Sudbury Board of Health hears soaring emergency-aid demand, dwindling ARPA gift card balance

SUDBURY — August 9, 2022 — Sudbury Board of Health hears emergency-aid demand surging as ARPA gift cards run low. Town social worker Bethany told the board Tuesday she has distributed more than $10,000 of a $20,000 ARPA gift-card allocation since April and bought another $2,000 in cards this week, while Hope Sudbury emergency-bill spending has reached roughly $70,000 versus about $50,000 at this point last year. The Select Board has allocated another $75,000 in ARPA funds to Hope Sudbury. Public Health Nurse Patty reported 211 COVID cases in June and 106 in July, with no monkeypox in town. Health Director Bill said Sudbury will receive more than $400,000 in opioid-settlement money through 2038, starting near $46,000 the first year. MetroWest Tobacco Control's Olivia Dufour urged aligning local fines with state penalties that now run to $5,000. The board approved June 14 minutes unanimously and set an Aug. 23 special meeting on a Verizon application.