Board of Health — Burlington, VT
Date: 2025-10-21
Time: 17:30

Burlington Board of Health
 Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 5:30 PM,
 645 Pine Street Mapping Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM

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1. Agenda
 1.1. Motion to amend/adopt agenda

2. Approval of September meeting draft minutes

3. Public Forum
 Subject 3.1. Verbal Comments
 Meeting October 21, 2025 - Burlington Board of Health - Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 5:30 PM,
 Burlington Board of Health
 645 Pine Street Mapping Conference Room OR REMOTELY via ZOOM
 Category 3. Public Forum
 Department Council and Board


 Type

4. Discussion on syringe disposal and syringe injury prevention

5. Board Member Vacancy

6. Housing inspection update from Bill Ward

7. Adjournment

October 2025 BOH draft minutes
-Board members participating: Chair Celia Bird, Jenny Tomczak, Jane Seymour and Health
Officer Bill Ward

Board Chair Celia Bird called the meeting to order at 5:37 pm.

Agenda
Jane made a motion to amend the agenda to move Item 7 Adjournment to become item 8 and
new Item 7 would be Chair report and emerging issues and approve that as an amended agenda.
2nd by Jenny.
Vote was unanimous in favor.

Draft minutes from September
The board agreed to table the draft meeting approval pending staff review of the recording to
add board member motions and 2nds.
That was made as a motion table the item by Jenny, 2nd by Jane.
Vote was unanimous in favor.

Public Forum
Burlington resident Chris Copp spoke with the Board about his interest in the topic of
Fluoridation in the public water supply. He voiced his opposition to fluoridation and left a few
news articles on the subject for the board to review.

Discussion on Needle Disposal
Bill noted that Bianca wanted to follow up on the news story about South Burlington School
having a needle stick incident. The board decided to wait for Bianca’s return before discussing it
more detail. Bill then gave an update on the great work being done by the BTV Clean UP crew.
The Thursday morning clean ups are being led by the Director of Operations for the Peace and
Justice Center Kason Hudman and local Community Organizer, Bella Fern. That team is training
residents and downtown merchants on safe clean-up of found needles. They also respond to and
close out SeeClickFix reports on found syringes.

Two of the metal 1 pint syringe drop boxes purchased by the Board of Health are now in place
on King Street and Center Street being jointly monitored by business owners, Bella Fern and Bill
Ward. Celia and Bill agreed that they would work together on establishing one at the Unitarian
Universalist Church.

Board Member Vacancy
The board discussed the new vacancy created by the departure of Jennifer Zakaras. No motions
were made on this item.


Housing Inspection update from Bill Ward
Bill gave an update on the number of rental units, the Certificate of Compliance system and the
current pace of minimum housing inspections. He noted a few recent properties with numerous
non-compliant inspections and the resulting housing Board appeals process. The properties
discussed were 52-54 Spruce Street and 29-33 South Willard Street.

Chair update and Emerging Issues
Celia returned the discussion to water fluoridation and asked if the members had any
recommendations. Jane asked other board members if they needed any additional information
before deciding how to proceed. Celia suggested that members could review the documents
supplied by the resident who attended public forum and Bill agreed to scan the documents and
send them to all BOH members. The discussion will continue next meeting.

Celia asked about getting the cooling shelter process back on the agenda. Once there is a
replacement Special assistant to end homelessness hired, Bill will ask them to participate in a
future meeting.


Adjournment
The board discussed possible meeting dates in November but could not immediately decide until
speaking with Bianka. Jane made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jenny. Celia
noted the meeting was now adjourned at 6:56 pm.