Lawrence Ford Approved as Tattoo Practitioner After Apprenticeship
City Addresses Beaver Activity Impacting Mill Pond and Bell Rock Road
Fall River Water Fluoridation Expected to Resume Soon
Health Department Expands Staff and Community Programs
The Fall River Board of Health held a virtual meeting on July 27, 2026, with members Thomas Cory and Michael J. Coughlin present. The board began by approving the minutes from their May 18, 2026 meeting. They then approved tattoo practitioner applications for Aaron Gerard and Lawrence Ford. Three applications for the keeping of animals were also approved: Jessica Perez for up to 8 hens, Jose Calheta for an amended request of 18 chickens and 5 ducks, and Raymond Leboy for 8 hens, despite letters of opposition from neighbors concerned about vermin. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a tobacco violation hearing for Farm Market at 223 Durfee Street. This was the store's second offense, involving the sale of flavored vapes. The owner, Tanvir Sajib, claimed the items were leftover from a previous owner. The board found the offense credible, upheld a mandatory $2,000 fine, and imposed a 7-day suspension of their tobacco license. The board also heard from Paul Furlan, Administrator of Community Utilities, regarding beaver activity causing flooding and potential road damage near Mill Pond and Bell Rock Road. The board voted to issue an emergency letter to the Conservation Commission to allow for the installation of "beaver deceiver" solutions. Furlan also provided a brief update, stating that water fluoridation could resume within a few months after a multi-year hiatus. The meeting concluded with a director's report from Tess Curran on departmental activities, including the Mass in Motion program, and the scheduling of the next meeting for August 31, 2026.
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City Officials
Public / Other
Good afternoon to everyone in the land of Zoom, and welcome to the Board of Health virtual meeting on Monday, July 27th, 2026, scheduled for 3:30.
0:11My name is Thomas Corey.
0:13Present with me via Zoom is Michael Coughlin, Tess Curran, Agent of the Board, Sandy Nadeau-Souza, Secretary of the Board, various guests and participants in today's meeting.
0:26Pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
0:36Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
0:48Tess, can we have a roll call?
0:52Thomas Corey?
0:54Yes.
0:54Michael Coughlin?
0:56Yes.
0:56Stephen Gagliardi?
1:00The first item of business is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of Wednesday, May 18th, 2026.
1:07Are there any additions, deletions, or corrections to be made to the minutes of the meeting as printed?
1:15Move to approve.
1:17Okay, I'll second.
1:17Tess, do we have a roll call?
1:21Thomas Corey?
1:22Yes.
1:22Michael Coughlin?
1:24Yes.
1:26Next, we have the request for tattoo practitioner application for Aaron Gerard of 195 High Ridge Road, Somerset, to work in Up in Flames on 228 South Main Street, Fall River.
1:42Who's presenting?
1:44That would be me.
1:45For Mr. Gerard.
1:46Okay.
1:47Yep.
1:47So I've reviewed all of his paperwork.
1:49He actually had a license in Boston, and he's actually had a license in Boston for a while now.
1:55And he has all the requirements to do tattooing here.
2:00Okay.
2:03All the paperwork is in order?
2:05Yes, sir.
2:06Okay.
2:08Michael, any questions?
2:10Questions?
2:11Move to approve the application.
2:13Okay, I'll second.
2:14Do we have a roll call?
2:16Thomas Corey?
2:17Yes.
2:18Michael Coughlin?
2:19Yes.
2:20It can be like— good luck.
2:22No, ma'am.
2:23So thank you.
2:26Okay, next we have the request for approval of a tattoo practitioner application for Lawrence Ford of 335 Hooper Street.
2:35Tibbetts in Rhode Island to work for Painted Savage Tattoo at 974 North Main Street, Fall River.
2:44Yeah, I'll be presenting that one too.
2:46Okay.
2:46So he's had an apprentice license with us for the year.
2:50I reviewed all of his work throughout the year and submitted all of his samples and reviewed all of his credentials.
2:58He is ready to become a practitioner in tattoo.
3:01He's put a lot of hard work.
