By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Town Council this week authorized Town Administrator Stephen P. Maio to enter the town of Wakefield into an intermunicipal agreement with the communities of Malden, Medford, Melrose, Winchester, and Stoneham as part of the Commonwealth’s “Public Health Excellence for Shared Services” grant initiative.
Wakefield Health and Human Services Director Anthony Chui appeared before the Town Council at this week’s meeting to talk about the grant. He noted that for FY2025, the total award across the six participating municipalities is $561,197.45. These funds are allocated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, he explained, to support regional collaboration and help municipalities improve local public health infrastructure, meet minimum public health standards, increase staff coverage during vacancies and expand professional development opportunities.
The town of Wakefield has participated in the grant since 2021 and served as the fiscal agent for this regional effort from FY2021 to FY2023, helping to administer grant funds on behalf of the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition.
To ensure consistency and accountability across grant-funded regional collaboratives, the DPH now requires all participating municipalities to enter into a formal intermunicipal agreement. Chui explained some of what the the agreement accomplishes. It establishes a regional governance structure through an Advisory Board composed of Board of Health representatives from each municipality. The agreement also authorizes the city of Melrose to continue acting as the lead municipality and fiscal agent, with up to 15 percent of funds allocated for administrative support.
Chui noted that he agreement enables shared access to regional public health professionals, including a public health nurse, an epidemiologist, health inspector, communications specialist and shared services coordinator. The pact also provides shared services such as translation, supplies, and training resources for public health staff. It maintains local Boards of Health autonomy while fostering joint planning, response and data collection across jurisdictions.
This collaborative model increases regional capacity while allowing each municipality to retain its independence, Chui said.
There is no cost to the town associated with the agreement, no match is required and participation in the agreement can be revisited annually. The Town is not obligated to continue beyond the duration of available funding.
“Entering into this intermunicipal agreement will help ensure our continued access to essential shared public health services,” Chui told the Town Council, “and support the broader effort to modernize and strengthen the local public health system in line with state recommendations.”
The Town Council vote was unanimous to authorize Maio to sign the inter municipal agreement on behalf of the town.