It’s official. Kirsten Newman is running as a write-in candidate for the Sterling Select Board seat soon opening. Arden Sonnenberg is not running for re-election. This contest is good news for Sterling taxpayers and voters wanting a choice.

David Smith, husband of Sterling Treasurer and Tax Collector Victoria Smith, filed nomination papers previously to run for that seat. He figured that he’d be unopposed. He miscalculated. It is reported that David Smith is employed as General Foreman for the City of Leominster D.P.W. That means that both he and Victoria Smith feed full time from taxpayer-funded public mammary glands. If you think that is a good combo for Sterling taxpayers then I will sell you the Muddy Pond Road bridge.

If you want a built-in conflict of interest, cronyist, and inside dealer, then, by all means, vote for David Smith on 9 May 2022. If you don’t, then please vote for Kirsten Newman.

I will post any press release issued by Kirsten Newman.

Stay tuned!

UPDATE, 28 April 2022: Kirsten Newman got a very late start because she assumed that Arden Sonnenberg would run for re-election. I received a forwarded text message from Kirsten Newman. She will not expend resources to gain this year’s open Select Board seat because she plans to mount a full-on campaign for Select Board next year. HOWEVER, she will be happy to get write-in votes this year. SO WRITE IN KIRSTEN NEWMAN FOR SELECT BOARD ON 9 MAY 2022!

J.G.

Until recent years the Select Board and Finance Committee had some respect for Sterling’s property taxpayers and placed any significant capital or infrastructure spending request in its own Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article so the voters present could ask questions about each such request and vote each such request up or down.

Thus, for example, if the D.P.W. requested a dump truck that request would be set forth in one Warrant Article, and if the Police Department requested a new cruiser that request would be set forth in another Warrant Article.

In more recent years the out of control tax and spend Muppet-Weasels on the Select Board–Cranson and Kilcoyne–and their appointed Finance Committee Sock Puppet Weasels, in outright contempt for Sterling’s property taxpayers, have lumped MULTIPLE capital and infrastructure requests together, as ‘GIMME LISTS,’ in individual Warrant Articles, thereby eliminating the rights of Town Meeting voters to question and shoot down individual spending requests that they consider unworthy and do not approve. In other words, these lists are compiled deliberately to be “all or nothing” and, in essence, ARE A FORM OF EXTORTION. Hence, this time around we have Warrant Article 22 WITH EIGHTEEN (18) ITEMS INCLUDED TOTALING $489,423 and Warrant Article 23 WITH EIGHT (8) ITEMS INCLUDED TOTALING $516,000.
SEE https://www.sterling-ma.gov/home/files/annual-town-meeting-warrant-articles

Warrant Article 22 seeks a transfer from so-called “free cash[“] or any other available [suspiciously unspecified] funds” and Warrant Article 23 seeks a transfer from the “Capital Investment Fund.” “Free Cash” is a deceptive, dishonest label. YOUR TAX DOLLARS, WHETHER PAID DIRECTLY TO THE TOWN OF STERLING OR FUNNELED BACK TO THE TOWN OF STERLING FROM THE COMMIE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, CONSTITUTE THE SO-CALLED “FREE CASH” ON HAND. YOUR TAX DOLLARS ALSO COMPRISE THE “CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND.”

NOTE WELL: THE FACT THAT THE TOWN OF STERLING HAS SO MUCH SO-CALLED “FREE CASH” AND “CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND” SUMS ON HAND IS PROOF THAT WE STERLING PROPERTY TAXPAYERS ARE OVER-TAXED, IN DECEPTIVE FASHION, BY THE TOWN OF STERLING YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT AND THUS EXPLOITED.

SO, STERLING TAXPAYERS, IT’S TIME TO HAVE SOME REAL FUN AND SHOW SELECT BOARD MUPPET-WEASELS CRANSON AND KILCOYNE, AND THEIR APPOINTED FINANCE COMMITTEE SOCK PUPPET WEASELS, WHO REALLY CONSTITUTE THE BOSS! COME OUT TO THE 2 MAY 2022 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING AND VOTE DOWN BOTH WARRANT ARTICLES 22 AND 23.

See you there!

J.G.

Sterling Select Board Members ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Bullsh*t,’ Maureen Cranson, and the ‘Bent Buffoon.’ John Kilcoyne, together with their Finance Committee appointees, would not recognize accountability, fiscal responsibility, or fiscal restraint if those principles reared up and bit them all in their utterly feckless and reckless A$$E$. They are, collectively, an outright insult to sound governance and the Town of Sterling’s property taxpayers.

This year’s Town of Sterling ‘Omnibus Budget,’ passed as 2021 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 9, is $11,455,429. SEE https://www.sterling-ma.gov/advanced-search?keywords=2021+Annual+Town+Meeting+Warrant

For next fiscal year these Select Board and Finance Committee A$$-CLOWNS propose the BIGGEST ANNUAL TOWN ‘OMNIBUS BUDGET’ INCREASE EVER– to $12,820,004, up $1,364,575, or 11.9 %. SEE Warrant Article 4– https://www.sterling-ma.gov/home/files/annual-town-meeting-warrant-articles

THESE A$$-CLOWNS ARE, OBVIOUSLY, OUT OF CONTROL.

NOTE: There are OTHER spending Warrant Articles IN ADDITION TO THE PROPOSED ‘OMNIBUS BUDGET.’ Review the entire 2022 Annual Town Meeting Warrant to get the big picture in terms of the HITS TO YOUR WALLETS.

IF YOU, STERLING PROPERTY OWNERS/TAXPAYERS, DON’T SHOW UP AT THE 2 MAY 2022 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING AND VOTE DOWN THIS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS ‘OMNIBUS BUDGET’ THEN YOU HAVE ONLY YOURSELVES TO BLAME FOR GETTING HOSED BY SKYROCKETING PROPERTY TAX BILLS NEXT YEAR AND IN THE YEARS AHEAD. THESE INCREASES ARE COMPOUNDED.

MOREOVER, TO PROTECT YOURSELVES YOU MUST VOTE CRANSON AND KILCOYNE OUT OF OFFICE WHEN THEY COME UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

J.G.

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.