Hubbardston Board of Health approves beaver removal, names Moncoeur chair

Board of Health · Meeting of January 13, 2026

Hubbardston Board of Health votes 4-1 to allow beaver removal and confirms new leadership. The board approved a one-time beaver trapping permit for a 23 Williamsville Road pond at its January 13 meeting, with Chair Gael Moncoeur citing flooding risk to a neighboring horse farm and threats to mature trees surrounding the property; one member abstained and one voted against. Moncoeur was formally designated chair and Dave Rogers vice chair, effective January 27, as founding figure Cathy Hansgate announced she is stepping down from the board after February while retaining her health inspector role.

The board unanimously reappointed Phil Ledger as sanitarian, Rich Stevens as backup sanitarian, Judie O'Donnell as town nurse, and Dianna Johnson as MAVEN representative. Members also flagged a roughly 30 percent cost increase in landfill testing — a proposal from consultant Mark W. Popham priced at $7,120 for 2026 — and began discussion of a local ordinance to ban the sale of kratom and nitrous oxide at a Hubbardston business.

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Source: the Board of Health meeting of January 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.