Sudbury Board of Health approves three variances at August meeting

SUDBURY — August 15, 2023 — Sudbury Board of Health clears three variances and braces for unannounced migrant arrivals. Chair Carol Bradford and member Linda Huet-Clayton voted 2-0 — with member Susan Sama absent — to approve a 30-foot chicken coop setback at 15 Partridge Lane (vs. the 50-foot local rule), an irrigation well at 87 and 91 feet from septic tanks at 23 Sawmill Road (vs. 100 feet), and a three-foot groundwater separation on a septic repair at 286 Hudson Road (vs. six feet). Health Director Vivian Zhang said Gov. Maura Healey's Aug. 8 emergency declaration could send migrant families to the 48-room Fairfield Marriott with little notice; peers in Bedford learned of arrivals "from the 911 response, days after they had already settled in." The board also appointed six health agents — including new regional tobacco compliance officer Perry Vallikkalayil-Govindan, whose Framingham inspections have so far drawn $1,000 state fines on eight of eight checks.