Marion Board of Health — May 21, 2026

The Marion Board of Health met on May 21, 2026, beginning with an annual board reorganization following municipal elections. The board elected Ed as chairman, Dr. John Howard as vice chairman, and Alvin as secretary. The board reviewed and voted unanimously to endorse a vacant property policy drafted by the Select Board, noting that legal and housing obligations regarding abandoned buildings fall under Select Board and town counsel jurisdiction. The board also reappointed Mika DaCosta as tobacco compliance program manager, Dave Flaherty as backup inspector, and Susan Griffith as backup nurse for MAVEN reporting, and approved the meeting minutes from April 23, 2026.

The board finalized its summer meeting schedule, agreeing to meet on June 4, July 23, and August 20, with an optional placeholder on June 18. During the director's update, staff reported that town beach water testing commenced for the season, with full testing across all 10 beaches beginning June 8. Staff announced an upcoming rabies educational talk scheduled for June 3 at the Marion Community Center. The board agreed to pre-order 50 doses of the updated Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and authorized purchasing a replacement vaccine refrigerator using the department's revolving fund after the existing unit failed that morning.

The health agent provided an operational update covering septic reviews, pool inspections, body art certifications, and temporary food permits for the Tabor Academy Spring Fest and the upcoming Marion Farmers Market, which features 13 vendors starting June 2. Under correspondence, the board reviewed monitoring reports from the landfill, Plymouth County Mosquito Control updates, and correspondence from Eileen Merrim and Mr. Johnson regarding stormwater drainage and alternative nitrogen-reducing septic systems, concluding no regulatory action was required at this time.

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