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Town counsel clarifies Board of Health authority; board directs chair to work on Health Director contract
Summary
Town Counsel told the Marblehead Board of Health Jan. 27 that the town has an elected Board of Health, not a separate Department of Health; the board unanimously voted to have the chair meet with Town Counsel to review and modify the Health Director job description to create a contract. The board also discussed an Open Meeting Law complaint about missing online minutes.
Town Counsel clarified at the Jan. 27 meeting that Marblehead is governed by an elected Board of Health rather than a separate Department of Health, and that the Board oversees health-related functions with staff under its authority.
Following that clarification, the board approved a motion directing Chair Helaine R. Hazlett to meet with Town Counsel to review and modify the Health Director job description so that a contract can be created for the Health Director position. The motion passed unanimously.
Board members also discussed a pending Open Meeting Law complaint concerning missing meeting minutes on the town website. Town Counsel and staff clarified that while minutes must be available upon request, state law does not require minutes be posted online; the board directed staff to prepare a response and to review and approve past minutes at the next session.
The State of the Town meeting was noted as scheduled for Feb. 5; the board also continued planning to restructure its annual report to include strategic planning elements. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.; the next Board of Health meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2025.
