Hi everyone. I'll wait two more minutes or one. There he is. Don't even have to wait. Hi, Jack. Um so with that at 502 we will open the the uh January 2026
uh board of health meeting. Happy new year everyone. Um in attendance is myself Risha Hessala Nyer Betsy Brooks and Jack Gemsack. That is all of our members. So we are all here. We are also
joined by Kiko and Maheen from the health department. So, um, the first item on the agenda is to review the minutes from December.
Um, I did not have any comments. Any comments or corrections that anyone else noted? >> None for me. >> None for me either. Yeah, I'm good. >> All right. Yeah, they were very
thorough. Thank you again to Nancy for those notes. >> Uh, okay. So, uh, motion to, uh, accept and, uh, pass the minutes from December. >> So moved.
>> Second. And all in favor, Betsy, I'm gonna assume since you moved, >> you're in. >> All right, >> great. Um, so just in case others have uh who are attending and haven't seen
the agenda, we will start with public comment now. Uh we will then discuss the crowd regulations regulations uh board priorities as part of new business. The director's update topics
not anticipated by the chair 48 hours prior to the meeting and then we will have another public comment at the end. In our public comments we cannot uh engage in discussion or respond to them. We will just note them. Um, and uh,
Kiko, I always forget. Is it is it two minutes? Was that or three minutes? >> Um, usually it's 2 minutes, excuse me, for public comment in a board meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, so we'll limit your comments to two minutes. Um, so I will I
will now open it up for public comment. If you want to raise your virtual hand, uh we will uh promote you to panelist and you will be able to be heard and seen. And please introduce yourself at the start of your comments and where
you live. I'm not seeing any hands. So if anyone wants to do a last minute hand otherwise we will move right along. I see that there's a new attendee and so I just want to acknowledge that it is
currently comment time. If anybody wants to make a public comment, please raise your virtual hand. Okay, we have another public comment at the end of the uh the meeting if anybody has anything they want to say at that
time. So we will move on to our first u order of business which is theratom at home regulations. Hand over to Premla and Betsy. Um I reviewed the addendum that uh Nahin
sent today and it essentially the difference between this and the old is that it addresses all credom as opposed to synthetically derived uh cartel and it sound I mean I I listened to the meeting where they made this decision.
It was the October 16th decision of the Northampton Board of Health and basically um they were listening to the inspectors that had gone around in terms of making a preliminary pass to see if um uh well
to distribute and to see if people had any questions and so on and so forth. the retailers, I mean, and um they found although they weren't able to look at every uh retail establishment, they chose the ones most likely to have
cretton products and none of them had naturally, well, maybe one had naturally derived cretton. Everything else, there wasn't a lot, but it was synthetically derived. And um so their their feeling
is, you know, initially they've been concerned that there might be a ground swell of locals objecting to a ban and saying that they need to have it available. And their thought was as long as that isn't true, you know, it makes
sense to hope to prohibit it until information comes to say otherwise. And in the meanwhile it is um available on the internet. They did not want to encourage people to start using just by
seeing it on the shelf. Um and then also if the FDA comes out with info about uh uh benefits or you know how not a danger carton is then then they would reconsider. But in the meanwhile,
they felt like it just made sense um you know not to exempt crypto in its natural law that you know that's that was that's it in a summary. They certainly could listen to the meeting and I I can tell
you, you know, at what minute point in the meeting they discussed this, but >> And where are we on on the recommendations from you and Betsy as to what how we should fall? >> Well, we drafted them and passed them on
to Kiko and Mahin. So, um, essentially we were proposing the same, uh, as, uh, the Northampton regulations. However, there were a few points of clarification. Um, I think Betsy
mentioned them specifically in her email to you, Kiko. >> Um, let's see. I'm not remembering that. Oh, let me just look at this email. Yeah. Um, you so you recommended following the Northampton Board of
Health regulations. Um, had I had a chance to discuss enforcement with Meredith? I tried to get in touch with her. She was on vacation big chunk of time over the holidays. So, no, I haven't had a chance to talk with her about that. U, I think I answered these questions in an email to you. Um, but
um, in terms of the you Well, I'll I'll move on to the relevant questions. Um, do the educational flyers mention exist? I think Northampton has developed some educational material. I think they would be happy to share it because we're part of the, you know, public health excellence shared services arrangement
with them and this falls under that uh work easily. >> They actually had an example at the meeting that I listened to. So, >> yeah, right. >> It's it's in place. It would be easy to get it, I think. >> Yeah. I mean, I think we want to see it's usually they develop really good
materials. maybe one or two tweaks would be needed, but certainly it's a great template to work from. >> And then on that is that they said when you sell them, you must also give out the educational materials. If they're fully banned, both the natural and the
synthetic, we don't have to worry about that. Correct. >> Yeah. I don't know what the educational materials cover exactly. So, yes, I think that was another point. And Preml, I'm really thank you for that summary. I'm glad that you were able to watch the meeting. I also watched it and found it
to be very helpful. Um, but I think the other thing that they talked about maybe in prior meetings was just how difficult it was to differentiate between natural and synthetic. Like some packages didn't have all the information on them. You know, it was just really hard to be able
to say this okay, this not okay. And especially since they didn't see very much that looked like natural cret on the shelves, it seemed like a more sensible thing um to just enact a a total prohibition. So um so in terms of
educational materials, would they be needed? I don't know. We'll take a look and see what they've been using. Um but I did want to say that it might be valuable for us to go out into the community and see what's on the shelves because we haven't really done that. Um,
and I think that's an important thing to understand like what's our community context with respect to the products that are currently available. >> I went to the nearest service station and they didn't have any product of any type. >> Okay.
>> Yeah. I think just as Northampton did if again if it's feasible giving staffing I think it behooves us to you know go out and look and see what's there and inform ourselves and then uh make a decision about
synthetic versus all forms. >> Yeah. But I but I think the uh the current Northampton regs did not talk about the educational materials probably because they said they should be given they should be available where the
product is sold and if it's not to be sold anywhere. Um, you know, we may want the materials for other reasons, but they don't that that question about um how the vendors get the materials and
who's responsible for saying that they have them is irrelevant. >> I think that yeah, the plan I think initially was to have the retailer develop sorry pass them out but also use it to educate the retailer as well.
>> Yeah. C can I just acknowledge that um we do have someone with a hand up. We don't take public comment during discussions, but I don't recognize the name. Is is Kiko? Do you recognize this as someone from the Department of Public Health or
Okay. So, sorry to the person with their hand up. We cannot uh take public comment in the middle. Uh we will have a session at the very end for further public comment. Um okay. So, right now the the proposal on
the table is to have the inspectors go out and take a look at what's on the ta on the shelves to determine whether they would be able to adequately differentiate if that would if there was only synthetic
um was banned or andor uh if there are any natural products being sold in our town. Is that is that the proposal? Gremla, >> the other possibility is to uh work on
the synthetic synthetically derived crypto prohibition currently while we're waiting, you know, uh to collect information about >> the natural the availability of the naturally derived products and then we
can always do um a memorandum. I mean, you know, amendment as Northampton did >> or we could follow Northampton's guidance, you know, what Northampton ended up and say that we're banning all
and we'll see whether in fact there is um a wide wide availability of the natural product in Amoris in which case we would amend it. you know, we would consider amending it to allow that to be served.
