A NECSEMA Transparency Project
Public records obtained under G.L. c. 66, § 10
Home › Core Observations of the NFG Machine
Observation 3 of 5Reviewing the City of Melrose’s state-funded quarterly report, a Department of Public Health contract manager instructed the campaign’s coordinator to “keep all funded BOHs looped in and coordinate efforts with them,” to “check in with myself and Rachel for talking points,” and to consider recruiting older youth.
The Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program folds Nicotine-Free Generation into the Board of Health work plans it funds, requires coordinators to report each new local policy to a designated state contact, and pays youth stipends through the state-funded 84 program; the coordinator confirms she must obtain the program’s approval before speaking to the press. The municipal adoption scoreboard cited as evidence of local demand is itself a technical assistance project funded through a Department of Public Health grant to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
The program underwriting this work is not small. Procurement records show roughly $6.82 million in capacity-building contracts to the five organizations that appear throughout the record — MAHB, MHOA, PHAI, HRiA and the MMA — and roughly $10.8 million in municipal policy-program grants, including $563,282 to Melrose, employer of the campaign’s central coordinator. The Public Health Advocacy Institute’s “pro bono” legal defense of adopting municipalities is state-subsidized: the Department funds its attorney’s salary and his malpractice insurance.
Each exhibit gives the quotation, the speaker and the date, sourced to the public records production in which it appears.
“The Task force and you have been busy. Please make sure to continue to keep all funded BOHs looped in and coordinate efforts with them… Remember to check in with myself and Rachel for talking points for podcasts, presentations, etc. We are here to support and keep messaging consistent… Any plans to add some older youth?”
MTCP contract-manager comment column, FY25 Melrose quarterly report.
MTCP quarterly payments to the City of Melrose under contract INTF2903P01190128226: $22,500 (Oct–Dec 2024), $22,500 (Jan–Mar 2025), $14,693.20 (Apr–Jun 2025) and $22,500 (Jul–Sep 2025).
The FY26 program budget is $90,000, including $900 in youth stipends and printing of NFG store signage; youth buyers are paid as City of Melrose employees at $20.00 per hour.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association adoption tracker is “a Technical Assistance Project for cities and towns funded through a MA DPH grant to the MMA.”
MTCP lists PHAI, MAHB and the MMA as its “Policy Technical Assistance” contractors.
Statewide capacity-building engagement contracts totaling approximately $6.82 million — MAHB $2,065,523; MHOA $1,980,779; PHAI $1,142,250; HRiA $828,498; MMA $807,945.
Signed for the Department of Public Health by MTCP Program Director Jacqueline Doane.
“This line item covers the salary for .55 FTE of Chris Banthin…” and “malpractice insurance for Chris Banthin, a licensed attorney in MA. While Chris Banthin is careful to clarify that he is functioning in an educational capacity… the scope of services necessitates insurance coverage for claims of malpractice.”
PHAI FY24 budget form, Contract INTF2900M04500824115. PHAI is the organization offering adopting municipalities free legal defense.
Approximately $10.8 million in municipal “Board of Health Tobacco and Public Health Policy Programs” grants, including $563,281.66 to the City of Melrose.
Melrose’s own application lists “advancement of tobacco/nicotine product policies” as a program purpose.
“MAHB’s Policy and Law Program has developed significant experience… including but not limited to enacting local public health laws, bylaws and ordinances.”
Brookline’s application describes selecting municipalities “in which large changes in tobacco regulations are possible.”
“Another win! Somerville adopted NFG and model reg updates on March 20th.” Separately: “MTCP has asked all of us Tobacco Program Managers to let them know when new tobacco policies get passed.”
Six City Tobacco Initiative quarterly grant report; Maureen Buzby to Mansfield Health Director Amy Donovan-Palmer, February 28, 2025.