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Inspection finds noncompliant manual grease trap at 17 West Main; Commission reviews enforcement policy
Summary
A wastewater operator found a replaced, manual grease trap at 17 West Main that does not meet the Commission's automatic-grease-interceptor requirement; commissioners reviewed Town Code and 2006 policy history and decided to await the owner's response before sending an enforcement letter.
Town wastewater staff inspected a replaced grease trap at 17 West Main Street and found the device to be a manual unit rather than the automatic grease interceptor required by Commission policy for new or failed systems.
Paul Dutton, the Town's wastewater operator, reported the replacement device is noncompliant and advised the business owner that it must be replaced with an automatic device. Penny Griffin said she had emailed the applicant regarding the conditional approval from the Sept. 10 meeting and had followed up on Oct. 8 seeking confirmation; there has been no response to date.
The Commission reviewed a draft letter addressing both the noncompliant grease trap and the outstanding SDC payment but decided to hold off sending the letter to give the applicant time to reply. Commissioners noted the automatic-grease-interceptor requirement has been Town policy since Oct. 24, 2006, and that a few manual devices are grandfathered only until they fail, at which point an automatic device is required.
Penny Griffin reviewed the Town Code excerpt (Chapter 181-14) that authorizes grease, oil and sand interceptors and cited New Hampshire statutes (RSA Chapter 149-I: Sewers and Chapter 38: Municipal Electric, Gas or Water Systems) as the statutory basis for Commission bylaws and ordinances. The 2006 minutes recorded a unanimous vote to require automatic grease interception for new or failed systems, and staff said that policy reduced grease within the sewer system and the related costs of overflows and backups.
Next steps: staff will wait for the applicant's response; if the applicant does not respond, the Commission may send the enforcement letter and require replacement with an automatic device and payment of outstanding fees.
