Mayor Appoints Attorney Rubin To 3-Member Framingham Board of Health

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FRAMINGHAM – Last Thursday, the Board of Health chair resigned, leaving the Board of Health with just two members.

Less than a week later, Mayor Yvonne Spicer has nominated attorney Alexandra Rubin to fill the spot on the 3-member Board of health.

The mission of the Framingham Board of Health is to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of all residents of the City of Framingham. Under Massachusetts General Laws, state and local regulations and community direction, the Board of Health is held responsible for disease prevention and control; health and environmental protection and promoting a healthy community.

Rubin, who lives in District 4, applied to be on the Board of Health in early February 2021.

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“I served as Deputy General Counsel at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for six years. In that role, I worked with local boards of health and municipal officials across the state on various matters including emergency preparedness, school health issues, and facilities and professional licensure. I have a strong background in the statues and regulations governing public health matters in the Commonwealth. I currently work at a law firm where I regularly advise municipalities and commissions on public health-specific
matters including the drafting and interpretation of orders, bylaws, and regulations and issues pertaining to isolation and quarantine and liability concerns for public health employees and volunteers. More generally, I have a strong background in the public records law, open meeting law, and ethics laws,” wrote Rubin in her application to the Spicer administration.

The City Council, the City’s legislative branch of government, has 30 day to approve or reject the nomination. If the 11-member Council takes no action on the nomination, the appointment is automatic.

Mayor Spicer emailed the City Council today, July 21, that she nominated Rubin for a seat through June 30, 2022.

The other members of the Board of Health are Laura Housman, of District 1 through December 31, 2021 and Dr. david Moore, of District 4, through June 30, 2023.

Expanding the Board of Health From 3 to 5 Members

Four months ago, the 11-member Framingham City Council voted unanimously to expand the 3-member Board of Health to a 5-member Board, and requested the Mayor “petition the Legislature to enact a Special Act to increase the size of the Board of Health.”

SOURCE reached out to State Rep. Maria Robinson on Friday, July 16, after the resignation of the Health Board Chair, to see where the petition was in the state legislature.

“I have not received any information from City Hall about filling legislation to do so,” said Rep. Robinson on Friday, July 16.

Mayor Spicer signed off on the 2021-020 ordinance on March 31, but has yet to request the legislature to file a petition to increase the health board.

On Monday afternoon the Spicer administration spokesperson told SOURCE “Nothing more has been submitted at this time. She is currently focused on filling Director position and now vacant Board position.”

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