Stoneham Select Board Accepts Mental Health Donation, Appoints Bylaw Committee Member

STONEHAM — May 19, 2026 — Stoneham Select Board accepts $5,000 mental health donation and makes key committee appointments. The board unanimously accepted a gift from Pebbles of Strength, a nonprofit founded by the Biblo family in memory of their son Paul, designated for crisis intervention and mental health training for sworn Stoneham police officers. Chief O'Connor said the funds will support evidence-based training and conference attendance, and that he is already developing a new training partnership following a police leadership mental health seminar. The board appointed board member Ryan as its representative to the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee after Article 17 — the committee's recommendations — was indefinitely postponed at town meeting amid audio confusion and community pushback; Tim Wicovich continues as a resident member. Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan announced a $116,000 Oak Street neighborhood improvement grant and an $800,000 federal wetlands restoration grant behind the high school, and confirmed FY27 water and sewer rates will rise 3.4 percent to $7.57 and $13.26 respectively. The board also began planning a facilitated strategic planning retreat before committing to a consultant.