Hanson Board of Health Reelects Chair, Flags Camp Kowani Permitting Failures

HANSON -- May 20, 2025, Hanson's Board of Health flagged catering-permit failures at Camp Kowani and gaps in last weekend's boil water notification as it reorganized Tuesday evening. Kevin was reelected chair and Peter vice chair; the board then approved a septic repair plan for 57 McCoan Street, an irrigation well permit for 280 Liberty Street at Liberty Woods, and a potable well permit for 321 Lakeside Road, all by unanimous votes. Agent Teresa reported that two graduation events at Camp Kowani, scheduled for June 8 and June 15, have no catering applications on file despite a mandatory 45-day submission deadline, and said the problem has persisted for more than two years. Agent Gil told the board that an Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works boil water order the previous Friday initially bypassed the Board of Health and water department, leaving 116 Hanson customers on that system to learn of the contamination risk through social media and television; the board is now pursuing a protocol to notify those residents directly in future emergencies. The board also voted to dispute a $2,362 invoice from a regional hazardous waste day after one resident cycled through the disposal line three times, nearly exhausting the board's entire $3,000 annual budget for the program.