The Marion Board of Health met on Thursday, June 5. The meeting began with an update on mosquito control, saying residents could request yard spraying as well as the company checking standing water for larvae and doing subsequent needed treatment of such if deemed necessary. Chair John B. Howard then moved on to a discussion on a letter from the Department of Public Health’s letter regarding the police station’s lockup facility, joking “for those of you who end up at that lockup, it is a healthy lockup approved by the Board of Health, not to worry.”
The board then moved to reappointments, with Megan daCosta as Tobacco Compliance Program Manager, David Flaherty as Health Agent Consultant, Susan Griffith as MAVEN backup, and both Gabrielle Almeida and Shallyn Carreiro as Health Speacialists to the Public Health Excellence Grant Southgcoast Collaborative. The board unanimously approved all postings. Geoffrey Gorman then spoke in support of Gabrielle Almeida, who was also approved as Health Agent by the board.
A continued public hearing was then underway for 2 Edwards Bridge Road for a Variance to not require a denitrification system based on the property’s distance from the water, being 3.1 miles from Sippican Harbor. There had been some disagreement and lack of assurance from the board whether it actually had the ability and authority to grant such a variance. The board agreed they do, following deliberation. They then closed the hearing and granted the variance with a unanimous vote.
The Marion Board of Health was then reorganized, Edward P. Hoffer, MD retained his seat following the recent Marion Elections. Chair John B. Howard, MD recommended Albin R. Johnson III become the new Chair, which was approved by both Hoffer and Johnson himself. Hoffer then was approved as Vice Chair.
Would the Marion Board of Health have met following their typical schedule, they would’ve met June 19. Due to the Juneteenth holiday, the next meeting was not scheduled at adjournment.
Marion Board of Health
By Sam Bishop