In Plymouth the Board of Health recently announced a ban on the use of polystyrene takeout containers to go into effect next year. This action has prompted questions about the power and authority of the Board of Health. Town Manager Derek Brindisi, prior to coming to the Town of Plymouth, served as Director of Public Health and Administration for the City of Worcester. He says in Massachusetts, Boards of Health have great authority.
WATD’s Bobbi Clark has more…
Town Manager Derek Brindisi:
“Boards of Health in Massachusetts have extreme authority under Chapter 111, Section 41. That statute allows Boards of Health in every municipality to promulgate regulations and so these are the regulations that give our Board of Health the ability to set standards on tobacco products, other environmental health concerns and things of that nature.”
Some folks seem surprised that the Board of Health doesn’t make recommendations that Town Meeting then votes on.
“If you look at what, over time, the Board of Health has done, they have gone to Town Meeting and they have recommended regulations to be embedded within our Town bylaws. But, at the same time they also have their own set of Board of Health regulations, so they’ve taken a couple of different approaches in how they see local laws.”
The Town of Plymouth has a five member Board of Health, with one person serving as an alternate. The group is appointed by the Select Board.
In Plymouth, Bobbi Clark, WATD News.
