Recording in progress. >> I call to order the December 1st, 2025 meeting, the Yarmouth Board of Health. First item would be for us to take some attendance. Make sure we have a quorum here. Charlie, are you present?
>> Larry? >> Yes. >> I'm Hillard. And I believe we have two people zoomed in. Eric, are you there? >> Present. >> Great. Mary >> present. >> Okay, that's 100%. Definitely a quorum. Okay, we start off with number three is public comment.
Um, this is the opportunity for anyone in the public to come forward. Any comments um to address the board of health? >> Couple hands up on the Zoom. Okay, cool. You can see a better icon from over there.
>> Ian, if you want to let in Misty Brown. >> Hi. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd just like to make a public comment uh regarding um I would like to read y'all my testimony. >> Just one second. Did you tell us where you're from? >> I am from Colorado. >> Okay.
>> I am a loud and proud creative advocate and activist. >> All right. Can can I still give my testimony? >> Yes, you can. Just make it brief because we may have a lot of people tonight. We'll see. So, sure. Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Uh, from 2008 to 2019, I lived in the
grip of FDA approved pain pills, benzo, muscle relaxers prescribed for my degenerative disc disease. For 11 years, chronic pain management fueled my addiction. What started as a dependency slowly slid into a destructive cycle of misuse and abuse.
In April of 2019, I was dismissed from pain management after failing a required pill count. I was 11 pills short and my usual drug dealers didn't have any pink Oxyins that I needed. Cut off from prescriptions, I turned to the streets in desperation and eventually slipped into cocaine use while searching for
another doctor. Then in June of 2019, while suffering through cocaine withdrawals, I stumbled upon the documentary A Leap of Faith. That single moment changed the course of my life. The very next day, I began my journey with whole leaf cratom, not synthetic
70. By walking into a smoke shop, I was carded and IDed. Theratom was sitting in the glass counter and it was locked up. Theratomratom quieted the relent relentless cravings. The constant voice whispering, "One more pill, one more snort, one more escape."
For the first time in over a decade, I found peace. Freom gave me the space and clarity to confront the deeper reasons behind my addiction and to rebuild my life from the ground up. I have not returned back to pain management over six and a half years. Today, I'm a thriving mother, a proud first-time
grandmother, a functioning member of society, and a taxpaying citizen. Most importantly, I'm no longer a burden to my children. I am an example of hope and healing. Thank you for allowing me to give y'all my testimony. >> Absolutely. Take care. Be well.
Next would be Ian. Liam, if you could let in Melody. >> Melody. There you go. >> I I think I'm in. >> Yes. >> Um, my name is Melody Wolf and I live in Kazoo, Michigan. I participated
at the HHS joint FDA press briefing July 29th of this year. I was asked to speak from their briefing platform to talk about the benefits
of crom and to make sure that there was a clear distinction between crotum products that are unadulterated and 70 products. Those are adulterated products and that's the one that we're seeing where all the harm is coming from.
The federal government has been very clear. They while they are watching to see the progression of how croatum supplements are taken by people, they're not targeting croat for any type of ban.
And it just we need to get the 70 off the shelves and not even have it be available. And for regulations for plain leaf clot, we need an HVAC
and we need clear labeling as any warnings that would need to be on a package. And I hope that you will um tell your governor to pass the crotum consumer protection act. It protects legality and has requirements for
labeling, third-party testing and so forth. Um, so I would just highly encourage you to get 70 off the shelves that is not crom, it's synthesized and then put an age date on crotum products,
but make sure that they're labeled and tested properly. and I'm happy to answer any questions. Um I'll be meeting for a week, the first week of February with scientists from every US um health agency, their
regulators as well as scientists from across the globe talking about crowd. >> Okay, thank you. This is a limited amount of time we have for each person. I appreciate getting on. So this is not sort of a question and answer uh session, but I appre I appreciate you
coming on. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it. >> Absolutely. Uh the next one we Liam we have is Stefan Hiller. Stefan, once again, just if you could limit it to a minute or two, Stephan, you're muted. >> Stephen, yeah, there you go.
I >> issues is that later in the meeting. >> Let's say again >> I want to speak on the generational tobacco and nicotine ban which you have on the agenda. >> Is that later in the meeting for public
comment or is public comment on that now? >> That would be now. Thank you. >> Oh, really? So you were going to And you were going to discuss the nicotine-free generation this after this uh at this meeting. Is that correct?
>> It's a long agenda, but yes, it's on there. >> Oh, thank you very much. I'll try to be very brief. >> Sure. >> Uh most of the stores selling nicotine and tobacco products are owned by immigrants
of color. Uh this uh ban which has been in effect in Brooklyn since 2000 has not put any out of business. Uh but according to Brookline, the Brookline News, uh
several of the Brooklyn merchants have reported uh that their business is off and of course their business will be devalued if they can never again uh sell tobacco or nicotine products uh to
adults 21 and over. I would like to mention also that the ability to make earn a living is a matter of public health. The proponents for this uh ban uh are
saying it is for young people, but according to the CDC, as of last October, teen smoking is at a 25year low. And according to the FDA,
teen vaping is at a 10year low and their nicotine pouch use is low. This is according to the FDA and the CDC. If the tobacco industry is indeed trying to attract youth, it is definitely not
succeeding. So this prohibition which is being introduced to protect youth is being introduced really to impose prohibition on persons 21 and older. I'd also like
to add that the adult smoking rate is at an all-time low. That's an 80year low. And according to the CDC, three two out of every three persons who have ever started smoking have quit.
Finally, I would like to say that Massachusetts adults uh are deemed competent to make their own decisions regarding tobacco, excuse me, regarding alcohol and marijuana, both of which are intoxicants.
I think they should also be allowed to make their own decision regarding tobacco and nicotine, neither of which impairs judgment are compromises driving ability. So I would simply ask you not to pass
this prohibition uh in uh called the nicotine-free generation. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, thank you >> Liam. Next one on there is looks like Jonathan. Once again, Jonathan, please
keep it brief. We do have a lot of hands up. Thank you, >> Jonathan. Looks like you're muted. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> Hey, my name is Jonathan. Um I I'm a member with Steven of Cambridge Citizens
for Smokers Rights and uh although I don't live in Cambridge myself and um you know I'm a smoker. I'm you know sort of in mental health recovery I find smoking to be very helpful and you know with along with like black coffee and black tea good for work ethic and you
know I mean um so just to be brief I don't like nicotine free generation. I think if somebody can drive a giant pickup at 16 and a half and join the Marines at um at, you know, 18 and purchase a gun, but
they can't purchase a pack of cigarettes. I think that's unfair. So, um I really rather people are allowed to smoke, you know, even if it's smoking outdoors and smoking areas. And uh I just, you know, I'd rather you don't see
it any other way. So, that's it. Nice. >> Okay. Thank you. Can we >> Nice. >> Do we see how many >> we have? >> Just one second, please. >> We have four more. >> So, we have four more. Hands up. Uh
Liam, if you could let Stephen Health Hefner in. >> I've already spoken. >> Okay. All right. Uh, Jennifer Grills then or Gillis, please. >> Yes. Hi, can you hear me? >> Yes.
>> My name is Jennifer Gillis and I'm a Freighom consumer and advocate. Uh, 19 years ago, I was diagnosed with transverse myitis and became a lifelong chronic pain patient. After losing access to prescription pain medications through no fault of my own, I spent
years struggling to manage my pain until I discovered holy cramm powder. It truly gave me my life back. Cratum has been a lifeline for so many people like me who just want to live functional, meaningful lives. I hope that you will support regulation like age restrictions, proper
labeling, and knowing the difference between police and the synthetic 70 products that are not. I just want to thank you for your opportunity to be a voice for the chronic pain community who aren't able to be here this evening. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you, >> Liam. Ally next. Let's get Ally, we do have hands up still if you can keep it brief. Hello, my name is Allison Smith. I'm the director of government affairs for the global cratom coalition and um I just
wanted to speak to you briefly about uh proposed cratom regulations. Um specifically just calling to ask that you protect access to natural cratom products. Um there are two products that advertise themselves as one is a natural leaf botanical that has been used safely
for centuries and has been in the United States since the 1970s. Um the other one is the new um concentrated synthetic 70oh products which are incorrect incorrectly marketed as these are manipulated products that are highly potent and um are a danger to the public
and need to be the focus of your efforts um not the natural cratom products. And so um in July of earlier this year the federal government announced a coordinated effort to put 70 on the schedule not natural cratom products. the FDA commissioner has repeatedly said
this. Um, and additionally, there are state legislature that is looking at the regulation of natural creative products. Um, and just wanted to provide myself and my organization as a resource and happy to provide a draft ordinance for you guys to review and reflect upon as you consider further legislation. And
that's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Ellie. And next and last, we have Peter Brennan. Uh, good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Yes. >> Excellent. Well, thank you for having me. My name is Peter Brennan, executive director, New England Convenience Store,
Energy Marketers Association. I just wanted to testify in opposition to the Nicotine Free Generation proposal that's on the agenda tonight. Uh, I've also sent written testimony. I have uh cleared a few more details in email. somebody was nice enough to get back to
me. So, I appreciate that. And um really just here to be a resource if you have any questions. We do think that this is a short-sighted um terrible policy that really doesn't do what it allegedly sets out to do. Um
you'll hear a lot from proponents about, you know, smoking being unhealthy. This restricts access to uh less harmful products as well that people use to quit smoking. This impacts only adults. This does not impact
youths. The age to purchase these products is already 21. At our stores, we card everybody that comes through the door to purchase these products. Um, our record is very good in terms of compliance with Yarmas uh tobacco
policies. And really, the market's already been limited enough. Um, you know, we have a flavor ban that's been wildly ineffective. If you look at the stats from the state, the illegal tobacco task force smuggling rates are at all-time highs. These are generally
flavored products, um, either vape, menthol, cigarettes, and people are making a lot of money on it. If we now pass a nicotine-free generation that's essentially a complete prohibition on nicotine products. Yes, it's phased in, but really, what's the point of this?
Why can't adults be free to consume a nicotine product as they would alcohol, as they would marijuana, as they would many other things that people maybe have value judgments against? Um, this is a slippery slope. At what point are adults
not going to be able to eat fast food, um, drink soda, eat candy, >> sir, play? >> Sure. Sure. I really limited everyone's time and so can >> Yeah, no problem. Again, I submitted testimony. I will be here if you have any questions during the discussion. So please feel free to get in touch with me.
>> Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? There are a lot of people here present opportunity. Anyone want to come forward? Sure. >> Come over to the stand right over here, sir. Yeah. >> Good evening board. Um my name is Pares
Patel. um owner of a station avenue convenience store 467 Station Avenue. Um I see you guys just going to have a discussion and probably going to try to learn what is uh tobacco free generation is. I just wanted to say a couple of things about it. You know I hear a
couple of people were mentioning it's I don't understand what is the reason behind not allowing someone at certain time even if they are older than 21 not able to buy nicotine product. It doesn't make
any sense. We hear in the meetings several time that it's a youth using the nicotine product but it doesn't come from us. Every time we dragged in as a retailer that youth smoking, youth using nicotine product, they're buying it from our store. They are not buying it from
our store. They have other resources, different state flavor product, they can have a very easy access from the neighboring state. So I request the board please do not consider passing that u the proposal and I think I would
urge board to do some research about it. Some of our store does sell it. Um I think the natural credum has I never use it myself but the customer feedbacks does have a good you know some benefits and 708 like everybody else is saying it
it's kind of doesn't fit in a criteria of the credom so just before you pass anything just do some homework thank you okay thank you okay it's public comment number four here smoke detector awareness and education I believe some is here from
the Arth Department. Perhaps Barry, you make a formal >> uh introduction. >> We have Lieutenant Matt Beers coming in to talk to us and give us a education on smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector awareness. It's a very
sensitive subject for our town. Um he is extremely knowledgeable. He is getting an award tomorrow night for his uh leadership and teaching fire prevention and strategies. So, he's uh very top of his knowledge on this. So, thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks for coming in. >> Thank you. Um it's tough segue coming from all of that into this. Um but I do want to speak to you guys about some smoke detectors and more importantly carbon monoxide detectors or just as
important carbon monoxide detectors. So, every home in the state of Massachusetts since 2008 is required to have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms that are working. Um, I want to touch on the fact that they are two different things looking for two different things. Carbon
monoxide is an odorless gas. It is invisible. You don't know it's there and it can harm you and it gets into your bloodstream and it makes you very sick and perhaps could even kill you. So, having a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home is a very important thing.
uh we talk about smoke alarms. Um this is a basic smoke alarm. Um what's important to remember with smoke alarms is these malfunction all the time. Okay, these are a pain in the neck. Uh the fire department responds to
a smoke alarm sounding with no cause probably on average three times per day. Um so it's a nuisance to us as well, not only to the residents. Um but I will say in 2024 um the UL laboratories
increased their tolerance to these. So all new smoke alarms are now supposed to be less of a nuisance uh with a new technology. They have a less or precision detection in them. Now I have an example of one here.
Um this is again since 2024. All smoke alarms have this new nuisance detection or precision dete detection to it. So if you do have a nuisance alarm in your home, you have a smoke alarm that's malfunctioning, uh the fire department's number one recommendation
is to replace that smoke alarm with a newer smoke alarm today because you're going to have less chance of having that be a nuisance and have that malfunction. Talking about malfunctioning alarms, I have an example of a carbon monoxide alarm. This is an older one from 2007.
Um, a lot of us have these older alarms in our homes still. Uh, we do recommend that these be replaced every 10 years as well as your smoke alarms. Um, all of these carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms that are designed today all have
timers built into them. So, they will alarm you when it's reached its 10 years of age. And that timer starts when you turn it on. So, just something to import important to know there. Um, I will mention and I'm going to put this
together as an example because I picked a malfunctioning one. Carbon monoxide alarms do not malfunction. Rarely malfunction. Okay. Smoke alarms. As I said, three times a day, the fire department's responding to
malfunctioning smoke alarms. Uh, we get a call for carbon monoxide alarms. if we're getting the true four beeps and I have an example of that here perhaps
um there's a difference there's a difference between alarming a detector that's alarming and telling you that there's gas and detector that is malfunctioning. So you can hear this chirping in the background now and it's giving us three
fast chirps. Chirp, chirp, chirp. Um, all of these alarms on the back of them will tell you what it means. All right, you're going to have to get a magnifying glass, but this one is saying that if it's three quick chirps, this is a expired carbon monoxide alarm. So, this
alarm has reached the end of its life. So, we get calls for these all the time. People put a new battery in them and it still chirps because it's at the end of its life. It's not a battery issue. Um, and they're afraid that there might be carbon monoxide, so we go out. But there
is a distinct difference between chirps, and you heard those three chirps telling you that it needs something. This needs to be replaced or it needs a new battery. >> Does that have a date on it, sir? >> Yep. So, these have a date on them. This one is July 25th of 2007. >> So, as >> just to let you know, someone in the
audience, we're not going to be able to to hear you. >> Okay. >> Okay. Just let the gentle microphone. Thank you. Um, so I do want to give us an example of some beeps. I do that.
>> First alert. Carbon monoxide and smoke alarm. No location programmed. To select location, press and hold test button now. Press and hold test button to test the unit. >> So this detector is a combination
detector. This has both smoke and carbon monoxide inside of it. um that's detecting both the gas and the smoke. So there's distinct difference between the two when they sound and they sound the alarm and you're going to hear that
>> I'll try to put my hand over it. >> Evacuate evacuate. See the difference the tempo >> evacuate. >> So the difference there is the temporal three the three beeps for smoke and then the temporal four >> four beeps
>> for carbon monoxide. That is now the standard for all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. They're all temporal four or temporal three. So laying in bed and hearing those difference you'll know that three beeps. This is a smoke issue. Should be and we should probably look at
that quickly because time is of the essence when it comes to smoke. Carbon monoxide, the four beeps. Again, you can't see it. You can't smell it. You don't know it's there. Um, as the fire inspector, I'm still getting too many phone calls from
adults that are calling me in my office saying, "My carbon monoxide alarm was going off. I don't see or smell anything. I went and bought a new one. I put the new one in my home and that one's going off now, too. And they want me to come out and figure out what's going on. And well,
that's a clue that there's carbon monoxide in their home. And again, we respond there. Um, I will say out of the 90 carbon monoxide alarms we went to, 89 of them there was carbon monoxide in the
house. So there was that one that had a power surge that for some reason it tripped the carbon monoxide detection. So there was that one time that there was not carbon monoxide in the house. But to have a nine out of 10 times that
there is carbon monoxide in the home um is for me to say that these rarely malfunction. So trust please. Um you can't see it, you can't smell it, you don't know it's there. So if you hear those four beeps, get out of the house, call the fire department. we have the
tools to see the carbon monoxide um with our meters and we can find the source of that and secure it for you. Um so and quickly I will say that we have a lockbox program with the fire department
as well. People who have medical alarms uh they want to put their own home key in these. The fire department has access to your house only the fire department. There's a special key for us to use and we can get into your home and assist you without breaking down your door, which is a benefit to all. Uh, are there any
questions from the board on smoke alarms or carbon monoxide alarms that I didn't cover tonight? >> Matt, I have a question. >> Sure. >> Is there a proper placement for a smoke detector and carbon monoxide or combination ones? >> Yeah. Uh, boy, I could talk about this all night long, you know. Um, so
replacement comes down to the age of the home. I wish there was a blanket statement. Um, I think today's code, if you build a house brand new, I will give you those specifications. So, you need a smoke alarm, then every bedroom, inside every
bedroom, outside every bedroom, and on each floor of your home. So, one in the basement. Um, if it's over a thousand square feet in your basement, you'll need two. You need one smoke alarm for every 1,000 square feet on each floor.
So, inside every bedroom um and at the bottom of every stairway that's leading up. So, smoke alarms are should be placed at the bottom of the stairways to protect that stairway. Again, it it sounds notifies those people upstairs that get out soon because smoke rises,
right? So, having a smoke alarm at the base of every stairway is important to protect that stairway and give you the time that you need to get out. Um, but I say that because any home built before 1975 are battery smoke alarms. They don't need to be hardwired. They don't need to be interconnected. Uh, they're
grandfathered in, if you will. Um, and those smoke alarms are only placed outside of the bedrooms and on each floor of the home. So, you see the regulations before 1975 were much less than they are now. Um, but we certainly recommend that anybody put battery smoke
alarms inside their bedrooms. Um even though it's not required, it's always the safest thing to do. >> People listening may not know what hardwired means. >> Sure. So hardwired would be uh they are provided electricity. Uh they are electric smoke alarms. They plug in. Uh
so you'd have wires in your ceiling when you take it down. Um so it's provided that constant AC power and it has a battery backup as well. So, if you lose power, the battery backs up those smoke alarms and gives you the protection that you need even when you don't have power
in your home during storms. one of the issues um I I think in this community uh with the age of the population um I think it's around 35% of us are 65 or older
and the issue for me one of them is about changing batteries a lot of these people don't belong on on ladders it can be tricky getting the batteries in as well sometimes the older homes that uh
the detectors don't stay as well as they used to in the ceilings as holes get larger and they start hanging. >> Sure. >> So perhaps you can comment on that for >> um any hardwired electrical uh smoke
alarm. So after 1975, if your house is built after 1975, I would recommend that you certainly would get an electrician to assist you in any of those. Um, I never want to mess with electricity myself. U, especially seeing how many fires can be contributed by that. Um,
but for your batteries, um, the battery smoke alarm that I have here for the homes prior to 1975 that are just battery, they don't have the plugin. Um, these are all now 10ear sealed battery. So, they have a battery inside of them
that you can't take out and it lasts for 10 years. So, as soon as you turn it on and activate it, you can install it and you never have to change the battery in this for the life of the alarm, which for the elderly population is a great technology. This is certainly one that
we recommend. Uh we have a senior safe program um through the senior center. So, um we work with the senior center to identify uh the elderly elderly population. Um and we have a grant that
provides us with smoke alarms. So, they can notify the senior center, they put in a request and the fire department goes out and we install smoke alarms for them as long as they're the battery style and we have purchased a bunch of these with the grant money to provide that service. So, um electric smoke
alarms that have the battery backup, those do need to be changed out. Um, we recommend annually, so once a year. Um, and the fire department does assist people that don't have the resources, um, to maybe pay a handyman to change out those batteries for them. And again,
we go through the senior center would be the best way to do that. >> That's great. One of the issues when these alarms go off at 3 in the morning, uh, most of us aren't paying attention to how many bleeps we're hearing. It's just a panic
situation. when we are totally asleep and you hear this loud voice. Um, I don't know if you have any suggestions of how to address the problem at 3:00 in the morning. Um, I I wish that's the million-dollar
answer right there. Um, I wish I could solve that problem. I will say allegedly the smoke alarms now built past 2024. um with this new technology that's less likely to occur. Um we have
had less calls with newer smoke alarms for those nuisance. Um there is no rhyme or reason to them always being between 2 and 4 in the morning. um whether that's the activity of spiders, whether there's power grid surges, there are so many
hypotheticals out there that no one can really tell us definitively why that happens and why these malfunction um except to change the technology now to hopefully make them malfunction less. It is, it makes everyone complacent. And like I said, that complacency is is
carrying forward to carbon monoxide alarms now. U which is a very dangerous thing to take the battery out of your carbon monoxide alarm because it's 2 a.m. and just I'll deal with it in the morning because and then you may not wake up. Um and that that's what keeps
me up at night. So >> what are some of the signs of increased carbon monoxide in the person? >> Certainly. Uh so in one of the first signs uh really is flu-l like length symptoms. Um you you suddenly develop uh
nausea, weakness, vomiting um and you just feel this this illness. There's someone who has there's a voice that we're hearing. I don't know if someone's on Zoom or whatever, but you need to control it. Sounds like a young voice, but it's interfering with the meeting right now.
