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Resident urges review of vending machine dispensing harm‑reduction supplies near Horgan School
Summary
A resident told the council a vending machine near the gazebo on Hay Street dispenses needles, Narcan and other items without robust ID checks and is sited close to Horgan School; the resident said a 17‑year‑old obtained Narcan by misrepresenting his birthday. The council discussed reviewing the machine's location and legal status.
During public comment a resident identified as Tom raised concerns about a vending machine located near the cotton shed across from the gazebo on Hay Street, which he said is roughly 320–328 feet from Horgan School. The resident said the machine dispenses supplies such as needles, small aluminum cups and Narcan and that, in his account, a 17‑year‑old obtained Narcan after misstating his age.
"You could go anytime... you don't have to show any identification," the resident told the council, adding that machine operators asked only a ZIP code and simple prompts to generate an access code. He described the contents as potentially alarming for a location close to a school and asked the town to consider relocating the machine or re‑evaluating placement to keep it out of plain sight of children.
Council members and administration noted the items are legal in the state and that the town's direct control over state‑permitted locations may be limited. Officials said they would look into the matter, including whether relocation is possible and what monitoring or regulatory steps might apply.