>> So, yes, we could take either the more restrictive or less restrictive version of Northampton's um and pass that. So, it sounds like there's a um there's a draft going around. I'm not
sure if I've seen it. Um so, we wouldn't be able to officially vote on it. We could vote on what we want the the b the overarching tenants of it to be. >> Yeah. The version that would be the um
more restrictive view would be the one that I think Maheen uh circulated on yesterday >> copying Northampton's. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I think though to to actually vote on something we would have to have it
without like for us, right? Is that true, Kiko? >> I think that would be a better practice to have a draft regulation that, you know, references Ammerst that's based on the North Hampling template. Um, yeah. So, I mean, to me, it feels like because we don't have that and because we've
agreed or you all have suggested that we do a little bit of research that it would be best probably to wait until a subsequent meeting to vote on this or or but I think there's more consensus maybe that you need to get from everybody about where we're headed with this. Jack hasn't.
chimed in yet. >> Oh, >> go ahead. Go ahead. >> Um, we I'm I'm pretty I mean I I know uh can do a little research on my my own on
this. Um, but I'm pretty much, you know, deferring to the to the medical folks here on the board. Uh, So I mean I don't I don't really have any any know comments of above what has
been stated. So um >> so feas sorry I'm sorry I just wanted to say I wonder what is the feasibility of having inspection staff go out and look between
now and the next meeting. Yeah, I think that it would be um I think it wouldn't be inspection staff, it would be public health staff, but it's not we don't have that many retailers. I think we could do that. I think it's reasonable. If we promise to
do that, we can do that. Um and we can also make a draft of the regulation depending on what you all decide whether you're going to go more restrictive, less restrictive. The template that Northampton has shared, we can do that and have that ready also for the next meeting for you all to consider. Um that
would be fine. I think we can manage that. >> Yeah. >> And I invite any of the board members to come with if you're interested, you know, we can let you know when we're going out if anybody wants to accompany us. Not requirement, just a suggestion. >> Yeah. So ju just to
um to agree with what premise said overwhelming um there was overwhelming evidence that the hydroxy product was very addictive and very unsafe and no question should be you know that the
synthetic should be banned and that the problem was that the blame and so unless there is a significant natural freedom that have
uh an audience. I totally uh and um you know just >> Betsy, it's quite hard. You're cutting out quite a bit. I'm going to repeat what I think you said. Um and maybe you can just correct anything that I have
gotten wrong. Um the so uh the evidence out there for the synthetic version um sorry I'm not going to be able to quote you exactly. I don't recall your exact
wording. The gist of it was, if I understand correctly, the the point you're making is that the synthetic version um is quite harmful and addictive and should be in your opinion uh regulated. And the question remains
as to how much um naturally derived as Preml has been calling it product um is out there if we should be trying to ensure access continues for anything out there. Um and that seems to be the
the last remaining point. Did I did I generally get your >> your point across? >> Yes. Yes. >> A bit. Sorry. Go ahead, Lisha. >> No, go ahead. Well, I just wanted to say, and I'm not sure if we're at this
point yet or not, but we could, you know, if we're essentially working with Northampton's regulations, which seem pretty thorough, we I mean, we could do two versions and then based on the input we get at the
next meeting, vote and to to move it along. basically whether it's just going to be synthetically derived cartone products or all cartone products. It's a very small a very minor addendum to the original
which specified only synthetic products. So that's that that seems to me to maybe not delay it any further. >> Yeah. I I think procedurally if we have one or the other drafted and
ready for vote, I think we could vote to either add or subtract if we didn't like the one in front of us and move and and take the vote uh at that time. We wouldn't have to have both specifically drafted. Um but yes, I don't think it's
a it there's not many line items of difference in the in the two. Yeah. >> Um, so let me just try to understand for my own sake the argument I I think and we, you know, this isn't a vote. This is
just what I think I've heard from everybody in past meetings is that we're all agreed that the synthetic um should be banned. And I think the remaining question is whether or not the naturally derived. And there we have heard many
arguments. We got two more uh written comments that were shared with the packet this month um from people who really support the use of natural products. Um and I'm just going to say this for the public meeting portion. I know you all know um particularly for
um a harm reduction uh type of use for pain or addiction um that people have found it very positive. uh I'm probably not making that argument as robustly as they
are. Um and that so therefore many localities have just banned the synthetic which has much more dire research uh around it. >> The Can I can I just interrupt that? Please >> not actually correct because well from
what I heard at the Northampton board Meredith uh did some research and I think that there are seven communities in Massachusetts that have banned crepole and none of them make a distinction between synthetic
>> and naturally derived product. So, >> okay. And so, the the pros for keeping the naturally derived product on the shelves is that uh there may be um health benefit to using it. The
uh and there isn't there to my knowledge and what has been shared, I have not seen evidence that that particular version is causes the harms that we're most worried about. the on the side of more of a blanket ban.
Um, one is just the ease of inspection and regulation that it's very hard to tell because the the there's not um labeling requirements. It's very hard to tell which is which. Um, and it would be pretty easy to make something look a
little more natural. Um, and therefore hard for both retailers and our inspectors to to make proper decisions on those. Um, and to Northampton's argument, if it's not actually there, um, there's no need to be encouraging it
to to start being there, I guess, is their, um, argument. Does anyone want to add anything to those summaries on the pros and cons of of sort of having the naturally derived substance available? They w, you know, they weren't
advocating. It was a significant point to them that if there were people that still needed it, they would be able to buy it online >> and they weren't currently buying it in the town. >> Correct.
>> Yep. >> All right. Well, I am fine with the Does anyone want to make any other comments on the sort of points? I see Jack and Kiko. So, Jack, go ahead. >> Yeah, I'm just wondering if do health professionals
uh they don't need to write prescription, but are they writing recommendations to their to patients for this for the natural or not? >> Not that I'm aware of. I I don't think
it's considered an evidence-based It is not considered an evidence-based treatment. >> So, healthcare providers do make recommendations off of, you know, outside of the medical evidence all the time. Um, but yep.
>> So, it would but it would be outside of the standard. You know, no one's trained to recommend it if they see XYZ symptoms. How is something like CBD or, you know, cannabis treated? Is that is that evidence-based or is that
>> is that in the same category or is that >> I I think at the moment one would say that um there are some canabonoids that do do are do fall into uh treatment evidence-based treatment
guidelines but it's very very limited and not predominant the uh usage, the very small portion of the usage. >> But but I think to that point, Jack, we know that before it became legal in the
state, doctors were absolutely writing prescriptions because that was the only way it could be gotten. So that's why I say we know doctors write prescriptions outside of those guidelines or make recommendations uh outside of those guidelines, but it it's not neither is
fully inside the guidelines at the moment. Right. >> Yeah. I guess I just would add I I feel like this is kind of a state, you know, policy or or >> here we are, you know, they they can
order it online and and here we're trying to like >> kind of make checks, you know, locally, but it just seems >> ineffective. >> It's a it's a stop gap for sure. This should be a federally determined, you know, there should be testing and there
should be recommendations and it should be scientifically based. I think we're a little too early in the >> in the US's use of them to have, you know, so they've started to make marketing recommendations, but they haven't gotten down the path. >> So, it's a stop gap. Um, and I think if
the evidence came out that said it was had beneficial and and the the pros outweighed the cons that we would have to revisit these guidelines. >> And and I would also add that as a physician I received a letter from the
FDA talking about the extreme risk of the synthetic uh cred products. I was just going to say that I think you know the hope I mean this is the second time that a bill to regulate crypto has
been uh brought up in the house but they it who knows if they'll get to it or not. They did not the first time. Um and and certainly if there's more evidence we can revisit this. I think the idea is to protect
the public, especially young people, from just seeing something on, you know, on a counter or on a shelf and deciding to try it when in fact they have, you know, people who are croto naive, I guess, is what I'm trying to say.
