Board of Health Reorganizes, Meets Town’s New Public Health Specialist

Melissa Braga was elected chair, with Susan Amato serving as vice and George Ferdinand as clerk

The Tewksbury Board of Health met last night with newcomers George Ferdinand, Chris Janeczak and Luke Miller joining Melissa Braga and Susan Amato.

First on the agenda was a reorganization. Amato nominated Braga for chair, seconded by Miller, who then nominated Amato for vice chair. That was seconded by Janeczak, and Amato nominated Ferdinand as clerk. Janeczak also seconded that motion. All were elected unanimously.

After discussion on how minutes could be approved for a meeting that only two members attended, Braga introduced the revamped Tewksbury Board of Health mission statement: 

“Our mission is to foster a healthy and safe environment for the residents of Tewkesbury by building strong connections with schools, businesses and the community. We are dedicated to educating and empowering all sectors of the town to work together, promoting wellness and ensuring the well being of our residents.“

Director of Public Health Shannon Gillis explained that Tewksbury was awarded a Public Health Excellence grant with Tyngsboro, Chelmsford and Billerica. With those funds, the towns share some staff, including new Public Health Specialist Siobhan LaFreniere.

“She’s going to be doing some educational programs for the community, and also regionally as well,” said Gillis.

LaFreniere, who attended UMass Lowell and majored in Public Health with a minor in Informatics and Technology, was unanimously appointed.

Other Health Department staff, including Gillis, also require reappointments annually in order to execute their roles, given that the elected board authorizes them to enforce the town’s codes and bylaws. They include Gillis as well as Sanitarian Michelle Grant, Health Agent Arielle Castro and Ashley Pavlakos, the town’s Public Health Nurse.

Ferdinand asked to table reappointments for existing staff for 30 days.

“Make a motion to table the health agent approval, extend her, extend their position 30 days and make a motion that they, we, tabled it until then,” said Ferdinand.

That was seconded by veteran board member Amato. 

“It would be great for us to be able to get just some more information on everyone so that when we’re voting on it, we all understand what their positions are,” she said. “I think it’s just that we were asked to reappoint these people, and we know nothing about them. I’m sure everyone is top notch.”

Given Gillis’ reminder that failure to reappoint staff would render these employees unable to function as agents of the town, Amato withdrew her second. Miller suggested reappointing the staff then, in new business, asking for more information on qualifications if that was in fact the intent. However, Ferdinand continued.

“I only have one more point of information, and again, it’s going to look like I got some kind of agenda,” he said. “And I don’t have any agenda other than the fact that, just wanted to ask, and I asked the town manager on the reappointments what would happen if they were ever voted down, that the people would continue to be employees of the town but they would not be quote, health agents. That’s what he told me.”

Gillis again explained that without the board’s approval, the staff would have no authority to enforce health codes. This round of reappointments was approved unanimously on a motion by Braga and a second by Janeczak.

Next was reappointment of Special Health Agents; these are individuals, such as the animal control officers, who enforce codes but are not direct Health Department employees. That group also includes Ron Beauregard, the town’s Tobacco Control Agent, and Maria Ruggerio, who serves as Prevention Division Director/Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for the Tewksbury Police Department Community Impact Unit.  

Miller motioned to reappoint, with a second by Janeczak. That motion carried 4-0 with Ferdinand abstaining. 

Under old business, Braga mentioned an ongoing effort to review and modify regulations, including on microblading,  and invited members to consider volunteering to pick up a seat on the executive board of Tewksbury CARES and move that effort forward.

Gillis noted that the snowed-out Health Fair was rescheduled for Friday, June 7 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Senior Center. The community is invited. Learn more.

Amato reported that she and Braga have been working for some time on goals for the board to work toward in 2024 and promised to share that document. Braga reminded members that Open Meeting Law dictates that email communications, such as for minutes, are informational and one way, except for Gillis.

Braga thanked the board for voting her in as chair and said she looks forward to growing and improving in the role. For now, meetings will be monthly, with the option to call special meetings as required.

“I am so excited to have a new board,” said Amato. 

The meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.