WMPHA news & updates

August 1, 2025

Unhealthy Heat Resources for Public Health

Check out the summer safety guidance which includes sun safety, preventing mosquito and tick bites, car safety, and more. You can also sign up for emails from the unhealthy heat forecast and access helpful messaging tools.



Aug 7 Municipal Law Seminar in Sturbridge: Receivership & Housing Court Enforcement

We are sharing this interesting upcoming seminar from the MA Municipal Lawyers Association: Among the highlights of the MMLA's August 7 program on Code Enforcement is a panel that includes a presentation on  the new receivership model, which is used to develop vacant distressed properties into affordable first-time homeownership opportunities- a win-win on several areas of municipal concerns! Do you know about the new model?

Learn more from a panel addressing Enforcement Via the Courts and Receiverships- Speakers: Hon. Dina Fein (retired), Caitlin Castillo and Maja Kazmierczak

 

1. Effective and Efficient Enforcement Action Through the Housing Court and other Courts

a. Introduction and Overview to the Housing Court

b. Code enforcement citations and the State Sanitary Code

c. Petitions to Enforce the State Sanitary Code

 

2.      Making Receivership Law Work for Your Municipality

a.   The New Receivership Model-

b. Requests to appoint a receiver under MGL c. 111 sec 127I 

c. Identifying a Receiver

d. Motions to be filed by receiver’s attorney while in court and the municipalities’ roles

e. Dissolution of a receivership 

 

 More program details on the full conference and registration information can be found on the MMLA website. https://www.massmunilaw.org/event-6247542

Contact info: executivedirector@massmunilaw.org


New State Job Posting Site is Available to Your Town!

DPH Launches https://careersinlocalhealth.mass.gov/

The Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH) is thrilled to announce the launch of the Careers in Local Public Health (CILPH) website! OLRH developed this resource to support you in recruiting, hiring, and retaining the next generation of local health professionals.


Site features were designed based on health departments' expressed needs, and include:

JOB BOARD

SAVE THE DATE for Totally Title 5: March 24,2026

Just a heads up that this year's WMPHA Totally Title 5 Conference has been moved from the fall to the spring to avoid conflicts with other fall local public health conferences. Pencil March 24 in -- we look forward to seeing you there!

New Title 5 Guidance for Accessory Dwelling Units

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has released updated guidance for permitting ADUs with septic systems. An updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is being created as well, and will be available soon.


You can review the guidance at: https://www.mass.gov/lists/title-5septic-systems-policies-guidance

WMPHA Website

Thanks to financial support from DPH and help from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, WMPHA has a new website! Please check out our archive of training materials and newsletter, helpful resources, Executive Committee meeting minutes, and more!


Access prior trainings online at WMPHA Trainings and Webinars Webpage


Access prior newsletters at WMPHA Newsletter Archive Webpage