Handles public health rules — food safety inspections, septic system permits, and local health regulations.
92 items across 8 meetings.
June 16, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine opening items.
📋 Proposed
Reports from Health Agent, Town Nurse, Office Manager, and Animal Control.
📋 Proposed
Three stable permit applications up for approval at 925 Middle St., 565 School St., and 2044 Chestnut St.
📍 925 Middle St.; 565 School St.; 2044 Chestnut St.
📋 Proposed
Septic-system installer permits for Fairhaven Excavating, Bryant Hill Farm, WC Excavation, and T. Silvia Excavating up for approval.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of food permits for Manheim Remarketing, several temporary food vendors (New England Rides & Amusements, Bubble Bee Milk Tea, Bristol Aggie, Rockwell Amusements, Taunton Area Vietnam Veterans Assoc.), and mobile food vendors (PJ's Fine Foods, Tom & Jimmy's, Cool Licks Concessions, Palagi Brothers Ice Cream).
📋 Proposed
Permit approvals for multiple Farmers Market vendors including Yvette Anger, Peter Duffy, Nancy Hewin, Trade of Hope, Crazy Critters Crochet, The Books' N Brew, Creations by Cassidy, and Butters' Boards.
📋 Proposed
Board will review and act on bids for Pay As You Throw (PAYT) trash bags, which directly sets the cost residents pay per bag of garbage.
💰 Determines per-bag trash cost for residents
📋 Proposed
Board will review and act on an update regarding the Farmers Market program.
📋 Proposed
Board to review, discuss, and potentially adopt a new regulation governing use of sand in septic system installations — affects any homeowner doing septic work.
📋 Proposed
Board to review, discuss, and potentially adopt changes to as-built plan requirements for septic systems.
📋 Proposed
Correspondence item noting the Swap Shed Grand Opening on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Approval of minutes from four prior meetings: 2/17/26, 3/18/26, 4/28/26, and 5/21/26.
📋 Proposed
Next meeting tentatively set for July 21, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Meeting close.
May 21, 2026 · minutes
💬 Discussed
Meeting called to order at 2 PM via Zoom by Tammy Mello; members Christopher Isibor, Vincent Hebert, and Tammy Mello present.
💬 Discussed
Agent Elizabeth noted several percolation tests completed and is awaiting new office manager to free time for an upcoming housing course.
💬 Discussed
Town nurse reported high turnout at Farmers Market for blood pressure checks; she was unable to attend the meeting.
💬 Discussed
New office manager Ashley starting soon, split between Health and Building departments; concern raised that adding Veterans duties makes three departments too many.
✅ Approved
Eight vendor permits approved unanimously: Wagglebee, Off the Hook Creations, Under the Sun, Art of the Gem, Songbird Floral Design, Books n Brew, Creations by Cassidy, and PJ's Fine Foods.
🔄 Postponed
Pay-As-You-Throw (trash bag program) bids tabled; vendor outreach to Mansfield Paper Supply and others has not yet received responses.
💬 Discussed
May Farmers Market drew over 100 attendees; June event expected to be larger.
🗳️ Voted on
Board unanimously voted to request the Stormwater Committee be separated from Board of Health and moved under the Board of Selectmen; town received a $45,000 ARPA grant to update stormwater bylaw with a September 1 spending deadline.
💰 $45,000 ARPA grant for stormwater bylaw update
✅ Approved
Board unanimously approved sending a recommendation letter to the Board of Selectmen naming Ashley as the new office manager.
✅ Approved
Next Board of Health meeting set for June 16, 2026 at 2 PM.
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned unanimously.
May 21, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Updates from Health Agent, Town Nurse, Office Manager, and Animal Control.
📋 Proposed
Permit approvals to be considered; no specifics listed.
💬 Discussed
Bids for pay-as-you-throw trash bags reviewed, which could affect what residents pay for trash disposal.
💬 Discussed
Update on the local farmers market.
📋 Proposed
Proposed changes to stormwater regulations, presented by Nancy Goulart, which could affect property drainage and development rules.
📋 Proposed
Board to discuss a recommendation regarding the Office Manager position to send to Selectmen.
📋 Proposed
Next meeting set for June 16, 2026.
April 28, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Meeting called to order at 11:05 AM by Tammy Mello; Vincent Hebert also present.
💬 Discussed
All food inspections complete; temporary permits issued for Bristol Aggie's Saturday event, with the Health Agent on-site for inspections.
💬 Discussed
Office manager Nancy's last day was April 28; Health, Veterans, and Building departments are being merged into one "Inspectional Services" department, and the board plans to write to Town Administrator Ralph expressing frustration over the lack of a staffing transition plan.
✅ Approved
Six mobile/temporary food vendor permits approved: The Luxe Lemon Mobile, The Perky Turkey, The Burrito Bowl, Kona Ice (End Zone Ventures), Kristis Kraftails, and Wagglebee.
🔄 Postponed
Decision on pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) trash bag bids tabled; board directed staff to research a sticker-based alternative and survey nearby communities.
🔄 Postponed
Recommended large PAYT trash bag price increase tabled unanimously until the next meeting.
💬 Discussed
Seven vendors signed up so far; board will host a Backyard Chicken workshop and a Board of Health information table at the market.
✅ Approved
Permit fee waived for the Dighton Lions Club's Cow Chip Festival, as was done last year; approved unanimously.