>> From Mary. I don't She was the only one that wasn't >> There you go. She is sir. >> It's was coming from Mary. It is okay. All right. >> All right. >> Okay. I'm sorry to interrupt. >> That's okay. U so yeah, nausea, um flu-l like symptoms, and headache are one of the first early signs of carbon monoxide
poisoning. >> And why don't you just repeat it once again when when to get out of the house, when to open windows, how do you make that decision again? Maybe. >> Yeah. No, if that carbon monoxide alarm is sounding with the four beeps, uh that temporal four, um get out of the home.
Um, call 911 if it's inclement weather. Sit in your car. Uh, wait for us to arrive. I would not recommend opening any windows, touching anything or appliances, leave everything as is. Um, it's going to help us find out where it's coming from. So, and once we can secure that appliance, it's usually an
appliance that's malfunctioning. Um, carbon monoxide is produced by carbon based appliances, you know, gas, oil, uh, even fireplaces, gas stoves, gas ovens. Um, so any one of those malfunction, it can create an increased level of carbon monoxide gas.
>> And what are your thoughts about having home extinguishers? >> Sure. Yes, I absolutely recommend everyone having a home fire extinguisher as well as the home fire blankets that you see advertised today. Um, one isn't better than the other. I like them
together. I like them in conjunction. Um, some kitchen fires might be better handled with a blanket. um and some are going to be better handled with an extinguisher. So to have both readily available um is important. I will say one thing. Um probably the most common place people put their fire extinguisher
is under their sink because it's a cabinet that's big enough to hold it. Um but just remember you don't want to put it somewhere that's going to bring you into your kitchen where the fire is to have to get it. Sometimes placing it near the doorway or an exit to your home, maybe a coat closet, something
outside of the kitchen is a little bit more practical to draw you away from the fire to get the fire extinguisher to then go back and decide whether you want to fight it at that point. So, >> what's the life expectancy of the extinguishers? >> So, again, we recommend 10 years on
those. Um, you to guarantee it, you you should check it monthly uh to make sure that the needle is still in the green for those fire extinguishers. You'll see there's a needle and a gauge on there. In the green is telling you it's pressurized and ready to go. >> Yeah. I was just asking cuz mine the
pressures are fine. Exactly. And they're old. I I don't >> Yeah. So those older ones um you know even annually when you change your batteries and your smoke alarms, if you take your fire extinguisher and turn it upside down, that powder doesn't get caked. Um it's less likely to be caked
when it's needed. So >> And where can we get rid of them when >> Yeah. So, the disposal area will take your fire extinguishers, your expired fire extinguishers. Um, you go to the scale house, um, and they'll direct you from there. Uh, I'm getting mixed
messages on what the charge is for that. I haven't I wish I could tell you. >> I know that like BJ's and Ace Hardware, there's different styles of home extinguishers. Is there one better than the other for home use? So the best extinguisher really for the
home is what we call an ABC extinguisher. It's for those three types of fire. A is for modern or ordinary combustibles. Um wood, paper is your class A fire. Um class B is your flammable liquids, gasoline, oils, uh
things like that. So cooking oil even for class B. Um and then C for charged electrical equipment. So, um, it has the, uh, the powder in it that's going to help you with charged electrical equipment. Again, if you can secure the power to anything that's charged
electrically, it becomes a class A fire. So, even it becomes, uh, just as effective for that as well. So, ABC extinguishers. >> Anyone else? Any board members? Any questions? >> There a lot of questions for you there. >> No, that's great. That's great. I
appreciate this opportunity. Um, thank you. >> Uh, it's very clear. Appreciate it. And congratulations on your award. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. Take care. >> Cheers. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next item on the variant. Let's see. We have a variance here. It's
number five. Looks like it's 97 Helmsman Drive and that's in Yarm with Port. Barry, just tell us a little bit about this. >> Yeah. Um, we have a variance for to keep uh garbage grinder at the home at 97
Hellsman Drive. It was um brought to the attention to the homeowner by the plumber that they weren't going to replace it due to the fact that they're not allowed in the town of Yarmouth um or the the state without proper septic
uh system. Um Miss Okconor asked if she had any options. I told her yes, she is more than welcome to come in front of the board to ask for a variance um to plead her case. So I can let her go from there and then I can give my side after that. I let you know what's how it is.
>> Sure. Great. >> Great. >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity. >> So yes, I have a garbage disposal that I don't use that frequently. I've had it for 26 years without any issue and the um motor has given out. So, I contacted
a local plumber to have it replaced, but they said that they need to have approval from the town to come into the home and replace it. So, um, as I say, I use it judiciously. I really don't put anything down there. I use it mostly to
clean out wayward seeds or raspberries. I compost. I got a green composter from the town dump. Um, I put all my scraps in the trash and just have never had an issue with my septic system. I pump every three years. Um, the septic has
been for 28 years with no issue. And so, I'd like to be given a variance um to be able to replace my garbage disposal. >> Okay. I mean, we certainly have some information in our packets here. Um Barry, if you want to just kind of give
us a review a little bit, especially on the plans here. >> Yeah, I'm just going to give you a quick overview. So, in in a septic system in the tank, there's basically three levels. The bottom level is the sludge level. That's where all the sediment settles and everything. And then the
middle is your effluent is your liquid that goes out to the to your leeching field. And then the top is a scum layer. That's the oils and greases that separate. What happens with a garbage grinder? Uh they fi they grind up the
particles so fine that they become balanced in that affluent area. And what happens with that? That gets into your distribution box and out into your your leeching field which then clogs the pores and clogs the soils which causes
failure of the system. They uh that's why uh mass title 5 15.223 section C I'm just going to read this word for word. When a domestic garbage grinder is proposed or installed, the minimum liquid capacity of the septic
tank shall be 200% of the design flow with a minimum tank size of 1,500 gallons and a two compartment tank or two tanks in series shall required to meet the desired criteria specified in 310 CMR 15.2231B.
Domestic garbage grinders are prohibited in the facilities which include an evaluated septic system tank constructed in accordance with 310 CMR 15.213. So that says so I Mrs. Okconor I pulled
up two of her septic plans original one from 1984 the original design. Um right in the middle underneath this there is just only one tank. It's not a tool compartment tank or two tanks in series. Um and the designer wrote on it uh by
Massachusetts Title 5 regulations, no gr no garbage grinder allowed. And then in 84 in 1984, the system was upgraded again um still to three bedrooms. A new system
was was uh replaced. another thousandgalon tank was put in and again the designer uh Dave Mason back in 97 who did this. Um also highlighted uh garbage grinders not allowed.
So it's very clear that there's that in all the designs and everything says garbage grinders aren't allowed in the in with this with this type of system. Okay, that was clear. Thank you. Yep.
>> And I might add that while I appreciate um the concern about my septic system, I think that I have um the most concern about my septic system to try to keep it healthy. And again, it's never been an
issue. Um so I I don't put much down the garbage disposal, but I think with every rule, there are exceptions. and to be uh grandfathered in that it's been a non-issue for 26 years.
>> Board members, some comments, thoughts, questions? Do you know who put in the garbage disposal? >> I I don't know. It was a licensed plumber, but I am not sure who >> it was saying. So, even in ' 84, there wasn't one. And that's why >> I own the home in ' 84. In ' 87, I
purchased the home. >> So, yeah. So, even before you owned it, they had it that it even says that it was not allowed with that design. So, >> and I will say when I had my um uh dishwasher replaced, the um inspector said that if I sold the home, I need to
get rid of the garbage disposal. And I said that I wasn't planning on selling, and he said that it shouldn't be an issue. So, and that was maybe 10 years ago. I I have a question. Um, since you are doing composting, which is wonderful,
why do you even need a garbage disposal? I said, you said for for some seeds or I mean, if you put a little trap in your sink, you can just empty that out after you've done your dishes or done the food preparation and nothing will go down the drain.
>> So, I do that. Um, but things still go down the drain and that's when I run the dishwasher, the garbage disposal to get rid of a little bit of scum so that the kitchen doesn't smell.
>> Thank you, >> Charlie. Any thoughts, questions? >> This is a family home, right? >> Yes. I I've lived there alone. Yeah. One person. >> Yes. >> I personally can't see the need for a garbage disposal,
but and I don't live under your circumstances either. So, but I don't see what having a garbage disposal under her situation. Why? so bad about it? What's what's why is there
so many rules against it? Tell me tell me that. >> Well, it's under it's in mass it's in mass title five regulations. They're not prohibited. You just have to have the proper septic system to have it to prevent clogging of your your septic
system. You have to have a a dual compartment tank or two tanks in series and then they're allowed. But having just a single tank is not prohibited to have a garbage grinder. How did she get it before? >> Uh, probably whoever owned the house before 1984 just put one in. You can buy
them. Unfortunately, you can still buy them from Ace Hardware or Home Depot. >> Was it allowed in ' 84 when she bought the house? >> I'm not for sure. Um, probably not because it says on the 80 in this in
this uh plan, the subject plan from 84, it states no garbage grinder. So, So, it was put in basically illegally. Is that what you're telling me? >> I'm not I would have to say I can't say
illegally or not, but it was put in. So, and that's >> I think Mr. Lewis's concern was that I'm putting carcasses down there and lots of oil. And I will say I'm plant-based. I don't really have carcasses. Maybe if I have family over, but I again, I don't
use the garbage disposal that often. I don't intentionally put anything down there, >> Larry. >> Yeah. Um, if we granted this variance, wouldn't we be setting a precedent for for this? I mean, we really don't have
compelling reason other than your request to violate uh these rules. So that would open us up to any person walking in here and expecting the same treatment. And
you know, I think there are compelling reasons to to have the septic u rules the way they are. So I don't see at this point a compelling reason to change that. >> Well, Barry educated us a little bit. What certainly what this board attempts
to do is to I I say this so frequently to treat everyone equally whatever the subject is um and next person who comes forward um may have 20 people living in the
house or they using it all day long or the person perhaps who purchased your home will use it very differently. That's the problem. Well, my understanding was that if my home sold that the garbage disposal would need to come out before the house could be sold.
