By K.B. Sherman, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Karyn E. Clark, Chief of Community Health at the City of Worcester Division of Public Health, briefed the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen March 11 about the status of the Tobacco Control Program. Shrewsbury belongs to the Public Health Regionalization Project, the goal of which is to strengthen the Massachusetts public health system by creating a state-funded regional structure for equitable delivery of local public health services across the Commonwealth.
The Tobacco Control Program, which seeks to keep tobacco products out of the hands of residents under 18, concentrates on the retail environment and how tobacco products are stored, advertised, accessed and sold.
According to Clark, retail outlets are monitored carefully using underage agents in sting operations. If a store is found to have sold tobacco products to underage residents, the store is given a warning and is required to hold a training session for its employees. Constantly changing tobacco products often disguised as candy and aimed at young people make tobacco control continually difficult, Clark said.
In other business, Ryan Cullen, manager of Cullen Automotive, 19 Boston Turnpike, appeared before selectmen to continue an earlier hearing. He has started a business selling and installing accessories to cars and trucks and wanted to renew the garage's existing license, which expires on April 30. The board voted 4-0 to issue the license.
