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Charlton sets testing program, prepares to borrow for landfill cap after DEP approvals
Summary
Town staff reported ongoing environmental testing obligations around the old landfill, driven by PFAS and other contaminants. Consultants provided high‑end testing cost projections for FY26; the town plans to proceed with a previously authorized borrowing for a landfill cap and is scheduling procurement and construction next year.
At the budget hearing the Board of Health and town staff described an ongoing, multi‑year environmental testing program tied to the town’s former landfill and plans to cap the site.
Staff said consultant CMG has provided testing estimates for FY26 intended to cover worst‑case sampling and laboratory costs, including PFAS and other contaminants. The testing budget in the draft is precautionary; staff said some testing requirements were driven by pre‑construction work tied to a planned cap and that, in some cases, detections require follow‑up sampling and could lead to remediation obligations that carry much higher costs.
Town staff said the state environmental regulator (referred to in the hearing as S. DEP) has approved moving forward with a cap at the old landfill and the town authorized a $2 million borrowing some years ago. Procurement for the cap project is expected this year with construction staged to begin in late summer/early fall, material staging over the winter and final liner/cap installation and closeout the following year. The town will see interest and principal debt service related to the borrowing once the debt is issued; staff said interest will show in the FY26 budget after the borrowing is executed.
Board members asked for clarity about the difference between testing and remedial work. Staff explained the current CMG estimates are for sampling and laboratory analysis only (quarterly sampling of wells, PFAS and other analytes); remedial work, if required, would be a separate, potentially much larger expense. Staff said some testing frequency and scope may decline as the project reaches milestones and regulatory approvals are obtained, but that the current FY26 estimate is conservative to avoid underfunding.
The board agreed to include the testing placeholder in the FY26 plan and to proceed with the procurement and borrowing schedule once final approvals and contract documents are in place.