So, I don't think that's an issue. >> That didn't happen previous time, right? You >> I had the garbage disposal put in by a licensed plumber >> against regulations, but yes. Okay. >> Yeah. didn't seem to be an issue at the time and as I say it's been there for 26
plus years. So >> yeah no and saying that the the conflict of course is um was just stated is all kinds of situations would come up where a person has the same uh question
of us requesting a variance. However the use of it could be very different. >> That's the conflict here. What problem is this creating? >> It affects the the soils and the groundwater and it could clog up the
leeching facility which the the leeching field which could cause an overflow drain into the neighbor's yard. Um animals get into the fluent ponding. There's it could be and it cost in thousands and thousands of dollars to
get a new system put in >> which has not happened in 28 years and the cost of the septic would be a cost that I would incur although I appreciate the concern about my finances but I guess my bigger concern for the um
soil would be the chemicals that everybody's putting on the yard more And when I'm grinding in my garbage disposal, >> we're not talking about soils though, about the chemicals and lawns, Eric, any thoughts?
>> No, not really. I mean, just similar to what you and and uh Larry had said, unfortunately, I I think we just have to consider how we treat everybody. Um
so, >> well, try to be consistent, that's all. >> Yeah. Barry Barry, any other questions or comments on your part? >> No, I if let you guys make a vote on this.
>> Yeah. Um, no other comments. We need to make a decision here. So, someone has to make a motion just to get this going regardless of how you want to vote. So, >> I'll move that um we deny the variance
request at 97 Helmsman. >> Second. Okay. Any further discussion? All in favor of the motion, raise your hand and say I. I. >> And do you see what Mary and
>> I >> Eric as well? >> Yep. >> He did. >> He did fine. Okay. So, >> all right. Thank you for your time. >> Appreciate you coming in and asking. Okay. Um, I'll give you three months to get a licensed plumber to remove it, um,
to pull a permit and stuff like that. So, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Okay. Next item on the agenda is number six and this is the nicotine free generation discussion. Y,
>> it's also I think a little bit of a lecture or some people going >> presentation. Yeah. So, >> yeah, >> a few weeks ago I was at the MHA, Massachusetts Health Officer, um, Association, uh, convention, statewide convention in Springfield, and one of my
options was to one of my seminars was to go to a nicotine-free uh, speech, and I've never I'd never heard of this. And then I got in and the Marine I I apologize for the names. Yeah. Um,
and I was completely it was blown away by what they were how they presented it, what they talked about. And I personally really truly liked what they were talking about. I was sitting next to the
director of health from um Barstable and he asked if we could kind of do a town joint thing and kind of go out at the same time. So it wouldn't just be Yarmouth doing it, it's also the town of Barsville. So one bigger one. Uh and I
thought I just think it's a great idea. We reached out. I have Bob Klet here from the county who's our he's worked with us multiple times on a lot of our tobacco regulations and they just and we're not making any decisions tonight. Um we're not doing any voting. I just
wanted them to come and let the board know kind of what I heard and I just wanted and so we can think about it if we ever want to move forward with something like this. So >> great. Thank you. So, everyone come come forward at the desk, the microphones, just introduce yourselves.
>> And >> I got four chairs up there. So, >> and educate us. I think it's new for everyone on the board, I think. And certainly people at home may not have ever heard of that. >> And just individually give your names and where you're from. I appreciate it.
>> Sure. Sure. Sorry. Um, hi everyone. My name is Anthony Choy. I'm the health director for Melrose Wakefield and Stonem. We're just outside of Boston. Um, I'm a resident of Melrose. Um and I was with Moren um when we were giving the MHOA presentation um that Barry
attended >> and Moren Busby. I'm the regional tobacco prevention program coordinator for seven communities which include those three and and some some others nearby.
>> Hello everybody. Uh Bob Colette, director Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Control Program from Barnstable County. >> My name is DJ Wilson. I am now retired, but I was the tobacco control director at Mass Municipal Association at the time that uh Brook Lion passed their
same policy as a town bylaw and it went up to the attorney general, was approved. They were immediately sued and and it worked its way through the courts and was eventually approved by the Supreme Judicial Court. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All yours.
>> Sure. Um so I'll I'll give a very brief introduction. Um, for those of you who don't know, this might be helpful. Uh, the nicotine-free generation policy is is simple. Uh, it states that no person, firm, corporation, establishment, or agency shall sell tobacco or ecigarette
products to anyone born on or after uh in our case in our towns the uh January 1st, 2004. Um, tobacco products are defined as products with nicotine here in the state of Massachusetts. Um, and when we first heard about this, Brookline was the
first community to pass the then tobaccof free generation, now nicotine uh, free generation policy. Um, Moren can tell the story better than I can, but when I first started, uh, as health director, I saw a rich history, uh, many of our boards of health, including your own, um, have a rich history of
regulating tobacco. Um, thinking back to uh work uh smokefree workplace, smokefree housing, uh more recently the flavor ban 21. Uh the boards of health have always been leaders in regulating tobacco. Um however, we're going up against an industry that uh pours in
billions and billions of dollars into research and development and finding ways to get uh youth uh addicted. that's the replacement uh for those that die off and those people who have used um tobacco products, they're trying to find
a replacement uh customer. And so when when I started, I asked Moren um what more could we be doing where Massachusetts has some of the most progressive um policies regulating tobacco? And I asked her what we could do more and we looked into this. Um, at
the time, Brookline was sued um by retailers and by the industry. Um, but on March 8th, 2024, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court upheld Brookline's tobaccof free generation. Um, they they ruled that it was not preempted by state law and it was a
lawful exercise of the town's local authority. In short, it reaffirmed that the phased approach, this birth date restriction approach is a reasonable and constitutional means of preventing a
toxic and addictive substance um from hooking another generation. Uh when we first started, we started with our three towns. Uh we went to the boards of health. We talked to the most important people affected by this, our schools, our coalitions, our substance use
community, and we talked to them. We tried to find out more information about how tobacco has affected their lives. And we brought together this coalition um and we worked hard to kind of get the message out there. And so we're very proud to say that our towns have passed this and many others have joined us since.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Um again, Moren Busby, um thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. Um again, I'm the regional tobacco prevention program manager for seven communities, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stonem, Wakefield, and Winchester. I've been
inspecting stores and conducting compliance checks in those towns for 14 years. I've watched the evolution from pink and purple foil wrapped flavored cigarellas that sold for 79 cents to and and looked like candy by the way to jewel devices that looked like flash
drives to nicotine pouches high in nicotine content made with nicotine salts for quicker jolt to the brain very cheap and very discreet to the latest vapes that look just like highlighters and pens that actually write and vape.
And I excuse me a moment. I forgot to bring them to the table. I have some newer products that I want to share with you. And now we have vape devices that look like a teddy bear, a
toy guitar, a CD. You can vape and play music at the same time. Um, and and I recently learned actually at a national conference in Chicago in the summertime that there were new vapes, I don't happen to have one with
me, that actually track your use. The device captures information on when, how often, and how much you puff and the nicotine content of your device. That data is sent back to the manufacturer so that they can recalibrate. You can be sure that Big Tobacco is developing
their next product and they have the billions to invest in R&D. They tell us these devices are to help smokers quit. They are blatantly rebranding themselves as a harm reduction provider. When they pedal a device that looks like a soft squishy
um teddy bear that comes in pink, baby blue, and rainbow colors, who really believes that they are t targeting an adult smoker? One product of innovation after another. We have nicotine dipped toothpicks, nicotine lollipops, nicotine
gummies, nicotine shots that you can add to your coffee. What's next? As you know, tobacco prevention organizations and public health professionals have advocated for policies to reduce youth access to nicotine products for decades. And as Anthony said, we've done a lot.
