Hubbardston Board of Health flags school water manganese levels, tables landfill update

HUBBARDSTON — February 10, 2026 — Hubbardston Board of Health flags above-limit manganese at elementary school, debates town nurse funding. The board, chaired by Gael Moncoeur and including members Dianna Johnson and Dave Rogers, tabled the school's wastewater test results after a manganese reading of 1.1 to 1.31 exceeded the acute exposure threshold of less than one, with a comparison to prior months' data ordered before any notice goes to school administrators. Public health worker Judy O'Donnell reported progress on a disaster management binder consolidating shelter, animal care, functional needs, and communications policies, and said she is pursuing an amateur ham radio license for emergency communications. The board's longest debate centered on the Holden Trust Fund — a court-ordered hospital settlement fund still active after decades — with O'Donnell arguing town meeting has repeatedly approved splitting it to fund a paid town nurse, a position she said has gone unfunded after a unilateral decision by the town administrator. Members agreed to consult the Ethics Commission before taking further steps, after acknowledging a board member serving simultaneously as paid town nurse could constitute a conflict of interest.