Board of Health clears 7,250-gallon Title 5 variance for new high school septic

WAYLAND -- April 14, 2025, Wayland Board of Health unanimously approves Title 5 variance for new high school septic system. The 4-0 vote authorizes a design flow of 7,250 gallons per day, twice the building's average daily metered flow, and clears the project to move toward state Department of Environmental Protection review. Engineer Abby told the board she factored school-vacation days out of the meter data and "tried to be as conservative as I could," keeping the design under the 10,000-gallon Title 5 ceiling. Member Jonathan Storer pressed on whether the system left headroom for future demand; Abby cited a prior 12,000-gallon facility that failed because flows never reached design capacity. Chair Robert Defrancesco and members Genevieve Anand, Brett Mordas and Storer voted yes; newly sworn Kathryn Holland Stiff attended her first meeting but did not vote. Separately, the board heard that Wayland has been formally enrolled in the Massachusetts Vaccines for Children program, with Dr. Ellen Mahoney of Wayland Pediatrics signing standing orders.