If you if it wasn't available, you know, whereas the people who have found it beneficial still have an avenue for for obtaining >> and I think to Betsy's point, there have been some very serious risks identified
in the synthetic version. Um, and right now anybody of any age can go in and buy the product because there's zero regulation on it. >> Right. And so I think the faster we move on this the better. Um >> yeah. Yeah.
>> Um so yeah my points were just about enforcement because that was something that you'd asked about Premla you and Betsy in your email whether everyone felt okay about the enforcement uh outlined in the Northampton template or if that was something that needed to be discussed.
That was one question. And before you get to that, I just wanted to acknowledge first of all, I see that Melanie's >> right over. >> How are you? >> So, Betsy, can I remind you to mute yourself if you're not talking? >> Sure. Let me see how I can do that. >> Oh, you should be able to do that on
your phone with the mute function. Hopefully. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, oh, so, um, so Laura Romney, who raised her hand earlier, is somebody who is a cret advocate and has reached out to us before. Her her comments have been sent
on to you in the past. So, she was is not an invited speaker here tonight. She is welcome to make some comments in the public comment at the end. Um, so I just want and same for Melody who has their hand raised comment at the end. Not now. This isn't the time for public comment.
So then again the question about enforcement, excuse me, if there's anything that the board wants to discuss around that. >> And by enforcement are you talking about particularly the fines or >> that whole section? Yeah, the enforcement and penalty section. I think Betsy and Premla had questions about
whether that should be revisited at all. >> Premla, >> sorry I was muted. um given our staffing, what that looks like in terms of inspection services I guess um to begin
with and then and then there is that that larger question of uh you know penalties and fee structure and so on and so forth. So I guess the question that we talked about a bit earlier, you know, several
meetings ago on enforcement and capacity is just because these aren't licensed venues. Um is there are there people going into these venues regularly that they could add this on to that what they're
currently looking at? Would this require a sort of additional mandate for people to increase inspections? And if so, do we have that capacity? >> So, I think this was one of the things that Jennif Betsy and Premis suggested I talk over with Meredith to see if there
was capacity as a result of the shared service arrangement for their inspectors to do any of this because they do it in Northampton, but they don't do it currently for us here in Amoris and our inspectors don't do this here. So, um I think it's within the public health department's jurisdiction to go out to
entities that have tobacco sales permits. That is something that public health should and could and should do. And many of those same retailers are the ones that carry this product. If the product is on the shelves of other stores, convenience stores that don't have tobacco sales permits, then we don't really have kind of a mechanism
for going into those to inspect them. >> Okay. And would that shared um Northampton resource do that if that was available? >> Um I'm not sure. I would have to ask them. I I mean I I think they do that in
Northampton. They they do inspect retailers that do not have tobacco sales permits, but that's not something that we do in Ammerst because we're set up differently. I mean again we are small enough that it might be enough to do the tobacco
licensed venues and then the rest of it would be based on reports. So if people saw it somewhere and wanted to um you know basically make a report we could go and confirm and or staff from
the public health department would uh go and confirm uh but not do sort of spot um inspections. Does that sound right? Okay. Um the Northampton fine structure is
$300 for each offense. Um so first offense 300, second offense 300, third offense 300, and from the second offense onwards, then they lose all board of health uh permits
for 330. Um and then possible uh complete rev revocation revoking uh of all licenses. Um really that's alcohol and tobacco, right? Those are
the only two that would likely be or I guess if it was a restaurant. >> Yeah. Or a convenience store that doesn't sell tobacco but has of health permit to sell other things. Um like I don't know, roast chicken or what have you. They could have food permits. other
stores could that could temp potentially be affected by this. Yeah. >> And I think I don't have Belchure Towns open in front of me, but I think they had more like a 1,000 2,000 3,000 fine structure. So much higher and also different at each
um offense. Betsy and Premla, did you have thoughts on which of those structures you preferred? My own sense is what what seemed most feasible to the staff because wanted
this to be something that was easy to enforce and well within the scope of available resources. >> I mean, if we get to that 1,00 structure, are we back in the problem that we had with tobacco of how we issue those fines? >> Yes. So,
so recommendation would likely be let's keep it under a thousand. Um whether it's 300 for each or if it goes up progressively for second and third violations would be um something we could discuss.
>> Yeah, I would recommend no fines over $1,000. Yes. It also seems that given that we're sort of just stepping into this arena, it might be better to air on the side of caution, start with something a little milder like what Northampton has done, see how it goes. Maybe it needs to be
changed if there's if there's a lot of egregious stuff happening out there, which I don't anticipate, but that seems like a sort of more reasonable way to start this. I also think that that revocation of a license, you know, for instance, losing
a tobacco license, using a losing a liquor license would be a much higher threat than any version of these fines. So, um that is something we could consider to keep the actual fine fairly low, but then uh um
that possibility of losing your licenses for a few days or more. >> I would agree with that formulation. >> Okay. And that's what Northampton has and I'm sure I'm just repeating what their logic was there.
All right. So maybe the um the draft on the table then is to to match Northampton's fine and enforcement structure. Um was there any other piece of this that caught anyone's eye in terms of
enforcement? Um, so for me, not enforcement, I think we've covered that. But I also want to remind the board that this regulation that Northampton has put together does also include synthetically derived cannabonoids and unregulated novel intoxicating products. Very broad
language. And is that something Betsy and Premla that you also had thought this board would replicate? Speaking for myself, yes. But again, there's an issue of enforcement. So,
but in terms of safety and the public good, yes, I would recommend that we add that. >> I think I agree. There's a sort of whackable kind of thing where things change very slightly
>> and then it can escape falling under the regulations >> and and this I mean I think they word it deliberately broadly for that reason. >> Yeah, >> that's correct. That's why the broad wording. The other thing I wanted to
mention, excuse me, about this is that the synthetically derived cannabonoids are illegal products per the state of Massachusetts. So you don't have to as a local board of health write a regulation about them. But from an enforcement standpoint, if we're talking about cat,
we're going into these same stores that have these same things on the shelves. And these things are on the shelves. I've seen them on the shelves in Ammerst. And they should not be on the shelves. And there hasn't been, you know, we could have enforced it all along because it's state law, but it's just not it gives you a little more teeth if you also have it in your local
regulation. And then with that broad language about the unregulated novel intoxicating products, just gives you even more leverage to monitor things that might pop up in the future that could potentially be harmful. >> That makes sense. I was going to ask if it's already in the state, why bother
putting it locally? But if you think that it helps um what does it do to penalties? The state have overarching penalties for >> There aren't penalties for it. It's one of these really unfortunate gray areas
and it's something that's very complicated and that when I read up on it the last time I was diving into this a year ago, I was really conversant on it. now not so much because what's hard about this is that there are different there's delta 8 there delta 10 some of them are configured in different ways
there's a loophole in the in the farm bill that makes these products supposedly legal but not really anyway I'm doing a terrible job articulating it but all that to say I think it's really helpful to have this broad language that covers these products that we know can be harmful and that are on the shelves
>> and we would be adding a thumb structure that's not currently >> correct Thank you. That was your point. Yes. >> Okay. All right. So, it sounds to me like we should um and and Kiko, I think you offered to do this. If you didn't,
please correct me. Uh take the Northampton current ones that that have a a larger remmit on ban draft for Ammerst concurrently. Um your team will go out. I would like uh I don't know
that I want to go with you guys uh because coordination can be difficult, but if you would share the list and give me a few uh or I can volunteer which ones I want to take um I would like to do that because I'd like to see particularly since the one I went to
didn't have any now I'd really like to see what they look like. Um and and we will come back and have a better understanding of what's actually out there, particularly around the natural. Um and for your team, if they
can take pictures of anything that's found, because I think to to Premla's point around enforcement, you know, how confusing is it to tell what's what? Um I think that would be helpful.
