By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
The Town Council voted unanimously to begin the process of expanding the Board of Health from three members to five.
Officials said this would improve meeting reliability and allow the board to handle public health issues more efficiently.
The 7–0 vote at the meeting on March 9 authorizes Town Manager Michael Borg to draft a legislative petition seeking a minor amendment to the town charter, modifying Article V, Section 5-4(a) to increase the board’s membership.
The measure originated from discussions between the Board of Health, town leadership and the Charter Review Committee, according to Borg.
“The Board of Health on several occasions came and asked me how they could increase the number of members they had from three to five,” Borg said during a Feb. 9 Town Council meeting. “They felt it would work better with scheduling to make sure they had a majority so meetings could be held when someone was absent.”
With only three members, the absence or scheduling conflict of a single board member can prevent the board from reaching a quorum, limiting its ability to conduct official business.
Councilor Laura Wagner, who serves on the Charter Review Committee, told the North Star Reporter that Public Health Director Anne Marie Fleming also spoke on the limitations created by the board’s small size.
Under Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, Wagner explained, a three-member board cannot break into subcommittees to research issues without potentially triggering rules for meeting requirements. Expanding the board to five members would allow smaller groups to review topics or gather information before bringing recommendations back to the full board.
“The increase in members will allow for greater efficiency,” said Wagner.
A larger board would also provide greater continuity during meetings. With only three members, a single absence leaves just two members present — limiting perspectives and increasing the possibility of tie votes. With five members, the board would have more flexibility to maintain a quorum and continue discussions even when a member is unavailable.
Borg noted that expanding the board would also align it more closely with other elected bodies in town. The Town Council has nine members, while the School Committee has seven. Several other boards — including the Board of Public Works, Board of Electric Commissioners, and the Parks and Recreation Commission — each have five members.
Because the proposed amendment does not alter the authority or duties of the Board of Health, Borg said the town attorney advised that it qualifies as a minor charter change. That designation allows the council to advance the proposal through a legislative petition, rather than requiring a town-wide vote.
The next step will be to submit the amendment request to the state through a home rule petition, according to Communications and Information Officer Taylor O’Neil. The proposal will be sent to the Massachusetts Legislature alongside another charter-related request concerning write-in votes.
While the town waits for state approval, Borg plans to appoint two non-voting, ex officio members to the Board of Health. Those individuals will be able to participate in discussions and provide feedback, but will not have voting authority. If the legislature ultimately approves the charter change, Borg would formally nominate these additional members and the council would vote to confirm them, O’Neil said.
Wagner noted that another local legislative petition related to the town’s senior tax relief program was submitted last May and has only recently moved closer to passage — nearly a year later.
With the Legislature approaching the end of its formal session in July and focusing heavily on the state budget, the Board of Health amendment could take several months to move through the process. Wagner said it is possible the measure could pass before the end of the year, though a final decision may not come until next spring.
“The state legislature could also tell us the changes have to be approved by town voters, so it’s hard to say,” said Wagner.