Shutesbury Board of Health Negotiates Septic System Inspection Deferral

The Shutesbury Board of Health recently held a special meeting to address a request regarding a deferral of the Title 5 inspection for a property on South Laurel Drive. During the meeting, the Board proposed an agreement with conditions for deferring the mandatory septic system inspection. The buyers of the property at the center of the discussion are required to perform the inspection within six months of the sale, submit the inspection report and filing fee, and provide updates to the Board at intervals not exceeding three months. The Board emphasized that the dwelling on the property should not be occupied until a passing Title Five inspection report or a certificate of compliance is issued.

Further, the Board deliberated on the implications of possible reconstruction of the dilapidated property on the agreement, taking into account the need for a new septic system and well, as well as the prospect of demolishing the existing structure. The buyers’ questions regarding the LLC ownership and its impact on their existing property were also addressed. Concerns about the timeline for ensuring a potable water supply and the potential need for property rebuilding surfaced, prompting the Board to note that their proposed agreement was in line with the State Environmental code and indicative of strong communication between the Board of Health and the property owner. The Board conveyed its readiness to handle various scenarios that might arise in the future.

In addition to the Title 5 inspection deferral, the meeting covered discussions on the Massachusetts Food Code and the formation of a unified group by the existing five environmental health directors. A statement expressing this intent was decided to be sent to the Massachusetts Food Code Officials for consideration. The Board also tackled staffing matters, including the impending hire of a new inspector to provide backup for the towns’ inspectors when needed and the request for additional hours by a current staff member, which was met with approval. Funding for the collaborative was reported stable for the forthcoming two years.

The Board’s agenda also included preparations for public health concerns such as the upcoming mosquito season. The potential severity of the season, the spread of Triple E, and the option for towns to opt-out of mandatory spraying were debated. Provisions for more COVID tests, which are set to expire in November, were considered. The Board discussed technological updates, including setting up iPads for inspectors and the availability of bug wipes for mosquito season, along with the potential training required for the new devices.

This meeting also touched upon procedural matters, such as the potential extension of the renewal period for the agreement and the consequences of non-fulfillment within two years. The necessity of recording the agreement at the registry of deeds was questioned, alongside the process of filling in a septic tank and its implications on future property ownership. The Board moved to amend the agreement to reflect the correct ownership and made plans to ensure it would be executed by the appropriate parties. Throughout the discussions, the Board referred to past experiences and similar cases to inform their decision-making process.

Finally, the scheduling of the next Board meeting was considered, with the possibility of cancellation if no pressing business arises.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Town Administrator:
Rebecca Torres
Board of Health Officials:
Catherine Hilton, Wm Levine, Norene Pease, Arleen Read, Garrett Simonsen, Sarah Fiske (Public Health Nurse), Claudia Sarti (Health Agent)

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