Anyone want to make any further comments on this topic to the board? I'm speaking to board members, not general public and that question. >> Um I'm just curious, do we have any um incidents related to this locally that
you're aware of, Kiko? >> Um not not incidents with regard >> misuse. I guess is what I'm saying. Uh or people that have become ill. >> I recall the person in Northampton that uh that testified. Were they a
Northampton resident? I don't recall how local they were. >> Yeah, I'm just reading. Yeah, someone had a seizure. Um >> was that person a Northampton resident? It was also a physician who talked from
Northampton who talked about her son having had a very uh negative reaction. Um so you know I guess the question would be what do you define as locally? Um
and what also what would be a significant reaction? >> Remember wasn't there a death related to it? It was. I just don't remember if that was local or not. >> I thought I thought it was, but I I wouldn't
>> It could have been. I would have to go back uh uh to the minutes to see. Um but, you know, the information is certainly available there. And when it was discussed, there certainly
were examples of um negative reactions >> and and Premla and Betsy as as our resident doctors. Uh do you know the regulations on what is supposed to be told to the town? Obviously deaths would
get recorded. Um, but if somebody had a a reaction, um, would that be reported whether or not we knew what the the cause was? Because the I guess my question is
really, how much would we really be hearing about this? Um, unless somebody wants to make an active sort of complaint or testimony. I to my knowledge there's no reporting requirements so it there there there
wouldn't be a way that >> of of overdoses of anything is that does that get reported Kiko? Yeah, I mean opioid overdoses get reported um you know if they're if if they're in a clinical setting or in an ambulance or something like that if if a paramedic is
called then that gets reported as an opioid overdose. Other substances, no, not that I know of. Yeah, >> I'm just reading here something to think about that Springfield Health and Human
Services spoke against the proposed ordinance because they couldn't test for that synthetic compound and so they felt like it was uninforcable. Uh this is a December December 30th >> and is would that be that they couldn't
distinguish between natural and synthetic or that they couldn't distinguish between and some other substance? Well, I guess you know there there's labeling, but if it's repackaged or whatever, how >> or they just don't have the capacity to
test >> uh >> they said it just doesn't have the means to test the products for the synthetic. So uh >> yeah they just >> I think um
if I recall correctly in Northampton essentially how they were distinguishing the natural from a synthetic was looking at the ingredients and it either was just craft or if it had anything else then it was
considered um possibly synthetically derived. But in any case with additive so that's how they were making the determinant sheet the the inspection team. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So Springfield just to finish that
they just said that they um agreed they need to be removed but they their health and human services suggested working with the state and federal FDA both of which are working on banning synthetic
>> credum which >> and I think that Go ahead, Betsy. >> And for I was gonna say which I guess is sort of an argument for the more comprehensive ban because it doesn't require
uh distinguishing the synthetic from the natural product. >> And I was going to say even adding in the synthetically derived and unregulated novel. I mean at that point you don't actually have to know that it has rome in it.
um as long as it's likely to be in one of those categories. >> And and I think as far as enforcement goes, nobody in Northampton was talking about testing products per se. So >> yeah, I'm just I guess you know when you
who who is putting the label on the product and you know where are the checkpoints for the accuracy of of the labeling. So >> yeah, >> right. Yeah, there isn't because it's falling through the cracks, but it it's
not >> it's not hitting this one or this one or this one or this one. Um, now they they did have the FDA marketing approvals, which I think then allows some of the uh labeling, but we're, you
know, if if Joe Katam maker in in a lab wants to package his own and put it on shelves, I don't think it would hit any barriers from a health regulation standpoint.
which is why we we're doing this. And and again, yes, it should be federal and then it should be state, but until those things happen, we'd like to make sure they're not >> on the shelves. Mhm. >> I do find it interesting. Belure town is
the first town, and we know how they felt about the uh tobacco regeneration, but they're the first town to to have banned it. Um >> yeah, it does seem like it's making its way
around the state, Bill. >> Yeah. >> All right. Uh shall we move on from that? So I think we have a way forward if everyone's okay with that process. Uh we will draft regulations for Ammerst
based on Northampton's and uh simultaneously go look at what's out there and come back and hopefully vote on this next month. Okay. Um the next item is around board priorities. Just want to take a quick
check on time. Um, so this conversation is just about, you know, where do we go from here? We don't really have any other pending policies that need to be looked at. We don't have anything that's under review. Um, and I
think we've, you know, discussed in the past being a little more proactive on topics that we either think are are urgent and need our attention or are of interest to individual members. Um, I had put
together a summary of that. I had looked at it with the eye of, um, one thing we could do on some of these topics is see what the other town councils, town boards, council's the wrong word there, town boards are doing um, and see if
there's a way to join forces. But there's other things we could do even if there isn't another uh, board that's relevant. Um, I did add the sports bedding and I didn't add ebikes specifically because I did have
biking and um, walking infrastructure in there. It's not quite the same thing, but um, it felt like it might be part of the same genre, so I didn't add a separate line for that. Um, do people have things that they would really like to dig into in the
next 12 months? Um obviously understanding what everyone's time and energy is. Yes, Jack. >> Yeah, I I did uh talking with Kiko around the holidays, you know, want to commit to doing the revision of the well
uh >> regulations. Uh, that really shouldn't be a problem, but I need to meet with Kiko probably and set some dates and for drafts and things like that.
Um, >> yeah, I mean, that's something that we've been talking about and as Jack said, we mentioned when we saw each other, we just need to sit down. So, we're we're a small working group really. Jack is the person with the expertise in this area. Um, and we can also pull in inspections and just kind
of look at what we currently have and then make a proposal of what things should become come before the board, what things can be sort of more automated for inspections to just sort of sign off on without the board weighing in and then bring that. So that could be a couple months work like maybe in the summer um Jack and I in
inspections can present some proposals to the whole board to sign off on and make changes to those regs. So that's very kind of in the weeds environmental health stuff which we can manage I think the two of us and then you have these broader things Risha that are in your
grid >> and just Betsy in case they aren't in front of you I'll just summarize them and for anyone listening um we have water supply and fluidation wastewater mental health defiills um being more publicly available in more
spots puffer pond which uh includes both sewage and fats, oil, and grease regulation, which is something that other towns have that we don't. Health equity, immunization, ticks and mosquitoes, overdose, compost, primary
care shortage, walking and biking. I put it as gambling. Um, it was raised as sports gambling more specifically. And then other are there any others that people are feeling like they'd like to dig into this year?
>> I can do >> Yeah, let's have Jack go and then Betsy. >> Yeah. Um, you you had the question marks on the water supply protection committee for
the flidation water supply and then waste water. Can I help clarify what >> Yeah. Does that committee address either of those? >> Uh, well, I mean, yeah. So the the water supply,
yeah, they they are um you know addressing as a public water supply thing. They they they are outside of of our jurisdiction, I would think, because we're dealing more with private wells, but they they they
are under the state supervision. So they they there's all sorts of protocols that they have uh with regard to testing and notifications and things like that. Um, but it's kind of, you know, it's
self-implemented by by the DPW and the and the the water department there. Um, we do >> it it might be worth just reiterating what this chart did because it might not be the best jumping off point, but it it
was looking at if we wanted to do something, are there other committees that it would make sense to to reach out to and say, "Hey, you know, we're looking at the fluoride regulations. Does it come up with you? Do you have
anything to do with that?" Um >> I agree there that that that I know we has not come up uh except maybe I might have mentioned something but yes so that would so that would be good to formally kind of
have a you know task group on that perhaps and to review um >> and waste water also. >> Oh sorry. Oh, the well the waste water is that's
um well you know with that is storm water they they do a lot of testing through uh what's the program called but um because of all the outfalls and things like that um
they have they do an amazing amount of of testing to make sure the surface water runoff you know Fort River I think is receives the majority of it uh locally. Um but so they're doing that testing and
then they obviously have the wastewater treatment plant there right off the uh UMass campus that again is all you know kind of self-implemented by them and I'm not sure uh
I mean personally because of you know Fort River people are you know go swimming in there actually you know from time to time it'd be good to know what they're what they're doing. So, um but again, they're they're addressing
storm water and the municipal waste water which is a single alpha after it's treated and collected and it's discharged to I think the Mill River not Mill River um uh well it's up in Hadley.
can't think of the name of the river. But so again, our our oversight is more for private septic systems. And you know, when it comes to storm water, that's usually conservation commission
uh is looking that sort of thing with construction sites. Um, yeah, you might want to put a check there on >> Yeah. >> storm water, waste water, >> and then maybe check the conservation commission for that.
