Shrewsbury Board of Health unanimously adopts fluoridation policy review framework

SHREWSBURY — June 24, 2026 — Shrewsbury Board of Health votes 3-0 to adopt a structured framework for reassessing the town's water fluoridation policy. The framework, developed by Stacey Smith of the Consensus Building Institute after one-on-one interviews with all three board members, Regional Health Director Annette Garcia, and three concerned residents, calls for the board and residents to jointly select both the questions to be examined and the scientific experts who will present at a facilitated public forum, with all research materials shared in advance. Garcia also announced that BME Strategies has been awarded a contract to produce a five-year regional health department strategic plan, with work beginning in July; the department separately received a tobacco enforcement mini-grant through the Massachusetts Health Officers Association and finalized opioid settlement funding agreements with West Boylston to support a new regional prevention task force. The board spent approximately 86 percent of its targeted $300,000 drawdown from a $461,000 Public Health Excellence grant in fiscal year 2026. The meeting was the final one for Chair Dr. Abraham, who completed seven years on the board; the vacant seat remains open until town officials appoint a replacement.