BOH Meeting

Buckland Board of Health

February 17, 2026 Minutes

Present:

Kate Conlin, Member

Carmela Lanza-Weil, Chair

Roma Estevez, Member

Randy Crochier – FRCOG

Ilana Gerjuoy - FRCOG

Public:

Jonathan Winickoff - general pediatrician at Mass General

Ken Elstein - Belchertown BOH

Ginny Chadwick - PhD Candidate and Tobacco control researcher at Brandeis

Richard Lopez - BOH in Redding, MA

Josh Pruett - National Association of Tobacco Outlets

Julie Nash - Philip Morris International

Andrew Parker - Liberty Square Group, Cambridge

Maureen Buzby - Regional Tobacco Program Manager in Eastern MA

Jeff Willett - Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) in D.C.

Mark Gottlieb - Public Health Advocacy Institute

Zack Rich - lung and critical care doctor, treating tobacco-related diseases

Open the meeting, Introductions                                                                              

Approval of January Minutes - K. Conlin motion, R. Estevez seconds. All in favor.

Health Agent Report - food permits, title 5                                                                                

• MAPHCO - tabletop with National Grid designed on results from the ice storm last year. Randy is setting up meetings with EMDs. Potential tabletop scenario based on a measles outbreak.
• Current Tobacco Regs - current copy has been sent to the BOH. If questions direct to FRCOG. We need to revise our regulations to keep them in line with state regulations. Suggest we go through it as a board, decide what we want to adopt, and then post that meeting. No requirements, but best practice to post the meeting, and UMass interpret into native languages.

New NFG Public Comments  

• Jeff Willett: Director of PPI’s project ‘End Smoking’ - concerns that NFG will increase illicit tobacco sales and provide no public health benefits. He has led youth nicotine reduction efforts with the National Heart Association. Use tobacco rates at historic lows. Oppose NFG. Would be happy to speak about alternative approaches to NFG. Has sent in written comments. 
• Richard Lopez: Retired primary care physician. Town adopted in June 2024. Controversial at the time. Though agreement on health risks of tobacco. After 18 months, no convenience stores have shut down (change very gradual). ‘Slippery slope’ arguments are flawed. He fully supports NFG.
• Ginny Chadwick: Was an elected official in Missouri, passed one of the first tobacco 21 regulations. Boards of Health in Massachusetts have capabilities that other states don’t. When lobbyists come from D.C. we know we’re doing something right.
• Jonathan Winickoff: Tobacco control researcher, studied for the past 25 years. Also a pediatrician. He has treated thousands of patients suffering nicotine addiction and has seen poor effects to the brain, lasting changes, depression, anxiety, ADHD, suicidal ideation. Few substances create such a strong withdrawal effect and rapid dependence. Gateway drug effect. Accentuates awards for alcohol, cocaine, meth, etc.
• Maureen Buzby: Last year shared with us the products marketed to children. Reiterates that this policy would not affect adults, only youths. States kids are in support of this policy. School administrators mention students vaping in bathrooms, disposing in school toilets, plumbing issues, some students don’t use the bathroom all day to avoid. Environmental hazards of e-cigarettes. Lithium battery. Metal coils made of known carcinogens. Disposal is problematic. High nicotine levels are problematic as well as novel items (lollipops, toothpicks, etc.).
• Mark Gottlieb: Executive Director of Public Health Advocacy Group at Northeastern School of Law. Has been working on this policy for 13 years. Defended Brookline when they were challenged. Has submitted a comment letter. This policy will prevent underage use as there will be a widening gap between those who can purchase and those who can’t.
• Zack Rich: He hopes the Board will help children not get addicted to tobacco. The patients that he sees will almost universally say “I wish I never started.” One of their biggest regrets. Nicotine addiction is unique. This is one of the best approaches for improving the public health of our communities.
• Ken Elstein: We approved NFG 13 months ago, implemented a year ago in January. It’s been seamless. Most of the 10 licensed vendors have followed the regulations. Conway, Leverett have approved NFG. Amherst as well. Says NFG saves lives.
• Jeff Willett (2nd time): remarks he would love to see as much passion and incentive to act to help the Massachusetts adults who are trying to quit smoking, 1 in 10 who try will succeed. Tobacco smoking, not nicotine use, the leading cause of death. Criticizes the gradual uptake of NFG and comments that more urgency is needed.
• Jonathan Winickoff (2nd time): Clarifies he is a volunteer, no one is paying him for his testimony, and he works for a nonprofit.

Vote on NFG Regs, Discussion/Vote:

• K. Conlin worries it would not have positive public health effects due to illicit/internet sales filling in the gaps.
• R. Estevez is in support of NFG.
• C. Lanza-Weil it is a small gesture, won’t have a huge impact, will show that nicotine is harmful.
• Hearing will be held, rolling in other tobacco regulations, voting at hearing.
• Ilana Gerjuoy can help in drafting the regulations for the hearing. Agenda should clearly state and demarcate the votes for the hearing. Differences between our regulations and model MAHB regulations have been identified by Ilana. Board will review and direct any questions directly to Ilana.

Updates:                                                                                                         

• Battery Proposal Update - Great River Hydro potentially applied for a permit, though no one in town has had a proposal? Randy will investigate. Randy mentions that FRCOG has a letter template that can be used to communicate with the Selectboard, includes a list of questions and groundwater regulations.
• MAHB Certificate - March 14, the Delaney House, sign up open.
• C. Lanza-Weil: motion to approve proposal to put NFG into our tobacco regulations and ask our health agents to add that into the template for tobacco regulations that we will discuss at our next meeting, hearing to follow during April meeting. Seconded by R. Estevez. All in favor.

TRAIN training reminder:

• Reminder to work on the training                                       

Email/mail of note:

• None.                   

Business not anticipated:

• K. Conlin’s term is up at the end of the year. She is debating whether to continue given her current commitments. Due date for nomination papers April 14th.

Next Meeting Reminder & Adjourn 

• Focus on battery storage
• Complete set of regulations, to advertise for April meeting - change to April 28th, in-person - vote can happen at hearing or later (“possible vote”)

Motion to adjourn