3:02He's put a lot of hard work.
3:04Oh, very good.
3:05Really talented.
3:09Michael, any questions?
3:11No questions.
3:12Move to approve.
3:13Okay, I'll second.
3:14Tesco, we have a roll call.
3:16Thomas Corey?
3:17Yes.
3:18Michael Coughlin?
3:20Yes.
3:21Okay, Mr. Ford, good luck.
3:23And we can, um, we can look into that.
3:26Okay, next we have the application for the keeping of animals for Jessica Perez.
3:31Of 37 Smith Street, Fall River.
3:35Who's presenting?
3:40Josh or Jay?
3:41No, this is Faust, and for some reason I don't have video.
3:45Ah, sounds like me last month, Faust.
3:47I understand completely.
3:49I don't know what to do.
3:53So actually, I have 2 today.
3:54This was— I'm sorry, Penn Street.
3:57This is Smith Street.
3:58Smith Street.
3:58Okay, sorry.
3:59Okay, so, um, this, uh, the applicant does not have the animals yet, uh, but everything else is set up.
4:08It's a brand new coop, store-bought walk-in, um, walk-in run that is walkable for humans.
4:14It's a good idea.
4:16Uh, yeah, the yard is essentially a garden.
4:18Uh, it's just full of raised beds.
4:20There's really nothing there but plants and raised beds.
4:23Everything else is spick and span.
4:27As I say, they don't have the animals yet.
4:29I think they're waiting for the approval, but other than that, they're good to go.
4:32All the paperwork's here.
4:36Okay.
4:38Jessica, can you state your name and your address for the record?
4:43Yeah, Jessica Perez, 37 Smith Street in Fall River, Massachusetts.
4:47Okay, for the record, I have to go through— the board requires a few things.
4:52You have to promise that you will never have a rooster.
4:55Sure.
4:55I mean, like, I think— no, yeah, you, you must have an in-place rodent contract, rodent extermination contract.
5:06Okay.
5:06And once we— once you've asked for, what was it, 8 chickens, 8 hens?
5:14Yeah.
5:16So we'll set the number at 8.
5:18Now, you know, you can't go over 8.
5:20If you're not going to get chickens or We want baby chicks for Easter or anything like that, right?
5:25You're gonna keep it at 8.
5:28Okay.
5:29Okay.
5:30But if the— I said the property— but either way, any questions?
5:35If even if that— no, no, I'm having some trouble hearing.
5:38We're getting some bad— I think it's coming through.
5:42Even if— oh, it could be.
5:43Uh, hang on, let me mute for a second.
5:47Tiffany, they're hearing you.
5:48You're gonna end the phone call.
5:53I'm sorry, there's, there's someone who's concerned about one of these chicken applications that's just called.
5:57This is the meeting began.
6:00So that we have someone trying to speak to him on this, on this matter, or in one of the other applicants.
6:06I don't know.
6:07I actually don't know.
6:08It's one, it's one of the, one of the ones we have today.
6:12I can try to find out.
6:15Okay.
6:16Tiffany, what's that one for?
6:18We're discussing, uh, Mrs. Perez at 37 Smith.
6:22All right, so what do they want?
6:24Um, yes, it, it is, it is regarding this, this application.
6:31They should be.
6:32I'm just going to put you on hold really quick, okay?
6:34I apologize.
6:34Please bear with us so we can straighten this up.
6:36Sorry.
6:37So she's concerned about, um, how extermination goes.
6:40Um, she's worried that The rats, even though there is an extermination, what if the rats have poison in them?
6:45We'll have to call her back.
6:46Yeah, just said we have to call her back right now.
6:52Hi, ma'am, I apologize.
6:53So Thursday, Board of Health.
6:54Okay, can you hear me?
6:56Yes.
6:57Okay, there's just— someone has a question about how the extermination works.
7:01We can explain that to her later.
7:02Okay.
7:08Michael, any questions?
7:10No, Tom.
7:10I, I move to approve the, uh— Okay, I'll second.
7:15Can we have a roll call?
