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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-02-06 Board of Health Minutes6�� ovatgo, Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Board of Health Date: 2017-02-06 Time: 530 PM Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Great Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MASS. 1011NA2l A11=33 John Costlgan, Andrew Friedmann, Beth Shurland, Nancy Docktor Members - Not Present: Others Present: Elaine Webb, Shawn Ferris, Tim Brooks, Carol Berry, Ron Beauregard, Tobacco Control Program, Erin Calvo-Bacci, John Hildreth, Paul Cummings, Kathy Whittaker, Peggy Russo, Kathleen O'Leary, Louis Adreani, Sarah McColgan, MHOA Tobacco Control, Maureen Buzby, Regional Tobacco Control, Diane Knight, Northeast Tobacco Free Community Partnership, Jacqueline Callahan, Annabelle Taylor, Casey Bowers, Kyle Krupa, Frank Rhoades, lean Delios, Assistant Town Manager, Dan Dewar, Patrick Shannon, John Halsey, Board of Selectmen/Liaison, Tony Capraro Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Darlene Foley Topics of Discussion: Board of Health meeting came to order at 5:32 pm on February 6, 2017 in the Great Room of the Pleasant Street Center. Minutes Minutes of January 18 and January 24, 2017 were postponed until the next scheduled meeting. Costigan opened meeting by acknowledging the service of the former chair, Andy Friedmann and thanked him for his exemplified spirit of public participation in public affairs and for his guidance, leadership and dedication to the public health of the town. The members of the Board of Health (BOH), John Costigan, Chair, Beth Shurland, Andy Friedmann and Associate Member Nancy Docktor were introduced to the audience. Costigan thanked those who came to share their views and gave valuable input to create reasonable and just regulations while maintaining the primary Interest and goals of public health. Costigan stated the purpose of the public hearing is to collect information and opinions but the Board would not entertain questions or ask for a vote from the audience. A vote may not be taken on the proposal tonight after the public hearing. If not, the date of the meeting when the vote will take place will be made public. Time for further public testimony would not be provided unless a board member has a specific question that requires clarification from an audience member. After tonight's meeting the Board would decide whether or not to accept further written testimony and if so set a deadline for such communication. If and when the proposal is passed, it would be posted at Town Hall and Page 1 1 published in the Reading Chronicle within 30 days of passage. Costigan stated those wishing to make comment should sign in. When called upon to speak, audience members should identify themselves by name, address or affiliation and limit comments to three minutes per person, or pass on speaking if so desired., Costigan read the proposed regulation changes into record. In regard to the proposed change requiring packages of two or more cigars be priced at $5 or more and maintain the current requirement that all single cigars be priced at $2.50 or more, Costigan pointed out that the current regulation has no minimum price requirement. The Board had received a number of written communications. One had been received from Elaine Webb who was invited to speak first. Elaine Webb, 309 Pearl Street, Vice President of Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCASA), read from a letter she and Patrick Shannon, President of RCASA, submitted to the BOH Chair stating their belief that the proposed regulations are an important step in addressing the negative impact of nicotine availability in the community. Flavored tobacco, including an array of candy flavored cigars and cigarillos are being heavily marketed to youth with colorful packaging and young people are more likely to use candy -and -fruit flavored tobacco products than adults. High school students in Massachusetts (2015 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey) reported twice the rate of cigar use compared to adults in the United States (10% vs 5%). Dan Dewar, 519 Main Street, owner of Quick Stop had submitted written communication; however, did not wish to speak at this time, nor have his letter read into the record, but would speak when his name came up. Shawn Ferris, 183 Woburn Street - Understood what is trying to be accomplished with regulations; he agreed and disagreed somewhat. He used to smoke a pack of cigarettes per day; flavored vapor cigarettes helped him to quit smoking and he is grateful to be smoke free. He finds that to be a positive thing. He stated things keep being taken away from the businesses in town and we should be more business friendly. As far as convenience stores go, we have regulations in place where you have to be 21 to purchase tobacco products. It is up to store owner not to sell to those under that age or be fined; he knows we have stings that take place, that's great. He knows that businesses have been fined, penalized or lost their license to sell for days; that's fine. There has to be a way to control it; you can't just ban or completely eliminate It because where there's a will there's a way. You say kids buy cigars because they are cheap price. He thinks most people are just buying them to put their marijuana paraphernalia, pot In it, or whatever they do. Price is not going to be a deal breaker; people are going to buy it anyway. Even if it is eliminated In all