Belchertown health officials weigh Title V repair options for 64 Munsell and plan to revoke a violated permit on Granby Road

Belchertown’s Board of Health on May 22 heard from its Title V consultant that a failed septic inspection at 64 Munsell Street leaves the owner with only two practical repair options and that a separate Granby Road site may have its disposal‑construction permit revoked after on‑site violations.

Roger Bacon, P.E., the Board’s Title V independent consultant, told members the 64 Munsell lot lacks the four feet of naturally occurring soil required under Title V; a February 2024 perc test encountered ledge about 3.5 feet down and a sieve analysis exists but was not available for review that night. Bacon described two repair paths: installing a tight tank (minimum 2,000 gallons) that does not require additional perc or soil absorption area, or designing a pump chamber with a mound system, which he said is substantially more expensive.

"The lot is all ledge and does not have four feet of naturally occurring soil," Bacon said, explaining the technical limit on onsite repair options. Owner Josh Tatro told the Board he does not want a tight tank because he believes it will hurt resale value: "I know I have a ledge... I just want to sell it." Bacon said a variance allowing less than four feet of natural soil requires evidence from deep observation‑hole testing showing that no area of the site meets the four‑foot requirement.

Separately, Bacon described photographs taken May 21 that, he said, show a Granby Road property—including heavy equipment and piles of material within the approved disposal area—that likely violate the terms of an issued disposal construction permit. "He's piled soil on the property to a height of 20 feet," Bacon said, and added that the preload and heavy equipment can compact soil (consolidation) and invalidate the original approval. He said he has given documentation to Director Andrea Crete and expects the disposal‑construction permit will be declared void and the applicant will have to reapply, including new perc testing.

Bacon warned of public‑health risks if a system installed under the altered conditions were to fail near the road. "If it does fail it's going to go right into the road and it's going to be a very big public health hazard," he said.

Board members did not vote on either site that evening. Bacon said he would present engineered options to the Board when the owner or applicant pursues a specific repair path, and Crete said staff would follow up with the property owners. The Board asked staff to prepare any necessary notifications to affected parties and advised that aggrieved parties could appeal administrative decisions.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting included the Title V failure date for 64 Munsell (April 7, 2023), a February 2024 perc attempt that hit ledge at roughly 3.5 feet, and that a tight tank is typically a minimum 2,000 gallons. Bacon estimated a previously reported perc rate of about six minutes per inch may now be 15–20 minutes per inch after site disturbance, which would require larger and more costly systems.

The Board did not take a final enforcement vote at the meeting; Bacon indicated staff would notify the owner and the Board may consider any appeals or revised permit applications at a future session.