Selectmen Hear Tick Disease Management Report

By Kendra Bobowick

“This is it!” said Robert Grossman, MD. “Finally, after [more than] two years.” The Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee at last presented its final report of 46 recommendations, appendices, attached transcripts, and supporting data to the Board of Selectmen on Monday, October 17.

“I know that getting to this point required perseverance; I know convictions were challenged, and I think many of you saw the need to set aside baggage and I am not surprised it took two-and-a-half years to get here,” he said.

Committee member Michele McLeod, MD, who assumed the chairman’s responsibilities when Dr Grossman stepped out of that role, said Monday, “We are pleased beyond words to make this final report … the depth of research took so much time. It’s the product of hundreds of hours of work.”

Dr McLeod stressed, “Our report is not modeled after other towns’ reports,” but grew into something she hopes can serve as a model “for others grappling” with the problems of tick-borne disease in their community.

The report represents majority and minority viewpoints and votes regarding topics including education, disease prevention, vaccination, deer-related lethal and nonlethal management, forest preservation, and more.

Later in the meeting First Selectman Pat Llodra noted, “I think you have created a new standard.” Member Peter Licht, MD, followed her statement with his observation of the committee: “You have a collection of brilliant people. There was tension, but I think you have the definitive document [on the subject] by far.” He then urged those reading the report to “pay attention to the ideas, and not the votes.” He said, “There were tremendous ideas presented.”

Dr McLeod said, “This was a carefully edited report. We have all learned a great deal, and I am proud to have my name on it.”

More than two years ago, then-first selectman Joe Borst established the committee, which conducted its first meeting September 10, 2009, with an initial timeframe of roughly six months.

Noting that the report “has taken two-and-a-half years from its appointment,” Mrs Llodra referred to the pages before her as “daunting” and a little “scary.” She referred to the report as “very substantive.” Its text contained “interesting and compelling” content and revealed “elevated passions,” she said.

“Monday’s meeting was not meant to make any decisions other than to receive committee members’ PowerPoint presentation detailing the report’s contents,” Mrs Llodra explained. “Our first task is to understand how this document came to be, then spend time contemplating what it means to the town.”

Impressed with the final report, Selectman Will Rodgers said, “I am not a fan of nonfiction, but this was a joy to read.”

In addition to Dr Grossman, Dr McLeod, and Dr Licht, committee members are Mark Alexander, Kirk Blanchard, Neil Chaudhary, David Delia, Kim Harrison, George Miller, Mary Gaudet-Wilson, and Maggie Shaw. Advisory participants included Pat Boily and David Shugarts.

Prior to the report’s presentation, one member of the public stood up to speak.

Richard Huisking of Key Rock Road feared that members favored mass deer culling, a “slaughter.” But, he stressed, “deer don’t cause Lyme disease. Ticks do.” He said, “You’re not going to eradicate the tick with a mass [deer] slaughter.” The endeavor would be expensive, he said, then asked, “And will it limit Lyme?”

Public education is the best answer to preventing diseases, he said. “The onus should be on the public to take care of themselves and not expect the government to do it for them.” Mr Huisking appealed to the Board of Selectmen members, “When you sit down to deliberate, please use common sense and compassion for the gentle creatures that share the town with us.”

(Full text of the committee’s report, minority comments on that report, and a PowerPoint presentation are available in the online Source Files at NewtownBee.com.)