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Board clarifies: town reviews septic plans locally; selectmen and staff have overseen local approval for years
Summary
Board discussion revealed town staff have been reviewing septic designs prior to state (DES) approval for about a decade; members recommended clarifying the ordinance language describing the scope of "town approvals" to avoid confusion and ensure timely review.
Board members discussed recent paperwork showing town staff review septic designs before state approval and said Ed Rogers and staff have long been involved in local septic review. One member reported that "Ed said we've been doing this for 10 years," describing a practice of local review focused on setbacks and local site knowledge while the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) continues technical design approval.
Members said the town's ordinance language—requiring completion "in accordance with New Hampshire DES and town approvals"—does not specify what "town approvals" cover, which can create uncertainty for applicants. The board agreed that town review is useful to catch local issues (for example, incorrect lot lines or setback mistakes) but emphasized reviews must be timely so they do not delay state approvals. Several members suggested updating the zoning ordinance text to specify the aspects of septic review the town conducts (setbacks, local mapping) and to confirm how the planning office coordinates turnaround times with DES electronic filings.
No policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board asked staff to evaluate ordinance language and propose clarifying edits so applicants and engineers understand which elements the town will review and which remain with DES.
