Go to the Town of Sterling website and you will see huge gaps in the Sterling D.P.W. Board’s posted Meeting Minutes. Massachusetts’ “New” Public Records Law advises that town board and committee meeting minutes be posted on town websites. Until I filed an “Open Meeting Law” complaint this week–without, unfortunately, referring to the “New” Public Records Law–the Sterling D.P.W. had not posted any Meeting Minutes for five (5) months, going back to 13 April 2021. In the past day or so a couple additional D.P.W. Board Meeting Minutes have been posted.
JANUARY 2021–CASELLA REPRESENTATIVES TELL THE STERLING D.P.W. BOARD THAT THE “DUAL-STREAM” COLLECTION METHOD, NOW IN EFFECT, IS BETTER FOR STERLING
The following is taken directly from the D.P.W. Board’s 5 January 2021 Meeting Minutes:
“Curbside trash was discussed. [Three representatives] of Casella Waste participated… Erin Banfield shared that the dual stream service would better serve the Town. New equipment would be needed for Single Stream Automated system with wait period of twelve months. The Board agreed this system was not the way to go, but agreed to consider lowering trash limits in order to help lower costs for the Town. Composting options and exploring grants were suggested. Casella invited the Board to visit their facility in order to get a better understanding of the trash/recycling process. Further review is need before any final decision can be made”(emphasis added).
AUGUST 2021– THE STERLING D.P.W. BOARD FLIP-FLOPS TO “SINGLE-STREAM” TRASH COLLECTION WITH CRAM-DOWN OF ONE (1) 64 GALLON TRASH BARREL PER FAMILY AND A NEW MACK TRUCK
The following is taken directly from the D.P.W. Board’s 10 August 2021 Meeting Minutes:
“Casella Waste Discussion
Gerry Galena and Erin Banfield were present to discuss a transition for the Town of Sterling to start using a Single Stream Recycling Collection System. The equipment needed for the Single Stream Collection is a new 2021 Automated Side Load Mack Chassis truck and containers. Casella will provide 64 gallon carts for both MSW and Single Stream Recycling. Casella will provide placement instructions during outreach, education and cart distribution.”
STERLING TAXPAYERS WILL BE HOSED FOR THE COST OF THE REQUIRED MACK TRUCK AND 2600 “TOTERS”-BRAND 64 GALLON TRASH CARTS/BARRELS
Recent D.P.W. Meeting Minutes referred to “totters” [sic] being used. “Toters” is the correct trash cart/barrel brand. Sterling has 2600 households. Did you folks get a survey questionnaire from the Sterling D.P.W. Board asking if you preferred “Single Stream” trash pick up with one (1) crammed-down 64 gallon cart/barrel, the cost of which, together with the cost of the required new Mack truck, will be tucked up your wazoo??? I didn’t either. The Mack truck will cost approximately $300,000– https://www.trashtrucksonline.com/category/GARBAGE-TRUCKS/Side-Loaders/listings/21850/2020-Mack-LR64R,-31-Yd-Labrie-Side-Loader — and 2600 Toter-brand 64 gallon curbside trash carts will cost well more than the $116,870 they would have cost in 2010 according to Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2010 bid/contract documents.
SEE https://www.mass.gov/doc/fac31doc/download Scroll down to Toters.
WHAT ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF THE STERLING D.P.W. BOARD’S REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/BIDS AND THE BIDDING PROCESS???
Since the Sterling D.P.W. flip-flopped over the course of eight (8) months, from “dual stream” to “single stream” trash collection, that raises the next obvious question: was the bidding process open and fair? Did the Sterling D.P.W. Board put out Requests for Proposals/Bids to other trash hauling companies–besides Casella Waste Systems, Inc.–for proposals/bids on BOTH “dual stream” and “single stream” methods? January 13, 2021 Meeting Minutes show that a Waste Management representative addressed the Sterling D.P.W. Board about its trash collection proposal– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/minutes/dpw_board_minutes_01-13-2021.pdf — but the D.P.W. Meeting Minutes posted on the Town website as of now DO NOT SHOW that Waste Management or any other such company was requested to present a “single stream” trash collection proposal/bid. SEE, GENERALLY— https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2016/08/vt/swcntkey.pdf
PROBLEMS WITH “SINGLE STREAM” RECYCLING
Problems with “single stream’ recycling are well documented:
https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/glass-recycling-US-broken/97/i6
Why, as a Town, should we add to these problems?
THE STERLING D.P.W. BOARD REQUESTED THAT THE SELECT BOARD SCHEDULE AN AUTUMN 2021 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
The Select Board’s 15 September 2021 Agenda included the D.P.W.’s request for an Autumn 2021 Special Town Meeting. YOU decide whether or not to approve D.P.W. capital spending requests in connection with trash/waste collection, and YOU decide what is best for your family –and the Town as a whole–so stay tuned.
J.G.
STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS, OVERWATCH 