Sudbury Board of Health approves pool reopening, pauses winter septic soil testing

SUDBURY — February 12, 2025 — Sudbury Board of Health logs heavy flu season, reopens Atkinson pool, and pauses winter septic testing. Public Health Nurse Katie reported 71 flu deaths statewide, including three infants, with influenza A H3N2 driving hospitalizations, and warned residents to keep cats indoors as avian flu spreads. The Atkinson lap pool, closed Jan. 8 for elevated combined chlorine, reopened Feb. 10 after a roughly $50,000 UV disinfection system was installed; combined chlorine sits at 0.2, prompting member Susan Sama to note "there's no wiggle room." The Health Director paused routine septic soil testing through March after all three January tests failed because of permafrost or saturated soils. The board, chaired by Carol Bradford with members Linda Huet-Clayton and Sama, unanimously approved December and January minutes and set its next meeting for Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m.