Resident raises alarm over vending machine dispensing drug paraphernalia near Horgan School; council hears playground vandalism concerns

Tom Oakes, a resident, used the public-comment portion of the Dec. 17 meeting to urge the council to investigate a vending machine located outside the “cotton shed” near the gazebo that, he said, dispenses items he described as drug paraphernalia and safe-use supplies. Oakes said the machine is about 328 feet from Horgan School.

Oakes described calling the vendor and being given a code after providing only the number of letters in his last name, a ZIP code and a (fictitious) birth date. He said the machine allows a user to obtain multiple items without showing identification and that the product mix includes needles, small cook cups, naloxone and other supplies. “You can get this stuff...You don't have to show any identification, and you can get all this product from these machines,” Oakes said.

He said the availability of these supplies so close to a school raised concerns about children’s access and about community exposure to needles and other items. He asked the council to consider moving the machine out of plain sight and away from routes used by students.

Other members of the public raised concerns about traffic pattern changes at Route 2/3, which a commenter said is a state-managed roadway, and about vandalism at the Factory Street playground. Council members and staff said they would consider increased police patrols, community engagement, and possible measures such as camera systems, while noting monitoring and staffing capacity considerations.

Council members did not take immediate formal action during the meeting. Staff and council asked questions and said the matters raised would be referred to appropriate departments for further review.