East Bridgewater Board of Health Defers Tobacco MOU, Approves Septic Loan and Permits

EAST BRIDGEWATER — April 6, 2026 — East Bridgewater Board of Health defers tobacco compliance vote and approves $30,341.60 septic loan. The board, chaired by Andrew Hudson, unanimously approved a WPAT Betterment Loan Agreement for Jean Garcia Despinasse and Seedlie Pierre at 204 Thatcher Street before tabling a vote on a state tobacco memorandum of understanding after Health Agent Mike Soares disclosed the state had issued an updated fiscal year 2027 version. Soares told the board that kratom, sometimes called "gas station heroin," is currently being sold at East Bridgewater establishments because local tobacco regulations have not been updated to ban it; the board asked Soares to bring both the new MOU and draft local tobacco regulation language to the May 4 meeting. Select Board Chair Peter Spagone Jr., Vice Chair Carole Julius, Clerk Katherine Mullen, and Town Administrator Charlie Seelig joined the meeting to request that Soares attend interagency TRAC coordination sessions and to discuss a disputed question over whether the health agent or the board itself holds the formal department head designation.