towns, people are still going to buy it. It's available on the Internet. He thinks he is opposed to it. He knows you have to regulate certain things, but to limit the cost of $5 for cigars; some people don't have that have $5. They may want a cigar as opposed to a pack of cigarettes; you have to look at the average person. These kids, not saying minors, but young people have a choice to make. We have to be friendlier to these businesses; some have to sell many things and certain things they make money on, others they don't. We need convenience stores in town. Tim Brooks, 37 Pearl Street - He agreed with comments of Mr. Ferris. At the age of 21, people can make their own choices whether to smoke or not. When living at home, parents should be telling kids what to do; it is their responsibility. It is Dan's job to sell the products, not to screen everyone, just those under the age of 21. Carol Berry - Passed Page 1 2 Ron Beauregard - Andover Town Hall - He runs the Tobacco Control Program for 18 communities, including Lynnfield, North Andover and North Reading. North Andover was the first to start the flavor restriction on tobacco products. He has found that the interest to the flavor restriction has waned as it has become more popular. He has met with 184 retailers throughout these communities and what he has learned is that it is a lesson in adaptation, like what he witnessed when the smoking ban in restaurants and bars went into effect In the early 2000's. There was a lot of concern at that time among the retail community how it would impact them economically which he has heard here tonight as well. The tough thing boards of health have is that retailers sit in a classic battle between those who want to perpetuate tobacco use, the tobacco companies, and public health officials who want to curb tobacco use. No one can look retailers In the eye and say it won't make any impact on local business because it can, so it becomes a delicate balance for the board to decide what advances public health but does not kill a business. None of the businesses mentioned have gone out of business, but that is not to say they haven't been impacted. He advises to follow peer review research. Flavored tobacco products are not being banned, but restricted to smoke shops, called retail tobacco shops in the proposed regulations, where anyone over the age of 21 can purchase these products. He and retailers both agree that they want to curb youth access to tobacco. However, he wants to do it where the statement is, if you're going to sell in a place where kids frequent, there are not any blurred lines between the mango chews, orange juice or tobacco products. Erin Calvo-Bacci, 494 Main Street - She is here speaking as a parent. In regard to limiting flavored tobacco products including e -cigarettes to adult only retail tobacco stores, her concern is that it is bad policy because there are laws to prohibit minors, those under 21, from purchasing these products; but, there are no laws to go after minors in possession of these products. Currently there are children at the middle school serving in -school suspension for having vaporizers. Vaporizers are available on line. If we are really intending to protect children, the focus needs to be on laws that do in fact protect the children and not hurt adults who choose to partake in these products. This is bad policy; it is not prohibiting minors from getting these products. It is hurting people who are following the laws, such as Dan, who if he were to sell to a minor then there would be legal ramifications. He is simply a business owner, trying to support himself and his family and we should encourage that, especially In this town when we see so many financial hardships. We need to encourage more business and to take this away from him without really going after the laws to protect children is really just bad policy. John Hildreth, 2 Waverly Road - Supports Dan Dewar, agrees with Erin Calvo-Bacci. He believes we are trying to regulate too much because you can buy anything you want on the internet, or can buy anything in another town. Paul Cummings, 21 Chequessett Road - He supports Dan Dewar. To his knowledge he has not seen him sell any tobacco products to anyone under 21 as long as he has known him. Under his tobacco license he is allowed to sell to those aged 21 and at age 21 they are adults and can make their own decisions. He would like to applaud Elaine Webb for her work in the opiate council she works on. He thinks opiate abuse is the most important thing the town should be working on, along with state and federal government. He is against government rate setting for a product. The flavored products being talked about having banned, once again, those aged 21 should be able to buy flavored products. Businesses like Dan's and all convenient stores, if they follow the rules, should have the right to sell to those aged 21. Kathy Whittaker, 6 Puritan Road - She is the Public Health Nurse for the Winchester Board of Health. Winchester passed similar regulations approximately a year and a half ago. She believes the surrounding towns should be unified to prevent children from purchasing these products. She stated that nicotine is so addictive; someone just smoking 3 cigarettes can become addicted. With all the flavors available, it is more enticing. She fully supports the regulations. Page 13 Peggy Russo, Chelmsford - She is in favor of the regulations. She is a certified tobacco treatment specialist and volunteers her time. In the last few years