The meeting opened with a spotlight on the Summer Eats program at Hedge Elementary, a federally funded initiative providing free nutritional meals to children under 18. Vice Chair Teri Reid emphasized the program's necessity, noting that as we know with the economy as it is today, anytime you can have food insecurity it is a health related social need and something that we should be supporting fully. Amy Palmer added that the program is uniquely accessible because every child who does go to Hedge School walks to Hedgeville... they can walk to their school to get lunch during the summer. The board highlighted the USDA nutritional standards of the meals as a significant health benefit over processed alternatives, with Reid observing that the fact that it's USDA can say a lot about processed food and a bag of chips.

Business moved quickly through several grease trap variances, where local establishments sought relief from the standard 2,000-gallon requirement. For Subway at 74 Long Pond Road, the board mandated monthly pumping for the first year. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to accept the variance as written Motion Passed 5-0. Benchmark Senior Living also received a variance for its 1,500-gallon tank, provided they install a passive trap for their dishwasher. Eddie Rita, representing Benchmark, noted that makes 100% sense. I figured that's what direction everyone would go in. Motion Made by Teri Reid to approve the variance for Benchmark Senior Living Motion Passed 5-0. Similarly, Zesto Pizzeria was granted a variance to maintain its current equipment with strict monthly and quarterly pumping schedules. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to recommend the variance Motion Passed 5-0.

Septic variance requests dominated the middle of the session, highlighted by a complex rebuild at 40 Avenue B involving expanding wetlands. Chris Anderson of Merrill Engineers explained that the wetland species have expanded kind of substantially towards the lawn house area and noted that the existing cottage is serviced by two cesspools... which is not an ideal situation. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to approve the variance Motion Passed 5-0. A project at 7 Willow also moved forward to address maximum feasible compliance. Dave Mura of JD Modance Associates stated the house is a three-bedroom home with no garbage disposal serviced by Town Water. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to approve Motion Passed 5-0. Tensions flared during the 23 Emerson Road hearing, where abutter Kathy Aldrich expressed deep concerns about property line encroachment, stating, None of us have control over that... I want to start from here with what's the best approach that can be done for this property to protect everyone around it. Motion Made by Teri Reid to table Motion Passed 5-0. For 58 Colchester Drive, Steve Katowski of Webby Engineering advocated for concrete chambers over plastic, noting, We're staying away from those plastic chambers and I think that just this concrete will add so much more capacity. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to approve the variance Motion Passed 5-0. Finally, at 3 Avenue A, Kyle Hammeran described the 906-square-foot lot's constraints, stating maximum feasible compliance here would just be to install the tight tank in the backyard and noting the alarm will go off and they need to get it pumped within 24 hours. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to recommend the tight tank with the deed restriction Motion Passed 5-0.

The board then discussed tightening tobacco regulations, specifically targeting nicotine pouches. Chair Barry Potvin warned that pouches also contain among other things formaldehyde and can cause some very serious problems including changing attention deficit behaviors. He advocated for a potential 6-milligram nicotine limit and clearer definitions to prevent sales to minors. The session ended with a contentious reshuffling of liaison roles, specifically for the Southern Plymouth County Public Health Collaborative. Lorenzo Pizarro asserted that as a board, we work together so that we get feedback and if there's things that are provocative or that needs to come back to the board. Pizarro was nominated to replace Potvin as the primary member, a move Potvin strongly opposed, stating, I'm shocked, I'm dismayed, and I think this is going to be very deleterious. Motion Made by Lorenzo Pizarro to nominate Lorenzo Pizarro as our member Motion Passed 4-1. Karen Keane was then appointed as the alternate. Motion Made by Amy Palmer to nominate Karen Keane as the alternate Motion Passed 4-0-1. The meeting was adjourned at 6:13 PM.