Abington Board of Health Reorganizes as Town Loses Health Agent, Nurse, and Department

ABINGTON -- April 29, 2026, Abington loses its health agent and public health nurse simultaneously, leaving the town with no functioning health department as of May 1. The Board of Health heard a presentation from Yesenia Uriah, Shared Services Coordinator for the Plymouth-Norfolk Five shared services consortium, who warned that the vacancy creates compliance concerns under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 111, which requires municipalities to maintain a functioning health department with inspection capacity, and that the town's participation in the Public Health Excellence Grant requires at minimum a credentialed health agent or public health nurse. Food inspections are being covered on a contract basis by ALSCO through the shared services arrangement, but Uriah cautioned that contractors "might not be available" for emergencies and that using grant funds to pay outside contractors is "not a sustainable long-term plan." The outgoing health agent, who described himself as "undervalued by town management," confirmed his last day is April 30 and said the town intends to post the position on the Massachusetts Health Officers Association job board with a target hire date of July 1. The board reorganized, unanimously electing Katie Van Nest as Chair, Carol Dolan as Vice Chair, and Lisa Raymond as Secretary, and set a public hearing on a proposed regulation covering Kratom, synthetic cannabinoids, and unregulated novel intoxicants for May 12.