Stoneham Select Board Appoints Five Residents to New Override Study Committee

STONEHAM — July 7, 2025 — Stoneham Select Board fills five resident seats on new Override Study Committee. Each of the five board members used an individual appointment Monday to name a community member to the panel, which will evaluate whether to recommend a Proposition 2.5 override to voters: Chair Tim Dowd selected small business owner and tax professional Eric Scruggs; Dave Robey chose longtime town participant Steve Tanulo; board member Ramey appointed Nick Starvery; Heidi nominated Jackie Mahoney for her community outreach ties; and Ryan named Brendan Dowdell, citing Dowdell's auditing background as valuable for "evaluating the information and the data presented to this committee." The board briefly debated adding a Library Board of Trustees representative but reached consensus against it, with Heidi warning that "once we open up the door to any board" the committee's launch would be delayed, and Dowd stressing the panel should remain "heavily resident based." The Finance Advisory Board warned this spring that the library and Council on Aging could face elimination if an override does not pass.