Stoneham approves new Housing Production Plan, wins IT modernization grant
STONEHAM — The town moved forward this week on two fronts at once: officials confirmed approval of a new Housing Production Plan that will guide future zoning and development decisions, and Stoneham was awarded a Community Compact grant from the state to modernize Building Department recordkeeping.
TOWN HALL
The Housing Production Plan's approval gives Stoneham a state-recognized framework for future housing policy, though officials have not yet detailed the plan's specific targets or timeline. Separately, the town said it was awarded a Community Compact IT grant that will go toward modernizing records in the Building Department, a move aimed at streamlining permitting and inspection paperwork.
The town also continues to update residents on the High School Wetlands Restoration Project, and the Stevens Street Recycling Center has posted its operating hours, which run through Nov. 30. The Stoneham Town Scholarship Committee is accepting applications through Aug. 3 from any resident pursuing an educational goal; the award is $1,000.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
The Stoneham Public Library's Mid-Summer Faire runs Saturday, July 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. Later this month and into August, the library has lined up two author talks: Dr. Marisa Franco on July 28 and Smithsonian curator Paula J. Johnson on Aug. 4, both at 2 p.m.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"Representative Day and Senator Lewis Secure $290,000 for Local Stoneham Priorities in State Budget" — State Rep. Day and state Sen. Jason Lewis announced a $290,000 earmark for local Stoneham priorities as part of the Legislature's newly passed $63.4 billion fiscal 2027 state budget, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham/representative-day-senator-lewis-secure-290-000-local-stoneham-priorities).
"Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate Crack Down on Big Social Media Companies that Target Youth" — Sen. Lewis backed a Massachusetts Senate bill that would restrict features like autoplay, "infinite scroll" and other algorithm-driven tools on youth accounts, Patch reports (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/stoneham).
COMING UP
The Stoneham Conservation Commission meets by remote participation Monday, July 20, and the Stoneham School Building Committee also meets remotely that same day. The library holds Drop-in Tech Support sessions Friday, July 17, and Monday, July 20, both 10 a.m. to noon, and a Friday Movie Matinee on July 17 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.