ROCKLAND - November 25 - A scheduled Rockland Board of Health meeting collapsed on November 25 after technical difficulties prevented Chairman Robert Stephens from joining and Vice Chair Tina Gallant’s absence left the board without quorum to conduct business. This occurred just one week after another cancelled meeting because the Chair and Vice Chair failed to show with no notice.
The Full Story
The meeting disintegrated within 16 minutes as board members wrestled with technical issues that ultimately proved insurmountable. Stephens encountered persistent microphone and connectivity problems despite multiple troubleshooting attempts.
When it became clear Stephens couldn’t participate, Health Agent Delshaune Flipp looked to Vice Chair Tina Gallant to assume control. “Chairman Stevens, is Vice Gallant on here? Because she could run the meeting,” one participant asked. But Gallant wasn’t on the call, and confusion emerged about whether she’d even been notified. “Was she aware of the meeting because I wasn’t?” Flipp questioned. The Agenda was stamped by the Clerk at 3:05pm the Friday before, following the meeting that failed to achieve a quorum on the 17th.
The collapse exposed deeper frustrations about meeting scheduling and the board’s ability to function. “Why did we even bother picking dates? He just called this meeting and you can’t even get on?” member Michelle Kennedy said, attending in person with Flipp and two other individuals.
The consecutive meetings where staff attended and the Board failed to meet a quorum highlights a chaotic trend for the Rockland Board of Health. Chair Robert Stephens has been banned from Town Hall indefinitely, following an investigation by the town. This followed a bizarre series of confrontations and potential open meeting law violations.
After 16 minutes of failed troubleshooting, participants acknowledged defeat. “We only have 20 minutes and he has to cancel now. I don’t know how we’re going to say this thing right now,” Kennedy said.
Discussions about permit signing responsibilities and work requests for 2025 and 2026 continued as the meeting ended, though no official business was conducted.
Why It Matters
The Board of Health oversees restaurant inspections, septic approvals, housing code enforcement, and various essential permits. When the board can’t meet, permits go unsigned, inspections may be delayed, and public health oversight stalls. Chronic meeting failures prevent the board from addressing emerging health concerns and fulfilling its legal obligations to residents and businesses.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
No votes were taken as the meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Public Comment
No public comment was received as the meeting did not proceed to official business.
What’s Next
The board must once again reschedule to address pending business including permit signings. Members expressed the need to adhere to previously agreed-upon meeting dates to ensure consistent operations. A public hearing for potential Kratom regulations was previously planned for December 9, it remains unclear if the Board will meet prior to that
Two consecutive meetings failing becuase of quorum issues is rough, especialy when permits are piling up. The Chair being banned from Town Hall while trying to run meetings remotly seems like a recipee for more tech failures. When does the town just put a deputee in place temporarily to keep things moving?