Resident complaints spur Brigham Street septic plan review; board asks for repair timeline

A resident told the Town of Hubbardston Board of Health that recurring sewage odors near Brigham Street had made spending time outdoors unpleasant and said the problem has persisted for roughly two years.

The resident said the neighbor had filed an application and an engineering plan; the chair and staff confirmed the town received an engineering design, a percolation test and installer paperwork. The board noted several pages were missing from the submission packet and asked staff to request the missing pages for the file. The board also agreed not to issue a formal letter of noncompliance because the property owner appears to be proceeding with corrective work.

The resident described visible pipe discharge and said "all I've smelled today is sewage," adding that hot, humid days make the odor particularly intrusive. Board members agreed the sanitarian (Phil Ledger) should contact the resident directly, request a project timeline from the installer/owner, and monitor progress. The chair said staff will follow up with the neighbor and emphasized the next step is to secure a timeline and confirm installation plans.

Board members discussed the proposed installation location and observed that the new plan appears to move the drainfield so it will no longer discharge toward the neighbor’s yard; members sought confirmation that the design will avoid encroaching on the neighbor’s property line and requested any required surveys or stakes be in place before construction begins.

Staff will ask the applicant to submit missing application pages and a timeline; the sanitarian will contact the complainant to confirm schedule and to oversee compliance through construction.