she has seen more young adolescents who never would have entertained the thought of smoking traditional cigarettes but are being enticed by flavored products. They are trying these Flavored products and becoming addicted to nicotine and end up smoking regular cigarettes. She believes these products should be kept in adult only retail tobacco stores which would make it harder for kids to get. All the flavored products and e -cigarette items are geared to kids. She began smoking at the age of 12 and would have loved to have something that tasted like candy or something that was fruit flavored. It is important to get these products out of the hands of kids and into adult only retail tobacco stores. Kathleen O'Leary, 81 Middlesex Avenue - She is a nurse practitioner specializing in pain management, tobacco treatment and is a certified tobacco treatment specialist. She works at a 320 bed hospital as a tobacco treatment nurse practitioner. Every day she gets a list of patients who have answered yes to tobacco use within the past 30 days. She sees about 20 patients a day and helps them with symptoms of withdrawal coming into a smoke free environment. She helps to counsel patients, which helps get them closer to a quit attempt. Patients being treated there are over 18 years of age. When asked when they started using tobacco or nicotine products, the majority answered in their teenage years. She stated that 90% of tobacco users started before the age of 18. The teenage developing brain becomes highly addicted to nicotine. People are born with nicotine receptors, the receptors are stimulated when nicotine is brought into the system. Patients trying to quit use nicotine replacement therapy to help them wean down, which is an arduous process, requiring not only taking medications but counseling as well. The average smoker takes ten quit attempts to quit, two for some, twenty for others. She fully supports RCASA; it educates our community and our families with the changing times and products that are out there and fully she supports the regulations to keep one less avenue out the hands of children. Louis Adreani, 14 School Street - He agreed with what everyone said. He agrees there are two issues here. He appreciated the gentleman from Andover Tobacco Control talking about the economics of it and everyone else's concern; Kathleen O'Leary from the health aspect and he agrees with that. Dan was issued a license to procure a convenience store and sell products, which includes tobacco products. He is not an advocate of tobacco products, nor is he an advocate of fast food, fried food, or coffee shops where he has seen people put about fifteen sucrose packets in their coffees. However, people get to a point where they can make their own decisions. He has heard John Halsey talk about economic viability. He fears Dan will suffer by a thousand cuts and we will be crippling his business. Dan runs a safe business; he is conscientious and he respects him which Is why he is here. Dan did not know he was attending tonight or speaking tonight. He is speaking tonight because he respects this process and wants Dan to be able to continue his viable business while protecting the health of local citizens here. Some people use flavored e -cigarettes to cut down on smoking. He equates that with someone going to a fast food restaurant, replacing Pepsi or Coke with a diet product. From his prospective using an e -cigarette is not healthy; but it is a much better replacement for a cigarette so there is no tar and it just produces water vapor. There are no yellow fingers, walls or teeth. It is the better option of a worse set of options similar to all the diet cokes or artificial sweeteners people are using. They may think using them is better for themselves, maybe it is, maybe it isn't; but it is their choice. Sarah MCColgan, Director of Massachusetts Health Officers Association Tobacco Control Program (MHOA) - MHOA is the training association for board of health staff. She is one of three In the state who work with board of health staff on tobacco control policy development. The cigar provision came about as a result of studies done in Boston, enacted in 2001. Studies subsequent to that had shown it has been very effective. When talking about the effectiveness of it, youth buy and smoke single, cheap and sweet flavored cigars more than cigarettes. Cigarette consumption among youth has gone way down and cigar consumption has increased. Between 2000 and 2013, cigar consumption increased by 114% while cigarette consumption decreased by 37%, so kids are buying cigars that are cheap, sweet, and easy to get. That is one reason why this policy was looked at and the Page 1 4 price set at $2.50. When you take a $.50 or $.89 cigar and raise the price to $2.50, the retailer keeps the difference; it does not go into the state general fund, it is profit to the retailer. The goal of public health is to discourage youth from impulse purchasing like cheap cigars which will lead to nicotine addiction. It doesn't affect the premium cigars, which is what a lot of adults buy; they are generally over $2.50 to begin with. It just affects the cheap cigars children are buying. To date there has not been any data provided by retailers or their trade associations to show the cigar packaging has caused any economic harm to vendors. Currently there are over 138 municipalities that have already enacted minimum pricing for cigars in some form. A provision to limit the number of tobacco sales permits has been enacted in 87 