This is not Dr. David Belf-Becker’s first candidacy for the Board of Health. He previously served on the board from 1990 to 2008 and is now running again to give the public the facts.
“One of the reasons I decided to run for the Board of Health is because there is a lot of misinformation being distributed to the public,” he said.
He said that while he commends the board for developing a plan for the transfer station project that will build a modern facility using existing funds, the public needs more.
“We need to educate and remind the public about the history and evolution of the project,” he said. “In order to serve the town properly, leadership has to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at them,” he added, referring to the failed override that would have provided additional funding so the project could carry on with its initial design.
Belf-Becker was on the board when the Department of Environmental Protection mandated the landfill be capped, which proved costly after additional contamination was discovered. An override for this project was approved by voters after Town Meeting, but the subsequent override for the original Transfer Station renovations failed.
“I admire how well the board and its administrator have been able to devise a recovery plan with existing funds that will still be able to provide a functioning facility and a modern building for the employees,” Belf-Becker said.
Despite the Transfer Station project being a heavily-discussed topic on the board’s agenda, Belf-Becker said to “please consider that this isn’t the Board of Transfer Station, it’s the Board of Health,” meaning that despite the project’s importance, the board has to balance other matters.
One of those matters relates to being prepared for public health emergencies. Belf-Becker said that, as the COVID-19 pandemic proved, the town needs to be well-prepared to face virus threats like the coronavirus.
“Viruses can and do mutate and we have to be prepared for that possibility. It is the duty of a board member to protect the health and well-being of the community,” Belf-Becker said. “These decisions may be hard or unpopular but they must be made to protect everyone. We need board members who can make these decisions for the good of all.”
With the mental health crisis continuing to rise across the country, Belf-Becker said that providing sufficient mental health resources to town residents should be a top priority. The board provides financial and moral support to the Counseling Center, though running the center does not fall under the Board of Health’s purview.
“We are currently in the midst of a mental health crisis. Our seniors, children and families suffer from the residuals of living through the pandemic,” he said. “In my opinion this should be our number one focus — to facilitate, provide, and support the services needed to help alleviate this problem.”
Belf-Becker added that his public health career, involving extensive research and teaching, lends him a “unique perspective to advocate for our town and citizens.”