In case you failed to get the drift in recent years, the Sterling Planning Board, two of whose members are developers; the Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), whose members are appointed by the Select Board; and the Select Board, all work for real estate developers and builders, NOT the property-taxpaying-abutters and neighbors affected adversely by their pro-developer decisions.

So take a drive along Redemption Rock Trail/Route 140 both easterly and westerly of its intersection with Dana Hill Road and check out the existing homes whose owners and other occupants will be affected adversely if the callous, inconsiderate, and uncaring effort by the Sterling Planning Board hacks, prompted by Realtor Karen Packard, to re-zone “Performance Zone 1” to “Commercial,” succeeds. If that area is re-zoned to “Commercial” you can bet that traffic, congestion, and noise will increase there, harming the nearby homeowners and driving down their property values. By the way, Ms. Packard built her new real estate office in “Performance Zone 1” and her husband owns the Sterling Greenery nearby. Can you say “CRONYISM AT WORK” ???

At the 2021 Sterling Annual Town Meeting the Planning Board hacks sponsored Warrant Article 39 to re-zone “Performance Zone 1” to “Commercial”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/advanced-search?keywords=2021+Annual+Town+Meeting+warrant

The voters present shot it down.

The Sterling Planning Board hacks re-treaded that failed Warrant Article as this year’s Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 29– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/home/files/annual-town-meeting-warrant-articles

CHECK OUT THE VARIOUS BOARDS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL! OF COURSE THEY DO! THEY DON’T GIVE A RAT’S PATOOTIE ABOUT THE NEARBY HOMEOWNERS.

SO. PEOPLE, COME OUT EN MASSE TO THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL TOWN MEETING AND STAND UP FOR THE HOMEOWNERS IN QUESTION BY VOTING DOWN ARTICLE 29.

See you there!

J.G.

Well before the 2021 Sterling Annual Town Meeting, on this Blog, I published a post about the absolutely abominable pro-developer, crony-crafted, hack-drafted, proposed Sterling ‘Earth Removal By-Law’ that was rammed through, about two months later, during the 2021 Sterling Annual Town Meeting. SEE Warrant Article 47– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/advanced-search?keywords=2021+sterling+annual+town+meeting+warrant

Not least among its pernicious provisions, that ‘Earth Removal By-Law’ constituted craven developer-a$$-kissing Select Board members ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Bullsh*t,’ Maureen Cranson, and the ‘Bent Buffoon,’ John Kilcoyne, a majority of the Select Board-now-Earth Removal Board. They sponsored that 2021 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 47, of course.

It only took six (6) months for STERLING’S BIGGEST SNAKE, Simpson, thereafter, to get from Cranson and Kilcoyne a provisional, sham, illegal ‘Earth Removal Permit’ for his property located at 68 Heywood Road. Simpson probably still has Cranson’s and Kilcoyne’s Chap Stick on his a$$.

We should all be grateful, therefore, that a Citizen’s Petition for a 2022 Sterling Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article to change that abominable 2021 ‘Earth Removal By-Law’ was filed. It will be discussed during the Sterling Open Space Implementation Committee’s 13 April meeting. SEE https://www.sterling-ma.gov/node/2266/minutes-agendas

I have not seen its text.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

In the latest example of Town of Sterling Municipal Building ‘Rule Number 1,’ “INCEST IS BEST,” one David Smith is this year’s uncontested Select Board candidate– https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/the-item/2022/03/26/one-contested-race-sterling-ballot-planning-board-candidates-needed-offices/7158530001/

David Smith JUST HAPPENS to be the Sterling Treasurer/Tax Collector’s husband– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/treasurer-collector

How much you wanna bet that Victoria Smith gets a BIG Fiscal Year 2023 raise???!!!

J.G.

Joe Curtin, with a home at 218 Upper North Row Road, Sterling, is Vice-Chair of the Sterling Zoning Board of Appeals a/k/a The Developers’ Doormat. During the 9 March and 13 April 2021 Sterling ZBA meetings the ZBA discussed and voted to approve several 2021 Sterling Annual Town Meeting Warrant Articles that it proposed, including the one eventually numbered Article 38, “Accessory Dwelling Unit Use.” Mr. Curtin was present for those meetings. He did not recuse himself from the votes. As you will see below, there was absolutely NOOO self-dealing or conflict of interest on Mr. Curtin’s part in voting to approve the ZBA-sponsored “Accessory Dwelling Unit Use” Warrant Article, NOOO SIRREE!
SEE https://www.sterling-ma.gov/node/2041/minutes-agendas
It is interesting to note that on 22 April 2021 the Sterling Planning Board DID NOT approve the Sterling ZBA’s proposed “Accessory Dwelling Unit Use” Warrant Article, the Planning Board vote being tied 2-2– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/node/4031/minutes-agendas