>> Yep. >> Agricultural Commission >> is is I they don't I I think they they I don't even know that if they're meeting. I remember on the planning board when I
was there that they just there wasn't a lot going on. Um, so >> okay, that's helpful. Thank you, Jack. >> Yeah, >> I'm making those changes. Betsy, you want to
>> Sure. Two things. If there is any need to, you know, to look at the fluoride levels in town water, I I' I'd be happy to do my homework on that and weigh in on that. Um that seems a pediatric issue. Um so I do feel like the issues
on the um uh cardiac uh resuscitation um and whether the um um the um
ECTs um the AEDs are available and and use that is something I'm I feel very interested Then um one of one of um our neighbors was a young teen who died with
a cardiac uh arrhythmia that had um you know that would have benefited from AED use. There was a recent um arrhythmia leading to a um
a near-death experience at Bayro Tennis just at the end of the year. And my daughter in her 30s recently lost a friend who developed an arrhythmia while eating at a restaurant and died u a brain death following the the
arrhythmia. So I think this um on a personal level you know kind of understanding where we have public AEDs whether people whether the knowledge of them is wide knowledge of them and how to use them is widespread.
Um I think that's a project that I would put some work into. I think it's important. I think I had mentioned to people >> I was gonna say I think I had mentioned to people in this group that I was walking with a friend from out of town who had who suffered an arrhythmia and
required a cardio version on the bike path and happily uh she was attended to within two minutes and was up doing the whle at Bay State Medical Center that evening and has survived. Um, I think these things are really, really,
you know, can make a huge difference knowing that they're out there in the community and um being properly taken care of and that people know how to use them. >> And Kiko, would you would you know where to start that conversation within the
town structures? I mean I've marked off some some boards here which were mostly the school boards as as I'm uh so school committee Ammerst column regional and just Ammerst. Um, I'm also thinking based on what Betsy talked about, uh, the recreation commission probably. Um,
but you know, we we would be talking about sports fields, bike path, schools. Uh, I think restaurants might be in a stretch, but yeah. I mean, is there a regulation that this, uh, sports
coaches, you know, make sure an AED is available and they know how to use it. Um, are the public gyms required to have that? >> Um, I mean there isn't a local regulation
that requires that. I think that's something that the board could write. I I don't think there's a state regulation or we'd be following it. I I don't know what the rules are exactly in schools um or I mean in medical facility. I don't actually know what what sort of policies
are in place about the need to have these AEDs in certain. Does anybody know? >> No. But it sounds like Betsy might have the energy to look into it. Am I reading that right? >> Yeah, I think this is something that's important and I do feel uh that's
something I owe our neighbor and my good friend uh putting some effort to in in the town. like the loss of your child. >> Yeah. I mean, I'm glad you brought it up, Betsy. What I like about it is it's very concrete. I think there are two there are two prongs. Like one is that I
would want to understand are there best practices for this kind of thing in other towns? Like are there do you do you like how many of these do you put up? How how sort of prevalent do they have to be? Would there be key locations? How much would they cost? You know, is there funding to support them?
Would there be a grant that could support this? So that's kind of like a programmatic piece. And then there's the policy piece that would require them be in certain places. Um, and I think it would be helpful to understand what kind of legislation or regulations exist in
other places along those lines because you want to be able to do something that's reasonable. You don't want to require something that becomes, you know, maybe, for lack of a better word, an unfunded mandate. If we say you must have these things everywhere, but there's no money to buy them, then that's not a very good piece of
regulation. So I think we have to I think it's a really critical public health intervention and we just need to figure out what the path forward is through either programmatic or andor policy paths. >> Jack, I think you had you put your hand.
I just wanted to to ping Betsy on what her um kind of stand is on on fluoride when she mentioned, you know, pediatrics. >> Betsy, you're on mute.
>> So, I think that the fluoride recommendate recommended levels may have gone down a little bit. I do believe in universal fluidation. Um but I just I don't know haven't looked at whether the
recommendations are for a level of fluoride that you know that the town is at the kind of current best practices. I mean I assume so but I I I haven't looked at that myself for for some period of time.
>> Okay. I I was just wondering um >> I do believe in florination um and do think it's important um but I just you know the best practices um
have become a little more refined I think in the last years there there's been some evidence that very high doses of fluoride u beyond what would be done in any I'm sure beyond what is in Amoris can be harmful.
>> Yeah. >> But I don't think we're anywhere near those levels just to make sure that we're, you know, wherever the best practice is. >> So just to provide a little context about that, I do get a monthly fluoride report. So Ammeris water is fluoridated
and the the Department of Public Works fluoridates the water supply and and provides monthly reports about, you know, samples that has the concentration of fluoride in it to the state. The state has standards for fluidation. They haven't changed recently to my knowledge. It's a very very low dose. I
zero I used to have it written down but I took the postit down. 0.7 ppm. Tiny tiny amount. Yeah. Low doses. >> Um that's it. Is that right? Okay. So anyway, uh so yes, so that's all set by the state and and monitored by us and I do get those monthly reports just to
provide that context to all of you. That's impressive, Kiko. >> So, we are at the time scheduled for this uh discussion. Um, where I lean on this list is probably in the walking biking uh bit and to sort of put that
put the health angle on those conversations because they are difficult conversations. I don't expect much changes quickly in terms of creating bike lanes and and sidewalks. Those are highcost interventions. Um and I know the town has lots of discussions on
them. But maybe just to add the health angle onto that and I can investigate the ebike um issue that was raised at the last meeting to make sure I understand what those risks are and if we are uh you
know properly preventing or you know doing the things to prevent harm with ebikes. Um, I don't think this needs to be a open meeting in terms of if someone wants to dive into something. Um, you can just send me an email and say this
is the topic I'd like to take on and this is sort of ideally um the timeline at which I would expect to have something to discuss. So we we can sort of keep slots in our agendas uh for those.
Um, does that sound like a way forward if uh for those? >> All right. >> Yeah. Can I um Sorry. Go. Was someone gonna say something? >> Um, I just wanted to add I have a couple things in my director's update that are actually relevant to this conversation.
So, I'm going to share them now. Um, and one of them is under the UMass connection. So, I did speak with my contact at UMass about the ebike issue that was raised last time. And there is a committee uh at UMass um being headed up by someone that I do know um the
environmental health director there to look and and with facilities and police part of that committee to look at sort of safe ebike and other whatever it's called there's a word for it micro transport kinds of devices on campus. So I think it's good to I want to reach out
to them to find out more about it and see if there's an opportunity for collaboration across the town and the university on this particular thing. So that's something that I can do some research on and come prepared to the next meeting just to tell people here's what's happening. Don't know if you all want to plug in a more meaningful way.