cities and towns. Reading is looking to cap the number of permits issued at 19. It provides conditions for renewal, the sale of permit holders businesses, and a wait list If the maximum number is reached. This provision reduces the retailer density, which is always much higher for tobacco than liquor permits. The goal of public health is to reduce the density and exposure of tobacco products to minors. When kids go into stores, they are bombarded with advertising from the tobacco industry in terms of packaging and signs in windows. The provision regarding flavored tobacco products is not to ban these products, but to limit and restrict where these products can be sold. The provision is to restrict sales to adult only retail stores. The tobacco industry has stated and testified before congress that this isn't a product they made or market to kids; it isn't something for kids. If that is true, it's time to take the tobacco industry at their word. If it's not for kids, remove it from the environment that kids are in, and put it in adult only tobacco stores where kids are not allowed to enter the building. Youth who shop in convenience stores that sell tobacco products two or more times a week are 64% more likely than their peers who don't go into those stores to start smoking. This restriction has already been passed in 84 communities In Massachusetts. It had originally started in Providence, Rhode Island. Interesting enough Providence is asking for help and guidance In how to enforce the restriction they started because Massachusetts has been doing it more effectively. The provision to prohibit tobacco sales at any new store location within 1,000 feet of a school zone once again meets the public health goal to reduce tobacco sales and exposure to minors. It provides conditions for permit renewal and sales of permit holder's businesses. Sixty-six cities and towns have already enacted a provision for locations within 500 feet; however, this provision extends out to 1000 feet which would be similar to the medical marijuana policy. She hopes these regulations will be considered and voted in. Maureen Buzby - Regional Tobacco Control Coordinator. The strategies being considered are all endorsed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program. They are all evidence -based strategies that are effective In reducing youth use of tobacco and nicotine products. A 2016 Washington Post article reporting the skyrocketing e -cigarette use among teens after decades of decreasing teen smoking rates was submitted. Results of a 2015 survey of 447 Wakefield High School students related to e -cigarette and flavored cigar use was also submitted. 44.4% tried e -cigarettes or flavored cigars because they were attracted to the flavor. 64.3% reported they got the e -cigarette or flavored cigar from a friend and 65.5% answered they would not use these products if they weren't available in flavors. With the combined use rates of smoking conventional tobacco products and e -cigarettes, a nicotine product, a huge jump has occurred which has become very concerning and roadblocks are trying to be put in place to prevent kids from getting these products. She stated there is not comparable data for Reading High School students but as Reading's demographics are similar to Wakefield's, she suspects the results would be similar. Buzby provided a hard copy of a communication from Cheryl Sbarra, Attorney with the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards with her comments for the record. Page 1 5 Diane Knight, RN - Director of Northeast Tobacco Free Community Partnership which is a program funded by the Mass Department of Public Health (MDPH) on initiatives to lower smoking prevalence, reduce exposure to second hand smoke and to educate and mobilize communities to support local tobacco policies. She supports raising the price of single cigars and multipacks. The tobacco industry prices these products cheaply to encourage Impulse purchases by adolescents and uses fruit and candy flavored tobacco products to attract and target young people. Flavored tobacco products are considered "starter" products by the US Food & Drug Administration and the US Surgeon General that aid in establishment of smoking patterns that can lead to long-term addiction. Because of the way nicotine changes the adolescent brain, people who start smoking as adolescents smoke more and have a harder time quitting than people who start as adults. A recent report from the US Surgeon General finds 85% of e -cigarette users ages 12-17 use flavored e -cigarettes and flavors are the leading reason for youth use. She supports limiting flavored other tobacco products, including e -cigarettes to adult only retail tobacco stores. A recent report with new data from DPH on the use of electronic nicotine delivery products (E -NDP) was submitted. The data is from a 2015 youth risk behavior survey and indicates these electronic products have Increased dramatically because of their wide availability, attractive flavors and pervasive marketing. High School youth who have ever used is 44.8%; that is nearly 1 in 2 high school students vs. 13.9% of adults. The current users in the high school are 23.70/b vs. 2.7% of adults. High school youth currently use these electronic products at a higher rate than all other tobacco products. Tobacco companies use flavoring in smokeless tobacco products as part of a graduation strategy to encourage new users to start with flavored products with lower levels of nicotine and work way their way up to more addictive products. The Surgeon General reminds us the use of products containing nicotine In any form among youth, including e -cigarettes is unsafe. This is so important that nicotine is unsafe for teens. Sixteen other communities In the Northeast region where she works have taken steps to remove flavored products from stores that youth frequent and she supports Reading in joining this movement. Jacqueline Callahan, RMHS teacher and School Youth Group Representative - She is here on behalf of the students. As an educator she is concerned how easy it is for youth to access nicotine products and tobacco. Flavored tobacco and nicotine products are more appealing to youth and having these products easily available in town stores makes it likely that youths will try these products. