HomeMy Public PortalAbout201-04-23 BOH -Reappt Richard Arnold rvsd_201905211141003594Watertown Town Council
Committee on Human Services
April 23, 2019, 6:45-7:15 PM
Read: May 14, 2019
In attendance were: Councilor Palomba, Chair; Caroline Bays, Vice Chair; Susan Falkoff,
Secretary; Larry Ramdin, Health Director; Richard Arnold, Board of Health member, and
resident Elodia Thomas.
The purpose of the meeting was to interview Richard Arnold for reappointment to the Board of
Health.
Mr. Arnold said that he enjoys participating in the Board of Health. The greatest challenge he
has faced is working on BioLab regulations since he is a medical professional (currently serving
as Administrator of Student Health Services at UMass Boson) and regulating laboratory work is
outside of his expertise. He said that the Board is looking at the regulations of surrounding
communities and choosing the relevant sections as well as fine-tuning the state regulations.
Several experts have submitted helpful comments to the Health Director.
The committee asked about opportunities and procedures for public input at Board of Health
meetings and compared that Board's procedures to Town Council mechanisms, noting that there
needs to be opportunity for public input and also for Board deliberation. Councilors expressed
the importance of the Board obtaining all of the information it needs for good decision -making.
Councilor Falkoff made a motion to recommend Council approval for Mr. Arnold's
reappointment, with a term to expire on February 7, 2022. Councilor Bays seconded and the
motion carried 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Falkoff, Secretary