Fire Station Panel Backs Septic Over Sewer Hookup
Other Committee · Meeting of September 28, 2026
Orleans Fire Station Building Committee votes 7-0 to recommend a Title 5 septic system, still debating geothermal well siting. Members Jeff Deering, Rich Waldo, Mike Matheson, Kathy McMurray and Emily Miller joined colleagues in a unanimous roll-call vote confirming the septic direction over a sewer connection. Project manager Rick Pomeroy said the team is "not knowing" final well counts yet but is targeting a November 20 cost-estimate submission, against a budget pegged at $55 million in June.
Architect Paolo said the team is pushing to keep any geothermal wells off elementary school property near the tennis courts, telling residents the closed-loop system means "you wouldn't even know that they were there" once installed. Energy and Climate Action Committee member David Jacobson pressed on whether geothermal was a "done deal"; staff said no final decision has been made. The committee set its next meeting for October 26 to revisit phasing and well siting.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,522 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of September 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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