Finance Board Votes 8-0 For Rodenticide Ban Petition

Finance & Advisory Board · Meeting of October 5, 2026

STONEHAM — The Stoneham Finance & Advisory Board voted 8-0 to recommend favorable action on nine warrant articles ahead of the October 19 Town Meeting, including a home-rule petition to ban certain rat poisons and a $989,138 capital spending plan. Elise Clarkson, presenting for petitioner Kathleen Ballester, told the board "98% of Fisher cats tested positive" for anticoagulant rodenticides found in rat bait boxes. Secretary Jim Wilson noted the underlying state legislation had passed the Senate but not the House.

Town Administrator Dennis said the article only authorizes the Select Board to petition the Legislature and does not itself ban the poisons. The capital package includes $269,500 for Central School chimney repairs, split with the SEEM Collaborative, and $100,000 for added street and sidewalk work. The board also voted 7-0, with one abstention, to approve its September 14 minutes.

In the full story:

• Roll Call and Agenda Reordering
• Article 14: Home Rule Petition on Anticoagulant Rodenticides
• Article 1: Bylaw Chapter Correction
• Articles 4 and 5: Main Street Sewer Easements
• Articles 6 and 7: Executive Drive Utility Easements
• Article 8: Birch Street Public Way Acceptance
• Article 10: Medicaid Reimbursement Transfer
• Article 12: FY27 Capital Budget
• Article 13: Potential Communications Position (Held)
• Articles 9 and 11 (Held)
• September 14 Minutes and Closing
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,181 words

Source: the Finance & Advisory Board meeting of October 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.