The Stoughton Select Board moved to shutter the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) Enterprise Fund this week, a fiscal restructuring aimed at ending a $400,000 annual drain on the town’s general fund. The proposal, which will go before voters at the March 2 Special Town Meeting, represents a shift toward a Mobile Integrated Health model under the oversight of the Stoughton Fire Department.

Town Manager Thomas Calter explained that the current VNA structure has become financially unsustainable due to shifting federal regulations. Medicare rules have evolved over the past five years and have made it impossible to be a licensed VNA and have anything but negative cash flow, Calter said, noting that the enterprise fund no longer meets the town's policy requirement that revenues cover expenses. By exiting the Medicare-licensed model, the town expects to reduce VNA staff from ten nurses to three, focusing instead on triage services for residents from infancy to advanced age without charging Stoughton citizens directly. Motion Made by D. Roberts to insert articles one, two, and three into the Special Town Meeting warrant. Motion Passed 5-0-0.

Member Louis Gitto, who has historically questioned the fund's viability, supported the dissolution but scrutinized the zero cost label attached to the article. Gitto asked if the town would lose existing Medicare revenue by abandoning the license. Calter clarified that the current operation’s losses already exceed the $400,000 subsidy paid by the General Fund. I am in favor of eliminating this activity, Gitto noted, adding that he wanted to ensure the public understood the long-term savings. Motion Made by D. Roberts to set the date and time for the Special Town Meeting for March 2nd at 7:00 PM. Motion Passed 5-0-0.

Assistant Town Manager Mark Tisdell clarified that while some petition articles had been submitted by residents, they would be reserved for the Annual Town Meeting in May rather than the March special session. Motion Made by D. Roberts to authorize and instruct appropriate town staff to post the warrant in accordance with state law and the town charter. Motion Passed 5-0-0.

The Board also finalized a response to an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Patrick Higgins in December 2025. The discussion prompted Member Gitto to suggest that the town should proactively publish lists of liquor license renewals and other business permits to allow for more robust public input. It may be worth considering publishing those establishments up for renewal well ahead of time, maybe a month or so, to give people an opportunity to send something in if they have noticed issues, Gitto said. Chairman Stephen Cavey noted that while public comment on renewals is rare, high-profile cases like the Hampton Inn’s liquor license while operating as a shelter have shown that residents occasionally find certain arrangements problematic. I would hope if people have issues with businesses... they would share those with us through other means so we could check those things out, Cavey said. Motion Made by D. Roberts to approve the response to the Open Meeting Law complaint. Motion Passed 5-0-0.