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Cohasset public health nurse reports staffing search, communicable‑disease follow‑ups and PHE grant extension
Summary
Public Health Nurse Joan Taverna told the board Jan. 13 that interviews for a new Public Health Director are ongoing, the Town extended a PHE grant contract with BME Strategies for grant management, flu vaccine supply is limited but still recommended, and staff closed several communicable‑disease cases and conducted inspections.
Cohasset Public Health Nurse Joan Taverna reported to the Board on Jan. 13 that the department is continuing interviews for a new Public Health Director, is managing several recent communicable‑disease investigations and that the Town has extended a Public Health Excellence (PHE) Grant contract with BME Strategies to continue grant management through the fiscal year.
Taverna said interviews for the Director position are being conducted by a panel that includes Building Inspector John Hallin, herself and Michelle Leary. She reported limited flu vaccine supply but reiterated that vaccination is still recommended given ongoing circulating strains. Recent communicable‑disease work summarized by Taverna included investigation and closure of a Campylobacter case, initiation and closure of Norovirus and C‑Diff cases in MAVEN, and routine clinic and home visits (for example, nurse hours at Willcutt Commons and visits at Town Hall).
Taverna described recent environmental and food‑safety work: multiple Certificate of Habitability inspections (some requiring reinspection), follow‑up inspections at Hook Pizza to ensure violations were corrected, and inspections and reinspection of a new retail food establishment, Mimi’s Sweet Treats (required to install a handwash sink before opening). She also reported a sewage odor incident at Tedeschi Plaza (790 CJC Hwy); SSRECC requested a Board representative, the fire and building departments responded, and on‑site staff (Rosano Davis) and responders determined the odor was caused by pumping that occurred the previous evening; businesses were allowed to operate after ventilation.
Taverna noted the Town Manager signed an extension of the PHE Grant to keep BME Strategies on contract through the end of the fiscal year to assist with grant management; she also reported the current regional nurse has resigned and the Board is discussing how to post and define that role. Taverna gave typical operational metrics for multiple weeks (clinic visits, home visits, rental inspections, vaccine and medication administrations) and said she had participated in state webinars on topics including pediatric vaccination schedule changes and local public‑health reporting requirements.
The Board set its next meeting for Feb. 10, 2026 at 6:00 P.M. via Zoom. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 P.M.
