Mendon health board tables septic transfer inspection rule

Board of Health · Meeting of March 16, 2026

Mendon Board of Health debates a draft rule requiring septic inspections at most property transfers. Board engineer Tom Ryder told Chair Alan Greenberg, Vice Chair Tom Fichtner and member Joyce Gilmore the draft aims to close a loophole letting cash sales, seller-financed deals and multigenerational family transfers escape Title V inspection, particularly around Mendon's lake. No vote was taken; the board wants more research on condominium and shared septic systems before revisiting the language.

"Do we not have a responsibility to know at some point the health of a system," Greenberg asked. Separately, Health Agent Colleen Strapponi said a compliance sting caught one tobacco retailer selling to a minor, a violation carrying a $1,000 fine and up to a 30-day suspension due before the board March 25. The board approved minutes from four prior meetings unanimously, with Fichtner abstaining on one he missed.

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Source: the Board of Health meeting of March 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.