Shutesbury Board of Health Faces Complex Property Issue and Narcan Discussions

In a recent meeting, the Shutesbury Board of Health tackled a longstanding property issue, deliberated on the necessity of Narcan for the community, and discussed senior education on pain management and medication use. These discussions revealed the board’s focus on addressing both immediate and ongoing health and safety challenges in the community.

A significant portion of the meeting concentrated on a complicated property issue that has persisted for between five to seven years. The board discussed mediation efforts, with one individual noting that the property owner is in negotiations with an insurance company and preparing another property for sale to cover costs. This intricate situation has remained unresolved for a considerable time, with one participant expressing frustration over its duration, stating, “I mean come on, I think it’s five but I’m not sure at least five for sure.”

The board also turned its attention to the community’s needs regarding Narcan, a medication used to counteract opioid overdoses. Although the fire department has not responded to Narcan incidents in recent years, there were some incidents recalled from earlier times. The discussion included the potential need for Narcan, especially following a suggestion from a fire department member that more could be procured through the collaborative. Cost considerations were highlighted, with a member indicating that two canisters of Narcan cost about $100. The board also debated Narcan’s expiration, concluding that it likely has a shelf life.

Further, the meeting addressed the educational needs of seniors, particularly concerning pain management and medication use. The board recognized that seniors might not fully understand their pain medications, potentially leading to misuse or overdoses. There was strong support for providing education on safe medication management, with one member remarking, “I think you know appropriate pain management… not a lot of Physicians really are good Educators around those kinds of issues.”

Additionally, settlement funds from the collaborative were discussed, with a reminder of a reporting deadline. Although no funds have been spent, the board considered the unique pooling of these funds among communities and the potential for future planning rather than immediate expenditure.

The board also explored collaborative opportunities with Leverett on senior programs. One member noted that John Hillman from the Leverett board was open to partnership, and there was interest in gauging attendance numbers for such events to assess interest levels accurately. The potential benefits of holding senior programs at the new library to improve attendance were also considered.

In other matters, the board attended to two disposal works construction permits. The first, for a property on West Pelum Road, involved a request for a local upgrade approval due to insufficient naturally occurring percolated soil. The health agent recommended approval, and the board unanimously endorsed it. The second permit, for a property on Shore Drive, was straightforward and also received unanimous approval.

The board acknowledged a letter from a “not weed” organization but decided against taking a formal position, citing no specific request for action. There was mention of a potential fall treatment for a patch on Pelum Hill Road, complicated by the resignation of Steve Sullivan from the highway department, who was responsible for spraying.

The upcoming vaccination clinic scheduled for October 25th was noted, with 68 enrolments reported, sufficient to proceed with the clinic. The board discussed ensuring town oversight during the clinic, as vaccinators are state-hired vendors.

Finally, the board revisited a demolition order for a property on WLE Road, nearing its expiration. A text sent for an update went unanswered, leading to uncertainty about the demolition’s status. The board discussed the next steps if no action is taken, emphasizing the need for clarity on procedures and stakeholder roles.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Rebecca Torres
Board of Health Officials:
Catherine Hilton, Wm Levine, Norene Pease, Arleen Read, Garrett Simonsen, Sarah Fiske (Public Health Nurse), Claudia Sarti (Health Agent)

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