There are three citizen petitions set to appear on the Town Meeting warrant in May.

A citizen petition is submitted by an individual or group to propose a new amendment or repeal existing regulations through the Town Meeting process. While the May Town Meeting warrant is not yet open, Town Administrator Nick Connors said the petitions have “the right number of signatures” and will be included. A citizen petition for a regular Town Meeting requires at least 10 certified signatures.

Prohibit Use of Anticoagulant Rodenticides on Town Property

One petition seeks to prohibit the use of anticoagulant rodenticides on town property. Select Board Member Mary Ellen Fletcher said the issue was first brought to the board’s attention in the fall and urged that it be included in the regular warrant rather than as a citizen petition.

Deb Newman, president of Speak Up for Animals, has advocated for rodent birth control devices to reduce the rat population without pesticides.

“In her view, it’s so that when it’s not Max (Kasper, director of facilities) and Gino (Cresta, director of the Department of Public Works) in the future, we are still bound to follow this approach,” Connors said.

Newman previously told the Swampscott Tides, there is currently a “gentleman’s agreement.” In September, the Swampscott Fire Department began using EVOLVE devices, which contain cottonseed oil that interferes with both male and female rats’ ability to reproduce.

Prohibit the Sale of Foie Gras

Newman has also pushed to prohibit the sale of foie gras in town, calling the dish “unnecessary.”

Foie gras is made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose, produced through a force-feeding process that enlarges the liver.

While some consider foie gras a “luxury” or a “French delicacy,” others argue the production method is inhumane.

Newman previously said foie gras is sold at a local supermarket and is seeking to eliminate its sale in town entirely.

Restricting Open Wood Fires in Town

The final proposal, submitted by six families, would restrict open wood fires. The issue has been the subject of ongoing debate at Board of Health meetings.

“They put it forward as a citizen petition because there was potentially disagreement during discussions,” Connors said. “I don’t know if it was a unanimous vote.”

Director of Public Health Jeff Vaughan previously said the proposal aligns with the fire department’s mission to reduce fire risks and protect public health. He added that the board aims to provide residents with clearer guidance on campfire rules once its draft review is complete.

Select Board Member David Grishman noted that a similar petition failed about a decade ago.

“No one other than the 12 petitioners seems to want this,” Grishman said. “I think this will crash and burn – pun intended – at Town Meeting.”

Select Board Chair Katie Phelan and member Danielle Leonard also said they oppose the proposal, calling it “a big mistake.”

The Select Board was not required to vote on the petitions