LATEST STERLING TOWN GOVERNMENT SH*TSHOW– MUNICIPAL BUILDING CLOSED DUE TO WALK-OUT LAST WEEK, TOWN ADMINSTRATOR ON PAID LEAVE

Here is the report, updated, appearing in the 12 October 2021 Item, Clinton, Massachusetts:

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/the-item/2021/10/08/sterling-town-administrator-paid-leave-after-discord-town-hall/6054826001/

Kellie Hebert, Sterling Town Administrator for ten (10) months, hired a “consultant,” apparently, at Sterling taxpayer expense, about the Municipal (Butterick) Building roof leak(s), ignoring qualified local contractors in the process. It is not known whether Ms. Hebert followed Massachusetts municipal procurement law in making that hire. SEE
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/19/30bmanual.pdf

LAST WEEK’S MUNICIPAL BUILDING WALK-OUT/CLOSE-DOWN

Ms. Hebert’s reported action does not appear to be an adequate explanation as to why Ms. Hebert was escorted out of the Municipal Building by a police officer last week, or as to why other Municipal Building employees–paid by Sterling taxpayers–walked off the job, prompting closure of the Municipal Building for the rest of that day. Apparently those employee walk-offs will get that time off paid at our expense.

UPDATE, 14 OCTOBER 2021

Sources report that Ms. Hebert, on her own, ALSO retained, at $40 per hour, an answering service to answer the telephone for the Recreation Department. How many folks do you know getting $40/hour to pick up a friggin’ telephone and take a few notes??? The Municipal Building is open 40 hours each week. Assuming that that answering service had corresponding hours, that deal, unless canceled, will cost Sterling taxpayers $1600 each week! There are 20+ year Town employees who don’t make $40/hour. Moreover, sources report that several telephones throughout the Municipal Building ring with each incoming call, so other Town employees were capable of simply picking up their respective telephones and taking notes for the Rec. Dept. Evidently, when it comes to spending Sterling taxpayer money, Ms. Hebert is out of control. I don’t know whether she followed Massachusetts procurement law for her answering service deal, either.

The Select Board is obligated to tell Sterling taxpayers the full truth about this latest Town of Sterling Sh*tshow, but don’t hold your breath.

J.G.