7:17Sure.
7:18Thomas Corey?
7:19Yes.
7:20Michael Coughlin?
7:21Yes.
7:22Mrs. Perez, good luck with the chickens.
7:26Thank you.
7:28Okay, the next one is we have an application for the keeping of animals for Jose Calheta of 36 Forestry Way, Fall River, Mass.
7:3902721. Who's on that one?
7:44That would be me.
7:46Okay, Josh, uh, Bill is in.
7:49Okay, they actually have a license for 12 chickens.
7:55All right, so they have a license already?
7:57Yeah, for 12 chickens, but they want to Up it to 15 chickens and 5 ducks.
8:04You know, when I saw the application for the 5 ducks, I know where Flory's Way is, and I Googled it.
8:12They can just swim up and come and go as they please.
8:14They don't need an application.
8:18Yeah, this is a beautiful coop.
8:20It's one of the best coops we have in the city.
8:25And my advisement to the owner is to go to 18 chickens and 5 ducks.
8:31So that way, that's the maximum amount.
8:35Okay.
8:39Okay.
8:39Is Mr. Calhery here?
8:41Yes, I'm here.
8:46Okay.
8:46Well, where— I don't have you.
8:48Can you raise your hand if I can see you?
8:51Oh, okay.
8:52You're not identified on the screen.
8:55Can we have your name and address for the record?
8:57Jose Caldera, 36 Glorious Way, Fall River, Mass.
9:0202721.
9:04Okay, as I always do, I have to go down the rules here.
9:08The board insists that there never be any roosters.
9:11That's correct.
9:13Okay, you have an in-place rodent extermination contract.
9:17Yes.
9:18And you're not going to raise the chickens above 15 or the ducks among 5 unless you have visitors on the duck side, right?
9:25Right.
9:26I can't help that matter.
9:28Okay.
9:29All right.
9:30Is there anyone here to speak against this application?
9:37I see a gentleman, Mr.
9:39Brewer, at 11 Foreman's Way.
9:41Yeah.
9:42Hi.
9:42No, I came here to support Jose because I am very much in favor.
9:46And it is an absolutely beautiful property and a wonderful wonderful chicken coop and it's absolutely well taken care of.
9:51And so just came to support.
9:53Oh, well, well, thank you.
9:54We, we don't often get, uh, people who take the time to dial in.
9:59All right, so given that, I'll move to approve the, uh, the request.
10:02Um, okay, Josh, you have something?
10:04Yeah, just want to make sure he was okay to have 18 chickens.
10:09If we're okay with chickens.
10:11Yeah, okay.
10:12Yes, I'm okay with it.
10:14Well, wait, because the application says 15.
10:17It is 15.
10:18All right, so we're amending it to 18.
10:20Yes, 18 with $5.
10:22Okay, and we have a neighbor who says everything's great.
10:25So, uh, I, I think we can go to 18.
10:29This food won't happen anyway.
10:31Thank you.
10:31I don't think I'll have it, but to be on the safe side, that's good.
10:36You're gonna hatch some eggs next week, are you?
10:38Is that what's gonna happen?
10:41All right, do we have the motion still?
10:44Yeah.
10:45Yes, move to approve the amended motion.
10:47Okay, I'll, I'll second.
10:49Can we have a roll call?
10:50Thomas Corey?
10:51Yes.
10:52Michael Coughlin?
10:53Yes.
10:55All right, good luck.
10:57Thank you.
10:58Okay, next we have the application for the keeping of animals for Raymond Leboy of 578 Penn Street.
11:06Mr. LaBoye is with us.
11:07Who's presenting?
11:08Uh, Faust is.
11:09I am.
11:10Okay, Faust.
11:12Hi.
11:12Uh, I should mention that we received today at the office, uh, a letter regarding this.
11:19Shall I— shall I read the letter?
11:21Uh, yes.
11:22Okay.
11:23So, um, dated today, I am the owner of 607 Penn Street, Fall River, Mass., and I am opposed to the request from the owner of 578 Penn Street For permission to keep chickens.
