Recommendations Pending Regarding Tick-Borne Disease

By Kendra Bobowick

After 27 minutes, the Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee adjourned its Wednesday meeting this week with only hints of an eventual outcome. Will the group propose to cull deer, combined with other methods of raising awareness and reducing the chances of contracting a tick-borne infection? Will the doctors, attorneys, statisticians, nurses, conservationists, parents, and other professionals in the group suggest heavily promoting educational programs, a controlled hunt, or better methods of prevention in each resident’s backyard?

Although they had initially marked late March for drawing conclusions, past months have heard a variety of possibilities aimed at reducing ticks, reducing their habitat, interrupting their life-cycle, dropping the deer numbers for a variety of health and environmental reasons, and more. Chairman Robert Grossman, MD, told members, “None of us expected to go this long, but, with so many speakers and seminars …” He noted the benefit of months of review and investigation, saying, “Our recommendation will be done with thorough thought and opinion from experts.”

Department of Environmental Protection wildlife biologists, professional sharpshooters, scientists, surrounding towns’ deer management committee members, and others in the past six-plus months have provided information to committee members which will all contribute to recommendations. A final report will go to the Board of Selectmen, which will make decisions regarding Newtown’s health threats from tick-borne disease.

Broken into subcommittees, members will address a variety of topics such as education, deforestation, defining the problems from tick-borne disease, deer versus motor vehicle accidents, transmission of disease, and an introduction, summary, and index.

“It’s up to each subcommittee how it wants to submit a report,” Dr Grossman said. All information will eventually feed into a final report for the selectmen’s review. Member Mark Alexander noted that his subcommittee “has areas of agreement,” and in some instances disagreement. “Coming to an agreement on the whole things is difficult, but agreeing on points to vote on is possible.”

Regarding subcommittee reports, Dr Grossman said, “If there are differing opinions, put it in.” The coming weeks’ Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee agendas will note the subcommittees’ points up for vote by the full committee.

Resident Dave Shugarts believes the subcommittees’ reports should include “all possible recommendations whether we agree on them or not, and the [full] committee can vote on that.”

Kirk Blanchard asked, “What if a [full committee] vote is nine for and three against?”

“The recommendation will be of the majority and minority,” Dr Grossman said. “The minority can submit their opinion and the Board of Selectmen can make their decision. I want everybody’s opinion represented.”

Dr Grossman’s question of whether any subcommittees were prepared to circulate an email indicating recommendations was met with lukewarm replies, including “We’re getting there,” from member Kim Harrison.

Again Dr Grossman asked, “Is anybody prepared to submit a report this week that we could vote on next week?” Silence followed. Dr Michele McLeod, who is working with Dr Peter Licht on an introduction, suggested they might be prepared to submit their information next week, which could then see a vote in two weeks.

“Anyone else?” Dr Grossman asked. Mary Gaudet-Wilson felt the forests subcommittee might also be ready within two weeks. Dr Grossman noted, “Unless we get reports by email, no meeting next week.”

With an eye toward the end of the committee’s charge to prepare recommendations for the Board of Selectmen, Dr Grossman wondered aloud, “What do you think? We should be completed through the middle of May …”