New Date Dec. 7: Special Meeting Thursday to Address Authority of of Local Health Boards

The Massachusetts Association of Boards of Health meets Thursday, Dec. 7, with the town Selectboard and the town Board of Health to discuss the role of local health boards in their communities.

This meeting was rescheduled from Nov. 9.

The meeting takes place in person at Town Hall and via Zoom. Meeting agenda and log-in details can be found on the town calendar for Dec. 7.

The meeting includes discussion of the following:

·      The scope of actions of the Board of Health, procedures affecting meetings, Open Meeting Law, Public Records, ethics, jurisdiction and hearings.

·      Participation in Public Health Excellence Grant program, and scope of impact upon the function of the Board of Health.

·      Concurrent enforcement of clean water supply with state agencies.

“We’d like to clarify that this meeting wasn’t called in response to problems with the Housatonic Water Works’ water quality, but more broadly to clarify the role of health boards in their local communities,” said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. “As we’ve learned in recent years, boards of health play an important part in their towns, and our hope is to raise awareness of the role and limitations of our local board.”