11:35Do not want chickens to be kept near my property line, as they will attract vermin and other predatory animals.
11:41In addition, any smell or unnecessary noise is not welcome.
11:44Thank you for your cooperation.
11:46Signed, Renee Valley.
11:48Just for clarity, she's not a director, but she's— this is across the street, which manages the property line.
11:56So that is that.
11:57Other than that, it's a Pristine yard.
12:00It's a large property.
12:02Another brand new store-bought coop with a walk-in run.
12:06That is a human walkable run.
12:08Um, um, every— everything's in place.
12:12Um, it was— it was— I— when I was there last week, which is the 2nd time I've been there, it was unannounced, and the coop was— the coop and the run was spotless.
12:23Um, they— there are presently The requisite number of birds and everything's in order.
12:32Okay, Mr. LaBoye, once again, the— no roosters?
12:40No roosters, sir.
12:41You must have a rodent extermination contract in place.
12:45Yep.
12:45And your application says 8 chickens.
12:47Is that the number we're going to keep it at?
12:508 hens so far.
12:51No surprises.
12:53Okay, very good.
12:55For the record, though, we also got a letter from Raymond Solomon, 455 Charles Street, with that— with the writing in opposition for the previously mentioned reason, a possible rat and mouse problem.
13:10Well, in this area, we have had a rat and mouse problem for a number of years.
13:15I have spent a small fortune on poison to kill rats and mice for the past 3 years.
13:19The count is finally starting to slow down.
13:24As we know, if we get an extermination, if we have someone with an extermination contract in and they're checking the things, checking the traps, that usually helps to deter further increases in the population.
13:41Do we have a motion?
13:44Move to approve.
13:45I'll second.
13:46Tess, can we have a roll call?
13:48Thomas Corey?
13:49Yes.
13:50Michael Coughlin?
13:51Yes.
13:52Okay, Mr. O'Boyle, good luck.
13:55Thank you, sir.
13:55Good, good afternoon.
13:57Good afternoon.
13:59Uh, next we have the tobacco violation hearing.
14:02We need a motion to open up a hearing.
14:05So moved.
14:06I'll second.
14:07Can we have a roll call?
14:10Thomas Corey?
14:11Yes.
14:12Michael Coughlin.
14:13Yes.
14:14Okay, we have a tobacco violations hearing, the 2nd offense of an act to modernize tobacco control from the Farm Market at 223 Durfee Street here in Fall River.
14:25Jennifer is with us.
14:27Hello.
14:28Oh, there you are.
14:31We got so many people, I have to search on the screen for everybody today.
14:35All right, Jennifer, fill us in.
14:37Okay, so I did receive a complaint for Farm Market that mentioned that the store was selling flavored vapes.
14:43On July 17th, at approximately 11:17 AM, I went in and conducted an inspection at Farm Market.
14:51During my inspection, I was able to find a black shopping bag with a mixture of flavored vapes, such as grape, pineapple, and menthol.
14:59This resulted in their 2nd violation of 105 CMR 665.
15:04A cease and desist was issued with a mandated fine of $2,000.
15:09Uh, the fine is due on August 10th.
15:12Um, and then prior history shows that their first violation was on November 17th, and that was for a sale to a minor.
15:21So in question right now is their 7-day suspension.
15:24That's up to the board to decide.
15:29Who's representing?
15:32Yes, sir.
15:33Uh, good afternoon, everyone.
15:36Could you just identify yourself for the record?
15:38Because we only have you on the screen as Farm Market.
15:41Um, so, uh, um, my name and address.
15:45Technical issue, I couldn't.
15:47My name is Tanvir, last name is Sajib, and my address is 223 Darfie Street, Farm Market, Fall River.
15:57I'm so sorry, for some reason I couldn't open my video on.
16:03Sorry, that's okay.
16:04That happens because I just, uh, I just like few, like an hour ago, I just download this app.
16:12It's my first time I've been in Zoom app.
16:14I never use it before.
16:17Okay, well, uh, explain why you had flavored tobaccos in your establishment.
