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Board reviews plan to make community behavioral health committee resident‑driven with health department liaisons
Summary
The board reviewed a memo proposing the Community Behavioral Mental Health Committee be reorganized as resident‑led with two health‑department liaisons; members discussed membership counts, quorum challenges, and set no formal vote but supported forwarding the concept to the select board for review.
Board staff presented a memo July 13 proposing that Westford’s Community Behavioral Mental Health Committee become resident‑driven, with the health department and the town’s community health and wellness coordinator serving as liaisons rather than voting members.
Ray, a health department staff member, said the current committee composition includes select board, faith‑based, school and town staff seats and several resident seats, and that moving to a resident‑driven structure was intended to lower quorum burdens and increase resident involvement. “We would be liaisons only… we would attend meetings or meet with them monthly,” Ray said, adding that liaisons would still help organize events, review data and support initiatives like suicide prevention and the Hope Blooms event.
Board members asked whether staff would retain a voice. Ray clarified that staff would be liaisons who provide expertise and support but would not be voting committee members. Funding was also discussed: Ray said committees typically have no dedicated funding; she has arranged a small account via the town manager’s office and received about $750 in donations so far.
No formal vote was taken on the proposal during the meeting; members asked staff to share the memo and follow up with the select board as appropriate. The board emphasized the idea is to empower residents while retaining staff support and technical expertise through liaisons.
Transcript provenance: the committee restructuring memo and the packet material were discussed live with questions from multiple board members.
