Dudley Board of Health Won't Police Sidewalks
Board of Health · Meeting of February 17, 2026
Dudley Board of Health votes to reject sidewalk-shoveling enforcement, streamlines septic permitting. Health Agent Justin Lapham told the board he and Code Enforcement Clerk Amanda Holmes could not absorb enforcing the town's sidewalk bylaw given existing workload, and members voted unanimously that the duty "is definitely not a health agent responsibility in the town of Dudley." The board also voted unanimously to separate septic plan reviews from disposal works permits, clearing a backlog stuck beyond the state's 45-day review window, and gave Lapham authority to approve minor well-setback upgrades from 100 to 50 feet without a full vote. Members set Dudley's Earth Day cleanup for April 18, 8 a.m. to noon, with an April 25 rain date, and are pursuing Select Board approval for a spring rabies clinic.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 827 words
Source: the Board of Health meeting of February 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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