Stoneham Select Board Elects Parker Chair, Endorses Trash Advisory Committee

STONEHAM — April 14, 2026 — Stoneham's Select Board reorganized Tuesday, unanimously electing Raymie Parker as chair and endorsing a new Trash and Recycling Advisory Committee ahead of an upcoming contract decision. The five-member board elected Heidi Bilbo as vice chair and newly seated member Troy Lau as clerk, all by 5-0 roll-call votes; outgoing Vice Chair David Pignone declined to seek the chair, citing attendance concerns. The board then worked through 15 Town Meeting warrant articles in a single session, voting 5-0 for favorable action on articles including a $750,000 reserve fund appropriation for snow and ice overruns, school energy costs, and DPW vehicle repairs, as well as a senior means-tested property tax exemption that Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan called ready to advance to the state legislature the day after Town Meeting. The board took no action on citizens' petition articles 15, 16, and 20, consistent with longstanding practice. Sterling Golf's removal of more than 80 trees at Unicorn Golf Course without town notification drew sharp criticism from resident Bill Perry during public comment: "Twenty thousand dollars ain't gonna cut it," Perry said of the company's tree replacement commitment.