Board of Health authorizes winter halts to septic soil testing

SUDBURY -- December 10, 2025, Sudbury Board of Health gives staff explicit authority to halt winter septic soil testing. The board voted 2-0 on Dec. 10 to allow the health department to cancel or restrict soil tests during inclement weather or hard frost, except in emergencies, with Chair Carol Bradford and member Susan Sama in favor and member Linda Huet-Clayton absent. Health Director Vivian said the department would reschedule rather than refuse outright and would coordinate directly with installers. Septic installer Mike D. backed the change, telling the board that an outright winter suspension "was not the right choice." Public health nurse Katie also reported a confirmed Sudbury chikungunya case in a traveler returning from Cuba, a probable campylobacter case and a positive norovirus case, and human services staff said a coat drive run with Memorial Congregational Church distributed more than 100 coats.