HOME RULE LEGISLATION / RODENTICIDE 

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Select Board to re-file Home Rule Legislation to regulate and/or ban the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides by pesticide applicators within the Town of Arlington; or take any action related thereto.

Inserted at the request of Elaine Crowder and ten registered voters

VOTE: Favorable Action (4-0)
Mr. Helmuth recused himself.

COMMENT: The Select Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on this warrant article to refile home rule legislation seeking to regulate and ban the use in town by pesticide applicators of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARS). The Board heard from the article’s proponent, who explained the purpose of the proposed legislation and it having previously been filed with the Legislature in 2022 in accordance with Town Meeting’s passage of Article 18. The proponent explained that the current proposed legislation is substantially the same and noted the Town’s leadership and other communities are attempting to promote state action to protect the wildlife impacted and put in danger by SGARS. Town Counsel explained that for this proposed legislation to go back to the Legislature, Town Meeting will again need to approve it for refiling.

That the Town does and hereby authorizes the Select Board to file Home Rule Legislation to provide substantively as follows:

"AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON TO PROHIBIT USE OF SECOND GENERATION ANTI-COAGULANT RODENTICIDES BY COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATORS.

 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1. Notwithstanding chapter 132B of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the town of Arlington may regulate through local bylaw or board of health regulation or ordinance the use of second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides within the town of Arlington, including prohibiting the use of such pesticides by licensed commercial applicators as defined in 333 C.MR. 10.00.
 
Section 2. This Act will take effect upon its passage. "

Select Board Report

Presentation, Elaine Crowder, Precinct 19