Concord Board of Health Declines to Act on Two Mold-Related Housing Inspection Appeals

PLYMOUTH -- April 15, 2026, Concord Board of Health unanimously declines to act on two mold-related housing inspection appeals. The board voted to take no action on appeals filed by Catherine Kershaw, a Concord Housing Authority tenant who says toxic mold in three successive CHA units has caused her serious health harm over five-plus years. Public Health Director Melanie Nanina and health agent Michael Fonioli found two correctable violations at Unit 12A, 34 Everett Gardens in January and two at Unit 208, 115 Stowe Street in March, all since repaired, but no evidence of chronic moisture or mold at either location. Certified mold inspector Vanessa Tiorchiello, retained by Kershaw, testified that swab samples from Unit 12A returned positive for class-one carcinogenic mycotoxins in multiple locations. Town Counsel Kristen Gagelas told the board its authority was limited because "there are no standards to which the Concord Housing Authority would need to clean to" under the sanitary code. One board member, noting the matter is headed back to Northeast Housing Court within 30 days, successfully pressed for the deliberation to be reflected in the minutes, calling it a documented gap in which "neither the housing code nor the inspection requirements require a heightened standard of care" for disabled tenants facing prohibitive remediation costs.