The meeting began with the announcement that Kevin Davis was unable to attend and had not completed the necessary work on the code of conduct, leading to the postponement of the public hearing to October 23. The motion to continue the hearing garnered support from board members Kevin Baker, Daniel Kane, and Gino Frattallone through a roll call vote.

Following this, the board shifted its focus to arbovirus surveillance. Gino Frattallone provided an update, reporting 96 positive mosquito samples and additional cases of West Nile Virus. Despite the presence of these cases, the risk of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (Triple E) was assessed as low due to proactive mosquito spraying efforts. The board considered maintaining the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) recommended response, which involves a countdown of 15 minutes each week until the first frost.

Board members, including Daniel Kane, concurred that continuing with the established precautions was prudent. Although the risk was low, they emphasized the importance of caution and proactive measures. The discussion also highlighted that neighboring towns such as Concord were at high risk for Triple E due to increased mosquito counts. The board acknowledged the balance between public health and community needs, particularly in the context of local sports.

Brad Lang, a representative from the soccer board, contributed feedback on the impact of mosquito precautions on local sports. He noted that the spraying efforts had reduced mosquito numbers and were well-received by the community. Lang suggested allowing high school teams to play their night games to avoid potential loss of opportunities for senior players. The board planned to revisit the situation in two weeks, contingent on whether significant frost had occurred.

The conversation then turned to mosquito control measures at local schools. It was clarified that the treatment involved a barrier spray, conducted two weeks prior, designed to reduce mosquito activity. A board member expressed willingness to follow up with Central Mass for further guidance and suggested consulting with youth sports organizations for additional input.

The availability of COVID-19 and flu vaccinations was also discussed. The CDC recommended receiving both shots simultaneously, and an upcoming clinic was scheduled for October 22 at Littleton Middle School from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. It was noted that COVID-19 test kits were in high demand, with a new supply order placed.

Administrative matters included the approval of previous meeting minutes. As some members had not reviewed the minutes from July 10, their approval was postponed to the next meeting. The minutes from July 24 were reviewed, with a note about a continued discussion regarding room count in relation to septic system approvals under Title Five, which had not occurred as planned. Members were encouraged to draft their thoughts on these topics for a more discussion at the next meeting.

Air quality concerns related to particulate matter, specifically those measuring 2.5 microns, were addressed. A grant from the Massachusetts Health Administration had provided ten purple air monitors to measure these particulates. There was consensus that this matter warranted investigation due to its public health implications. The discussion included a reference to a similar situation in Westford, where a quarry was fined and required remediation for dust control measures. The group planned a site visit to assess the local quarry’s compliance and to determine necessary steps for air quality testing in Littleton.

One member expressed gratitude for citizen Daniel Kane’s proactive reporting of the health concern. The logistics of deploying the air quality monitors were discussed, with questions about their placement and technical requirements for operation, including power and Wi-Fi accessibility. It was suggested that input from local residents, police, and fire departments would be valuable in this process. A plan was put in place to revisit the topic in a future meeting, where more detailed location proposals would be presented.

The meeting also included an update on mosquito surveillance efforts. A new webpage was introduced, detailing the town’s mosquito surveillance, including a Q&A section addressing common inquiries about mosquito activity and prevention measures. The webpage features real-time maps indicating risk levels for mosquito-borne diseases. There were suggestions for improving the webpage’s layout, particularly regarding the organization of links to ensure urgent topics are easily accessible.