During the meeting, the Board confirmed that the homeowner of 56 Wendell Road had not requested a hearing within the seven-day period following the issuance of a demolition order. Consequently, the Board assumed the homeowner accepted the conditions outlined in the order. The homeowner informed the Board that he is in the process of contracting someone to handle the demolition, with an expected start date in early October. Board members discussed the importance of coordinating with the fire department regarding water access for potential fire suppression during the demolition.

The Board also reviewed an application for a closed-loop geothermal well on Surner Mountain Road, submitted by Kathleen Lugos. The application requested variances from standard setback requirements, specifically reducing the setback from the driveway from 15 feet to 5 feet and from the property line from 25 feet to 15 feet. The Board deliberated on the relevance of these setbacks given that the well is not for drinking water but for heating purposes. Board members agreed to grant the variances, conditioned upon verifying that the reduced setbacks align with Title Five provisions or that a property line survey confirms compliance.

Further discussion highlighted the Board’s lack of detailed knowledge about the specific guidelines for geothermal wells, with plans to review state recommendations once available. The Board decided that if Title Five allows for a 15-foot setback without requiring a survey, the permit could be issued. If not, and if the boundary is not already surveyed, a survey would be necessary.