Gardner Board of Health Approves River Road Septic Upgrade, Elects Vice Chair

GARDNER — May 11, 2026 — Gardner Board of Health approves Title V septic upgrade and elects its first vice chair in several meetings. The board voted unanimously Monday to grant a local upgrade approval for 350 River Road, allowing installation of a Presby advanced septic system with a three-foot groundwater separation — down from the standard five feet — to accommodate a narrow lot where the 1981-era system had been surcharging sewage back into the house. Engineer Chris Starr told the board the Presby system "gives you more treatment than a standard stone pipe" and projected a 30-to-40-year service life with regular maintenance. The board also unanimously elected Dr. Parker as vice chair, filling a position that had been deferred at multiple prior meetings. In departmental updates, staff flagged that the city's landfill pump project — declared operational May 6 — has already identified underground wiring failures and a failed pressure test on a primary pipe in cell one, with a change order and additional funding request forthcoming. The annual Keep Gardner Beautiful Nip Hunt collected 37,600 bottles, and a tobacco violation hearing involving a second offense will be added to the June 22 agenda after the tobacco control officer was unable to attend Monday's meeting.