Ludlow Board of Health Approves Hubbard Street Chickens, Seeks Mosquito Control District Membership

Board of Health · Meeting of August 5, 2026

Ludlow Board of Health votes to pursue Pioneer Valley Mosquito Control District membership and approves a Hubbard Street backyard flock permit. The board voted unanimously Wednesday to bring a warrant article to town meeting seeking approval to join the district at an annual cost of $5,250, a 5 percent increase from fiscal year 2025, after staff noted positive mosquito surveillance results in neighboring Holyoke and Chicopee the day before the meeting. The board also unanimously approved a permit for Monica, a resident at 59 Hubbard Street, to keep up to 15 chickens and four turkeys through Thanksgiving, following a July 31 site inspection that health staff described as "probably one of the cleanest" they had visited.

In a third unanimous vote, the board appointed John Prenosil of the Quabbin Health District as a contract inspector at $120 per inspection to handle food establishment reviews for two restaurants owned by a board member, citing the need for transparency and objectivity.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,477 words

Source: the Board of Health meeting of August 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.