Warrant Article 38 passed at the 2021 Sterling Annual Town Meeting, making it much easier, in most instances, to obtain a building permit for an “attached” “Accessory Dwelling Unit” not exceeding 800 square feet.
SEE file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/2021_atm_final_warrant_june_7_2021_003%20(1).pdf

LO AND BEHOLD, a mere eight (8) months later, on 8 February 2022, NONE OTHER than Sterling ZBA Vice-Chair Joe Curtin himself applied for a Building Permit to construct an 800 square foot “attached” Accessory Dwelling Unit with bedroom and bathroom at his home place, 218 Upper North Row Road. You can check it out using the Town of Sterling “E-Permitting” link as a “Guest”– http://www.permitlinkonline.com/csp/sterlinglive/DocumentLink.GuestPermitListCenter.cls

On the Sterling Board of Health 10 March 2022 Meeting Agenda– file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/03-10-2022_posted_agenda_form_sterling_board_of_health%20(3).pdf –appeared this cryptic line item: “218 Upper North Row Road accessory dwelling unit, letter provided.” CUTE!!! There was ABSOLUTELY NO REFERENCE to Mr. Curtin needing a full Massachusetts Title 5 Septic System Inspection and Report required by 310 CMR 15.301(5), 15.302– file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/310cmr15%20(1).pdf (scroll down to Pp. 72 through 76) — because his proposed “accessory dwelling unit” added a bedroom and would increase the flow through his septic system.

By Mass.Gen.Laws Ch. 66, Sec. 10 ‘Public Records Request’ I obtained that Sterling Board of Health “letter.” It is dated 28 February 2022, addressed to Sterling Building Commissioner Tony Zahariadis, and signed by Sterling Board of Health Agent David Favreau– you know, the guy who was under investigation for apparent ‘time sheet fraud’ in 2021 by the Office of the Massachusetts Inspector General. Mr. Favreau, in that letter, said in pertinent part: “I have reviewed the BOH files and confirmed that the existing permitted subsurface sewage disposal system supports a five-bedroom dwelling and shall support the additional sanitary flow for an Accessory Apartment.” The Sterling Board of Health “file” documents go back to 2012 when that septic system was designed and built.

BUT IT’S WORSE THAN ALL THAT. TURNS OUT, MR. CURTIN, AS A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, SIGNED THE “DELINE ENGINEERING” SEPTIC DESIGN PLAN FOR HIS OWN SEPTIC SYSTEM ON 26 MAY 2012. THE NAME ‘JOHN M. DELINE, JR.’ WAS LINED OUT AND CURTIN SIGNED THE PLAN HIMSELF AS “REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER” OVER THE SEAL/STAMP. THAT’S A HUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND FRAUD ON THE TOWN OF STERLING.

As BOH Agent Mr. Favreau knows damned well that he is required to enforce the provisions of Massachusetts “Title 5,” 310 CMR 15.00 et seq., concerning septic systems. In the case of fellow Town official Curtin he ignored them–you know, Wink, Wink! You can bet that Sterling Building Commissioner Tony Zahariadis knows all about “Title 5” requirements too.

Mr. Zahariadis granted the Joe Curtin “Accessory Dwelling Unit” building permit on 28 February 2022, THE VERY SAME DAY FAVREAU PENNED THAT LETTER!

This week I reported this scam to MassDEP Central Region (Worcester) staff lawyer Rebecca Tobin, and Title 5 Section Leader David Boyer. You can report your concerns about this scam to them too. Here are their email addresses: Rebecca.Tobin@state.ma.us and David.Boyer@state.ma.us or Rebecca.Tobin@mass.gov and David.Tobin@mass.gov

WARNING: Ordinary law-abiding Sterling private citizens SHOULD NEVER try to perpetrate this type of scam on their own!

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN PERPETRATING THIS TYPE OF SCAM YOU MUST BE A BENT TOWN OF STERLING OFFICIAL AIDED AND ABETTED BY AT LEAST ONE OTHER BENT TOWN OF STERLING OFFICIAL.

J.G.

That paragon of transparency, that acme of openness, the Sterling Animal Control Advisory Board (ACAB), has not posted any of its Meeting Minutes on the Town Website since 7 June 2021– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/node/2206/minutes-agendas I’m sure that that is a mere oversight–wink, wink– especially since the ‘Bent Buffoon,’ Sterling Select Board member John Kilcoyne, is the ACAB “Sub-Committee Member for Kennel Bylaw proposal”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/animal-control-advisory-board

Under the Massachusetts “Open Meeting Law” the ACAB is required to produce for inspection, upon demand, ALL of its Meeting Minutes. So just travel down to the Municipal Building and demand to see them.