So that's one thing. And then in terms of the the gambling, there is someone that we work with really closely um who is an addiction specialist at UMass um and also runs the recovery meetings. So she's involved with our opioid settlement work and is a really important stakeholder. She also has some
involvement in problem gambling and managing that on campus. So the next time we meet with her, which will be fairly soon, we I can also find out just a little bit more about that and again bring it back to the board to see if it's something that you all feel you want to work on in some kind of meaningful way. Um but I think
>> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah, go ahead. Uh on that last point on sports gambling, I'd also be interested to understand what they're doing across the colleges. So we don't want to forget about Ammerst in Hampshire. Um and so is this something they're doing sort of in
the five college consortium or or um or should we then pick up the mantle for the other schools because I do think sports betting is likely to be highest among those ages. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Okay. I mean, um I have I had an encounter with with um a younger college age uh male that said he, you know, I asked him
and he was actually doing using an app and he said, "Oh," and I asked him about I was like, "He's using this particular app because it's the only one that if you're under 18 you can use." And I was looking at and I I was like, "Whoa." Okay. So, uh I think it's called Fliff or
something, but I went there and it and it didn't really, you know, it didn't really say that and I think it wasn't even licensed in Massachusetts. So, um, but there there was an article, I believe recently in the Gazette about
one way to to check it is to kind of limit the bets to be of a smaller >> smaller size, but um I Yeah, I'm I'm glad we're taking it up and reviewing it.
>> Okay, >> great. Um, okay. So, I'll keep you posted on those two things. >> Thanks for those, Kiko. >> Um, so moving back to the agenda, I think the next item would be the director's update.
>> Yep. Okay. So, um, just so everybody knows, uh, respiratory illness, it's a really bad flu season. I told you all this. I we predicted it last meeting. It's come to pass. Um I hope you all are staying healthy. Um public health Maheen and I today were
working on an update that we're going to send out through the in the news feature on the town. So if you subscribe to those messages, you should get an a phone text message saying, you know, latest from public health, click here. So then you'll get brought to the website where there's all this information about respiratory illness.
And we've also put together some tips just for healthy staying healthy during the winter. Maheen did a nice um sort of infographic that will be on the website. It's also on our bulletin board here at the health department. Um so just all that to say vaccination rates are terrible um nationwide for both flu and
COVID. They've been declining steadily and they're at an all-time low now whereas this flu season is the worst in six years. Um and last year's flu season was pretty bad, too. There have already been three pediatric deaths from flu in Massachusetts, at least deaths that were
associated with flu this year. Um, and childhood vaccination rates for flu are again lower than they've been. So, this is not surprising in light of what we are experiencing in terms of shifts at the federal level. Um, I think one thing for you all to consider too as possible
work for the future is that we are really encountering a lot of challenges with vaccination with changes to the guidance. So, the CDC just released a new guidance for childhood vaccination, completely upending what we've been using for the last however many decades. And I think we're waiting for
Massachusetts to issue probably some statewide recommendations for from the DPH that might be different from those federal uh guidelines. Then that will drive what happens with Massachusetts insurance companies and what we can do here in public health. But it's we're in this
sort of limbo period right now and it's kind of unfortunate given what's going on with what we see these vaccine preventable illnesses. Measles not here but in other parts of the country flu all-time high that type of thing. So it's just I've mentioned before that there's this website that we're working
on. It's been hard to find the time for it but it's very close to being done and by February when we meet again it will have launched. So, I'm making that promise because I want to make sure that we get it done and it will be a place where people can go to get the most up-to-date information because it is super confusing and it's sh changing all
the time. So, just again if you all can keep an eye on that, I'll send things your way if it seems like there's something the board of health can do. I think the board of health being a voice of understanding of of reason when it comes to, you know, promoting vaccine
and increasing access or allowing access to vaccine for people in our community. I think that's an important role for the board just to to to support and be a spokesperson for down the line. So more to come on that. Um the other thing I was going to tell you if I haven't already is that this where we the Bangs
Community Center where we have our office and where we've had some meetings is is under renovation as of this week. Um so it's going to be a year-long process. It's mostly infrastructure improvements. they're doing um oh the HVAC system needs to be replaced,
sprinkler system, you know, things to keep the building safe and up to code and then there'll be some improvements that will be made on the first floor where the senior center is and where public health is. So that means that public health is going to be relocated. We'll be moving to the second floor probably in the fall.
Um so our offices will not be at ground level. We'll be up a staircase. I think it'll mean that it's going to be a little harder for people to find us. Um, but this is what's happening. So, just a heads up that the if you you can't go to the basement of the Banks Community Center right now, it's off limits. They're working on the basement now.
When they finish that, they'll move to the second floor and eventually they'll move to the first and we'll move up to the second. So, it's going to be a little bit chaotic over here at the Banks for the next year, 15 months, I would say. Um, the other thing I really wanted to let
people know about is Enisha and Betsy, you know that you are in this de this web o web EOCC database. So, and that's for emergency preparedness in our community. So, there is a coalition called the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition
that is an emergency preparedness coalition for the region. It includes 21 communities in Western Mass or Ammerst, um, Chesterfield, Williamsburg, basically the contiguous communities in this area and it there's a certain amount of funding that comes down from
the feds through the state. It's managed by um something called the HMCC, which is the Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition that is part of FKCOG in Franklin County. They're the pass through for this money. But essentially, there's about $160,000 in emergency planning money that comes to this
coalition, this Hampshire County Coalition every year. It's been run for the last 14 years by Northampton. And Northampton recently withdrew from being running it, being the contractor, running the meetings. Um, so there's been sort of a lack of leadership for
the last six months. It's been without a chair and it hasn't been meeting. Um, so I sort of stepped into the void and said that I would help to get this coalition back up and running. So what that means is that the group will start meeting and it's really just to to practice what it means to be prepared
for a public health emergency like a pandemic or flooding. You know, what are the public health aspects of emergency things that can happen in our community? Are we prepared? Do we know where our shelters are? Those kinds of things. Um, so it's good to have board of health involved and that's why two people from
the board are on this database. The database is really just that, a database, but it's also a communications platform. So if there were a major emergency and there was something that needed to happen, Risha and Betsy, you'd be getting some alerts through this system. You text messages, something like that. I'd be calling you. It would
be a way for us to communicate with each other. And in the meantime, I'm going to be running this coalition for the next six months to try to get it back together, figure out how we can spend the money that's been allocated already for this year, which is half over because it's a fiscal year. So, the
first six months are over. Um, and then from there, who will be leading it? What role will Ammeris play? Um, will Northampton come back into it? All these are all questions that we don't have the answers to right now. So, but it's just something for you to be aware of that it is, you know, if there were a public
health emergency in our community, the board of health would be part of that, would play a role in that somehow. I don't know exactly how, but we're going to be working on thinking about that in the next couple of months. So, just heads up about that. Any questions or concerns?
>> I mean, I I received your email about it and I will be attending the meeting you called. >> Oh, that's great, Risha. Thank you. And Betsy had also asked about it and I really said that there's no expectation that you attend if you're not able. I think it would be great for you to attend to become informed, but I am I
can certainly represent, but if you can make it, I really welcome that. Thank you. It's great. >> Thank you for taking that on. I'm going to be on an airplane at the time, right? >> So, I can't I can't participate, but I thank you for doing stepping up to the
plate on that. >> Thanks, Risha. Sure. >> That was good. >> Kiko, the municipal vulnerab vulnerabilility plan. I can't even speak. Sorry. Um,
does are you are there opportunities to kind of like for the board of health to cross reference within that? Because uh, you're right. I mean, it it should, but I got a feeling that these MVPs that
are, you know, a lot of the towns have done uh may not speak to what you're talking about. >> So, is that different from the hazard mitigation plan? There's so many different kinds of plans with different names. >> I think that's a part of it. It's a part of it.
