Board of Health

About Us

The Board of Health is responsible for safeguarding the health of the town's residents. Their specific responsibilities include:

• Issuing permits for septic systems;
• Dealing with safe disposal of night soil;
• Monitoring ground water for possible contaminants;
• Monitoring leaching from the landfill;
• Regulating the use of underground fuel storage tanks;
• Inspects and licensing food establishments;
• Monitoring the quality of pond and lake water to safeguard the shellfish supply;
• Issuing tent permits;
• Inspect and test for lead paint;
• Providing public information and education on common health hazards.

The Board of Health is the only board that may pass a regulation without a public hearing.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Wastewater Grant Funding Availability 

The County has allocated $135,000 for the Town of Chilmark’s portion of the ARPA nitrogen-reducing septic system grant program. Grant funding under this program is available in two segments: for enhanced I/A system design costs and enhanced I/A system installation costs. Grant funding will only be awarded for system designs with no increase in the number of bedrooms/wastewater flow. Eligible properties must be in a watershed (within 3 miles of mean high water) that has been classified as impaired. 

Funding under the grant is limited to homeowners with an aggregate income not exceeding 240% of the County’s Area Median Income (AMI), adjusted for household size. The Chilmark Board of Health voted that the applicants at 120 % AMI or less in the previous calendar year are eligible to apply for a grant to cover expenditures of a full septic system design and/or installation. The applicants with income greater than 120 % AMI in the previous calendar are only eligible to apply for a grant to cover expenditures of a partial (IA component) retrofit design and/or installation. Homeowners with an aggregate income below 80% of the AMI for the County, adjusted for household size, may request direct payment to vendors rather than reimbursement for costs incurred. 

Additional Information on the funding, separate septic design and installation grant applications, watershed boundaries can be found on the County’s website / ARPA Funding Information page at https://www.dukescounty.org/home/news/arpa-funding-informational-page#:~:text=Dukes%20County%20has%20received%20a,wastewater%20infrastructure%20on%20Martha’ s%20Vineyard. Please refer to exhibit A of the grant application for income levels. Grant applications will be prioritized based on the applicant’s income and the property’s proximity to the ponds. Completed applications should be submitted to Anna McCaffrey, Chilmark Board of Health Administrator and Inspector, at boh@chilmarkma.gov.