Health department reports hires, landfill repairs and transfer‑station upgrades

Health department staff updated the Gardner City Board of Health on March 4 about personnel moves, infrastructure repairs and upcoming grant work.

Staff said the department completed a new round of interviews for the health director search last week; a transfer station attendant was promoted to supervisor in early February and a newly hired attendant will start next week. The department also replaced an administrative assistant who left in early February and filled a part‑time administrative coordinator role that started yesterday.

On infrastructure, staff reported ongoing repairs to a leachate pump and collection system at the landfill. Consultant CEC has reviewed and approved initial submittals for the first phase, and the site has required truck pumping less frequently than earlier in the winter. Staff said they are awaiting guidance from Keller Partners on erosion and cap‑related work.

At the transfer station, staff said an old scale house—previously used as the supervisor’s office—has extensive damage (holes, rodent problems and odors) and will be condemned. Staff is evaluating two replacement approaches: framing out a heated office space in a corner of the existing equipment barn or acquiring a used portable office; a contractor meeting and consultation with the mayor are planned next week.

Staff also identified a remaining OSHA state‑plan compliance item at the transfer station: installation of additional safety railings near roll‑off containers. A quote has been received and staff intends to request the railing funding in the FY27 budget.

The solid‑waste contract with the named contractor in the record is under active revision: staff said the draft has been sent to purchasing, will go to the mayor for review, and then be returned to the contractor for its review prior to signature. On septic systems, staff reported five systems in varying stages of review or construction and said the office issued three letters of noncompliance since the last meeting when systems failed inspection.

Housing complaints were reportedly low in January and February. Staff said one property with a bed‑bug infestation received treatment on Jan. 28 and the occupant moved; the department will not lift condemnation until required remediation is complete. For food safety, staff said one suspected foodborne‑illness complaint was referred to the regional epidemiologist for follow‑up and no connected cases were identified; three other minor food‑establishment complaints were logged and site visits were performed while a staff member was on vacation.

Staff also noted work on community outreach: the prevention coordinator is planning health fairs at GHS and another local site in mid‑April and a later “purple pause” event. The department submitted a Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) grant on Feb. 13 and expects notice this summer; the spring sustainable materials‑recovery grant will open April 1 and the city plans to update its “buy recycled” policy into a sustainable purchasing policy.

Why it matters: the personnel and infrastructure updates affect service delivery for sanitation, septic oversight and food‑safety inspections, while the planned FY27 budget request and pending grants will determine the timing of compliance work and community health programming.

The board did not take formal votes tied to these operational reports; items flagged for follow up included the roofing/office option at the transfer station and the FY27 funding request for the safety railings.

Ending: The department update concluded and the meeting moved on to governance and advisory items.