Two Westport Board Of Health Members Removed As Animal Inspectors

Two Westport Board of Health members have been stripped by the state of animal inspector duties.

Michael Cahill, Director of the Massachusetts Division of Animal Health, sent a letter to the town's Board of Health on Thursday saying that Chairman John Colletti and board member Karl Santos had "failed to properly perform" inspections at a farm where roughly 1,000 animals were found in a state of neglect.

Cahill said the "unsanitary conditions took years to accumulate" and were found on all lots of the property despite reports of a January 11, 2016 inspection which found that "accommodations are adequate with reference to sanitation, cleanliness, light, ventilation and water supply."

The two men were removed their posts immediately.

The conditions on the farm were uncovered after a search warrant was executed at 465 American Legion Highway on July 19.