Town won’t be sprayed for West Nile Virus
Published on July 10th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - Despite a scare early last month for the potential presence of West Nile Virus in Stoneham, the Board of Health has found no reason to spray the town with chemicals aimed at running the disease out of town.
Although two dead birds found in Stoneham tested positive for West Nile Virus, Board of Health Chairman John Scullin told the Board of Selectmen this week that no subsequent infected bird or infected mosquitos have been detected.
"We decided not to spray at this time," Scullin said, adding that to do so now would just be adding chemicals to the environment and to the water with no clear benefit to the town.
The two infected birds found last month were migratory birds, he said, and very likely could have contracted the virus outside of Stoneham. "They just happened to die in Stoneham."
If, however, mosquitos infected with West Nile Virus do turn up in town, Scullin said that the Board of Health will spray following notice to residents regarding what will be used and what areas will be sprayed.
The Board of Health plans to address the issue at its meeting on Thursday, July 11 at 6 p.m. at the Senior Center. That meeting is open to the public.
In the meantime, the Board urges residents to heed its cautions and updates regarding exposure to mosquitoes, which are listed on the government channel 22 and include limiting outside activity after dusk and using repellent containing DEET.
"We’re not taking this lightly, but we’re not overly concerned."
West Nile Virus produces flu like symptoms and lethargy following what looks like a typical mosquito bite, and is treatable.
In other news, Selectmen voted to approve the state’s Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) law, which would make some town employees eligible for early retirement benefits.
No specifics have been ironed out regarding how many employees would be offered the incentive, since this information must be worked out based on cost impacts.
However, Finance Board member Peter D’Angelo voiced his board’s concern regarding approving the law, stating that in the long run, the only way the town will benefit in cost savings is if it plans on down-sizing its work force.
"ERI can work and result in no cost impact to the town if you replace only 80 percent of the people you’re granting an ERI to."
The town’s pension fund is already in a $20 million deficit position. D’Angelo called the offer of the incentives at this point "credit card financing," adding that do so now would be to adversely impact future town budgets.
The town did offer early retirement incentives to employees back in 1992, but D’Angelo said at that time, the town was desperate for savings and it needed to reduce its workforce. Development of a balanced fiscal year 2003 budget, he said, came by the hard work of many department heads and town boards all working together to assure a year of maintaining service without layoffs.
The Board’s vote was unanimous and Selectman Mary Pecoraro said that the action was important for the morale. Cost data, to determine the number of incentive offers and the value of such, will be reviewed at the selectmen’s August 13 meeting.
MassHighway notified the Board of Selectmen that a third public hearing on the proposed route 93/95 interchange redesign project is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at Reading High School. This is the third and final public meeting on the project that affects residents and businesses in the cloverleaf area in Stoneham, Woburn, and Reading. MassHighway previously indicated that this third meeting would take place in the fall. No word on why it has been pushed up to mid summer. All interested citizens are urged to attend.
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