Board of Health Approves Animal Control Hires

Board of Health · Meeting of August 4, 2026

Templeton Board of Health voted unanimously to appoint two new animal control officers after a rabies case surfaced in town. Health Agent Laurie Wiita told the board a gray fox bit a resident in East Templeton and that a live bat found in another home was sent to the Gardner Animal Care Center for testing. Members approved Devin Waskiewicz and a second candidate known only as Peter to fill two of three part-time animal control posts, warning the town "can face penalties" from the state for going without coverage.

The board also reauthorized a neighboring town's health agent, Phil, as its backup representative to the Region 2 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition, and set a free flu clinic for September 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. Wiita said a proposed data center zoning bylaw remains in early drafting and will go to town counsel and the Select Board before any formal proposal emerges.

In the full story:

• Minutes and Communicable Disease Report
• Data Center Zoning Bylaw
• Animal Control Officer Appointments
• Region 2 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (HMCC)
• Flu Clinic and Program Updates
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,760 words

Source: the Board of Health meeting of August 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.