Sudbury Board of Health sets farmers market fees, reappoints animal inspectors

SUDBURY -- March 21, 2025, Sudbury Board of Health sets farmers market fees and warns of a state audit squeeze. The three-member board, chaired by Carol Bradford, unanimously approved season-long vendor permit fees of $75 for time- and temperature-controlled foods, $25 for shelf-stable items such as cookies and breads, and no fee for whole uncut produce, ahead of two pilot market events funded by a grant secured by Sustainability Coordinator Danny. Members also renominated Marissa Lord, Jennifer Condon and Donna DeWallis of Boardman's Animal Control as animal inspectors. Health Director Vivian Zeng called the state's new foundational public health services cost tool "a giant audit" of FY24 spending and said regional directors fear it will justify cuts; member Susan Sama warned ARPA dollars distort the baseline. Two RISE grant applications were rejected and the federal FDA food safety grant remains frozen.