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 7 out of 10 youth who do use tobacco products currently use flavored products. She supports regulations to limit the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, because these products are designed to entice children and teens and promoting these products is not the right thing to do. She understands the concerns the small business owners may have regarding the regulations, but the regulations are not against the selling of these products at all. Hopefully these regulations will help decrease the access of products used by teens and we do need to consider that having these products in stores not only increases the access to but also the exposure to our youth. Annabelle Taylor, 129 Pleasant Street - As a teen she is concerned for the well-being of her peers. The advertising of the flavored tobacco and nicotine products to youth needs to be changed. According to studies published by CDC and Federal Drug Administration an estimated 70% of US middle and high school students have used a tobacco product within the past 30 days. She fully supports the board in passing the proposed regulations. Casey Bowers, 27 Dana Road - Massachusetts Director of Public Policy for American Lung Association - They are very much in support of the regulations. It is a great way to protect kids. Regarding internet sales, she would like to note that under the Attorney General's regulations signed last year, all the electronic e -cigarettes sold on line must go through age verification. If you hear this is not being done, those concerns can be sent to the Attorney General and they can be regulated. Kyle Krupa - Passed Page 1 6 Frank Rhoades, 16 Green Street - He knows people who used flavored e -cigarettes to stop smoking and who are in better health now and probably wouldn't have tried it if was not Flavored. If it was available when he was younger he would have used Flavored products and probably would still be using it now. As Ron Beauregard mentioned previously, a lot of these places have come in, have done all the regulations and that stuff, but all of those towns have vapor stores and tobacco stores. He asked if Reading had an actual vapor store or tobacco store and was told Reading does not. He asked if he understood correctly that if new tobacco permits were not being issued, there could not be any tobacco or vapor stores in town. Costigan stated the regulation is to limit the number of permits to be issued. He asked if the limit was at the maximum and was told it was not. He knows Dan's store sells vapors and Flavored stuff, and everyone sells flavored cigars which he doesn't approve of. A previous speaker stated flavored cigar use skyrocketed to 114% and cigarette use decreased 37%. He stated cigarette use decreased 37% because people didn't start smoking. In regard to flavored cigars, he never met a kid that smoked flavored cigars for a cigar. He deals with a lot of youth and troubled youth as a volunteer. For them to say they are smoking flavored cigars it is not too much reality. As long as things are being regulated, things are being done properly, and things are not going over the edge, he sees no reason why it should not be done in local stores. He knows that there are other places in town that sell the cigars. He inquired if the town has any other places that sell any type of e - cigarette product. Costigan stated he did not have the Information to answer that question. Mr. Rhoades stated that if there are not any others places, it means that one business is being targeted. Jean Delios - Passed Kevin McDonald, 24 John Street - This seems to be directed at one person. He knows this gentleman; frequents his store often. He suggests some kind of grandfathering, so he doesn't suffer the brunt of this and can get along with his business. He has invested a fortune already; it was authorized once and now you want to say he can't do It. This is only costing him more money. you get tax money from tobacco sales; you should consider that as an Interest to the community. As far as kids smoking, it is not going to stop them. Too many adults smoke and kids do what adults do. Dan Dewar, 519 Main Street - He is the owner of Quick Stop. He knows that he is not being targeted directly; it is for all stores. The problem he has is in 2014 when the age was raised from 18 to 21, he had about 20 people who came to that meeting and spoke. He didn't support the change, but understood where it was going. There were two people who got up and spoke against it. The vote was taken and everyone voted yes to do it. He asked those same people to attend this meeting and they said no because the fix was in. He hopes that is not the case tonight because he says