Table of Contents
LWVM observer: Tom Krueger
Members in attendance: Andrew Petty, Tom McMahon, Dr. Tom Massaro, Dr. Amanda Ritvo
Chair's report
Expanded Board of Health
Massaro opened the meeting by reporting that he had received a letter from state Rep. Jenny Armeni stating that the Massachusetts House signed a bill Dec. 15 and the Massachusetts Senate signed it Dec. 18 permitting the Board of Health to expand from three members to five members. Members will be elected at the next town election June 9. He said the board has been working to build a positive perspective for the Marblehead Health Department.
Charter Committee
Massaro next reported on the work of the Charter Committee, specifically its review of Draft B, Section 6.3, which pertains to the Board of Health. He said all elected and appointed boards use a similar template outlining duties and responsibilities.
Charter Committee member Thatcher Keezer said the Board of Health is "special" because it has both executive and legislative functions. He cited Section 111 of Massachusetts General Laws, which grants local boards of health the authority to create and enforce reasonable health regulations and to issue emergency orders without prior public hearings. Massaro added that municipalities may choose whether to have a board of health and that, in towns without one, select boards assume those responsibilities. Regardless of structure, he said, "public health and public safety frequently overlap and must work together."
Massaro said language reflecting Chapter 111 may be added to Draft C of the charter. McMahon questioned the use of the word "reasonable," noting it could be subject to interpretation. After discussion, Massaro said he would seek clarification from the Charter Committee and town counsel. He said such language would be relevant in circumstances such as a disease outbreak or a tainted water supply.
Adolescent substance abuse and social hosting
Massaro reported on a two-hour meeting with Police Chief Dennis King on Dec. 17, 2025. He said they agreed that while the Board of Health and public safety may approach issues differently, they are aligned in their responsibility to protect the health and well-being of young people from the consequences of substance abuse. He said both agreed public health and public safety benefit from working together.
Massaro reiterated research showing that early cannabis use can result in loss of cortical brain function in adolescents. He said both parties agreed enforcement is important but differed on how best to proceed. Additional meetings are planned.
Massaro presented a slide titled "Cautious Optimism," citing broad public interest, a commitment to educating parents about risks and plans to widely distribute information on social hosting laws. He said it has not been explained why citations for social hosting have not been issued since 2017. He credited McMahon with bringing the issue to the board's attention.
McMahon cited a provision of Massachusetts law that gives law enforcement the authority to enter a residence when social hosting is suspected.
CAHM health assessment
Massaro reported on progress analyzing data from the Community-wide Assessment of Health in Marblehead survey. Responses to 42 questions produced a 33-page report of checkbox data. He said analysis of written responses is expected by the end of January.
He said many of the checkbox questions included multiple subquestions and that the survey addressed eight levels of wellness, each with layered questions. He reiterated that one reason for working with the University of Massachusetts Boston was its experience conducting such surveys and its rigorous data-protection practices.
Next steps include organizing primary data and developing strategic goals for the health department. Focus groups will be formed to further explore selected issues.
Massaro said the survey leadership committee identified several issues that stood out during review of the raw data, including bicycle and pedestrian safety, depression and anxiety, child mental health, work-life balance, substance abuse and religion and spirituality.
He outlined potential categories for long-term strategic goals, including public health improvements, coordination with health care delivery systems, health literacy and improved navigation of health and social services.
A question was raised about how Marblehead's assessment compares with those conducted in Swampscott and Salem. Massaro said Swampscott surveyed residents over age 50 and received 2,000 to 3,000 responses, while Salem's survey focused more narrowly on housing issues. Marblehead surveyed residents across the full life span and achieved a response rate of more than 15 percent.
Associate chair of waste management
McMahon read a list of departmental bills and expenses.
Wellness Fair
McMahon reported that the Wellness Fair is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the community center. He said he has vendor lists and layout materials from last year and described extensive outreach efforts used previously, including in-person visits, classes and interviews. He said he plans to revisit some of those methods and may ask Kim Crowley to assist with promotion.
The fair ran four hours last year. Board members agreed three hours may be more effective, tentatively from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Petty said he has the necessary paperwork and consent forms. Additional organizations were suggested as potential participants, including Bloom, possibly through informational materials, and a local farm cooperative.
Landfill closure settlement
McMahon reported on the landfill closure settlement approved in July. He praised Petty's presentation of the project, noting that "many conditions are unknown at the outset of such work." He said unforeseen conditions accounted for a significant portion of the cost.
McMahon said a response letter drafted by town counsel was appropriately cautious in order to avoid jeopardizing the settlement. He said the most important information for the public is contained in Petty's presentation slides, which detailed numerous project complications. He added that similar Environmental Protection Agency projects he reviewed also exceeded initial budgets.
Associate chair of community health
Flu and respiratory illness update
Ritvo reported that influenza activity in Massachusetts and nationwide is very high, with illnesses lasting longer than usual. She said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports much of the activity is due to influenza A.
Influenza-like illness accounts for 11 percent of office visits, compared with a typical rate of about 3 percent, she said. The current vaccine is a mismatch for the predominant strain but remains effective in reducing severe illness and hospitalizations. She said four pediatric deaths and 66 adult deaths have been reported nationally in 2025, with 89 percent of those cases involving unvaccinated individuals.
Ritvo emphasized handwashing, staying home when sick and early antiviral treatment as primary prevention measures. Asked whether schools report absentee rates to the Health Department, she said they do not.
Health news
Ritvo reported that under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC released a revised immunization schedule listing 11 vaccines instead of the previous 17. She said the schedule was issued without input from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Vaccines no longer included in the routine schedule are influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, RSV, meningococcal and COVID-19, which are now designated for shared clinical decision-making. Ritvo said most clinical practices continue to offer all 17 vaccines, though 17 states have chosen not to follow the full schedule. Massachusetts continues to follow the 17-vaccine schedule.
She recommended the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and similar organizations as reliable sources of vaccine information. It was suggested the Health Department website include links to those resources.
Director's report
Transfer station project update
Petty reported that work on the transfer station project is largely complete. The scale pit and scale are finished and operational and the lower concrete wall is complete. The facility is again available for commercial use and Health Department operations.
He said framing and roofing of the scale house are complete, with remaining work focused on the structure itself. About 30 days remain on the contract. Paving, line painting and fence installation will be completed when weather permits.
Petty reported additional work was required, including installation of a new manhole and catch basin, at a cost of $5,000, which the board approved. He said the license plate reader system is operational and that new 2026 stickers are required, with no grace period.
Curbside collection contract update
Petty said bids for curbside collection are due Jan. 14. He said the town is not required to accept the lowest bid but may select the most capable vendor. Bids include three options: continuing regular collection, automated collection with an arm and automated collection with biweekly recycling.
Under the biweekly recycling option, residents would receive 95-gallon recycling carts. Petty said recycling costs will increase significantly and urged residents to recycle carefully to help control expenses.
He said all major national firms expressed interest, along with one local independent company. Current contracts expire in July for trash disposal and September for curbside collection.
The next scheduled Board of Health meeting is Jan. 26.
