Health Director Shaun McAuliffe informed the Board of Health Monday night that the town’s budget tightening measures will force a reduction in health services.

“We are told the hiring process is on hold,” he informed the board. “With the 1.3% increase, there’s a hiring freeze.”

At a Select Board meeting in December, Chief Financial Officer Kyla LaPierre reported that the town’s operational budget could tolerate only a 1.3% increase over fiscal year 2025. She warned this would result in “significant cuts” across multiple departments.

McAuliffe reported to the board that the budget necessary to meet that 1.3% threshold meant cutting nursing programs and staffing. 

“I will not be able to hire the nurses that I was promised,” McAuliffe explained in a follow-up email to the Independent. “I have to cut our nursing and operating budget and reduce services.”

Grants recently awarded to the department will allow vaccination services to continue, but “there will be no large clinics,” he noted.

The department had been working with the town to bring on another per diem nurse. Its FY 26 budget also had been approved to move forward to the Appropriation Committee. However, the town’s financial issues have halted the department’s plans, according to McAuliffe.

“We still have the chance to make arguments — to scratch back some of the funding,” McAuliffe said. “But that would be something we would be focused on over the next few months.”

“We expect the cuts and level funding to last for at least three years,” he informed the Independent.

Apart from nursing and the reduction in clinics, the town’s hoarding program is on the chopping block as well. That program recently had its costs to the town increase back in October.

Additionally, the department will not have the budget to fund its communication efforts. Public health nurse Simone Carter noted this as an area of concern.

“Word of mouth is great, but it’s not the sort of consistent go-to that we envisioned,” said Carter. “We have tried to get out very critical things.”

Board of Health chair Richard Jacobs commended the Health Department’s efforts in spite of the budgetary issues.

“It’s a very difficult situation,” said Jacobs. “You’ve made it clear what you need — that’s all we can ask for.”

Board acts to remedy violations at Ko Sushi and Grill

Li Feng Lin, owner of Ko Sushi and Grill, appeared before the Board of Health to address consistent food safety violations found at his restaurant.

Health services agent Kelechi Obika detailed Ko’s “continuous, habitual pattern of violations” in recent years. These include issues with adequate handwashing provisions, sanitizing for food contact, food separation and cross-contamination.

“There are gaps in terms of fundamental things that need to be done,” said Obika. “It’s a holistic kind of problem.”

According to Obika, the restaurant has addressed some of the Health Department’s concerns while others — such as the lack of adequate lighting in food preparation areas — have not been resolved. 

McAuliffe provided additional context, stating that the restaurant was violating conditions of a variance the Board of Health approved 20 years ago.

Should the restaurant fail to come into compliance following its meeting with the Board of Health, it could face the suspension of its license and closure.

Board members clarified the timeline of violations and what remediation had been implemented.

“It seems like your operation is reactive,” member Mary Jo Ondrechen said, addressing Lin. “What can you do to stop the violations?”

Lin asserted that he had “done everything” to resolve the violations. 

“Sushi-wise, we test every single year with no problem,” he said. “We want people not to get sick.”

The board agreed on a suggestion from McAuliffe that the restaurant must hire a food safety consultant as a remediation effort. 

“We need to establish a pattern of consistency and compliance,” said McAuliffe. “[You need to] demonstrate you can go through a series of inspections and pass them without any critical violations.”

Lin agreed to the arrangement and for Health Department officials to further evaluate the restaurant’s lighting concerns.