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Shrewsbury Board Of Health Amends Public Comment Policy

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 30th 2025 at 13:03 GMT by Patch
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Shrewsbury Board of Health Tightens Public Comment Rules to Keep Meetings on Track

Shrewsbury, Mass. – The Shrewsbury Board of Health announced a sweeping update to its public‑comment policy on March 6, 2024, after a three‑month review of meeting procedures and a series of resident feedback sessions. The new guidelines, which go into effect immediately, set strict limits on the length of each comment, require speakers to identify themselves and their affiliation, and give the board a broader authority to decline or cut off comments that are off‑topic or exceed the allotted time. The changes are intended to make health‑board meetings more efficient, while still ensuring residents have a voice on critical public‑health issues.

Why the Change?

In the years since Shrewsbury’s health‑board meetings went public, many attendees noted that comment periods often ran long, sometimes extending well beyond the scheduled time. In 2023, the board held 17 meetings and spent an average of 45 minutes on public comment—nearly 20 % of the meeting’s total duration. In one instance, a single comment session ran 1 hour and 20 minutes, causing the board to postpone the rest of its agenda and leading to a backlog of delayed decisions on matters such as vaccination policy, water‑quality monitoring, and local disease‑prevention programs.

“We wanted to preserve the open‑forum tradition of our board meetings but also recognize that we have a limited amount of time to address the town’s public‑health priorities,” said Board Member Thomas “Tom” Hennessy. “The policy update gives us a structure that balances the need for community input with the efficiency required to make timely decisions.”

The board’s review included a look at Massachusetts’ Municipal Meeting Law, which requires public bodies to provide clear guidance on how the public may speak. The new policy now includes a reference to the state law and the Massachusetts Municipal Meetings Act, ensuring compliance while providing a practical framework for residents.

Key Provisions of the New Policy

1. Time Limits
   Each speaker is allotted a maximum of five minutes to present their comment. The board chair will call the speaker back when the limit is reached.

2. Identification and Pre‑Registration
   Speakers must introduce themselves, stating their name, affiliation, and why they are speaking on the subject. They are encouraged to pre‑register via the town’s website or email (healthboard@shrewsbury.ma.us) at least 48 hours before the meeting. Pre‑registration helps the board anticipate the length of each session and allows for better agenda planning.

3. Relevance Requirement
   Comments must be directly related to the agenda items being discussed. The board chair has the discretion to decline or terminate a comment that is deemed irrelevant or a “public‑speaking rant.”

4. Board Discretion
   The chair may remove a speaker or interrupt if a comment deviates from the subject or fails to comply with the time limit, subject to a brief “two‑minute” warning period.

5. Written Comments
   Residents may submit written comments through the town’s online portal. These written comments will be posted on the board’s website and read aloud at the end of the comment period.

6. Record‑Keeping
   All comments, whether spoken or written, will be documented in the minutes, with the speaker’s name and affiliation listed.

The new policy is available for public viewing in the town’s official repository: [ Board of Health Public Comment Policy PDF ].

The Voting Record

At the March 6 meeting, the board voted 4–3 in favor of the amendment. The opposition came from two board members who expressed concern that tightening time limits might stifle meaningful dialogue. In response, the board’s chair stated that the policy is designed to facilitate rather than suppress discussion. “We’re not eliminating public input; we’re simply ensuring it remains focused and productive,” the chair explained.

The board also announced that it will publish a brief guide on how to prepare a concise, effective comment, which will be posted on the town’s website and shared via email newsletter.

Community Response

Community groups, including the Shrewsbury Residents’ Association and the local health‑advocacy nonprofit Healthy Shrewsbury, weighed in on the changes. The association praised the move toward structure, noting that the board’s previous meeting schedules made it difficult for parents to attend.

“Efficient meetings help us get decisions made faster, which is essential for public‑health preparedness,” said the association’s president, Maya Patel.

However, the local Shrewsbury Voice editorial board cautioned that the policy could be used to silence dissent if not monitored. “The board must ensure that the new rules are applied fairly and that every voice has a chance to be heard, even if that means occasionally extending the comment period,” the editorial read.

Looking Ahead

The Board of Health will monitor the new policy’s impact over the next quarter. The board’s chair announced that a follow‑up meeting will take place on June 4, 2024, to assess whether the time limits are working as intended and to make adjustments if necessary.

The updated public‑comment policy is part of a broader effort to modernize the board’s operations. Earlier this year, the board adopted a new electronic voting system and enhanced its online agenda publishing to improve transparency.

Residents who want to learn more or file a comment can visit the board’s official page at: [ Shrewsbury Board of Health ]. For a complete record of the March 6 meeting, see the [ meeting minutes ].

In a town where public health is a shared responsibility, the Board’s updated public‑comment policy signals a shift toward more structured, yet still open, dialogue. By balancing community input with efficient decision‑making, the Shrewsbury Board of Health aims to better serve the town’s residents and ensure that critical health issues receive the timely attention they deserve.