16:22Uh, that's, uh, uh, I, I, I'm, I'm out of town right now for the last couple weeks.
16:27So I already talked to my— the guy who was there.
16:30So he said, uh, there's this, uh, tobacco inspection was on that day and 11 something the time was, and she finds some, uh, vape mix, some from previous owner because we just take over this place like, uh, last year.
16:47And so those vape, I'm pretty sure it's from the previous owner.
16:51I'm so— this is my mistake that, uh, I need to clean this up.
16:56Real quick, but still some stuff was there, like mix, uh, uh, what do you call, uh, bake, something like that, sir.
17:05So that's the thing was happening on that day, sir.
17:08So how long have you owned the establishment?
17:11Uh, sir, it's been like, uh, since last summer.
17:15Since last summer.
17:16What was the date of the previous violation, Jennifer?
17:22Uh, their first violation was for a sale to a minor on November 17th, 2025.
17:28So that's since last summer, right?
17:31Yeah.
17:37And so you, if you bought the place last summer, um, I know when, uh, when drugstores change hands, there's a, uh, a huge inventory taken of everything and old unwanted stock is properly disposed of.
17:56And so you're telling me you bought a store, you didn't inspect the inventory for expireds and old— No, sir, we did.
18:09We did.
18:10We did.
18:11But so it was a bad inventory crew.
18:16How did this black bag with the flavored vapes not be, uh, how was it bypassed?
18:23Uh, honestly, sir, I think it's not bypassed, but the thing is it was in the back, uh, back in a store, in a storeroom, I think.
18:31Uh, I already talked to my guy over there.
18:34It was in the back in a storeroom.
18:37Jennifer, you go all over these places, basements, Attic ceiling?
18:42Yeah, so I can search anywhere inside the store if there's any tobacco products, whether it's like in the storage area.
18:49If it's inside of the facility, it's considered for sale.
18:52Okay, that's, uh, yeah.
18:55Jennifer, can you tell us more about the complaints that you received?
18:58Um, yeah, so the complaint that I did receive, they mentioned that they, um, that the person that had complained said that they saw customers leaving the store with flavored vapes, and that they also mentioned that they were hiding products in many places, which included, uh, food containers.
19:18So when I did look throughout the store, there was a box, like a Fiji box, and when I opened up the box, that's where I saw the bag of flavored vapes hidden.
19:33I'm not— I'm inclined to, uh, find this a credible offense, uh, given that, that we have had the complaints and you had the stuff in the store.
19:44Uh, so I'm, I'm inclined to go along with the mandatory fine and, and, uh, suspension.
19:52I would second that.
19:55So, so moved then.
19:57Okay, can we have a roll call?
20:00Thomas Corey?
20:01Yes.
20:02Michael Coughlin?
20:03Yes.
20:04Yes.
20:04Jennifer, can you make the arrangements for the 7-day suspension?
20:08When would that start?
20:11Uh, yes.
20:12Um, I can stop by on Monday just to give them enough time to make sure everything is put away.
20:18Okay.
20:18Okay, I'll reach out to the, um, the person that had called in.
20:22All right, sir.
20:23Then, uh, they're gonna— Jennifer's gonna be down to coordinate this.
20:26We are going to suspend your license for 7 days.
20:29We're going to encourage you to clean out your inventory.
20:33We're going to encourage you to retrain your staff and yourself.
20:38And so, hopefully, we will never meet in this forum again.
20:45Thank you.
20:46Can we have a motion to close the hearing?
20:49So moved.
20:50I'll second.
20:51Tess, can we have a roll call?
20:54Thomas Corey.
20:55Yes.
20:56Michael Coughlin.
20:58Yes.
20:59Okay, next item.
21:01We have a request on the Beaver Solution installs at Mill Pond in Bell Rock Road.
21:08Mr. Frew, and I assume that's why you're here with us today.
21:12This sounds exciting.
21:13You know, I've seen a lot of beaver shows on PBS, and there was a great article about the beavers in Nevada.
