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Stoddard planning board advances cyanobacteria recommendations and approves septic inspection language
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting the Town of Stoddard Planning Board reviewed a draft of Cyanobacteria Committee recommendations and approved amended septic-inspection language requiring evaluations at time of property transfer and replacement of failing systems within 180 days; motions carried unanimously per meeting record.
The Town of Stoddard Planning Board on Jan. 6 reviewed a draft presentation of recommendations from its Cyanobacteria Committee and approved amended language for a proposed septic ordinance that requires septic-system evaluations at the time of property transfer.
The proposals were presented as part of Old Business. The draft presentation for the Board of Selectmen lists causes of cyanobacteria, mitigation recommendations, an education plan for the town website, stricter septic regulations, a stormwater management plan, an erosion mitigation plan and a watershed management plan. The board noted the recommendations are intended to reduce algal bloom risks.
On the septic ordinance, the approved draft requires that, prior to the transfer of developed property served by a septic system, a buyer obtain at the buyer’s expense a New Hampshire–licensed septic system evaluator’s inspection. The draft allows a buyer to accept an evaluation prepared for the seller if it was completed within 180 days of transfer. It also states that where an existing system is not approved under RSA 485-A:29 or the approval predates Sept. 1, 1989, the buyer must hire a New Hampshire permitted septic designer to determine the elevation of the effluent disposal area relative to the seasonal high-water table and to determine failure status consistent with RSA 485-A:2,IV.
The draft further requires that if an evaluator or designer determines a system shows signs of failure or is in failure, the evaluator may notify the department and the local health officer and the buyer must replace the system within 180 days of transfer and file a report with the department and the local health officer documenting state approval of the replacement system. The draft includes an exception allowing the buyer to notify officials and proceed with a planned replacement instead of completing an evaluation before closing; in such cases the buyer must file the state approval within 180 days of the sale.
Member Steve Jacobs moved to change the ordinance wording to explicitly include all property; Jason Kovarik seconded and the motion carried. Jason Kovarik then moved to approve the proposed language as amended and Randy McHale seconded; that motion carried. The meeting minutes record the motions as carried; specific vote tallies were not specified in the minutes.
Board members said the measures are meant to protect groundwater and surface water and to reduce public-health risks associated with cyanobacteria. The board also noted the draft presentation and the septic measures would be used in a presentation to the Board of Selectmen.
The board left several technical details to be implemented through the draft language (for example, who files reports with the department and the form of those reports) and did not record a formal adoption ordinance number at this meeting. The board discussed budget and Master Plan funding separately during the meeting.