Cigar minimum price, flavor ban, T-21, pharmacy ban, permit cap. But year after year, new products, band-aid after band-aid just isn't enough. I won't dwell on the harms caused by nicotine addiction, the health issues, the
nicotine, the financial burden, and even lost career opportunities, which a lot of people don't understand that a lot high school graduates who may not go to college, but cho might want to choose to join the military, become a firefighter, or police officer, may not be able to have that opportunity if they're a
nicotine user. We believe it's time to remove these poisons, and they are poisons, from our store shelves. It's time to adopt a strategy that actually moves us towards a generation of young people who will never experience tobacco, just as we now
have a generation of young people who have never been in a restaurant, movie theater, school, or hospital, or ridden on a bus, plane, or train where someone is smoking. But how do we do that? The tobacco industry has their playbook. quote, "Hook them while they're young and you're a customer for life." That's
a quote from industry documents. We have a playbook, too. And we followed that playbook with many important public health policies. One city or town adopts an innovative or even controversial policy like smokefree workplace law. More cities and towns follow until we
have critical mass and then the state legislature takes it up as they did with T-21 and the flavor ban. Um, as Anthony said, when we started talking back in the summer of 2023 about what else could we do, we did meet with stakeholders
across the community to to check on community readiness. We met with municipal leaders, mayors, town managers, educators, health care professionals, youth leaders, parents, students, and others to build awareness and support. We changed the name from tobaccof free generation to nicotine
free generation to make it clear that this policy covers all commercial tobacco nicotine products not just combustible tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars. NRTs, by the way, nicotine replacement therapy drugs, all
FDA approved nicotine replacement therapies are exempt from this policy. People would still be able to um purchase those products for their um cessation efforts. I met with boards of health in my region. They each voted to then hold a public hearing. It's not a
legal requirement, as you know, but we've set a precedent for holding public hearings for new tobacco sales regulations. We knew it would be important to communicate with and educate retailers. So, we notified them via email, United uh States Postal
Service mail, and in-person visits to every single retailer to explain the proposed policy to share information about upcoming public hearings. The hearings were very well attended by retailers, distributors, trade association execs, tobacco industry representatives, as well as smokers
rights groups, all who testified against the policy. And also in attendance, advocates who testified in support, physicians, school nurses, guidance counselors, public health nurses, educators, students, parents, and people in recovery. Written testimony was also
accepted. The boards then voted either immediately after that public hearing or at their next regularly scheduled meeting. Six municipalities in my region became the first boards of health in the world to adopt this policy. For the first year following adoption, I've been focusing on retailer education, making
sure that store clerks understand the um the the age restriction that this policy is as a po pro that that the policy has changed from age restriction to birth date restriction. We're very used to um in Massachusetts, the tobacco purchaser
has to be age 21 and store clerks check to make sure that they're age 20 or most of the time they check to make sure. Not always, as Bob and I can both attest, we do compliance checks with youth and not everybody is checking IDs and and in um keeping sales to those 21 and above. But
this policy changes the purchase of a tobacco product from an age restriction to a birth date restriction. any any jurisdiction electing to to adopt this kind of policy picks a a birth date um and and an effective date. So for
instance, in the six communities in my region that did it, the birth date cutoff was 11204. So no one born on or after one 2004 would ever be able to purchase a tobacco product in those communities. Anybody
born in 2003 or earlier would. So no one who has already attained the age of 21 on the effective date of this policy loses that privilege. They will always be able to buy. Very different from prohibition when on day one alcohol sales ended. And there were people who
were addicted and needed that alcohol that drug. So that did create a black market and all the issues that we heard with prohibition. This is not prohibition. This does not affect anybody who's already 21 and can purchase these products legally. It only affects those who are not yet 21. And
that's that vulnerable p population that we want to keep from getting addicted. Their brains aren't fully developed. They're more susceptible to addiction, especially with the higher nicotine content products that we see today. The newer products, which most people my age are not familiar with. We're familiar
with cigarettes and cigars. These are not the the products that we're seeing um being um being developed to attract young people. Um, I'm happy to report that in the we this was effective in 1125 in my region
and I'm happy to report that I've as I've gone through this year's worth of round of inspections. I am actually s happy and surprised at how well the retailers and sales clerks can tell me what the um age restriction is. I go into a store just like Bob does. I do an
inspection, make sure there are permits, signs, no products on the counter or in front of the counter. Do all that regular stuff. And at the end I now say and tell me what you do when a when a purchaser comes in, somebody asks for a tobacco product. They say, "I check the ID." And I say, "Well, what do you check on the ID?" "Well, make sure it's legal." "What else do you check?" "Well,
make sure it's theirs." I say, "What else do you check?" They say, "Oh, I check the birth date." And and what are you checking for? And they say, "To make sure that the person was born before 2004, so they got it even though it's a new concept. Um retailers get this concept." And
actually, it's easier than checking a birth date and calculating the age to make sure they're 21. All that clerk has to do is is a 2004 or later, no sale. 2003 or earlier, legal to sell. Um,
currently there are um 19 municipalities that have adopted NFG. Almost 600,000 Massachusetts residents are now covered by this policy. Um, you may have seen, and if you don't, I did bring some with me. Um, we have a flyer called the 10
things that you should know about um, uh, nicotine free generation, and I have some flyers that I can leave with you. We also have a one-page description of the of the policy, and I can leave copies of that with you as well. And we also have an FAQ, and the FAQ covers its
questions about many of the kinds of things, you know, is this prohibition? Is this legal? Um, that kind of thing. And I can I can leave copies of that with you. Our goal is not to just have some Massachusetts municipalities adopt this policy. We want to see it spread
across the state as happened with T-21 as happened with the flavor ban. Bills have have been filed in both the Massachusetts um House and the Massachusetts Senate. And um I know that's a lot and a quick overview. Um and we'd love to hear any questions you
may have. If >> I could just I could just add a couple things. >> The mic over. Great. Oh, sure. Thank you. Um, I'm retired as I said before I retired to Wear Ham, but I was on the Malden Board of Health at the time I retired. And so I lived in Malden for a bunch of years. And as uh Maren said,
that was one of her municipalities. Malden's a big city. I should say, we have 80 years of about 80 years of experience between the four of us sitting here. And we have uh some of us experienced a some lively uh public hearings. One was right here in Yarmouth
where the fire marshall had to cancel the hearing because we had too many people in the hearing. And so we've had a lot and we thank uh Yarmouth for going through a lot of the stuff from the past. I do remember the years that we had a lot of hearings that were very contentious over making restaurants go
smokefree. And so we recognized that we had a lot of we had a lot of policies that were kind of hit yourself over the head and there was a date that was certain and it went into effect very quickly. But they all were have been very successful. I think very few of us want to go back to the days of, you know, one half of the restaurant was
smoking, the other half wasn't or or, you know, vending machines that kids could get their hands on. So, we recognize some of the policies were abrupt, but they were successful. And we the reasons that we always have been coming back to boards of health is that the tobacco industry always has a next
new product, a next new idea out there, a next new way to hook kids, the next generation. So, we do thank you for that. However, the difference with this policy is that it's not terribly abrupt. It does take its time, but has a huge impact over time. And so, like a lot of
the policies in the past, as I said earlier, Brooklyn was the first to act. A lot of the policies have ended up happening in very uh wealthy, frankly, wealthy suburbs of Boston like Brooklyn. But then Moren worked really hard in her
six municipalities and one of them, as I said earlier, was Malden. Malden is a very different looking animal to Brooklyn. 68,000 people in five square miles. It's more densely populated than the city of Boston and has every type of person, religion, ethnicity in it you
could ever find. And you can when I live there, we could go for a stroll after dinner and I could walk into five other cities around it. It is so small and so thickly uh populated. And it's been very successful. It was a it was it really
showed um that you could explain it in several different languages how it works as long as you had good leadership in the city, a good solid board of health and it has worked. And so if it can work in Malden, we used to say when we were going smoke free in restaurants, if you
can get the city of Chelsea to go smoke free, you could get anywhere in the state to go smoke free. And the same thing is happening with this policy. If you can get the the divergent town of Brooklyn and this the divergent city of Malden to go to do this policy and get anywhere in the state to do so and it
will have longl lasting effects for that very for that next generation to never pick up a cigarette or to or to start vaping and we'll see it'll it'll make a big difference in years to come. Thank you. >> Bob anything? >> Well,
thank you Mr. Chair. We have not embarked on this um mission, journey, whatever you might want to call it, here on the Cape yet until uh just a couple of weeks ago when um when Barry did meet um Moren and and Anthony at at the MHA
conference and I had had one small town Eastam had inquired about it and you know a few months back because they're currently working on their regulations and I said well it would be good if some of the larger towns would kind of initiate the process. I'm not sure where we are in that thought process. And there are a lot of new health agents
here on the Cape. I'm still trying to develop relationships with a lot of them and kind of get a feel for how they work. Having been here working in tobacco control for 31 years, uh co eliminated a lot of the old old guard, if you will, right? A lot of people uh
not literally, but through uh there was attrition through retirement and that sort of thing. So, a lot of people there's been a lot of changes. Um, and like we did back in during the uh smoke-free workplace and public indoor
public place effort back in the 90s and early 2000s, we tried to move together u in co in in cohesion with each other. Didn't work out perfectly, but um Yarmouth was one of the leaders. responsible soon soon thereafter
followed suit and that gave uh some um momentum and um motivation for some of the other smaller communities to follow along. And I I do think this would be a wonderful solution to um you know the the problem that we still have that
younger people are still getting their hands on tobacco products and although the level of exposure as DJ mentioned is greatly reduced. Now, there are young young kids that I know that have actually never seen a person smoke, but
they do have, you know, um ready access to vaping products and and the new terror for these kids is the is the nicotine pouches which is out there. They're out there and the kids are using them unbelievable levels. They you can you they don't cause any salivation. You
put it in your mouth. So, it's used like chewing tobacco would be, but it doesn't cause the salivation that's associated with chewing tobacco and they're overdosing on the stuff in schools and we're, you know, getting a lot of, uh, anecdotal information from school nurses and administrators that the kids are
overdosing on these things and, you know, parents can't even tell the kids are using this stuff. So, um, you know, it's a matter of just eliminating access to this stuff for the kids. you know, we don't for parents to say, "Well, you
know, it's safer than uh smoking or vaping or vaping is safer than smoking." Do we ever think to ourselves as a parent? Well, they're going to do something. So, what do we want them to do? Would we rather have them vape or smoke or use tobacco pouches? The answer
is we want them to use none of that stuff. And so, event and it does just gradually do this. It achieves that goal uh over a long period of time. and it does not impact anybody who would currently can legally smoke or use
tobacco in any other form and eventually you really reduce it to just about nothing. >> Thank you board members Charlie thoughts on all this
years ago but I quit 70. >> Okay. Uh okay. That's your personal scenario. >> No idea how this is going to work. I was thinking about it. You know, I can tell somebody that 10 years from now, you can't do this or you can't do that. I
don't know. I don't know how well that's going to work. >> You pick a certain date to cut period, you know, just like they cut alcohol. And then you give them an option for so
many people it's okay and so so many people it's not. I would think you're going to get a negative reaction probably five or 10 years down the road. It's going to get even worse. A lot of people you tell them you can't
do something, they'll go out and do it anyway. You know, just just to prove to you that they can. It's human nature. I've had I've run into my life over the years when you tell somebody no, they
don't even hear it. So, I don't know. Maybe it'll work, maybe not. But I think down the road it might create a bigger explosion than you expect.
That's only my opinion. Larry. >> Yeah, I had a couple of points. I think um um was a good discussion about comparison of prohibition to curtailing tobacco consumption. Um in addition,
alcohol has nowhere near the lethality of tobacco consumption. Um I also made some notes. It's clearly acknowledged that the sale of tobacco is a substantial portion of the sale of sales to many businesses. However, it's irrefutable that tobacco products
inflict substantial harm to most users, including according to a World Health Organization study July of 2023, uh causes the death of 50% of its users over the lifetime of their use of tobacco. Not to mention the tremendous
strain on our health care system. The evidence is undeniable in my mind. Tobacco is very dangerous for one's health. we should protect the health of our community. So, I would be very much in favor of that policy. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> I know it's it's it's doesn't go over well with the business community, but just on a maybe it's a a coarse description, but back when the horse was being replaced by the
automobile automobile, there was a tremendous um uprising about it. But I look where we are now. So I just think it would be a tremendous improvement in general health if we instituted this policy.
And I I agree. I think it's a great way to do it too to to blend it in the way you described it in my opinion. >> Thank you, Eric. Um, no, no comment,
Mary. >> Um, I I agree with what Larry said. Um, it's definitely a public health issue. Um, mortality, morbidity, healthc care costs for everybody. Um, also I thought
it was very interesting the um comment about for young people it if they are addicted to nicotine that that can affect their being able to enlist in a military service or fire department, police department. I hadn't realized
that but um certainly um certainly that shows that those large organizations do not want to take on the liability of someone who is doing something very unhealthy. for themselves. So I I would very much
like to just to pursue this further. >> Thank you. >> I have a very I guess skewed point of view. I'm very familiar with some of the medical problems that uh result from the use of nicotine.
