Northfield Board of Health reviews housing complaint, approves septic permits

At a Feb. 11 meeting at Northfield Town Hall, the Northfield Board of Health reviewed a housing complaint involving a tenant who would not allow an inspection and approved multiple septic-related permits and a septic design application.

Board member David Balk reported that the Board had received a complaint the prior week from a nonresident relative of a tenant at a rental property. Pam Veith, the Board secretary, told the board the landlord had been cooperative and said he had also received the complaint from the tenant's son. According to the secretary’s report, the tenant refused admission for an inspection but told the landlord there were no ongoing problems other than "a small leak" that occurred during a heavy summer rain and had not recurred. The board asked the secretary to contact the landlord again and request that the landlord ask the tenant for permission to allow one or two Board of Health members to accompany the landlord during an inspection; the secretary will report back at the next meeting.

The board handled several routine and permit items. Dan Gray moved to approve the Jan. 28, 2026 meeting minutes; Kathie Bridges seconded, and Ruth Potee abstained. The minutes were approved. The board considered three permit items: Stone's Septic's Septic Hauler's Permit and Renaissance Excavating's Septic Installers Permit were each moved by Dan Gray and seconded by Kathie Bridges and were unanimously approved. A septic design/application for 304A Millers Falls Road was moved by Dan Gray and seconded by Ruth Potee; Kathie Bridges abstained and the design application was approved.

Board members briefly reviewed the Board of Health mission page for the Annual Town Report and tabled substantive revision work until the next meeting, with Potee agreeing to prepare revision suggestions. The board also reviewed routine pumping reports.

Under "Items Not Reasonably Anticipated," David Balk said he had received a late complaint about a neighbor burning trash; when he checked the site he observed no burning or smell but asked the neighbor to notify him if it recurs so a board member can respond promptly. Balk also reported on a recent Finance Committee meeting and said a committee member expressed support for increasing Transfer Station sticker and bag fees; Balk said that "Bob" will come to a future Board meeting to update the board on his plans and that the fee question will be discussed then.

Ruth Potee moved to adjourn; Dan Gray seconded and the motion was unanimously approved. The meeting ended at 7:09 p.m.

The board will revisit the landlord/tenant follow-up and the mission-page revisions at its next meeting.