21:21And so what— and, and do you know about the beaver hats and the millions of beavers that are in here in the 1500s and 1600s and the European demand for beaver skins, and they were almost wiped out, and that's what's changed the United States topography.
21:40Yeah, please, if you would, sir.
21:43No, definitely, without a doubt.
21:44So thank you very much.
21:46You know, again, Paul Furlan, the Administrator of Community Utilities.
21:52Uh, overseeing water and sewer for the city of Fall River.
21:55Um, you know, typically in my line of work, I would never, you know, water and sewer.
21:59I wouldn't think that I would have to be dealing or thinking about beavers and how to, uh, how to keep them where they, where they can go and where they can't go.
22:08But it's just another hat that we need to wear here in this department.
22:12So, um, the reason that we're in front of you tonight is because we have, uh, we have, uh, Issue that has developed over the past year up in the Bell Rock Road area, which is in the reservation side of Fall River.
22:27So the other side of the North Puttapa Pond, really, and Doctor's Mill Pond.
22:33Beavers came into that area and started building dams behind the, behind the dam at the mill pond, which raised the mill pond up.
22:44Uh, that impacted hiking trails through that area, as well as footbridges that cross, uh, that cross the wetland area in the swamp area in that, in that location.
22:55We've been going out with our staff to deconstruct these beaver dams, seeing the hazard that they were creating.
23:02The other spot that we have been having issues with them is Bell Rock Road, and the— there's 3 culverts that cross Bell Rock Road, go from the swamp Uh, and bring water in pretty much at the head of Terry Brook, uh, and brings it all the way down through the Terry Brook Dam, Doctor's Mill Pond, Terry Brook Dam, out through Narrows Road, uh, and the Sonnet and through the estuary up in that area.
23:28Um, the, uh, that where they build there, where they have been blocking there, is actually blocking off 3 36-inch culverts that crossed underneath the roadway.
23:39To allow the water to go through that area.
23:42If those become plugged, the water would then rise up in the swamp area behind it, block the culverts, and could, you know, overtop the roadway and eventually destroy the roadway, which would, which would be a major hazard for the people that live out there, as well as emergency personnel that may need to access the areas or the fire lanes out there.
24:06So we've been, we've been watching this, uh, you know, we've, we've sunk, uh, countless number of man-hours in there trying to maintain the situation ourselves with our own staff, but it's come to the point where we need to, uh, go to the, go to the next step.
24:21So we looked around and we ended up reaching out to a company called Viva Solutions.
24:25Uh, they came in, evaluated, uh, the areas that, uh, that we're looking at, and they have Recommended some of their beaver deceiver solutions, uh, is what they call it.
24:37Uh, essentially what they, what they're going to do, and I'll really simplify it, uh, one of the locations they're really going to take and they're going to build a kind of a fence, uh, in the water out behind this area, um, to not allow the beavers to be able to get into the area next to the culverts to build their dam.
24:55They'll be able to do it out a little ways, but it'll kind of be capped on how tall they can build it.
25:00The other one really, it takes and it puts a pipe right through the center of the beaver dam and then takes and puts a kind of a floating head out in the water to be able to regulate the height of the water in the pond so that it doesn't overtop the dam.
25:15From what I've heard, beavers don't like the sound of running water.
25:19That's why they build their dams, to stop the running water from going over dams or down rivers and stuff like that.
25:26So this Uh, with a floating discharge in the middle of the pond area will allow the water to go in there.
25:33They won't be able to get to the area where there's running water to be able to dam it up.
25:39Um, so those are the 2 solutions that we're looking at right now.
25:43Uh, long term, we're also in touch with, uh, with trappers, uh, or other, you know, we're looking at other options as well.
25:50Uh, these beavers have moved from the north.
25:52They've been in the north and over The past, you know, we've talked with Department of Fish and Game, as well as our partners at DCR, and they've been tracking them as they've slowly been moving south towards our area, and they're finally here.
26:07You know, one of the other things we're looking at, and I mentioned trapping and potentially relocation of these with a nuisance pest control officer.
26:19Uh, which is actually regulated through the state.