Um it's more the legality of it that I'm not very familiar with. Um, how do you respond to Well, someone says, >> "Should I have the right to smoke? >> Do you want me to Oh, sure. Okay. I
don't know if that was helpful or Okay, >> here it is. >> Yeah. So, I think both DJ and Sorry about that. I think both DJ and um Anthony alluded to this, but um there was a question about the legality. So, Brooklyn passed this um they called it TFG 5 years ago and they were sued and
it went to the um the lower court and the judge appel upheld Brooklyn's right to do it. So then the industry appealed or the six stores appealed and it went to the appellet court but the SJC looked down at some of the cases that were there and decided to bring it up to the Supreme Judicial Court. So it wasn't
heard in appellet court. went to the Supreme Judicial Court and um they they heard testimony from the industry and from the tobacco um prevention folks and they ended up with a unanimous unanimous decision of March of 24 that this was
legal to do. But they were defended by Northeastern's public health advocacy institute. And if Mark got a colleague of ours, he's a professor at um at Northeastern School of Law, if he were here, he would make the offer. and I feel comfortable making that offer to
you. Um he's made that offer in many many of these kinds of meetings that Northeastern's public health advocacy institute will defend pro bono any city or and they don't expect any other challenges but should that happen he always says should that happen um they
would defend pro bono any municipality that adopts this this policy >> and as we as we always said in any other contested policy the closer that any other city or town follows the policy that was court approved. It, you know,
narrows your legal liability further. >> Did you say the Supreme Court upheld the rule or >> Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court? Yes. >> The highest court in Massachusetts. >> They agreed with the municipality, >> Brookline.
>> Yes. >> Yep. >> And what are the towns um what are they telling the businesses in their town? I mean this is u it's a common theme here in trying to support the economics here. >> Sure. >> People trying to make a living here.
>> Y >> um and it's come up in various various ways of course with tobacco before. >> Mhm. >> And we've heard that everywhere we've gone which it's a very fair question. Um, one of the beauty there are many I think really good things about this
policy compared to other policies that we've considered and one is it's a long phase in. So each year the only customers that a that a store might lose for tobacco purchase are those who turn 21 in that year who would have become
smokers. So let's take in the town of Melrose. I could probably figure out, you know, do the math if I had if I had enough time. But in Melrose, because this was effective 1125, we already have some 21 year olds who are who are not eligible to buy tobacco in in U Melrose.
But again, this only affects those that turn 21 in any year. And of those who turn 21, that population that turns 21, it's that small percentage that would have been a tobacco user. But that small percentage is a very important percentage because of the health risk in
using these products which are more dangerous today than they than they were before. The financial burden, it's very expensive to become a smoker. We know that the industry increases the nicotine content to make sure that you get addicted. A young brain is more apt to
be, you know, is is easier to addict than a than a fully developed brain. So, they come up with these products that are appealing. They're adorable. Um, and kids use them without understanding how easy it is to become addicted. And any kid that I've talked to who is a nicotine user wishes they never had
started. And and and again the expense of it and one of your board members reiterated the um career opportunities that could be lost because for instance the military doesn't want smoke. They used to give away cigarettes in the
military. They don't want smokers in the military or nicotine users. We know it affects decision-m it g it causes anxiety. It affects night vision. It affects concentration. You don't want somebody literally on the firing line who has a lack of concentration because
they have a nicotine withdrawal symptom and they they're looking for that next cigarette or or other nicotine product. Um also Brooklyn has had the policy enforced for um 5 years and no stores have closed because of this policy. Um, and also in as I've been doing
inspections, I have asked stores, so have you had anybody come in who who hit that number? You know, they're 21, they would have been able to buy last year if they turned 21, but they can't buy this year. And stores, oh yeah, but we just say board of health policy and that's
it. It hasn't been as calamitous, I'll tell you, as it was when we introduced IDL. So now in 2020 with a new law that banned flavored products, there was another um uh uh regulation in that law
that said all store clerks have to ID everyone who asks for a tobacco product. So a 50-year-old walks into the store, they've been buying cigarettes there for, you know, 20 years or whatever, and the clerk says, "I need to see your ID." that caused a lot of um anger and
resentment and clerks would tell us or tell me anyway. I'm sure you heard similar stories about how rude customers were, how bent out of shape they got by being asked because they they're not used to being asked. They got out of their pickup truck, walked into a store, asked for the pack of Marlboro, and somebody said, "I need to see an ID.
They got to go back to their truck, get their ID, come back in." That was much more um I heard much more negative feedback from clerks than I have from this policy which in my towns has been in effect almost a year. It hasn't been as big a deal as we as we
kind of worried that it might be. It was important and we wanted to do it but we were concerned about the reaction of of um people customers and clerks. >> I mean the concept is kind of unique. It's a very longterm plan here obviously
than some of the other changes in regulations of giving businesses a chance to change their business plans. >> Exactly. >> Barry, anything? >> Um, I'm I'm glad that we were able to dis just
discuss this. I want to thank you guys for all coming in. Um, Mr. Mr. Chairman, if we could put this for further discussion also, I would like to be able to put on for further discussion, let everybody do their homework and research on it more and we can not move forward
to do any votes yet, but just move forward for more discussion and see how we go from there. >> This was very helpful. Um, I must admit I didn't wasn't aware of it, the whole concept. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't
know it. So, um, >> yeah, put it on the agenda. We'll discuss it some more. Thanks for making the trip here, everyone. Okay. >> Thank you very much. We appreciate the opportunity to come here and be able to speak with you and um, and share this information. And by all means, if there
are questions and you need more information from us, there there are other people on our informal team working on this, all volunteers, not paid to do this, but we have lawyers and doctors, a pulmonologist, a pediatric um oncologist, you know, people who treat
people who have have been affected by nicotine, and they're available to to um meet, do Zoom, come down and chat with you. any information you can forward to Riley and myself then we can forward it to the board and just more information to help
them we can get out to the local business owners too. So >> great. >> Yeah, if you can further educate us the people you mentioned that may be helpful to have them zoom in the next meeting. Uh if there's any documentation keep the flow going uh to the health department
it'll get to the board. uh any of the legal issues would be helpful for me personally to understand and uh we'll discuss it at the next meeting. >> That's great. Absolutely. Thanks for the effort to come over. >> Thank you so much. >> Bob, do you mind sticking around for the next one if you don't mind?
>> Thank you, sir. Okay, great Tom discussion. Um, this subject sort of came out of nowhere a little bit. I know Riley, you brought it to my attention.
Um, there was an issue on the Cape. There was an article that came up u Province Town and so we got a lot of information from you. Thank you. in our packets. Um I don't know if Bob you want to just
introduce it. You want me to say a little about what it is because people at home probably have no idea what this thing is. >> Yeah, if you'd like to. Um now I'm as the uh also the chairperson of the born board of health. I'll say that we recently passed a a cratom regulation
was based on the MHA model regulation and uh that was at the urging of our police department uh the chief of police who um asked the board to address this uh because of this terrible problems we were having in town with the police were
having with dealing with people that are addicted to this stuff. So um I didn't happen to be there for the public hearing and vote. I was away from my son's wedding, but we you know the board did pass it in my absence and um the I know the police chief and several other
you know folks in town are very happy about it. We had a lot of support at the at the hearing as I understand. So but yes, if you would like to just introduce the topic and I'm happy to help you even though it's not a tobacco product. I'm I'm not um I don't have a
wealth of knowledge about but as a board of health member we did address this in the town of Bourne with a comprehensive regulation just last month or I'm sorry yeah just last month. Just reading from the from the packet,
it seems that this is a um I guess a vegetable based product or substance coming from Souththeast Asia I believe listening tonight. There are apparently also some synthetic forms of
it. Uh this is a a substance was interesting and mentioned from what I read was that on smaller doses has sort of an infetamine uh um
I guess somehow that someone feels more up when they're taking us a lower dose of this product >> uh some kind of stimulation stimulant as opposed to a much larger dose. was from
what I read, the substance sort of connects with the receptors that opiates do. In other words, it kind of connects with uh the part of your body that also responds to the molecules of an opiate.
So, it's it's a little complex that way. Um, one of the issues from what I read was that there's really no regulation on it. In other words, there's no one overseeing where this is made or how it's made. You know, you worry about is
this coming out of someone's dirty kitchen? You know, we go out and inspect kitchens here for a reason. We don't know where the stuff is made. Uh how sanitary it is, what country it's coming from. Um
the so the quality is an issue. Also, the strength of it is is something else. Um, so you and there hasn't been a lot of medical testing I can tell you on it. There really haven't been a whole lot of studies. Um,
you know, we heard tonight some people kind of zoomed in and we're talking about having some benefits from this substance um, as an alternative for for painkillers. That's sort of my takeaway.
Anyone else on the board any comments on what this substance is? Or Bob, you can keep going. >> Well, I I would concur with the statements that you just made. There has been no analysis of the actual content of this of these products. U the FDA does not has not authorized them or
approved of them in any way. It's very similar to a lot of the tobacco products that are out there now. As a matter of fact, with the nicotine pouches and the vape products that come from overseas, we have no way of knowing what's actually in them and what the actual potency of these things are as well. U
so the same the same concerns apply toratomratum kind of slipped through the cracks. It was slowly introduced into the market mostly was found in the larger urban areas, you know, Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Fall River, New Bedford, Brockton, Lel Lynn, all in
those areas. And then it's kind of it's kind of crept out into the suburbia and here on the Cape and um it's more widely available now. Not everybody has it, but it it became enough of a problem in Borne that the again the police chief um
specifically and formally requested that the board take some action on it. And I'm sure that I'm not you I don't know who the the Yarmouth police chief is, but he or she may also have similar concerns. you may want to um inquire of that person what their opinion is and
you know relative to that particular drug. So it does work along the same pleasure pathways as opiates, opioids, cocaine, heroin, nicotine, all of those things and is very addictive um to my understanding. And so that's what leads to like all those other drugs, right?