>> That's a part of it. Yes. >> Okay. So, um I think that there's sort of an umbrella. There should be an emergency management plan for the town and the fire chief Lindsey Strongrren is the emergency manager for our town, but public health really supports that. So
there should be an emergency management plan and then underneath that are efforts that are sort of more focused on specific health aspects and that's what the Hampshire Public Health Preparedness Coalition is for. So in an ideal world, all these things should be connected and I think that we have some work to do to
make that happen. So yeah, it's it's definitely going to be some time to make everything streamlined, but that is you're right. All of these things should be should be linked. >> Um, couple other quick things. Um, I'm going to send to all of you tomorrow, uh, an email about the conflict of
interest training. So that's required for all p for all town staff have to do a conflict of interest of training once a year. and all people on all town boards and committees also need to complete this conflict of interest training. Do any of you remember doing it last year? >> I remember doing it at some point. Was
it last year? I don't know. >> Okay. But you've done it before, so this isn't a surprise. Okay. So, I'll send you this email. It needs to be done by midFebruary or early February. So, I'll send it to you all tomorrow. So, just keep an eye out for that. Um,
what else did I want to tell you? Um um there's also been so there's been some changes at the town council. There's a new town council president if you've been following the news. So Lynn Gryomemer is no longer the president. It's now Mandy Joe Heni and Alicia Walker is the vice president of the
council. Um so Mandy sent Mandy Joe sent out an email today asking if boards and committees wanted to request a liaison. So you remember that that happened before and before the board had a chance to answer we were assigned a liazison which is unusual that doesn't normally happen. Uh it's it's at the board's
desire if you want to have a liaison to the town council. Um we need to let them know. So I will also forward that email on to all of you. It was requested by Mandy Joe that we do that as liaison to boards and committees. So I'll send on the email and you all can consider whether you want a liaison or we can
talk about it for a second here. Risha, I don't know what you prefer. what you >> Yeah. I mean, last year we were assigned one. I I And it said in that email that um that Mandy sent, Mandy Joe sent today that the board of health is already sort of assigned one. So, I'm not sure
there's anything for us to discuss. >> Okay. I maybe I didn't read it closely. I read the email to say if you want one, let us know. But >> it did except it had a list of those that already had them. >> Uh I think that was people who boards that were assigned one in the past. So
we were assigned Pat D'Angelus before and she's no longer on the council. So that means we don't have a liaison. Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, so since we don't have a liaison currently or you all don't have a liaison, it's something that you can opt
to have or request to have. >> Yeah, I think last year I mean the we have the same people on the board as the last time we discussed it. Um, so I'm suspecting not much has changed. Obviously, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we were sort of leaning towards
no. Um, and then one was assigned. It is obviously great to have a connection to to the town council. The question is just >> is this the way that it do we need someone assigned to us or is it something that we can just pick up a
phone if something comes up and we want involvement? Um I know that they that Pat attended some of the conversations we had on the the trash um pickup and so that was helpful but she was also I think part of the committee that had
dealt with it. So it you know she was serving dual duty there. So I I remain unclear on if it's a value ad or if it's something we could just reach out and do as needed. >> I can do a little asking around about
that. My sense is that it's helpful to have someone who's designated that just picking up the phone and calling if you need a connection to town council might be harder. Whereas if you have someone who's assigned, even if they don't come to every meeting, it's an entry point to a connection between the board of health and town council.
>> Yeah. >> Um which could be helpful. So >> I'll send the email and I'll ask around and my guess is that Yeah. Anyway, we'll see what happens from there. I think I think it might be helpful. So,
uh, >> I guess we can't sorry I guess we can't respond all to that email because that's open meeting law, but um I mean from for what it's worth from my standpoint, I would be happy to have one. >> Okay. >> Um, and I'm happy to to put an ask out.
We I don't have any purpose for the person, >> right? Or in mind, so I don't want to take them away from someone else that does. Um, >> yeah. Okay. Does anybody else have another perspective on that? Anybody else on the board?
>> Yeah, I I think um I mean I'm thinking okay, information go through you to Paul and then Paul presents the opinions or it can go to a a council person. I think
either way works for me. Whatever is easiest for you, I guess. And it sounds like you you think it for from your perspective I think we should honor that that >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Great. Because I think it could be helpful.
>> Thank you. All right. I know we're we're running out of time. So, let me just say two more things. Um, one big piece of work that's coming up for everybody in local public health is compliance with SAFE 2.0. So, that's SAP. It's the public health excellence work, the blueprint for public health excellence.
It's the the work that's been done over the last 5 years to build regional capacity. So, we have a shared service arrangement with Northampton. They're the ones that help us with vaccine clinics. They help other communities in the in the cohort with inspections. We don't need that help because we have our
inspectors, but it's the idea that not every community in in Massachusetts has access to the same public health infrastructure. So, every couple of years they and there are standards that they're setting. standards are being set that local public health needs to meet over these next couple of years. Folks
need to be trained. Policies need to be in place. Procedures need to be developed so that a certain standard of public health can be met regardless of whether you're in Boston or middlefield within to you know within reason, right? So this is a huge chunk of work. Um
we're going to be getting these surveys that we need to fill out both all of all of the staff. Maheen, this is also for you. We'll be getting a workplace assessment survey where people will need to fill out what background they have, what gaps they have in knowledge, you know, so they can get a sense of how how
well trained the public health workforce is. And then there'll be other surveys about standards and whether we're meeting them and what needs to happen to meet them. And so I don't envision an actual role for each of you as individual board members in this, but this is really about building our public
health infrastructure in Ammerst. and you are a, you know, critical piece of that public health infrastructure. So, I feel like it might be helpful to have someone come from DPH and present about this, you know, talk about how boards have been engaged, get you all up to speed on what this public health
excellence work is and how other boards maybe have been involved in other places. It really depends on how big your community is in terms of what the board of health involvement is. But and I know I've talked about this with you all, but my sense is that it and we don't do a lot of that in this meeting, have presentations just about
programmatic stuff, but I wanted to put that out there as something that might be a good use of time in one of our meetings, um, is to have someone come and talk more about that work. What are your thoughts about that? My two cents is I'm all in for it. I I'm feeling like this is the big gap for us
now. Um particularly now that we don't have sort of things, you know, beating at our door that we have to deal with in terms of policy amendments. Um it I don't understand how where we have influence, what levers we
have and how other boards are working within that, how we connect with the state. Um and so I think it would be really helpful. I'm also happy to do that on my own if it's not what people want to use the board time for.
>> I think it has the potential to be really helpful. So I I support it. Yeah, I mean I really feel like it would be helpful to all of our work because this is the future of public health in Massachusetts. This piece of legislation and all the work and programming that's
flows from it. And I I think getting everybody together on the same page, understanding this would be very valuable. So I've heard from two of you. Betsy, maybe you're in the redwoods by now or you are there. Okay. >> I am here in the redwoods. But yes, that
would be fine. I I do that makes sense. >> Awesome. Um, so Jack, I hope you also think it would be good. Um, because I think it's important. >> Yes. >> So good. Um, so then I think the question would be and Risha, you and I can talk about this more like maybe we do it in March if you want to make sure
that we get all these other pieces finished up in February. Um, but I think this spring would be important because a lot of these surveys are coming out spring or late winter spring and so I think it's timely for the board to be well informed about this. So, more to come on that and then the final thing is
as you all know we are still we still have a vacancy um there we don't have any current applicants right now for the seat that I'm aware of. So, I'm going to meet with Paul on Friday and see what else we can do to recruit folks. But just putting the word out to you if you know of people that you think would be
good board members, you know, um keep keeping in mind some of the things that we've talked about in terms of what we'd like to see as a representative board, a board that's representative of our community. Um just saying that we I welcome suggestions. So,
and I think that's the end of my update. >> Okay, goodbye everyone. I'm gonna sign off now. >> Okay. Bye, Betsy. >> Any topics not anticipated by anyone?
