ROCKLAND - November 17 - The Rockland Board of Health cancelled its November 17 meeting after all three members failed to attend, leaving the board without a quorum. The no-shows prevented the board from meeting two newly hired regional public health employees and addressing other scheduled business.
The Full Story
Health Agent Delshaune Flipp cancelled the meeting at 6:20 PM Monday evening after waiting 20 minutes past the scheduled start time for board members to arrive.
“We have to, unfortunately, cancel the meeting,” Flipp announced.
Board member Michelle Kennedy had notified staff that morning she could not attend. With only three members on Rockland’s Board of Health, at least two must be present to achieve quorum under state open meeting law. Chair Robert Stephens and Vice Chair Tina Gallant did not indicate they would be absent.
Flipp said she emailed Stephens in the afternoon requesting a courtesy reply, noting guests were present for scheduled items. Neither the chairman nor vice-chair responded or joined the meeting in person or remotely.
The agenda included meeting two Regional Public Health Environment hires—public health nurse Keri Ball and social worker Lorena Rocha. The board also planned to hear from South Shore Tobacco Coordinator Kathleen Mahoney on FDA-approved vaping products and formally designate her as a board agent.
Other business included approving meeting minutes from six sessions dating to February 27 and voting on a November trash abatement request.
“As you can see, we have guests that are here. And there were some items on the agenda,” Flipp said before cancelling the session.
The meeting would have been the board’s first since October 27. The cancellation means meeting minutes from late February remain unapproved and the introduction of new regional public health staff has been delayed.
Why It Matters
When elected officials don’t show up for scheduled meetings, public business stops. Critical oversight of tobacco policy and routine administrative matters like trash abatements are now in limbo. The failure also raises questions about board accountability—neither Stephens nor Gallant provided advance notice they wouldn’t attend, leaving staff and guests waiting for a meeting that couldn’t proceed.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
No votes were taken as the meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Public Comment
No public comment occurred as the meeting was cancelled before it officially began.
What’s Next
The board must reschedule all agenda items, including introducing Regional Public Health Environment hires Keri Ball and Lorena Rocha, hearing the tobacco coordinator update, approving minutes from February 27, May 13, June 17, July 10 and 30, August 21, September 30, and October 27, 2025, and voting on the November trash abatement. No rescheduled meeting date was announced.