Townsend brief: Saturday, October 3, 2026

Townsend's recycling contamination rate is more than double neighboring Lunenburg's, prompting a Board of Health review

Townsend's recycling contamination rate is more than double neighboring Lunenburg's, prompting a Board of Health review.

Recycling contamination spike worries Board of Health. Townsend's Board of Health confronted a recycling contamination rate more than double Lunenburg's, citing an audit from hauler G.W. Shaw & Son, and weighed changes to the pay-as-you-throw bag program. It also took up two septic permit applications.Townsend News
Finance Committee weighs water hiring freeze exception. Townsend's Finance Committee renominated its slate of officers and took up a Water Department request to fill a vacant foreman position despite the town's hiring freeze. Members also discussed roughly $27,000 in repairs needed at a town library building.Townsend News
Conservation Commission weighs Seaver Road stormwater plan. Townsend's Conservation Commission reviewed a stormwater plan for the three-lot Seaver Road subdivision, including a rip-rap basin meant to slow runoff in a 150,000-square-foot buffer. A commissioner questioned the board's authority over the issue, and a conservation agent hiring plan was pushed to October 14.Townsend News
Planning Board closes Seaver Road subdivision hearing. Townsend's Planning Board worked through eight votes on the Seaver Road subdivision and a hearing on removing shade trees at 18 Haines Road. Debate centered on a state clean energy siting bylaw, due back October 5, which one member called unconstitutional.Townsend News

Friends of library book sale wraps up today. The Friends of the Townsend Library close out their fall book sale today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library Cafe, after member-only early shopping Thursday and a full public sale Friday.Townsend Public Library

Tue, Oct 6: Water main flushing begins townwide Oct. 6. Townsend's Water Department will flush water mains townwide from October 6 through 30 as part of routine system maintenance, the town announced.Town of Townsend