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Gardner health department reports staffing gap, leachate repairs and coordination with DEP
Summary
Health staff told the board the food inspector position is vacant after the death of Eddie Montgomery, the city is under a hiring freeze but expects to refill one position, and public‑works coordination and bids for landfill erosion and leachate pump refurbishments are underway.
The Gardner health department reported staffing changes and several operational items at the Board of Health meeting on Feb. 24.
Micah, a health agent for the board, said the city’s food inspector, Eddie Montgomery, has died and that the inspector position is vacant. Micah said an administrative assistant has been hired and will take on additional duties; under the city’s hiring freeze staff expect to be able to refill only one position, anticipated to be a food‑inspector role.
On landfill operations, health staff said they have been coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Public Works on erosion repairs, damaged monitoring wells and leachate pumping. Micah reported that the damaged monitoring wells were inspected and a vendor that previously installed the wells will provide an estimate for repairs; the repairs must wait for drier ground and equipment access. The board was told funds for refurbishing a pump station and leachate pumps were previously encumbered, though costs may need to be rebid due to changed conditions since the original estimate.
Staff said they contacted DEP solid‑waste staff to update them on funding and repair status and that DEP expressed general concurrence with the department’s approach. Micah asked residents with questions to submit them to the health agent for follow up.
The board set its next meeting for March 24.
