The Rockland Board of Health reached a state of near-total administrative paralysis Friday as a lack of leadership forced staff to take emergency measures to keep local businesses operating. Health Agent Del Shawn revealed during a sparsely attended virtual session that she and Member Michelle Kennedy have been signing all 2026 health permits without the participation of the board’s leadership. The move was necessitated by a total communication breakdown, with Shawn reporting that neither Chair Robert Stephens nor Vice Chair Tina Gallant has contacted the Health Department since September 2025.

The administrative vacuum comes at a time of heightened tension between the board and other town officials. Stephens is currently subject to an indefinite trespass order issued by the Select Board following a conduct investigation, a conflict that has trickled down into the Board of Health’s ability to function. While Stephens was briefly audible on the line at the start of the meeting, he failed to formally convene the proceedings or respond to repeated prompts from Kennedy and staff. I think we need to be mindful of everybody's time, Kennedy said, her voice strained by illness. I apologize to everybody that's on the phone. I know it's probably been a long week.

The lack of a formal quorum and a presiding officer meant that several high-priority regulations, including a proposed ban on Kratom, remained in limbo. Shawn clarified for the public record that despite these items appearing on the agenda, the department has received no draft regulations or supporting documents from the board’s leadership. There is no regulatory framework before the Health Department or Health Agent to act upon, Shawn stated. She noted that Kennedy has been the only consistently active board member during the current fiscal year.

The meeting’s failure to launch was particularly frustrating for residents who attended to share harrowing personal experiences with Kratom, a herbal substance often marketed for pain relief but known for its addictive properties. Resident Casey Scholson described the substance as a devastating financial and physical burden. I'm a former Kratom user... I've been addicted to what everyone considers a lot worse, and this was the hardest thing for me to kick, Scholson said, noting that liquid extracts can cost an addict $100 to $200 a day pretty quickly.

Public safety concerns were further amplified by Kathleen, a resident who reported that her 15-year-old son easily bypassed age restrictions to have the substance delivered to their Rockland home. Our son... was actually able to buy it from an online retailer just by checking a box saying 'I am 21,' and it was delivered to my house, she told the board. She also noted that her son had attempted to submit written testimony to the Chair but received no acknowledgment.

With no way to legally conduct business, Kennedy encouraged residents to look toward the town’s upcoming election for a resolution to the board's internal strife. I thank everybody as well, and I'm sorry that it was a waste of your time. It honestly goes to show we do need a change, Kennedy said. Shawn promised that once a new board is seated and reorganized, she will prioritize a proper Kratom ban, emphasizing that any new regulation would involve a mandatory 30-day public notice period to ensure transparency.