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Undisclosed septic tank found during renovation; town says occupancy will be withheld until system is tied in
Summary
During a building-renovation review board members learned contractors found an undocumented septic tank dating to the 1980s; town staff said a certificate of occupancy will not be issued until engineers provide stamped plans showing the septic system tied into an approved leaching area or otherwise remediated.
A contractor and the board discussed discovery of an undocumented septic tank beneath pavement during renovation work at a restaurant property; the project manager said the tank appears to pre-date current rules and may have been installed around 1985. Board staff told the presenter that anything installed before 1996 requires bringing the system up to current standards, and that the building department will withhold a certificate of occupancy until the septic system is proven tied into an acceptable disposal system.
The presenter said crews located and pumped a roughly 1,500-gallon tank, had two camera inspections and plan to submit stamped engineering drawings that show whether the tank connects to the property’s leaching area or must be connected externally. She described cost and constructability trade-offs between routing plumbing under the building (requiring cutting through multiple layers of concrete) versus excavating asphalt to connect the tank outside.
"If they don't have a septic permit with us, we will have to lean on the building department to find out if they can hold the certificate of occupancy," Liz, the health agent, told the presenter, saying the town will require proof of a tied-in system before releasing occupancy paperwork. Board members advised the presenter to consult an attorney and the building department about contractor and contract remedies; no change to the permit status was recorded at this meeting.
