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2026-09-14 - Board of Health

Summary

This page summarizes the posted agenda, not what happened. The Board of Health was scheduled for 6:30 PM at 25 Meade Street (held virtually with in-person fallback). Announcements were to cover attendance at the August 24 Public Health and Human Services Committee session on youth exposure to tobacco, nicotine and vaping, and HHS Commissioner Seema Dixit introducing a new director of the Division of Public Health (the agenda lists Nikki Nixon as Director). Business items were a communicable disease update, appointing an MHOA Tobacco Inspector Agent, a Kratom Products Temporary Ban presentation by Nicholas Antanavica and Nixon, a Community Health Link update, the City's plan on Temporary Protected Status changes, and a City Council Civilian Review Board update. A note appended to the posted August 3 minutes says this meeting was adjourned without deliberations because of technical difficulties and rescheduled to Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, so these items may not have been taken up on the 14th. The meeting schedule lists no video link.

Summary written from the posted agenda only; no minutes or transcript yet.

Issues discussed: Kratom Products Temporary Ban, Tobacco Regulations Update (2026), Community Health Link Closure and Transition, Temporary Protected Status Response Report, Police Oversight and Civilian Review Board

Agenda

Board of Health Meeting Agenda, 09/14/2026, 6:30 PM, 25 Meade Street, 2nd floor (virtual participation by link or phone; the meeting continues in person if technology fails). Written comments due 2 business days in advance to health@worcesterma.gov or (508) 799-8531.

Board members: Frances Anthes, MSW, LICSW (Chair); Michael Perotto, MA; Patrick Lowe, MD; Joseph Kahoro, PA-C.

Department staff: Seema Dixit, MS, MPH, HHS Commissioner; Jennifer Bradford, MD, MPH, HHS Medical Director; Nikki Nixon, MS, Director, Division of Public Health; Brenda Wright, BSBA, Principal Clerk.

  • Call to Order
  • Welcome & Introductions
  • Announcements
    • Attendance at the August 24 City Council Standing Committee on Public Health and Human Services to discuss youth exposure and addiction to tobacco, nicotine and vaping.
    • HHS Commissioner Seema Dixit to introduce the new director for the Division of Public Health.
  • Minutes of Last Meeting
  • Communicable Diseases Update - Amelia Houghton, Chief-PHN, and Dr. Jennifer Bradford, HHS Medical Director
  • Appoint MHOA Tobacco Inspector Agent
  • Kratom Products Temporary Ban - Nick Antanavica, ISD Commissioner, and Nikki Nixon, Director, Division of Public Health
  • Community Health Link Update - Seema Dixit, HHS Commissioner
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS): The city's plan and response to community and public health impacts associated with the changes
  • City Council Civilian Review Board Update
  • Next Meeting Date & Topics
  • Adjourn

Transcript

Transcript pending: YouTube captions can't be retrieved yet (see the Worcester playbook).