Lynnfield Board of Health denies appeal in rat-nuisance case at 158 Moulton Drive

The Lynnfield Board of Health on Jan. 16 denied an appeal of a public health nuisance determination for 158 Moulton Drive, upholding a Health Department order that the homeowner remediate rat burrows found on the property.

Health Director Coral Hope told the board the Health Department received a complaint Oct. 6, 2025, from James Black of 158 Moulton Drive about rats. An inspection of 158 and 160 Moulton Drive and nearby town baseball fields found multiple burrows on 158 Moulton, chew marks and a missing drain cover on a dumpster at 160 Moulton, and led to an order to correct issued Oct. 22, 2025. The order was completed at 160 Moulton but remained open for 158 Moulton as of the Jan. 16 meeting. Hope cited Massachusetts law (Title XVI, Chapter 111, Section 123) that makes an owner or occupant responsible for removing nuisances and noted potential fines of up to $1,000 per day for violations.

Hillary Black-Ferretti, who identified herself as the homeowners’ daughter, told the board the family believes the infestation began after a new building complex and its dumpster were placed and urged the board to hold the complex and the 160 Moulton property manager responsible. She provided a packet of dated photos she said showed ongoing dumpster noncompliance at 160 Moulton but acknowledged those photos were presented to the Health Department for the first time at the hearing.

Hope told the board that town plans indicate the burrows lie on 158 Moulton and that the Health Department requires timely evidence of noncompliance at adjacent properties before it can enforce those issues. She also said that rats can migrate and that the area has had ongoing rodent problems for years, which complicates assigning a single source.

Chair Dr. Rocco Iocco said the board would press 160 Moulton to assist in correcting the neighborhood problem but reiterated that, under state law, the owner of 158 Moulton is responsible for addressing burrows on their property. After discussion, the board denied the appeal of the Public Health Nuisance Determination for 158 Moulton Drive.

The denial means the Health Department’s order remains in effect; the transcript does not record a vote tally or a motion text. The board did not set a compliance deadline during the recorded discussion. The board indicated it would continue to monitor efforts by all neighbors to remediate the issue.