26:22Um, you know, we're looking at that again.
26:25We wouldn't want these to get into the drinking water supply of the North Watapa.
26:30Beavers can carry some, some diseases with them that we would not want to get around our drinking water supply.
26:38So that's the reason that we're hoping to be able to put a front and hold them here outside of our drinking water watershed.
26:46Uh, and allow them to, uh, stay up in that area or relocate them elsewhere.
26:53So, um, the other reason that— the reason really that I'm here to install these beaver solutions, um, the Board of Health really needs to determine whether this is a hazard to public health.
27:06And, uh, you know, for us to be able to move forward, the permitting is an emergency letter from the Board of Health.
27:13Uh, which allows us to be able to then go to the Conservation Commission, which they have a meeting next week, and they would allow us to install the beaver solutions, uh, beaver deceivers within the, uh, within the wetland areas.
27:29I know Jim Smith, I think, may also be on, who's, uh, uh, project manager.
27:35Is he on?
27:37No, maybe not.
27:38I don't see him on.
27:40Okay.
27:41Yeah, he's good.
27:42I thought this would be the most fascinating part of the discussion, but they've all left.
27:48Yeah, no, you know, like I said, it's something that I never thought that I would have to look at and learn about, but this is, this is where we are.
27:58So I know there was a draft letter, I think, that was sent over to Tess, kind of explaining what we needed to move forward with the permitting.
28:10Um, and yeah, and so I think if the board were to, to move forward with the emergency order, we were— yeah, we would just provide Paul with a letter which would allow him to, to kind of move forward in the process.
28:26And then, Paul, I don't know if you— I don't know if you had spoken about it, but the goal, I think, from, from water and sewer was to do some work kind of in the near term in August.
28:37So just to move for the board to know that, you know, there's a time, you know, timeline that the department is hoping to meet in order to do the work.
28:48So I'm assuming we can just authorize you to provide them with the letter test.
28:53We don't have to sign this ourselves, right?
28:55Yeah, that was, yeah, my thought as agent for the board, if I can draft the letter based on the board's recommendation.
29:02Yeah, so yeah, just back to the timeline, like I said, so first step that's laid out from the state.
29:09So actually, the state, I believe it's the Department of Fish and Game, designates to the local Board of Health to make the emergency determination, and then gives the ability to the local Conservation Commission based on the Board of Health recommendation to allow an emergency condition to, to actually do the work.
29:30And like I said, the Conservation Commission's meeting is next week.
29:35Which we penciled in right now, and then we're scheduled to August 11th.
29:41I believe we're penciled in with the contractor to do the work.
29:46Okay, I'm ready to go.
29:48Yeah, I can understand it.
29:50I feel bad for the beavers.
29:52Have you ever watched PBS?
29:55They're just not going to move and build a new pond 100 yards away and then another pond.
30:02Yeah, you know, and again, it's tough because the one thing we need to make sure that we really want to try to do is keep them out of our North Watapa.
30:09That's the pond we need to protect.
30:13All right, so I move that we provide the requested letter.
30:19I'll second.
30:19Tess, can we have a roll call?
30:21Thomas Corey?
30:22Yes.
30:23Michael Coughlin?
30:25Yes.
30:27Before you go, kept informed of what happens to our little beavers.
30:31Okay.
30:31Definitely, I will.
30:33Paul, before you go, can you— what can you tell us about fluoridation?
30:37Uh, so actually, it's funny.
30:39I would just talk to Tess.
30:40I believe it was a couple of weeks ago.
30:43We've still been trying to track down a product.
30:45We were able to get a line on a manufacturer that has started to manufacture the type of fluoride that we need for our system.
30:55We got a small sample from them.
30:57Uh, it looks like it works.
30:59Since our equipment's been in mothballs for a period of time, we need to get that back into shipshape to be able to be operational.
31:08But hopefully within the next couple of months, our plan is to do a test run with this product.
31:14Oh, that's encouraging.
31:15It's been about 5 years, right?
31:17Yeah, it's been, it's been a while.
