Townsend Board of Health Tackles Septic System Failures
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Meeting Type:
Board of Health
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Meeting Date:
04/08/2024
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Recording Published:
04/11/2024
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Duration:
63 Minutes
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State:
Massachusetts
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County:
Middlesex County
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Towns:
Townsend
- Meeting Overview:
The Townsend Board of Health meeting addressed health and environmental concerns, with a focus on the failures of local septic systems and the approval of upgrades. Among the issues discussed were the expedited plans to address the septic system failure at McDonald’s, the approval of an upgraded septic system for a property on Old City Road, and the failure of the 99 Fitchburg Road septic system, for which the board approved local upgrade approvals. Additionally, the meeting covered the conversion of the old fire station on Main Street into a museum, with specific deliberations on its septic system in relation to the proximity of wetlands and a floodplain. The board also debated various waste management strategies, including the implementation of a new waste totter system, the selection of appropriate trash barrel sizes for residents, and the cost implications of these initiatives.
During the session, the board’s immediate attention was drawn to the issue of the McDonald’s septic system which had resulted in sewage surfacing on the property.
The conversation then turned to the property on Old City Road, where the board approved upgrades to the septic system, including the installation of a new septic tank and pump chamber. This property’s septic system upgrade was considered crucial for maintaining compliance with health standards.
The board also dealt with the failed septic system on Fitchburg Road, approving local upgrade approvals that involved reductions in required separations and the depth of the naturally occurring porous material layer. The property owner’s request for the use of a Civ analysis was granted.
Another prominent topic was the old fire station on Main Street, now repurposed as a museum, which required a new septic system. The board took a detailed look at the proposed system’s proximity to wetlands and the floodplain, as well as adherence to buffer requirements. The discussion displayed the board’s careful consideration of environmental impacts and compliance with regulations.
Waste management was another issue, with the board debating discrepancies in reported trash and recycling amounts and the implementation of a new waste totter system. The topic of who owns the trash barrels, the cost to the town, and the logistics of a potential buy-back program for unused barrels were also discussed. The board explored the options of providing 32-gallon, 48-gallon, or 64-gallon barrels, with particular concern for elderly residents with limited mobility.
The board members engaged in a discussion over the cost of the barrels and the potential revenue from selling them, highlighting the financial aspects of waste management. A lighthearted moment occurred when the discussion briefly turned to mailbox durability, followed by an interruption from a member of the Republican Town committee who had reserved the room for their meeting.
Eric Slagle
Board of Health Officials:
James Le’Cuyer, Christopher Nocella, Gavin Byars, Rick Metcalf (Nashoba Sanitarian), Carla Walter (Health Administrator)
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Meeting Type:
Board of Health
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Meeting Date:
04/08/2024
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Recording Published:
04/11/2024
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Duration:
63 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
Massachusetts
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County:
Middlesex County
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Towns:
Townsend
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