The Southborough Board of Health on Jan. 14, 2025, introduced Chris Craig as the new health agent shared between Southborough and Northborough and discussed uses of regional public-health emergency (PHE) grant funds, staffing shortfalls and several one-time community health initiatives.

"My name is Chris. I'm the new health agent for Southborough and Northborough," Chris Craig said, describing two years of prior experience as an environmental health agent in Natick and noting his primary role will include Title 5 septic inspections while expanding capacity for both health departments.

Board members then reviewed updates tied to a regional PHE grant for which Northborough is the fiscal agent. The board said the state is contracting with a company called BME to analyze staffing and costs across participating towns and that Southborough will need to provide operational budgets and information about revenues that flow to the Board of Health and to the health department revolving account.

Board Chair (name not specified) said the towns have not filled a nursing position and stressed the need to keep that position filled to avoid losing PHE funds. The board voted at a prior regional meeting to engage a third party to assist with hoarding cases; staff expect a contract to be ready from the regional coordinator.

Members discussed several potential one-time uses of available funds, including asking the state to allow purchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for neighboring towns' athletic sites, expanding sunscreen (and suggested bug-spray) availability at town parks, and purchasing vaccines for priority groups. The chair noted leftover COVID vaccines from prior purchases and that the health department's revolving account spending limit had been increased to permit larger purchases in future seasons.

Board and staff also reported that community trainings for Narcan distribution and use run monthly and usually sell out; members discussed whether available funds could expand access to Narcan or increase the number or frequency of CPR certification sessions. One board member suggested using funds to purchase RSV vaccines for eligible seniors if allowable under the grant or revolving-account rules.

Several operational steps were identified for follow-up: staff will meet with the state contractor BME, the health department and the senior center to determine data and software requirements; staff will return with clarifications on permissible uses of PHE and revolving funds for vaccinations and one-time purchases; and regional coordinators will indicate when the hoarding-services contract can be executed.