31:19And again, we've every so often we would put things out there to See whether anybody was doing this.
31:25And this is a provider that, you know, kind of started up the chemical market, the water, drinking water and wastewater chemical market.
31:34There's been a lot of movements in, in the past couple of years.
31:38Different vendors, new vendors, people doing different things.
31:41So, this may be a good thing that came out of that.
31:44Good.
31:45Great.
31:48Okay, thank you, Paul.
31:49Thank you.
31:50Appreciate it, Port.
31:54Tess disappeared.
31:55There she is.
31:56Sorry about that.
31:58My brother-in-law is playing the trumpet in, in the basement, and I'm— he's not getting my messages to stop.
32:04Um, so I apologize for that.
32:06Uh, Thomas, Court, are we doing a motion?
32:10I think we did that.
32:11We did that already.
32:12Yeah, we're up to— we're up to the director's report.
32:15Okay, I apologize for the background noise here.
32:17Um, Um, I don't have much to report.
32:21We are moving forward with a Mass in Motion associate position.
32:25So, um, we're excited that that position will be filled.
32:29That's a part-time, um, that's a part-time position.
32:33Um, we are always looking for, um, senior, or currently looking for, um, a senior aide position, um, at, uh, the senior center.
32:44So that's, that's a part-time position as well.
32:48Um, but otherwise, we're— the grants are continuing forward.
32:52The Mass in Motion team member Laura's been doing a wonderful job with that grant and recently had a large event this past weekend to encourage specifically youth how to bike safely.
33:12And so they set up— it's like a traffic garden, so they set up a whole Um, kind of mock streets, um, and it teaches the kids how to safely bike if they're out and about in the community.
33:24Um, so there was a lot of partnership within the department that was happening.
33:28She partnered with Crystal Stone, who's our youth, um, youth services coordinator, to have some of the youth that are involved in her grants support the, um, support the, the the event by drawing out the traffic garden.
33:45And so there was a lot of collaboration within the department and across the community.
33:50And so all, all sorts of positive things happening in, in the department that we're really excited about.
33:57Elizabeth, who's on the shared services grant, has been attending a number of community events.
34:04So trying to get the word out about, um, You know, tick-borne diseases, mosquitoes, you know, removing standing water in folks' homes.
34:16So really doing a lot of education at this point in time based on kind of what we're seeing in the community.
34:22So, so the department's busy and everybody's doing a lot of great work.
34:28Very good.
34:29Thank you.
34:31Great.
34:31So, did we receive anything for citizens' input?
34:35No, we did not.
34:36Okay.
34:37To confirm the date for the next meeting, we, we have the— we usually the last Monday of the month, which would be the 31st, but the 24th would be the 4th Monday of the month.
34:49Any, any preference on that, Michael or Tess?
34:53No, it doesn't matter.
34:55I could do either one.
34:57You want to go with the 31st?
34:59Sure.
35:01All right, we'll go with that then.
35:04Okay, great.
35:04And I'll just confirm with Dr. Gagliardi, and then, and then, um, we'll connect back with you both to confirm.
35:10Yeah, if the 24th is better for him, then we can just, just switch it.
35:13Yeah, either way, either way.
35:15Okay, I'll put the 31st as our, our priority date, and then the 24th as a backup for him.
35:21All right, very good.
35:23Um, is there any other business to come before the board that of such a nature that could make the agenda?
35:29No new business.
35:31Okay, uh, can we have a motion to adjourn?
35:34So moved.
35:35I'll second today.
35:38Roll call.
35:40Thomas Corey?
35:41Yes.
35:42Michael Coughlin?
35:43Yes.
35:44All right, thank you everyone for, for participating today, and I hope you have a lovely rest of the week.
35:49Enjoy this nice weather.
35:51Take care.
35:51Always great when it rains midweek as opposed to— thank you for coming in on a vacation day.
35:56That was Oh yeah, that's no problem.
35:59But I— it is, it's nice to have a, have a day before the rain seems to be coming, so it worked out.
36:06Okay, very good.
36:07Take care.
36:08Thank you.