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Health director flags missing air-quality reports, corrects school‑health language and announces sharps takeback
Summary
HHS Director Golden told the board that recent air-quality reports from a contractor have not been received, staff corrected language about detox referrals in the school-health packet, and the department announced a community sharps and unwanted medication takeback on March 15.
HHS Director Golden told the Lowell Board of Health on March 5 that the department has not received recent air-quality reports from the contractor Cashion's and will contact the vendor to seek missing monthly results.
“I have not had a report since November. I have asked twice for reports,” Golden said. She said she would call the contractor to determine whether testing has been performed and to request the missing reports for inclusion in the next packet.
Board members also asked for a wording correction in the Board of Health Substance Abuse and Prevention Division’s school‑health overview. A bullet in the packet said the co‑op “provided inpatient detox treatment services to 16 clients.” Golden and staff agreed the entry should read that the co‑op referred 16 clients to inpatient detox services; staff said they would correct the language for the packet.
Golden also summarized a staffing decision about a grant: the department opted not to continue a PEC grant aimed at preschool-age children because the program had difficulty engaging families and retaining a staff member, and the personnel focus shifted to other successful grants serving older youth.
Finally, the department promoted a community unwanted‑medication and sharps takeback on Saturday, March 15, at the Senior Center on Broadway: a drive‑through event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can drop off sharps and unwanted medication without leaving their vehicles.
Staff said that if the missing air‑quality reports for December–March are normal, they will include only any abnormal results in the next packet; otherwise they will provide the full set of results.
