're really putting out a concerted

18:56effort to increase the response rates in

18:58our communities because it will give us

19:00really valuable data to collect to um

19:03complement some of the other efforts

19:05that we've been doing in terms of the

19:06health profiles and other um evidence

19:09gathering for our community. So, we just

19:11really appreciate your support in

19:13helping to spread the word. Um Carrie

19:16put out a news flashash yesterday, so

19:17hopefully you've all seen that. It

19:19includes a flyer, talking points, and uh

19:21some graphics that you can use for your

19:23social media. And if you do need access

19:26to any of those, please feel free to to

19:27follow up with me. Um the other update I

19:31wanted to share is just um on behalf of

19:34the regional opioid task force. So we've

19:36been really busy in that group as well.

19:38Um September 21st was National Opioid

19:41Awareness Day and so we launched a a

19:43comprehensive um prevention and

19:45awareness campaign in recognition of

19:48that day. This included um ongoing uh uh

19:52announcements on the town website and

19:55our social media account. Um we also had

19:57an awareness message uh on the sign in

20:00front of the town hall on the 21st. And

20:03I wanted to flag two upcoming events um

20:06that are that might be of interest to to

20:08you all and uh your community. First is

20:10that we have a a parent and caregiver

20:12video series which is um going to be a

20:15curated email that goes out each day

20:17next week uh to those who have decided

20:20to to register for this series. And so

20:22it's um using resources from the

20:25addiction policy forum highlighting some

20:27great educational materials that they

20:29have specifically targeted to to parents

20:31and caregivers. Uh we're really excited.

20:34We have more than 70 people who have

20:35signed up so far. Um have been working

20:38really closely with the Shrewsbury

20:39public schools on this. So really

20:40excited about that. And then the second

20:43is that we'll be offering an overdose

20:44response training at the Shrewsbury

20:46Library on October 20th at 5:30 p.m. Um,

20:51this is also free and open to the

20:52public. Um, will be open to all of our

20:54communities. And then in the next

20:56meeting, um, we look forward to

20:59providing you updates on the grant

21:01program that we've launched as well as

21:02the community advisory member who will

21:04be joining that group. I think that's

21:06it, but happy to to take any questions.

21:10How many Shrewsbury residents have

21:11completed the survey for the um I think

21:15it's a community health equity

21:16initiative at this point.

21:18>> That is a great I actually did get an

21:20update yesterday so just give me one

21:21second.

21:21>> Okay, great. Yeah, I know that there was

21:24lower numbers and I know initially and

21:26the you know I've really seen the health

21:28department really put out initiatives to

21:30include um just as recent as yesterday.

21:32So curious as to where we're currently

21:35at with some time but before November,

21:38the end of November.

21:40>> Yeah, they're steadily increasing. We're

21:41we're up to 20 responses now for

21:43Shrewsbury. So not not as high as we

21:45would like. Um but we have been uh

21:48tableabling at some recent events. We

21:49actually have plans uh coming up to do

21:52more tableabling in partnership with the

21:54library at some of their events. And so

21:55trying to think creatively about other

21:58opportunities like that where we might

21:59be able to to catch a good uh number of

22:01people.

22:02>> Great. Thank you.

22:04>> Um just a couple of questions for you,

22:05Alison. So you talked about the video

22:07series that's going to start next week.

22:09How again could residents gain access to

22:12that? I think you said you had to

22:13register.

22:15>> Yeah, exactly. So we put out flyers. Um

22:18excuse me. And there's a a QR code and a

22:20link where you can sign up. It's just a

22:22quick Google form. Um, so I can I can

22:25share that via email again um following

22:27this meeting if that's easiest for

22:29folks. But yeah, registration's still

22:30open. We'll keep it open next week as

22:32well. And then just to say we're

22:34actually going to be using um the

22:36Substack platform for that email. And

22:39one nice benefit of that is that we can

22:41then um basically publicly post the

22:44emails that go out. So if somebody

22:45misses the series and is interested in

22:48accessing those resources later, they

22:50will be available later as well.

22:51>> Oh, that's great. And then my other

22:53question is um in terms of like the

22:55opioid training that is being provided

22:58um you know if residents are looking to

23:00get Narcan you know to have for them or

23:02a loved one what are the resources

23:04currently in Shrewsbury if somebody's

23:05looking for um Narcan.

23:09>> Yeah exactly. So we actually do have um

23:12a form that residents can fill out to to

23:15be able to access that. it does require

23:17short um you know training with our

23:19staff and so that's you know definitely

23:21something that um you know folks will be

23:24able to access you know if they are if

23:26they attend this training for example um

23:29but that if there's interest in you know

23:31doing a one-off training or or even just

23:33a quick um session with our staff we can

23:35certainly facilitate that outside of the

23:37the training on the 20th. No, that's

23:40great.

23:41>> And I know the the video series um from

23:44participation with the um the opioid

23:46task force, there's a a pretty good

23:49number of folks that have registered for

23:51that. So that's wonderful. What are we

23:53up to now? I think it was like in the

23:5470s maybe um last I had

23:58>> Yeah. Yep. You're exactly right. I think

24:00it's 72 now. So it's leveled off a

24:02little bit, but definitely very very

24:03encouraging to see that.

