The Fall River Board of Health met on November 20, 2019, chaired by Thomas Perry alongside Board member Donna Saurette and agent Tess Curran, with Dr. Sousa absent. The Board opened by approving the minutes from the previous meeting on October 9, 2019. It then heard and approved a tattoo artist permit request from Mark Guilmette, owner of Up in Flames Tattoo at 785 Bedford Street.
Following the permit approval, Marissa Vital, Program Manager at Seven Hills and funded through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, gave a detailed presentation on youth vaping and e-cigarette trends. She discussed product types such as Juul and Suorin, low pricing tactics, youth appeal through fruit and candy flavorings, health hazards like aerosol toxins and nicotine addiction, and pending state legislation to ban all flavored tobacco products including mint and menthol. The Board also discussed municipal regulatory options such as retail permit caps and proximity restrictions.
In the final portion of the meeting, the Board voted to authorize agent Tess Curran to act as the signatory for burials of unclaimed bodies under Massachusetts General Law. Board members then discussed tentative scheduling for December and January meetings, received a brief update on the recruitment search for an animal inspector/veterinarian position, and adjourned.
Topics discussed
- 0:35 · October 9th Meeting Minutes — approved
Motion made and approved to accept the minutes from the October 9, 2019 meeting. - 0:56 · Tattoo Artist Permit Application — approved
Application from Mark Guilmette of Up in Flames Tattoo at 785 Bedford Street was considered and approved upon staff recommendation. - 2:45 · Youth Vaping and Tobacco Presentation
Presentation by Marissa Vital from Seven Hills covering e-cigarette usage statistics among youth, health impacts, device types, industry marketing, and statewide and local flavor bans. - 43:47 · Unclaimed Bodies Authorization — approved
Discussion and vote granting agent Tess Curran authorization to sign documentation on behalf of the Board to permit funeral homes to bury unclaimed bodies. - 48:41 · Scheduling Upcoming Meetings
Discussion of member availability and tentative scheduling for upcoming Board of Health meetings in December 2019 and January 2020. - 50:33 · Veterinarian / Animal Inspector Search
Brief update on efforts to recruit a veterinarian/animal inspector for Fall River, noting outreach to surrounding communities like Somerset.