Health board votes to cut farmers market fee

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Board voted 3-0 to recommend cutting farmers market vendor fees to $60 from $75, setting Russell's trade show fees at $50, and reinstating a $35 small event fee with discretion to waive it. It also voted 3-0 to ratify an unfit-for-habitation order at 25 Leary Street and granted a variance for up to 14 chickens at 6 Nolan Farm Road.

Key decisions

• 📜 Recommend lower food vendor permit fees. Voted 3-0 to recommend to the Select Board a farmers market vendor fee of $60 (down from $75), a Russell's trade show fee of $50, reinstatement of a $35 small event fee with discretion to waive it for events requiring no food review, and authority to charge up to $100 for large events. (Vote 3-0). Read case details
• 🏠 Ratify unfit-for-habitation order. Voted 3-0 to ratify the health director's finding that the dwelling at 25 Leary Street is unfit for human habitation, requiring it be boarded, secured, and remain vacated until a Board of Health inspection finds it habitable. (Vote 3-0). Read case details
• 📜 Board partnership on rodenticide education campaign. No motion was made and no vote taken. The board expressed alignment with the Select Board's June 2026 policy banning anticoagulants on town property but requested more information about alternatives and practices in other communities before lending its name to an education campaign. Presenters agreed to gather data from other towns and pest control operators and return with revised materials. Read case details
• 🛠 Variance for 14 chickens. Voted 3-0 to grant a variance allowing up to 14 chickens at 6 Nolan Farm Road, conditioned on the owner notifying abutters and no complaints being received. The town limit is 12. (Vote 3-0). Read case details

Next dates

• Nov. 16: Board of Health regular meeting
• Dec. 14: Board of Health regular meeting

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