You start out people who use it, they dabble in it a little bit typically and then the dependency grows and you need more and more of it. Um, and yes, some people uh have claimed and have you heard some claims tonight that it helps them with um various ailments that they
have if they use it in small doses and very specific varieties. But there again, no uh credible medical uh evidence of that to my knowledge. I don't think that there's are there any journal um articles that
you would be able to access to support any claims to that nature? Um and so uh you know it's it's something that's out there that again isn't approved or has not been evaluated or analyzed in
any way by FDA, CDC or any of those uh you know the federal health agencies or by any of the states that I'm aware of. You mentioned the police had to deal with it. In what way? >> Well, people overdose on the stuff and then, you know, they have to go out and
deal with people that are acting violently and or, you know, whatever else and so it's leading to abuse of illegal drugs as well. And in fact, I think the FDA, just to kind of shift back that way for a second, they want to they take some action on it, but you
know, good, we all know how slowly the federal government usually works. Um, so But yeah, the Bourne police have had uh apparently several issues with this particular substance with people
overdosing and uh you know requiring staff assistance and uh EMS and everything else to get people to the hospitals and you know I'm not sure anybody's died from it but there have been several episodes of violent and uncontrollable incidents
um with with users who have abused it. Did I have a question if you do mind Mr. Chair? Uh did Borne ban all cratom or just the whole leaf or the the 70 synthetic? >> I believe in all forms with the MHA uh
model draft model regulation. >> Okay. So there there's also one that that Northampton, the city of Northampton um in Western Mass had adopted and it has a couple of minor rhetorical differences, but um as far as
definitions and the like penalty phase and that sort of thing. >> I had a couple of comments about it. Um um of course the seemed like the DEA and the FDA just kicked the can down the road just because of public opinion,
>> right? >> Um as far as I could tell, there's really no um quality control in these products. There's a wide array of these products available including a synthetic
form. Um, hydroxy 7 hydroxy I think um that's that's even more of an issue. Um but it it's unlikely that anybody or any company is going to do a um a any kind
of a a a study on the product because there's no way that they can um assure that it would remain proprietary. In other words, it would cost them a ton of money to um uh do a a a study on this uh
um product. but there's no way that they can assure that they would retain um the rights to be able to market it. So, it's it's pretty unlikely that even going forward in the future that this product is really going to be well
investigated. Um my concern also with this active ingredient is metragginine. Um and metrogenine um it's a type of product that requires um is this cytochrome P450
is part of our it's a protein that actually um it it metabolizes these uh drugs in our body um and it very variable the the um um uh cytochrome
P450 uh can be very variable from one individual to another. So one individual might not have any effect to this product at all and another one would could essentially be very cause severe
severe harm. And a good analogy of that in in veterary medicines we have um uh this drug that we use all the time. times called ivormectin very common parasiticide and there are several breeds collies
Australian shepherds border collies that lack this p uh this cytochrome P450 system and it's lethal uh you use ivormectin in these cases it's a perfectly approved product but in these
breeds it will cause your death um the um the side effects of um of uh metrogenine are seizures, liver failure, um uh breathing, uh uh pulmonary compromised
uh depressed breathing. So there are some pretty serious side effects and the fact that the product is so unregulated really raises concerns for me that it should even be available to the public until we have some sort of quality
control with it at this point and and I don't I don't see that happening. So I I I have serious concerns that there are a lot of side effects in this drug that we don't even know about >> or that we might run into have a problem
with. So for that reason I I I'm not a proponent of of the sale of it at this point. What happens with tweaking of these chemicals where it's slightly different than what's going in your regulation in
your town? What happens then? >> Um, so the tweak I'm not sure what you're getting at, Dr. >> You're changing the molecular structure yet the substance has this the new substance has the same effect. >> U, it's just creative chemistry.
>> Yeah. I I don't know. I mean, >> like I said, I'm not a chemist. unique product. >> It is very unique. Yeah. And I don't I don't even know where the you know where it originally came from. I don't think Malaysia. >> Yeah. It's very I mean it's readily used
and abundant in uh Southeast Asia. >> Yeah. >> Very common. >> It's just that in the hands of our young people. I just really have serious concerns about especially for the reasons we talked about. There's really no quality control in these products.
and you know from one product to another >> right >> some of it's synthetic some of it is supposedly natural there's probably some hybrid stuff and and no analysis of it >> just always comes into you know when they're producing these products for sale
>> can't tell me that cost isn't doesn't come into play you know >> so >> and the products could be adulterated and and they often are and that's been a real problem for responders because they don't know what they're dealing with Right.
>> Well, it certainly is what happened with fentinol. >> The people that are using it, they're probably more familiar with, you know, obviously they've they've done the groundwork and they're they found it useful for them, but what about the young people that really have no
exposure or very little experience using it? And you know it starts off causing one effect then if you you know for that high but then if you want that euphoric effect you've got to increase the dose or use another product and I I have
seriously serious concerns about it in the the way it is right now. >> Well certainly suppresses your your respiratory rate and your blood pressure. Yeah. Um >> what kind of feedback have you received in your town from uh people with the new
regulation in effect? >> Well, it's been a very brief period of time, but we have had a lot of positive feedback. People thanking us for for having done that. You know, they have kids addicted to it or you know, brothers, sisters, what have you. Um so
the the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. >> Okay. Thank you. I think that for those folks that are really like the product, I think that it's incumbent on the maybe um the FDA or the uh you know uh
somebody to do um enough work with it that they can prescribe it if it's that effective for them that that those folks can be assured they're going to get a good product. um if it's
prescribed and if it's produced by a pharmaceutical company, a bonafideed legitimate pharmaceutical company. Right now, that's not the case as far as I can see. >> Anything else with the board? >> No, sir.
>> You have any feelings of what you want to do about this? this. Would you like me to put it on the agenda for the next one for more discussion, get you more um educational pamphlets? We, as you saw today, we have multiple emails from
multiple different people that came in just today that we weren't able to get on the slides and stuff like that. Um Riley did print out a packet, gave them to you that new stuff that came in. This is I didn't have a chance to get out today to buy actually buy a bottle, but
we did get some good pictures of and it looks just like anything you can get on this on the counter over like the 5-hour energy drinks you can get at Ocean State Job Blood at Cumberland Farms, anything like that. And it's so we can get you more education and more stuff to the
board to and we can have it for another discussion to eventually put it on for a vote. So, >> Mary, I'd be interested to hear from um the first responders, the police and fire departments um and as far as like
how they're are they dealing with overdoses locally and how they're how they're treating those. We I >> I'd also be interested to hear from the the school systems if they've had any experience with that in the hands of the
>> Yes, sir. Eric, I'll be more than happy to uh start my research on that and get you that information by the next meeting. >> Thank you. >> You know, if it's coming in a little bottle or if it's coming in tablets, you you can you may not know how strong it
is, but uh what with powdered? It comes in powder. I think doesn't it? >> Yeah, >> it comes in several forms, but I'm not familiar with all of them. So, >> yeah, >> the quantity would also be an issue. >> Ingest it in several different ways, too, right? >> And mix it with other things and
whatever. That's >> the other point is I think as it becomes more ubiquitous, it's going to be tougher and tougher to regulate unless we have some regulations in place. As you I was just reading this and you can see this one little bottle and
somebody buy it and drink it. But up there servings per container too. So all this the hydro I can't even say that big word. I apologize but that's just that's double the amount that people are actually taking if they and I can't say
everybody's only doing a half of a bottle as the recommended serving. So, they're getting twice the amount of stuff into their system as it is. So, but I'll be more than happy to get more information out. Um, and I'll continue
to feed it out to the board as much as I can. >> I don't know if your town did we see your regulation or not. We're using town. I don't think so. >> I We had it in last meeting packet. I'll be more than happy to get it out again. So, >> okay.
>> Yeah. I didn't even know you were talking about this tonight. So, I just I would have brought more information, but again, and I wasn't present for our hearing and and the the board voted on the same night. So, um that one kind of bypassed me. >> You did very well off guard. Thank you,
Bob. >> No, it's okay. >> Appreciate you. But yes, we did have their So what what a how it kind of came about to my light uh a concerned citizen called us and said that her son had
overdosed a couple times on this and if we were doing any regulations on it, if there was any program and I I'd never heard of it. So that's when we started doing research. Riley got some information for me and just so happened then something came out from Ptown and
then literally like a day later next day born passed it and that's and it was already on our agenda to talk about. So, it's I didn't think it was that great of issue, but now that I'm bringing it's
coming to light, it's a lot bigger issue than what I thought it was. And we're not the only ones that might have this problem. And >> it's a problem we can nip in the bud before it gets greatly exposed. >> So, we definitely have it being sold in
town. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And and I agree with Larry. I mean, if we're going to do something, um, and like Barry said too, I I think we need to to do it pretty quickly because right now it doesn't sound like it's a big
product for our convenience stores and and other places that might carry it, but, you know, it it could get to be big and then we're going to deal with taking away another product that's part of the income. So, I think we should probably deal with this pretty quickly if we're
going to do anything. I mean, do you want to look at a um a regulation to propose one? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> I'd like to. Yes. >> Okay.
>> Abstract that uh we have. It's pretty informative. Gives a lot of good information. If I could just read a paragraph. >> Oh, yeah. Great. >> Yeah. uh without standardization, use of good manufacturing practices and strict quality control measures by
manufacturers and distributors, individuals who ingest Gratom products cannot be sure of what they're taking. This problem suggests that systemic and cautious regulation, systematic and cautious regulation of
Kraton products is likely to improve their safety. Such regulation and standardization is certainly needed, but it's unclear how such quality control programs can be developed and administered. One possible approach might be to use typical concentrations
of metrogenine and seven hydroxy metatragginine found inraton leaves as sealings for alcohol alkyoid content of all products. And it's the alkyoid content that we have to be concerned about as far as a metabolism by the the
body. It would be essential that the products be tested to show that they have not been fortified or contaminated with other other substances particularly opioid derivatives. The AmericanM Association has recently announced plans
to address many of these issues by adopting a set of good manufacturing standards for theratom industry. U so I think until they come up with more of a plan that we should really uh uh think
about regulating this this product. It's a loose cannon right now I think. So, how do you want to go about that logistically? I'm just asking questions of the board. >> Discuss it again and, you know, let it sink in and study it a little more and
>> kicking the can uh down the road as far as a tobacco issue, but we might as if you have no problems with kicking the can down the road on this one. That's I'm okay with it. >> The regulations that Bourne came up with, are those inter adaptable to other
towns fairly easily? Yes, I I think they just we went with straight the M mha uh draft model which is available on their website I believe and um um there's also the Northampton regulation which I'm
happy to send you copy of so they're very minor differences again mostly in the enforcement phase >> but um you know could be a couple of definitions that are tweaked in the Northampton rig I think the Northampton rig is actually a little more stringent
than the the MHA model. So, but you could take a look at both, decide which way you'd like to go, and you can make any changes to it, of course. Um, any edits that better suit you as a community.
>> Thank you. >> As with any regulation, >> I' I'd like to request that we also um I'd like to hear from this American Craycom Association. There was a caller that called in from
that organization. Um I don't know if he was a representative of it or or just a member, but um it sounds like they've done a lot of work in regard to it. And I'd like to hear what they've done and we know that you know Larry just read the section that said that they were
working on standards and you know quality control measures and all. So, I'd like to hear what they're doing because we know the government is not going to do it and the um farmer big farmer is not going to do it um for the reasons that we've already discussed.
So, and if the FDA passes makes it title one, then no, no one's going to be studying it. So, anyway, I'd like to hear from the CRA Craycom association, too. I'm not sure how we can
try to reach out to them. I'm not sure. >> Well, that fellow that spoke on the just in the beginning of the meeting, he was from the association >> and offered to u answer any questions or whatever. So, maybe we could get him to come, >> you know, zoom in to a future meeting
and tell us some more about what they're doing exactly. >> Okay. So, we're talking about uh getting the first responders in it as well. Okay. For the next meeting. >> Yep.
>> Um and maybe a model of for um a regulation if if the board wanted to move forward on it. Um would be helpful. Okay. I'm good with that. Okay.
