The Concord Board of Health received a series of routine public-health updates Dec. 17, including communicable-disease counts, staffing changes in the health division, and steps to expand behavioral-health and substance-use prevention services.

Public health nurse Maura reported November case activity and outreach: a confirmed Campylobacter case, reported cases of ehrlichiosis, influenza, Lyme disease and other conditions, and a recent clinic that vaccinated 35 children and administered more than 80 vaccine doses. She said the department is finalizing a needs assessment and expects to present findings early next year.

Director Melanie announced that Dominique, the town’s health inspector, gave notice and that his last day was Dec. 6; the inspector position is posted and first-round interviews are underway. She also said a Concord Community Clinician (contracted through Elliot) named Juliet has started and the town will publicize referral procedures after the New Year. "This person is supposed to help fill that gap," Melanie said of the clinician, describing the role as short-term support and referral assistance.

The board also approved participation in an intermunicipal agreement pooling opioid settlement funds with neighboring towns in the Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative to hire a full-time regional substance-use prevention coordinator; Olivia will fill that role. Melanie said pooling the settlement funds allowed the collaborative to create a full-time position that a single town could not have funded alone.

Members discussed event planning for Concord’s 250th celebration, including porta-potty placement (50 units budgeted) and competing regional demands for vendors and sanitation during the same weekend as a regional marathon. The director provided public-safety crowd estimates (she said public safety’s planning figure was approximately 40,000) and described steps to pick toilet sites and manage limited resources.

The board acknowledged departing member Kurt for his service, held a brief social recognition and adjourned the meeting.

The board opened a public-comment period and recorded no public remarks during the meeting.