Board recommends MHOA as tobacco agent and reappoints two animal inspectors

Ed updated the board on a proposed contract arrangement for tobacco compliance inspections. He said the Mass. Health Officers Association (MHOA) conducts underage buyer compliance checks for multiple Massachusetts communities and receives state funding for that work; Lakeville historically contracted the work out and the prior contractor retired.

"The MHOA is a Mass Health Officers Association. They do tobacco inspections for about 30 something communities in Massachusetts," Ed said, explaining the operational benefits and noting that the town would receive inspection services without direct cost while the MHOA expands its community coverage.

A board member moved to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that MHOA be appointed as Lakeville's tobacco agent for the period April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Separately, the board nominated and approved two individuals as animal inspectors for May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026: Jared Dallin and Emma Dowling. Ed told the board both are regular animal inspectors for the town and that staff had no concerns.

Why this matters: appointing MHOA as a tobacco agent ensures continued underage-compliance inspections without the town having to source an underage buyer for sting operations, and reappointing animal inspectors maintains the town's animal-control inspection coverage.

Details: The tobacco-agent recommendation will be forwarded to the select board for formal appointment. The animal inspectors' nominations were approved by the Board of Health as presented.