Stoneham Select Board Approves Override Mailer Letter, Sets December Public Sessions

STONEHAM -- October 29, 2025, Stoneham Select Board unanimously approved its voter information guide letter and booked two December public sessions ahead of the town's dual-option tax override ballot. The board voted 5-0 Wednesday to approve the Select Board letter component of a mailer expected to reach all Stoneham households the week of November 10, after debating and revising language around the $12.5 million override option, the consequences of a failed vote, and voter confusion over how the two ballot amounts, $9.3 million and $12.5 million, interact. Member Heidi Tran successfully pushed to change "make strategic investments" to "allow for the strategic rebuilding of critical services," arguing the larger amount is largely restorative of positions and programs already lost. Member Ryan Enright flagged that the term "prevail", drawn from state Department of Local Services guidelines, was confusing residents into thinking both options passing would produce a $21.8 million combined override, and the board directed Town Counsel Robert Galvin and Town Clerk Maria Lowry to add clarifying language. The board also voted 5-0 to print December 2 and December 6 as public informational session dates in the mailer, with a November 18 tax classification hearing and the Thanksgiving holiday window ruling out earlier dates.