24:04>> Yes. That's wonderful.

24:07And can you please also reshare the

24:08Substack link as well? I think that

24:10would be good to follow.

24:12>> Yes, definitely once it goes live.

24:14>> Oh, thank you.

24:15>> We're we're still working behind the

24:17scenes, but we'll definitely share all

24:18of that. Thanks so much.

24:21>> No, it sounds like the committee is

24:22doing a lot of really great work and

24:23thank you to Emily for um being our

24:25representative on that. I know you're

24:27doing great work and um it's really

24:30needed in our communities now. So, thank

24:32you for that. All right. Any other if um

24:34there's no other questions, we could

24:35move on to um our next agenda item,

24:38which is to review and discuss the

24:40regional environmental health specialist

24:41updates.

24:42>> Yeah, I'm happy to provide that. Um so,

24:44our inspectors were super busy. Um in

24:47the month of August, they completed 94

24:50total inspections. Um so that was 43

24:53routine food inspections. There were 14

24:55temporary events. We had two um

24:58pre-renal inspections. We do these for

25:00various um Massachusetts rental voucher

25:03programs. We go and conduct uh

25:05inspections before the tenant moves in.

25:07Um they had 11 housing inspections, 21

25:11nuisance inspections, and two other

25:13inspections. Um so that was related to

25:16some beaver activity in town. Um and

25:21it looks like the other one was an issue

25:23at Dunkin Donuts, not related to the

25:25food, but um related to consum some

25:27construction there. Um, for title five,

25:30there have been five title five

25:31inspections completed by a combination

25:34of Phil, McKenzie, and Michael. So,

25:36they've been very busy out in the

25:38community. Um, as we're heading into the

25:41end of this year, um, Carrie's going to

25:43be start starting renewal soon. So,

25:46we'll be working with all of our annual

25:47permites, and by we, I mean Carrie, um,

25:50because she does an amazing job, you

25:52know, getting them all uh, having their

25:54renewals completed. So, that's

25:55definitely a very busy season for us.

25:58Um, we're also going to be bringing

26:00forward some items for the board to

26:02discuss. So, we're currently doing a fee

26:04study to look at all of our permit fees

26:06um to make sure they're in line with the

26:08actual cost of what what it takes to

26:11have inspectors and our our um office

26:14staff kind of process those applications

26:16and go into inspections. So, we'll be

26:18presenting that and it will be effective

26:20next year. So, our our businesses won't

26:23see any change to their fees during this

26:25renewal cycle. it will be next year. Um,

26:28so it gives them lots of time to really

26:29look if there are some changes.

26:31Initially, there's only a handful of

26:33categories that we're really seeing

26:35changes in. I think most of them are

26:37pretty um in line with with what the

26:40actual cost of going out to do these

26:42inspections are. Um, so just something

26:44to keep in mind. Um, also the FDA just

26:47released their 2026 food code. The state

26:50of Massachusetts is currently on the

26:522013 food code. Um, so something that

26:56we're looking to do is adopt some local

26:58food regulations to bring us up closer

27:00to that 2026

27:03um, food code that was just released.

27:04So, next year we'll be bringing forward

27:07some of those um, local regulations for

27:09consideration from the board. Um, and

27:11we'll really go through like what those

27:13major pieces are that are changing and

27:15how they may affect businesses. Um, and

27:17we're really being thoughtful to think

27:19through like how we can support our

27:20businesses in the transition because

27:22some of the items have um, actual

27:24impacts on their operations. Um, but

27:27just another thing to kind of have in

27:28the back of your mind that'll be coming

27:30up again um, in 2027 to discuss,

27:35but happy to answer any questions.

27:37>> I don't have any questions. Do either of

27:39you have any questions?

27:39>> Nope,

27:41>> I do not.

27:42>> Okay, great. All right. So, the next

27:44item will be to review our meeting

27:46schedule. So, our next meeting for the

27:48board of health will take place on

27:49October 22nd. Um, we're going to be

27:52moving to an evening schedule. So, we'll

27:54be meeting at 5:30 p.m. right here in

27:56the border select um room. So, if

27:59there's no other items, I'll take a

28:01motion to um adjourn the meeting.

28:03>> Um Karen is going to go back to number

28:05two because we skipped over the re

28:08approval of the minutes. I think

28:10>> I think we did do that. We did approve

28:12the minutes unanimously.

28:13>> I think we did, but we did skip over

28:15public comment. So, I don't know if you

28:17just want to acknowledge that.

28:19>> Okay. Sorry. My apologies.

28:20>> That's okay. So, we didn't receive any

28:23um written public comment or requests

28:25for public comment for this this meeting

28:27>> for this meeting. Okay.

28:28>> Thank you.

28:29>> Thank you. Okay. So, now I will take a

28:32motion to close the meeting.

28:35>> Sure.

28:35>> Um I'll make a motion uh to adjurnn.

28:38>> I'll second that motion.

28:40>> Great. So, a roll call vote. Miss Walker

28:42votes I. Dr. Padola

28:44>> I.

28:45>> Um and Miss Race votes I. The meeting is

28:47now adjourned. Thank you.

28:49>> Thank you.

28:50>> Thank you.

28:51>> Thank you.