Board of Health Meeting Summary – January 27, 2025
Attendees: Andrew Petty, Tom McMahon, Tom Massaro, Helaine Hazlett
Observer: Tom Krueger
The meeting kicked off with Helaine Hazlett congratulating Tom McMahon and Andrew Petty for a successful Wellness Fair. They had great attendance and excellent vendors. Petty suggested making this an annual event.
Community Health Update – Creating a Healthier Marblehead (CAHM)
The Marblehead Rotary Club has pledged $10,000 for a health survey of the town’s residents. Dr. Massaro is working to gather more funding by meeting with different organizations, including the Harbor Rotary Club and the Female Humane Society. He aims to build support for the health survey and is also engaging with a local ministerial group and other doctors. The next meeting for the Mental Health Task Force is scheduled for January 30.
Leash Law Discussion
The discussion on the Leash Law has been paused for now.
Board of Health and Health Department Roles
The meeting continued with a talk about the relationship between the Board of Health (BOH) and the Health Department. Ms. Hazlett shared insights from town counsel that emphasized the BOH is elected by residents, while the health department functions under the BOH, indicating they are not separate entities. There are no legal statutes for just a health department.
Further discussions included potential plans for Mr. Petty’s contract, which may be for five years and include competitive pay and possibly incentives. They considered the extent of Mr. Petty’s role, comparing it to that of a town administrator, and discussed a need to clarify his duties. The board agreed that Mr. Petty’s workload deserves an annual review.
Dr. Massaro proposed enhancing the health department’s section in the Town Report to focus more on future goals rather than just listing past infectious diseases. He volunteered to collaborate with Mr. Petty on this effort. Ms. Hazlett was tasked with discussing a formal contract for Mr. Petty with town council.
Transfer Station Update
Mr. Petty reported a significant problem at the transfer station. During the installation of a new compactor, crews discovered rusted metal and damaged beams, which halted the installation process. A structural engineer confirmed the findings, and Mr. Petty is now seeking quotes for repairs, anticipating costs around $50,000. The current facility dates back to 1978, with the compactor itself being rebuilt in 2016-2017, although the chute wasn’t inspected at that time. The additional costs can be covered by the waste revolving fund, but this will delay future site work at the transfer station.
Opioid Settlement Funds
Mr. Petty gave an update on opioid settlement funds, which currently total $330,000, excluding any amount from the recent Sackler settlement. The funds are being used to place emergency overdose boxes across municipal buildings and to help individuals access substance abuse treatment programs. Ideas for future use of these funds include peer support groups, and it was suggested that Mark Lebon, chair of the Mental Health Task Force, be invited to a future meeting.
Meeting Minutes and Public Concerns
Mr. Petty addressed a complaint regarding the Board of Health’s delay in publishing meeting minutes. The last publication was from September 2024. He clarified that while the minutes are available, they need to be formally published. A resident suggested that the health director’s job description should be accurate and include future goals, as this would inform annual reviews.
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