It should come as no surprise that ACAB and the ‘Bent Buffoon’ have proposed, stealthily, 2022 Annual Town Meeting “Warrant Articles regarding Kennel licensing”– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/animal-control-advisory-board/agenda/agenda-89 This new effort follows the shoot-down of 2021 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 42, “Use Regulations-Commercial Kennels,” proposed by the Select Board’s appointed pawns on Zoning Board of Appeals. THAT was the ZBA’s FIRST ATTEMPT TO SCREW DOG OWNERS. USUALLY THE STERLING ZBA SCREWS ABUTTERS/NEIGHBORS BY GRANTING DEVELOPERS UNJUSTIFIED “SPECIAL PERMITS” AND “VARIANCES.”

Stay Vigilant!

J.G.

It’s official, folks, so BEND OVER AND ASSUME THE POSITION! Everett Heller, the whining Finance Committee Chair protected by Select Board members ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Bullsh*t’ Maureen Cranson and ‘Bent Buffoon’ John Kilcoyne from having Finance Committee and Capital Budget Committee meetings broadcast to the public, intends to ram all Sterling taxpayers with a 3% Fiscal Year 2023 cost of living increase (COLA) for all Town of Sterling employees. THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR TOWN EMPLOYEES EVER. The legions of Sterling taxpayers employed in ‘THE DREADED PRIVATE SECTOR’ will be lucky to get ANY cost of living increase after being crushed by two years of asinine and deliberately deceptive COVID MANIA and its consequent economic disruptions/jobs destruction, and one full year of ongoing, rampaging DEMENTIA JOE BIDENFLATION. Oh Yeah, please remind me again about all the Town of Sterling employees who were paid to shelter-in-place/sit on their thumbs, at our expense, for the entire first year of COVID MANIA…

You just know that ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Bullshit’ and the ‘Bent Buffoon’ are behind this planned fleecing of Sterling taxpayers. The Select Board, Finance Committee, and Capital Budget Committee are conducting a joint meeting at 8 a.m., Saturday, 5 March 2022. Here is the line-up of those chowing down at the Sterling taxpayer-funded public trough– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif1266/f/agendas/2022_03_05_fincom_agenda.pdf

Let Cranson, Kilcoyne and Heller know that you are done being rammed by them, quarterly, via your property tax bills and that election cycles to come will have consequences.

NOTE: As for COVID MANIA, have you noticed that Fauci-The-Lying-Gnome disappeared??? It is reported that he is inside a hollow tree making Keebler Cookies– https://www.food.com/article/keebler-s-fudge-day-pop-up-brings-you-inside-the-elves-tree-908

J.G.

The Sterling Finance Committee, appointed by the Select Board, has not stood up for Sterling’s taxpayers since Larry Pape was its Chair ten (10) and more years ago. He made sure that Town Budgets remained stable, with minimal increases from year to year. When economic times were tough, as they were after the 2008 financial markets collapse, he protected Sterling taxpayers by keeping Town Budgets flat. In 2012 the then-Select Board members refused to re-appoint Larry Pape to the Finance Committee. Sterling taxpayers have been hosed, year in and year out, ever since.

Credit, therefore, is due Select Board member Arden Sonnenberg for voting to require the Finance Committee and Capital Budget Committee to televise their respective meetings. She was outvoted by ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Bullsh*t,’ Maureen Cranson, and the ‘Bent Buffoon,’ John Kilcoyne, the dynamic duo Select Board tax-and-spend paragons of opacity and duplicity. For Cranson and Kilcoyne, the Finance Committee and Capital Budget Committee are useful tools/foils for caving to the various Town departmental spending requests and thus hosing, as a consequence of their cowardice, all Sterling taxpayers. They orchestrate the Annual Town Meeting Warrant Spending Articles and then point to the lines that say “Finance Committee recommends approval.” OF COURSE THEY DO. See how that incestuous scam works, folks?

Everett Heller, Finance Committee Chair/Chief Cranson-Kilcoyne Taxing and Spending Tool, was all in a huff when Ms. Sonnenberg stated, accurately, that failing to broadcast Finance Committee meetings demonstrated a lack of transparency. He threatened to resign if required to televise every Finance Committee meeting–
https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/the-item/2022/02/25/finance-committee-wont-have-broadcast-meetings-sterling/6833317001/

MEMO TO EVERETT HELLER– Do all Sterling taxpayers a favor–resign/take your ball and go home, anyway.

J.G.