Interesting Board of Health Meeting Reveals New Septic System Technology
The Gardner MA Board of Health met on January 22, 2024. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Much of the initial discussion revolved around Local Upgrade Approval for a Septic System and Well at 128 Wampanoag South. The new technology is called Geomat. For more from the manufacturer, CLICK HERE. Brandon Duchamp appeared on behalf of the homeowners who have an existing 2 bedroom house and need a Title V system on the property. He also described the proposed drilled well, going down several hundred feet to an aquifer. “We’re looking at a drilled bedrock well, what has a sealed casing all the way up.” Board of Health approval was obtained with a referral to the Conservation Commission for their opinion.
Health Director Micah Blondeau informed the Board about various matters regarding the landfill, stating, “We completed the erosion control project, the pump cleaning projects, all the brush and airways, grinding, and the metallurgy, so we’re just working on the next phase, …plan to improve the drainage and transfer station, and hopefully the facility.”
Blondeau spoke about trash. He stated “We’re also looking at costs for curbside recycling. So we’re most likely going to have to raise the costs to keep up with our costs. And just trying to get people to move more into the AFC throw bags rather than an additional toter.”
The Health Director spoke about various properties of concern and what the Board of Health was doing. He also spoke of the Abandoned Housing Initiative, ” take a house that has been abandoned, get it into a receivership, and then try to get it back into the housing market eventually. So we are coming up with a list of maybe 3 to 5 houses for now.”
Blondeau spoke about shelter for migrants and issues regarding trash and food. “right now they’re getting meals catered in. But it seems like they’re different from what they have been normally eating So, the people in the shelter are looking for more means to make their own food, which is kind of a problem.” He also remarked that having public transportation (MART) free for 6 months helps.