Lynn City board schedules public hearing to require licensed exterminators for IPM plans

The Lynn City Board of Health voted to post a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the city’s Integrated Pest Management regulation that would require licensed exterminators to prepare IPM plans for properties.

The change, introduced by Health Department staff, is intended to ensure that pest-management plans are written by qualified practitioners instead of by property owners or tenants. Health Department staff said the current rule, adopted in 2020, allows nonlicensed individuals to submit written IPM plans and that practice has produced plans that do not meet staff expectations.

Health Department staff said the proposed amendment would require a licensed exterminator to write the IPM plan. "The problem with the IPM is that it doesn't state that a licensed exterminator has to write up the IPM," April (staff member) said. "We've had people... just literally write down on a piece of paper. I don't need any boxes. So that obviously... they are not a licensed exterminator, so we have to take their IPM for it." Board members and staff cited concern about rodents and other pests increasing as warmer weather approaches.

Staff also reported a legal recommendation to hold a public hearing because the amendment could impose a new cost on property owners and operators. "There was a recommendation from the law department to actually have a public hearing on this amendment because this would be something that would be a cost to people," a Health Department staff member said.

Board discussion focused on timing. One board member said there was no reason to delay posting the hearing and suggested scheduling it for the board’s next meeting; a staff member said the board could hold an interim meeting (properly posted) if they preferred. The board voted to post the public hearing for the IPM amendment at the next board meeting.

The amendment seeks only to change who may author an IPM plan; the existing IPM requirements (for dumpsters, animals such as chickens, and other pest-control measures) remain in place, according to staff. The board did not adopt the regulation at this meeting; the action taken was to schedule the public hearing so the community can comment before any final decision.