Billerica Board of Health Denies Grease-Trap Waiver, Continues Walk and Roll Hearing

BOH · Meeting of July 6, 2026

Billerica Board of Health tightens grease-trap enforcement, denying a Jersey Mike's franchise waiver and deferring a new sushi shop's request to August. The board voted 2-1 Monday to reject a waiver from the external grease-trap requirement under regulation 2.2.001 for a Boston Road Jersey Mike's, with members citing written opposition from the town's wastewater superintendent and a push for uniform enforcement of the town's fats, oils, and grease policy, an installation the applicant estimated at roughly $50,000. Attorney John McKenna, representing Walk and Roll owner Lon, voluntarily continued the business's waiver and sushi-service variance requests to the August 3 meeting, saying his client needs time to prepare and get the new takeout shop open.

Health Director Crystal reported that a global fluoride supply disruption tied to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has affected Billerica's drinking water supply, though Water Superintendent Tom Lanson secured a short-term supply; under state law, a public notification would be required if fluoridation stops. The board unanimously approved a floodplain variance at 32 Sheridan Street for a deck expansion and a setback waiver for a FedEx loading-dock project at 90 Salem Road, and Board Chair Amit Gandhi warned a repeat-violation Boston Road restaurant that additional closures, or a prolonged suspension, remain on the table if pest-control improvements do not hold.

In the full story:

• Fluoride Supply: Global Trade Disruption Reaches Billerica's Water
• Swanson Meadows Golf Course Noise Complaint
• Permits and Administrative Items
• 32 Sheridan Street: Floodplain Variance for Deck and Porch
• Jersey Mike's (Boston Road): Grease-Trap Waiver Denied
• 131 Boston Road, Walk and Roll (Asian Food LLC): Hearing Continued to August
• 90 Salem Road, FedEx: Floodplain Setback Waiver Granted
• Pest-Control Update: Two Boston Road Establishments
• Mosquito Control
• Adjournment
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,570 words

Source: the BOH meeting of July 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.