💰 Fee waived (amount not specified)
💬 Discussed
Board to send a letter to Town Administrator Ralph (copying selectmen) requesting a solution for office coverage now that the office manager position is vacant.
💬 Discussed
Board's tobacco regulations may conflict with state rules; Health Agent will identify conflicts and bring corrections back to the board.
✅ Approved
Board approved drawing $3,000 from RDP savings (balance ~$18,000) to fund a handicapped-accessible side entrance for the swap shed trailer; grant covers $6,000 of the $9,000 unit cost.
💰 $3,000 from RDP savings account
💬 Discussed
Insufficient enrollment canceled the local mammogram van stop; enrolled residents will be seen at the Taunton location instead.
✅ Approved
Prior meeting minutes approved unanimously.
✅ Approved
Next Board of Health meeting set for May 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM.
April 28, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine opening procedures.
📋 Proposed
Updates from Health Agent, Town Nurse, Office Manager, and Animal Control.
📋 Proposed
Six vendors up for approval: The Luxe Lemon Mobile, The Perky Turkey, The Burrito Bowl, End Zone Ventures DBA Kona Ice, Kristis Kraftails, and Wagglebee.
📋 Proposed
Board will review bids for Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) trash bags, the town's per-bag garbage program.
📋 Proposed
Proposed increase in the price of large PAYT trash bags, recommended by the Waste Reduction Committee.
📋 Proposed
Update on the status of the Dighton Farmers Market.
📋 Proposed
Request for a Board of Health fee waiver for the Lions Club's Cow Chip Festival event.
📋 Proposed
Board will consider expanding Office Manager hours for Health Department coverage.
📋 Proposed
Informational items: Mammogram Van on May 12, Swap Shed Grand Opening May 1, Compost Bin Sales, and Veterans Sock Drive.
📋 Proposed
Approval of prior special meeting minutes.
📋 Proposed
Next Board of Health meeting set for May 19, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Meeting adjourned.
March 18, 2026 · minutes
💬 Discussed
Meeting called to order at 2:02 PM via Zoom; members Tammy Mello, Vincent Hebert, and Christopher Isibor present.
💬 Discussed
Agent reported a slow month for inspections due to wet weather, completed a Title V seminar, and is covering office-manager duties while temp staff is on maternity leave until May.
💬 Discussed
Mammogram van enrollment was low and date postponed; blood drive set for April 11; poison-prevention workshop held today.
💬 Discussed
No update; agent will contact Stacy to schedule next rabies clinic.
✅ Approved
Board unanimously approved a Disposal Works Construction permit for A. Ferrara Construction Corp.
🔄 Postponed
Contracted waste-collection costs rose ~$12,000 and trash-bag costs ~$2,000; current bag prices don't cover expenses, with the shortfall subsidized by taxes; board tabled action pending bids from other vendors.
💰 Waste collection up ~$12,000; bags up ~$2,000; deficit covered by taxes
💬 Discussed
No separate action taken; covered under the budget update discussion above.
✅ Approved
Board unanimously voted to send the Board of Selectmen a letter requesting approval to establish a town farmers market; logistics and vendor-category limits still to be worked out.
✅ Approved
Board unanimously voted to seek selectmen's permission to create an official Health Department Facebook page for public outreach.
💬 Discussed
Waste Reduction Committee recommended raising trash-bag prices to $30 (large) and $15 (small); no vote recorded in minutes.
💰 Large bags: $30; Small bags: $15
💬 Discussed
State-grant-funded swap shed at the transfer station opens May 1; residents can drop off or take working items, monitored by the transfer station attendant.
💰 Funded by state grant; no resident cost to use
💬 Discussed
State-grant-subsidized compost bins available to residents for $30 each; composting food scraps is expected to reduce trash weight and lower town disposal costs.
💰 $30 resident cost per bin; remainder covered by grant
💬 Discussed
Donation box for the alliance-run veterans sock drive is at the Board of Health office.
💬 Discussed
Chair Mello proposed a weekend chicken-keeping workshop at the pavilion, with a volunteer 'chicken nurse' presenter; board expressed support pending scheduling.
✅ Approved
Prior regular meeting minutes listed for approval.
💬 Discussed
Next regular Board of Health meeting scheduled for April 21, 2026.
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned unanimously.
March 18, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine meeting opening and introductions.
📋 Proposed
Health Agent, Town Nurse, Office Manager, and Animal Control will give updates.
📋 Proposed
Board to approve a septic/disposal works construction permit for A. Ferrara Construction Corp.
📋 Proposed
Board to review and act on a Health Department budget update.
📋 Proposed
Board to review bids related to the Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) trash bag program.
📋 Proposed
Board to review, discuss, and act on matters related to the Farmers Market.
📋 Proposed
Board to discuss and act on establishing or updating a Health Department Facebook page.
📋 Proposed
Proposed trash bag price increases: large bags to $30, small bags to $15, per Waste Reduction Committee recommendation.
💰 Large bags: $30; Small bags: $15
📋 Proposed
Board to receive correspondence including a Mammogram Van (May 12), Blood Drive (April 11), Poison Prevention Workshop (March 18), Swap Shed Grand Opening (May 1), Compost Bin Sales, and Veterans Sock Drive.
📋 Proposed
Residents may address the Board.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of prior meeting minutes.
📋 Proposed
Next meeting tentatively set for April 21, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Meeting close.