he does a good job. He doesn't sell to anyone under the age of 21, kids, anything like that. So they are getting it from someone else, not from him. They are getting it on the internet where you're supposed to be 21, but there is no one carding them to check that, so that's where they are getting it. He assures that they are not getting it from him, there is nothing broken in his case, so there's nothing to fix. In regard to the price setting for flavored cigars, he does have customers over 21, but does not sell a lot of them. When the age went from 18 to 21 he did invest in e -juice; he was looking for another revenue stream to support his business. He probably went down about at least five cartons of cigarettes a week. Once again he understands it and deals with it. He thinks in this case it is an over reach, it is over regulating. The problem isn't his store; he is a general store, selling a lot of different things. He is always looking for new revenue streams. If he loses this, what is his next revenue stream? He then goes to working from 70 to 75 hours to make up for that revenue loss. What's next; the energy drinks, the candy, where does it stop? He does his part and he does treat the board like a partner. When Maureen Buzby comes to his store they are very cordial, they exchange ideas. Other than that he doesn't really talk to the Board, he doesn't see board members out in the community or in his store to talk about these issues, so they can partner. He Page 1 7 doesn't condone smoking for children. He is just a businessman trying to make a living and doesn't do anything to warrant these regulations. As far as signs in his store, he has a Newport sign, which just shows the price. If a kid comes in with a parent, that's an opportunity to have dialog with the kid, teach them how you want them to be. He believes tobacco companies are advertising cigar Flavors for adults that like Flavors. He asked for clarification on the capping out of the tobacco licenses and the board explained the process. Patrick Shannon, 516 Haverhill Street - He is also involved with RCASA. This really is a public health issue; tobacco is an addictive dangerous substance. The numbers show an increase in the use of Flavored products in youth and we cannot allow that to happen. Reading is not on the leading edge of this trend. There needs to be consistency within surrounding communities and he firmly supports the regulations. John Halsey, 75 Beaver Road, Board of Selectmen - Asked the question if we had any survey/statistical information of youth usage in Reading, is tobacco one of them and the other items in question. He is in favor of no kids using these products. He also asked where we were on the continuum of violations and if there were any statistics on establishments in town, their violation rate, and are the regulations being enforced. Tony Capraro, 129 Ash Street - He has heard a lot of great points. He is there to support Dan. No one under the age of 21 is going to get these products from Dan; he runs a tight ship. It's just going to take away from his business; he doesn't want to see him lose any revenue. He has heard they can get these items on line. They are going to get them anyway, but they will not get them from Reading Quick Stop. As there were no others present who had signed in and not spoken, Friedmann made a motion the close the public hearing. The motion was seconded by Shurland. Motion passed 3:0 After a short discussion Shurland made a motion to table the discussion and vote on the proposed regulations until the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Friedmann. The meeting was tentatively scheduled for March 8th at 5:30 pm in the Berger Room. Costigan asked Delios for an update on the health agent position. She stated the position had been posted on the relevant web sites and several applications had been received. She stated no interviews had been scheduled as yet. Costigan will contact the town manager in regard to the interviews and having a board member attend the interviews. Dellos stated in the meantime the interim health agent has been doing an excellent job, giving it his all with the 10 to 15 hours he has to work with. Costigan inquired if there were any pressing issues. Delios stated the interim health agent brought her up to speed on the exterior vent issue at Ristorante Pavarotti. A plan is to be submitted this week. This item will be put on the agenda for March. The draft pesticide regulations will be put on the agenda for March. Docktor will send the draft regulations to Delios. Friedmann will submit the approved healthy weight article publication. Costigan asked Delios the status of the article written on opiates and was informed it had been sent to the ombudsman. Friedmann made a motion to adjourn which was seconded by Shurland. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm. Materials Distributed: Draft minutes of January 18 and January 24, 2017 PHN Monthly Report Letter from RCASA Board of Directors Email from Dan Dewar, Quick Stop Page 1 8 Letter from Tobacco Free Mass Reports from MA Municipal Association Tobacco Control Program Correspondence from Maureen Buzby, Regional Tobacco Control 2015 Survey Report of Wakefield High School Students 2016 Washington Post Article Letter from Cheryl Sbarra, Attorney, MA Association of Health Boards Correspondence from Diane Knight, Northeast Tobacco Free Community Partnership Letter from Casey Bowers, American Lung Association Letter from Coalition for Responsible Retailing Page 1 9