Tewksbury Board of Health Reorganizes and Decries State Hospital Security Rollback

TEWKSBURY — April 16, 2026 — Tewksbury Board of Health unanimously re-elected its officers and raised sharp concerns over a state security policy change at Tewksbury State Hospital. Chairperson Melissa Braga, re-elected 5-0 alongside Vice Chairperson Susan Amato and Clerk Christine Janeczak, led a lengthy discussion on an Executive Office of Health and Human Services directive removing pepper gel, batons, and handcuffs from campus public safety officers, leaving the Tewksbury Police Department as the fallback responder. Braga, a nurse who has worked at the hospital, called the policy a direct public health threat to patients, staff, and town resources: "A policy that increases calls on municipal police resources reduces on-site response capacity and can result in delayed intervention in dangerous situations." Vice Chairperson Amato, a former hospital trustee, said the administration had improved security in recent years but lacked state funding to sustain it. Member George Ferdinand, who abstained on the bundled re-appointment of six special health agents including Tobacco Control Agent Ron Beauregard — citing a policy objection at the state level — said he has already contacted the police chief and written newspaper articles pressing for a reversal. One resident, Gerard Corbin of 82 Emerald Court, thanked the Board during public comment for its work opposing the Hillman Energy battery storage proposal.