Stoneham Select Board signs town meeting warrant, reappoints town counsel Galvin

STONEHAM — March 24, 2026 — Stoneham Select Board reappoints town counsel, fills housing authority seat, and signs May Town Meeting warrant. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to reappoint Robert Galvin as town counsel for 2026-2027 after Galvin reported litigation at an unusually low level — roughly four or five pending cases — and said he was not seeking a raise. Warren McElroy was appointed 4-0-1 to the Stoneham Housing Authority tenant seat, with Member Raymie Parker abstaining. The board also signed the town meeting warrant unanimously, deferring formal article recommendations until after the April 7 election. State Senator Jason Lewis, not seeking reelection, told the board in his likely final appearance that Stoneham received $1.8 million in state grants over the past six months and said he would push to double the governor's proposed $75-per-pupil minimum aid increase to $150, which he said would add roughly $200,000 to Stoneham's budget. DPW Director Brett Gonsalves warned the board that the town's expiring trash contract will be replaced with an automated collection system at a cost increase that could exceed $1 million, including $900,000 to $1 million for barrels alone.