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Board of Health proposes problem-property budget, flags revolving-fund change
Summary
The Board of Health asked the Select Board to restore inspection-related funding lines after the revolving fund that supported contracted inspections was eliminated; the board proposed a $20,000 'problem properties' line and a shared admin position to free the health agent for field work.
Caitlin Brooks, chair of the Southampton Board of Health, told the Select Board on Feb. 19 that regional shared inspection services help the town but cannot cover all Title V septic work because of certification limits and staffing constraints.
"We're part of a regional shared public health excellence program," Brooks said, noting the program channels inspections and training through Northampton and provides resources for 14 member communities. She warned that state funding uncertainty and cuts to inspectional-software plans make long-term reliance on the regional program risky.
Why it matters: Brooks said the town has historically used a revolving fund to offset inspection and problem-property costs but that the revolving fund was eliminated and the corresponding receipts now post to the general fund; transferring the money back would require a town-meeting vote. The board recommended budgeting $20,000 for problem properties and maintaining a contracting arrangement with a consultant identified in the meeting as Charlie to manage court-driven cases and receivership work.
Brooks noted that contracted inspector/consultant Charlie has charged a $60/hour rate for services such as securing properties, supporting court filings and consolidating cases across multiple towns — work that, in some cases, enabled the town to recover back taxes.
Board members also proposed a 16-hour-per-week administrative assistant shared between the building department and the board of health to allow the health agent to conduct more in‑community inspections. Brooks said this administrative support would enable Claudia, the new health agent introduced at the meeting, to get into the field rather than be tied to front-office tasks.
What’s next: The Select Board will consider whether to re-establish funding lines in FY27 to cover contracted inspectional services, the problem-properties line, and the shared administrative assistant; the board must also clarify the process for transferring any funds that remain in the former revolving account.