Doesn't look like it. Um, so we do have time for public comments. Um, and I see two. Um, okay. So, I was just pausing because I know Melody's hands been up the whole
time. Um, and so I hope she's still there and ready for us to move her into um the the the onscreen panel, but um we will uh so two minutes uh for each
public comment and please do say uh your name and where you're from. >> Hi, how are you? >> Good. My name is Melody Wolf and I am from K Missouy, Michigan. And why I dialed into
this meeting is that um I was the person that participated during the HHS FDA press conference on crotammen 708. Um I was welcomed to the stage by FDA commissioner. They asked me spe they
asked me specifically to talk about the benefits of crom as an 11-year daily consumer and February I will be a 12 month a year daily consumer. Um, so I'm a little I understand why looking at
their website you might be a little bit confused because regulations or statements take a long time. But I think that just my presence on their stage that they personally invited me that kind of shows what they think about
unadulterated and your city has the ability to mirror what the FDA has. You could get rid of 70 banner immediately. I support that. And keep the unadulterated products
available for people like me who without it have to use a walker or wheelchair. Uh in 2022 because of I was able to care for a newborn for an entire year, my granddaughter. Then this past summer, I
was asked back again to chase a three and a halfyear-old all over the parks all summer. And I just would, excuse me, really encourage you to keep crom legal and to get rid of 708 because at the
University of Florida research center 2025's um scientific symposium on crom there were regulators and scientists from every agency in the US as well as from around the world and they exited
that conference saying keep it available to consumers right Now, put an agegate, get rid of the 70, ban that immediately, and have it tested like any other supplement such as Valyan, which you can
buy at Walgreens, and the FDA doesn't approve that for medicinal use either. And so, I just want to hope that you would keep the plain leaf products available. Thanks for your time. >> Thank you.
Okay, I'm gonna call in Laura Romney. >> Hi there. Can you hear me? >> Hi. Yep. >> Great. Hey, so I'm Laura Romney and I'm a patient advocate and also I'm with the International Plant and Herbal Alliance. I work really closely with a lot of
localities helping with education. Um I actually was one of the individuals that was on the education that educated Northampton. We've all also um uh educated cities like Fitchburg as well. So it's you know again I I just want to
say that we are offering that to you as well. We can do uh you know on another meeting or we can just do a separate Zoom phone call. It would I promise you it'd be worth your while. Um the one thing I know that I I listen to specifically is you're worried about trying to differentiate between the
difference between 70 products and natural plantratom. I think it's a great idea what you guys are doing to go out into the into the stores to see what's actually being sold. I bet you will be surprised and shocked that the majority of what is being sold on your shelves
this is the synthetic products. They are it's actually easier than you think to determine the difference. Um you know don't just look for the word that says on there because it they will actually mark it as an advanced alkyoid. So you
would just need to actually look for that 7 hydroxy metroinine or um you know pseudoindoxil. So again I just want to say that it's not just 70 that's being sold out there. They're um these greedy I call them greedy manufacturers are
coming up with more and more ways to create these new novel synthetic products. And so what I highly suggest is that you um again I'd be happy to send you some examples um of both naturalratom products that are properly labeled and that are the safe products
versus the synthetic products. So you can actually see it's really not difficult to distinguish the two. Um we're actually expecting the DEA uh rumors are that this month sometime they will be coming out with their final uh
their message that they that schedule one or that 70 products will be schedule one. So this is going to happen. But again I just would would tell you that it is easy to do. It's not hard. I will be sending you some information to help you delineate between the two products.
And I'd love to have you send me some photos of what you're seeing on your shelves just to try to help you understand what's really being sold so that you guys can can set proper proper regulations because just like um Melody said, it's just critical that you leave
the whole plant for uh availability because people like myself, I mean I again I know she talked about a wheelchair, but I have a trigeminal neuralgia which is a severe facial nerve disease and I would not be functioning without it. And it's near impossible for
people these days to get any sort of pain medication. And so it's it's super critical that people have these alternative options out there so that they can, you know, they can function in society. So again, I'm happy to answer any questions. Um you you have my phone
number and my email, but I will be sending you some pictures and photos so that when you go out into um your cities, you can kind of see what's being sold. And once that's done, I would be happy to work with you on um coming up with a really great uh you know um
regulatory framework to be able to you know get a great a great ordinance in place that can kind of be the you know I'd say the star of Massachusetts because you guys will be the would be one of the first to really do it right and show the other board of healths the
best way to do it and pave the way for Massachusetts to pass the creative consumer protection act which is one of the active bills that are in the state. So, >> thank you. >> Appreciate your help. Thank you so much. >> Take care. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next, I'm going to call in
Jennifer Gillis. >> Hi, how are you doing? Um, thanks for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm not going to take too much of your time. Um, but 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with transverse myitis and I became a lifelong chronic pain patient. And after
losing access to my prescription medications that I had relied upon for so many years through no fault of my own, I spent years just struggling with with chronic pain. And I found holy cradle powder six and a half years ago
and it's given me my life back. So, and I know that there's so many people out there that are in the same boat I was seven years ago. and you know they should have the option to be able to you know benefit from cradle if they so
choose. But I also I think it's a good thing that y'all are going to go out and kind of look and see what you have. Like Laura said, a lot of the, you know, 70 packaging will say um they they're really flashy
um flashy packaging and you know, whole leaf crown powder is literally tea like leaves from a tree that have been ground up and it's like a powder. Um but yeah, anyway, thank you so much for your time. I just wanted to to put my two cents in
and um hope y'all go towards regulations instead of banning it all. >> Great. Can you just say where you're from? >> I'm from Tennessee and I'm just a normal old person. Actually, I I um because Freom gave my life back. I literally
I've used my time to to advocate to keeprum legal for everybody across the country who's either bene benefit from it from it now or they haven't found it yet and if it stays legal they may in the future.
>> Great. Thank you. >> Okay. Next we have Bana and Michael. >> Hi. Oh, I must be underneath. Okay, I'm underneath my another laptop. I'm sorry. Um, good evening. Uh, my name is Shannon and I'm a lifelong resident of
Massachusetts. Um, there are a lot of people right here in Mass as well as myself. Um, if we lose access to who leave cratom, um, it's actually terrifying to even know that people will suffer um, in pain um, you know, if it's totally banned.
And it's not just our state, but our country as a whole. Um, the chronic pain that I experienced before I found Holafratom. I can't even begin to even explain what I went through. Um, I am a healthcare worker. I'm a CNA home health
aid. Um, and you know, I can't imagine trying to work and, you know, do my job in total agony. Um, I have chronic lower back pain. Um so please instead of banning holy cratom even you know looking into regulating it and um I do
totally support ban on the uh the 70. Um I also did email you recently as well with my success story and some info on holafie cratom and the synthetic 70. Um thank you. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> And can you say what what town you're from in Massachusetts? >> I'm in Somerset, Massachusetts. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> I'm not seeing any more hands at the moment. I'll wait. Nope, I'm not seeing any. So, with that,
we will close the public comment. Thank you all um for making those comments. And uh with that I think we are at the end of the meeting. If somebody wants to make a motion close the meeting unless there's
anything else. >> So move. >> Seconded. >> All right. >> Thanks everybody. >> We'll see you all next month. >> See you in February. All right. Take care.