THE STERLING D.P.W.’S FALSE ADVERTISING: THE SO-CALLED ‘SWETT HILL ROAD EROSION AND RUNOFF CONTROL’ PROPOSITION 2 ½ OVERRIDE BALLOT QUESTION IS REALLY ABOUT SHOLAN PARK AND THE TOWN BEACH THROUGH WHICH FLOWS A MAPPED INTERMITTENT STREAM

Folks, if you attended the 5 May 2025 Sterling Annual Town Meeting you heard and saw false Sterling D.P.W. advertising and hyperbole about the so-called Swett Hill Road ‘Erosion and Runoff Control Project’ for which it wants $800,000 of your hard-earned money by means of a Proposition 2 ½ Property Tax Override Ballot Question on the 12 May 2025 Town Election Ballot.

SEE  https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/news/2025_ate_ballot_sample_1_0.pdf

Here is Proposition 2 ½ Override info from the Town of West Boylston since the Sterling Select Board lacks the honesty and integrity needed to post such info on the Town of Sterling website.

SEE  https://www.westboylston-ma.gov/home/pages/proposition-2-12-override-questions-and-answers

At the 5 May 2025 Sterling Annual Town Meeting Sterling D.P.W. representatives showed some slide photos. NONE showed any damage to Swett Hill Road. WHAT THEY DID SHOW WAS A STREAM RUNOFF CHANNEL THROUGH SHOLAN PARK AND THE TOWN BEACH INTO EAST WAUSHACUM LAKE/POND.

WELL FOLKS, THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FROM A MAPPED, SEASONAL ‘INTERMITTENT STREAM’ FLOWING THROUGH YOUR PROPERTY DURING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAINS AND SNOWMELT.

ZOOM IN ON THAT AREA USING THIS TOPOGRAPHIC MAP AND VIEW THAT INTERMITTENT STREAM YOUSELVES (blue dashed line)—

https://www.topozone.com/massachusetts/worcester-ma/city/sterling-11/

THAT ‘Intermittent Stream’ has been there since the great glacial ice cap recession from New England occurred 13000 to 14000 years ago.

SO SUDDENLY WE HAVE AN ‘EROSION AND RUNOFF CONTROL’ PROBLEM OVER THERE??? THAT’S BULLSHIT AND WE ALL KNOW IT.

East Waushacum Lake/Pond is on the list of Massachusetts Great Ponds—

https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-great-ponds-list/download

Massachusetts Great Ponds are owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Protecting ‘Great Ponds’ from sediment runoff should be Commonwealth of Massachusetts business, NOT Town of Sterling business to the tune of $800,000.

AS FOR SWETT HILL ROAD, ALL THE STERLING D.P.W. HAS TO DO TO PROTECT IT FROM EXCESSIVE STREAM RUNOFF IS TO INSTALL A LARGER CULVERT UNDER THE ROAD BED AND THEN RAISE THE ROAD BED.

THAT WON’T COST $800,000.

SO, ON 12 MAY 2025 VOTE ‘NO’ ON THAT PROPOSITION 2 ½ OVERRIDE. IT’S BOGUS. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE “EAST WAUSHACUM LAKE ASSOCIATION” LOBBIED FOR IT.

J.G.