Charlton Board of Health Awaits DEP Approval to Resume Flint Road Landfill Work

CHARLTON — March 10, 2026 — Charlton Board of Health tracks Flint Road landfill approvals and raises solar panel PFAS concerns. The board, meeting March 10, heard from Health Director James Philbrook that the Flint Road landfill project remains on hold pending state Department of Environmental Protection approval of a soil import source, with a decision expected by end of week. A detection of 1,4-Dioxane at a monitoring site was reported to DEP as required, and Philbrook confirmed two water filtration systems are currently serving affected residents. The board also discussed an emerging cross-departmental question about PFAS in solar panels, prompted by Planning Board member Lori Dagnan, who convened a meeting of department heads later that week; Chair Matt Gagner endorsed a financial assurance bonding mechanism to guarantee future decommissioning funds. Philbrook flagged that the department's electric van is functionally unsuitable for field work, and said Town Administrator Andrew has been made aware of the need for an all-wheel-drive SUV in the capital budget. The board's next meeting is April 7, 2026.