Townsend Board of Health Approves Styrofoam Ban Effective September 1

Board of Health · Meeting of July 27, 2026

Townsend Board of Health unanimously adopts polystyrene ban and approves $4,366.31 in invoices at July 27 meeting. The board, chaired by Dr. Christian Roman-Ramirez with Vice Chair Charles "Paul" Serene attending remotely and Clerk Todd Arsenault present, approved a polystyrene use restriction regulation drafted with town counsel revisions, setting an effective date of September 1, 2026; the measure imposes a written warning for first violations before escalating fines and limits hardship exemptions to food service establishments only.

Two property enforcement matters at 45 and 61 Edward Road were continued, with Arsenault authorized to coordinate with Conservation Commission member Brian Pinkerton on the more advanced case. Lindsay Gasly of AFSCME Council 93 appeared remotely and the board approved, 3-0, a memorandum of understanding formalizing Health Administrator Carla Walter's pay-as-you-throw stipend with retroactive effect to July 9. The board also voted to send Roman-Ramirez on a filmed tour of Glenshaw's transfer station with Townsend's community access TV to produce public-facing footage on recycling contamination.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,702 words

Source: the Board of Health meeting of July 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.