>> Well, thank you. Appreciate it. Son, good luck. Okay. Thank you, broker. >> Okay. Uh we're up to review and approve minutes and first one is the November 3rd
meeting which was in your packet. Does anybody have any comments, corrections on the November 3rd, 2025 meeting? >> I I did not. >> Didn't neither.
>> Well written. >> Thank you, Eric. Mary, anything? >> No. Nope. >> It's time for motion on it. Then >> I make a motion that we accept the uh meeting minutes from November 3rd, 2025.
>> Thank you. It's a second. Someone >> second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. Raise your hand there. >> Okay. Probably most of us enough for passing it anyway. So that's good. We got one more to go and that's the
minutes from the December 18th, 2023 meeting which I'm sure you remember all the details of the meeting. >> That was a meeting for the ages though. I remember that meeting. >> Yes. Um it it it was a great meeting actually. >> Yes. >> Um it a lot
>> I didn't see any issues with it. >> A lot that accomplishes that meeting. I agree with you. >> Um I didn't either. >> Enlightening meeting >> and I make a motion we accept it. Um, meeting minutes from December 18th, 2023.
>> Second. >> Thank you. Okay. All in favor, raise your hand, say I. >> I. >> I. >> Okay, that passes as well. Okay, we're down to new and old business, folks. I want to make sure everyone gets back to see the Pats play tonight. So, >> Oh, that's right.
>> Or, you know, probably lose to the Giants. But, you know what? What are you going to do? >> Um, >> so number nine, here's new and old business. >> Perish the thought. I have a couple things on our agenda. Um, Alphael
um syndrome over on the vineyard is highly highly going up. It just so happened a gentleman who had it didn't realize he had it and had a hamburger and passed away within four hours of having it.
>> Second exposure I saw. >> Yeah. Um, so if you're out right now it's high tick season um October >> is that the only case that or is there are there other cases? >> There's a lot of cases I I have this in
front of you and it's and it's more the vineyard for some reason then but there are some here. Um just if you're prevention we've talked about tech tick prevention multiple times. Check yourself. Wear light colored clothing.
Check yourself. Um, I put on an all naturatural on myself when I go out walk my dog. Uh, Larry, do you recommend anything for pets when you're walking dogs out on the >> What what I do is I have these gators. Uh, they're only $20. You can get them
on Amazon or anywhere. >> Pardon? Oh, yeah. I use these gators to call >> Oh, I bet I Yeah, for dogs and stuff. What do you >> Well, here's here's what I do. Usually, if I think of it,
>> I'll spray the gators before I put them on with this uh peromeine product. >> And then I'll spray a paper towel with a perome peromeine products and likely wipe down the legs of my dogs. And I'm very careful to check them when we come
back from a a walk. The only problem this year, more than any other year, I've noticed all these nymph ticks in October and November, they hung on and and I'm still getting them. And they're tiny little ticks. You can barely see them. And u it's something to be
concerned. They're deer ticks, though. They're not uh the lonear tick >> or the lime. >> The lonear tick. The one uh um peculiarity of the lonear tick is they're very fast. They can uh they're
very mobile and they can uh travel around your body very quickly. So, but they they uh they're uh they're a little larger and they look different than the uh deer tick.
Um anybody else on ticks? We got another one that from Mary sent me uh a little thing from the CDC. We've talked about it at previous meetings about vaccinations and autism and uh it
just says vaccinate and from the CDC website suggesting that vaccines do not cause autism. It's um being a medical profession. Do you want to expand on that chair? It's it's got very confusing uh out
there um of just that subject of >> you're being kind. >> Yeah. Um in that there haven't been any well-conducted medical studies
really connecting the vaccines to autism just isn't there. Um, but we're hearing all kinds of things and that's why in the last couple meetings I mentioned you need to speak to your health provider if you have any questions or concerns. They
were actually seeing people are being really um really hesitant to get vaccines including for their animals um which I came across an article about that. So it it's things have have changed. There was a big discussion about people who are
refusing for their newborns hepatitis B vaccines which is mortality rate is very high for infants who can get hepatitis B. Um, so you know, get educated. Um, don't
just watch the TV station you normally watch or the newspaper you read. Speak to whoever you go to for your medical advice is what my suggestion would be. >> Perfect. >> I I'd like to add to that. And for us, if we who are on the board of health, we
should be listening to um our own public health commissioner, Dr. Goldstein. because Massachusetts is not going along with all of the national news that is coming from CDC,
the changes that are coming and um we are part of Massachusetts government and I think those are the ones that we should be looking to for our leadership. So in order to help
people who ask us um certainly they should speak with their physicians. Absolutely like Killer said, but we also can say that, you know, we are we are um part of the Massachusetts Department of Health and we are going along with what
we are hearing from our experts and our scientists who are still there. >> Good point. Thanks for bringing up. Yes, this this board answers to the Department of Health here in Massachusetts. Obviously, this came up a lot during the peak of COVID. Um, so
thank you, Mary. What else we have on the list? >> I got a couple other things. Um, the at town meeting two weeks ago, the the plastic bylaw ban that was put in effect
two years ago was rescended. Um, people, so now it's our regulation that we will be following for the town of Yarmouth on the plastic regulations starting 1126. I'll be working with Phil and I getting all the educational components out to
all of our establishments on what plastics um they can and can't use. Um how to replenish their stocks, uh what we're expecting from them, what they're expecting from us, any questions they
have, all that education just to help the town. Um, I just want to say thank you to the town that trusted us to resend that and let us do the right thing with this new regulation that the board adopted. So, it's a very tough,
it's a very sensitive subject. Um, a year ago there was a lot of opposition. Um, the town people didn't think that we're going to do something. They thought we're just going to kick it down the road. Um the town administrator Bob Whitenower put together a great team uh
and we came together uh Mary was on it, myself was on it and the regulation we came up with is doable for the town and the residents and for the business people alike. So there's that.
>> Kudos to all the people that put all that time into that effort. It was a a full throttle committee. I mean, we knew we were on a time crunch and we didn't want to sit back. It was we were meeting either weekly or bi-weekly to to get it
done. So, we did it. Um, another thing last week or last month, um, well, I'll step back a second. the health department each month is taking
on a new issue whether it's child obesity, um diabetes, we're doing giving tree. Last month was the uh diabetes uh awareness. We gave free tests out um through the through the county that
helped us out with this. It was we had 18 slots and they all were filled. They were all were taken. So, we had 18 people that came and had their C1C tested and I'm not sure about results
due to HIPPA and I hope somebody got some results that they didn't know and we were able to help them. So, that was great for that one. Uh the month of December, we are doing a giving tree. It's you can get all the information
from the health department. We had 22 local kids and they were all have been taken and we are in the process of getting seven more. Riley, >> so we have 25 that have been taken now
in one family with three kids and we're hoping to get a few more from Emmy Small. >> Yeah. So hopefully we're getting another seven more students. So it's it's been a great great program so far. If you want to come uh sponsor a child, you can get and they have a little list of what they
have or what they want. You can get one thing. You can get them there. There's no limit on it. So, I we prefer not you giving them ponies, Larry. So, unless they really want it. Um but it's been great. Uh lots of inquiries daily on on
that. So, that's it's very good. So, we're we're highly the Riley, Sarah, Deb in the office, the ladies are doing a great job putting it this together and promoting it. So, >> it's a lot of fun. I went out to the stores and buying things you don't
normally buy. Um, so I had a >> wish you had when you were little, young. >> Um, >> distant memory. >> Yeah. So 5-year-old um and um boy wrote some interesting things that he wanted
and so had a good time uh going to several stores and just piling it all into a bag. So I just encourage everyone to do it. It it feels good. These are kids who aren't getting a lot of gifts or none at all. There's just no money at home. So just keep that in mind. >> I appreciate that.
And then one last one. And for January, we're doing a blood drive January 23rd at the at Flax Ponds at the Luroso Lodge from 10:30 to 3. Um, we have it up on our website. There's a
QR code. You scan it. If um for our elderly population, if they don't do the QR codes, they can call in to make uh arrangements with them. you can we have it at the senior center that uh the how to coordinate to get there stuff like
that. So that's our that's going to be our January one. A nice big blood drive we're putting on through the health departments with that one. Uh just reminder because it's getting colder, people are closing their windows or out less. Um and so flu rates are
going up a little bit. Uh it's not too late to get a flu shot. Uh the the COVID vaccine, the new one is available. Uh I've gotten a couple calls today from people who have gotten sick that it's it happens in the fall. I mean, it's
just working its way that people are spending more time closer to each other. So, just I would encourage people to once again speak to your health provider about getting um a COVID vaccination again.
What else you got, Barry? >> Um, that's about it. Check your smoke detectors tonight. If you need help, you can call me. I'll I'll direct some help to you. I I'll get you I'll get you help. So, I'll personally will make sure >> you'll you'll come to the house.
>> I I will make sure something happens. I I don't know. >> Not you, Josh. >> I might send Riley out on a field trip. >> Okay. All right. Next meeting in two weeks that would be the 15th of December. >> 15th of December. We have a couple
things that sounds like we have on our agenda. We >> do. >> Which is going to be a great I >> at the 21st of December. >> 15th. >> We got the wrong Oh, that's the 2026 count. I'm looking at >> um Oh, I'm looking at the 2026. >> We'll let that go. Uh Dr. Vidiz, we'll
let that go. But um >> so if there's nothing else, >> I want to show up at the right night though. We want we want you to >> Yeah. What's up, Mary? >> Um I I received a a very um nice note uh
from someone um who watches our our board of health meetings and if that person is watching tonight, I just want to thank them. I felt very happy and encouraged by it and it was a very kind gesture. Thank you. >> Yeah, that I think she gave all of us a
note and really a very personal note as well. It was great. I really appreciated it. >> Yeah. Um I received one. She's very astute and she watches the meetings very carefully. She knows a lot of the details. Um but it was nice to get
positive feedback for all of us. >> And speaking of that, I didn't realize and I realized but I didn't realize I just with the two agenda items tonight and it wasn't just local. It was I mean people around the country found out
about our agenda and stuff like that and I'm I was very happy to see that we had a crowd here tonight and I'm open for good discussions on that and a lot of people >> left happy but >> yeah well it's but it's open and people are reading our agendas and people are
following us. It's just it's good. I like it. >> Yeah, I was yeah I had no idea that what was going to take place that people would be coming in. So yeah, it's nice to hear from the community for sure. >> They're always welcome. >> Okay,
>> Eric, this is your time. Maybe >> time to shine. >> Yeah. So, what do we have to do now? >> Um, I think I'll move we adjourn. >> Oh, interesting. Okay. Is there a second? >> I'll second. Second. Mary, you can
second. >> Who gets credit for that? >> You can share it. I don't really care. Okay. Old favor astute than I am. >> Raise your hand and say I. Fine. This meeting is adjourned.