Commission member Jessica Marcheson presented a detailed proposal for a "pest-free" grant program to address bed‑bug and other urban pest infestations in Manchester housing.

Marcheson framed the issue as both a public‑health and housing‑stability problem. She reviewed public-health effects of bed bugs and other pests, the high cost and stigma for tenants (including eviction risk where tenants fail to comply with remediation), and relevant legal provisions she cited as "5 42 Roman numeral 2 g" on termination of tenancy for noncompliance and "54013 e" concerning landlord liability for remediation costs. Marcheson said the law can place remediation costs on landlords in multi-unit infestations while shifting cost to tenants in certain circumstances, which can lead to evictions and increased homelessness.

Her proposal would convene three stakeholder meetings (landlords/property managers/maintenance; tenants and advocates; and a smaller work group to design program details), create a standing work group to scope costs, seek competitive bids from multiple pest-control providers, and pursue grants and partial city funding to subsidize remediation. She suggested the program could be structured as a year-long enrollment, with landlords agreeing to required follow-up inspections and tenant-education and supports to ensure disabled or low‑income residents can prepare units for treatment.

Commissioners asked about budgets and whether the program would include public-housing or federally funded properties. Marcheson said the work group would map funding eligibility, potential sliding-scale reimbursements, and grant opportunities (EPA, state public-health, DHHS and other sources were mentioned as possibilities). She said the work group should also consider procurement approaches (three- to five-vendor rotators to drive down costs) and reimbursement models for landlords.

Commission members volunteered to join the work group; Marcheson agreed to email the city grants coordinator, Kathleen, and follow up. No formal motion or appropriation was made at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to convene a work group to return with a cost estimate and grant targets.

Ending: Commissioners described the issue as urgent for tenant stability and public health and supported moving forward with the proposed stakeholder meetings and a scoping work group.