TOWN OF MARION, MASSACHUSETTS, POPULATION 5347, AND 26.1 SQUARE MILES, JUST OPENED ITS BRAND NEW 14,400 SQUARE FOOT D.P.W. FACILITY AT A COST OF $5.2 MILLION, OR $361 PER SQUARE FOOT. STERLING’S D.P.W. BOARD, SELECT BOARD, AND FINANCE COMMITTEE ASSHOLES WANT A D.P.W. GARAGE MAHAL BOONDOGGLE OF 28,000 SQUARE FEET FOR $25,535,000, OR $912 PER SQUARE FOOT

FOLKS, the Town of Marion, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, population 5347, and having 26.1 square miles, just opened–in February 2026—its BRAND NEW 14,400 SQUARE FOOT D.P.W. BUILDING AT A COST OF $5.2 MILLION, OR $361 PER SQUARE FOOT. IN FACT, IT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET!

SEE: https://news.jgpr.net/2026/02/17/town-of-marion-unveils-new-dpw-operations-building-with-ribbon-cutting-and-tours/  SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion,_Massachusetts

Sterling has a population of 8000 and comprises 31.6 square miles. Close enough.

SEE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling,_Massachusetts

SO, HOW IS IT THAT THE TOWN OF MARION GOT A BRAND NEW, PERFECTLY SUITABLE D.P.W. BUILDING FOR $361 PER SQUARE FOOT WHEREAS THE PROPOSED, RE-PACKAGED STERLING D.P.W. GARAGE MAHAL BOONDOGGLE OF 28,000 SQUARE FEET HAS A ‘NON-NEGOTIABLE’ COST $25,535,000, OR $912 PER SQUARE FOOT?

ANSWER: THE TOWN OF MARION, UNLIKE STERLING, IS NOT RUN BY A COLLECTION OF IRRESPONSIBLE, OUT-OF-CONTROL ASSHOLES SITTING ON ITS D.P.W. BOARD, SELECT BOARD, AND FINANCE COMMITTEE—AND THE TOWN OF MARION USED SALTONSTALL ARCHITECTS AND A SOLE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT MANAGER, NOT WESTON & SAMPSON ENGINEERS OR VERTEX.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

STERLING’S ARROGANT PLANNING BOARD DOPES PUSH THEIR PROPOSED “INCLUSIONARY ZONING” BY-LAW AT THE SAME TIME “INCLUSIONARY ZONING” FACES CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CHALLENGES IN THE MASSACHUSETTS LAND COURT

FOLKS, did you really need any additional proof that Sterling’s Planning Board, Chaired by walking conflict of interest, self-dealing, self-serving developer weasel Carl Corrinne, is collection of arrogant dopes?

Well, whether or not you did here it is in the form of Columbia St, LLC’s Massachusetts Land Court Complaint challenging the City of Cambridge’s so-called “Inclusionary Zoning” ordinance on Constitutional grounds, specifically citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 5th Amendment “land taking” decision Sheetz vs. County of El Dorado :

Click to access Columbia-St-LLC-Complaint-with-Ex.-A-final-12.2.25-1.pdf

Click to access 601us2r14_00m5.pdf

Supreme Court’s Sheetz decision casts doubt on validity of Massachusetts inclusionary zoning regulations

Columbia St, LLC’s Complaint was filed 3 December 2025 and COULD knock out bogus “Inclusionary Zoning” by-laws ALL ACROSS Massachusetts.

During the 8 December 2025 Sterling “Zoning Forum” I informed all present about this new court challenge. The Sterling Planning Board can’t claim that they are uninformed.

INDEED, Massachusetts’ ‘affirmative action hire’ and reliable Commie airhead Attorney General Andrea Campbell is so concerned about that prospect that recently she filed a Motion to Intervene in that Land Court case.

SEE  https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/2/24/inclusionary-zoning-suit-preview/

SO, GIVEN PENDENCY OF THIS COURT CHALLENGE IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS TO ALL BUT STERLING’S ARROGANT PLANNING BOARD DOPES THAT “INCLUSIONARY ZONING” SHOULD NOT BE ON THE 2026 STERLING ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

UNLIKE A MAJORITY OF STERLING’S 13 NOVEMBER 2025 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING VOTERS, HOLDEN VOTERS, DISPLAYING RESOLVE AND COJONES, REJECT BOGUS ‘MBTA ZONING’ OVERWHELMINGLY AT 2 MARCH 2026 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, THEREBY TELLING MASSACHUSETTS’ AIRHEAD ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREA CAMPBELL TO GO SUCK SOME HOLDEN SWAMP WATER

YAY! LOVIN’ WHAT HOLDEN SPECIAL TOWN MEETING VOTERS DID ON 2 MARCH 2026.

SEE: https://www.thelandmark.com/

Here’s an AI-generated summary derived from paywalled newspaper reports:

Holden Town Meeting voters overwhelmingly rejected a plan to comply with the MBTA Communities Act on March 2, 2026, defeating the proposal by a margin of 520 to 257.   The vote came after a year of deliberation and a prior rejection of a similar plan, with residents expressing concerns about preserving the town’s character, traffic, and property values. 

The rejected plan, developed by a working group led by Selectmen Vice Chairwoman Linda Long-Bellil, aimed to designate two sites—Holden Trap Rock Quarry and Halstead Apartments—for multifamily housing as a “bare minimum” compliance effort.   However, key stakeholders, including the owners of Trap Rock Quarry and Lilac Hedge Farm, were not notified of the proposal, fueling opposition. 

Town Manager Peter Lukes confirmed that the state is expected to serve Holden with a lawsuit, as the town remains non-compliant. The Attorney General’s office, led by Andrea Campbell, has already sued nine towns, including Holden, for failing to adopt required zoning changes by the December 31, 2025, deadline. 

If the town does not comply, the state could appoint a special master to draw up a zoning plan—without local input—or impose fines. Holden is now among the communities facing legal action, and the next steps will likely involve defending the town’s decision in court.

J.G.

MORE HARMFUL BULLSHIT PROPOSED BY THE STERLING PLANNING BOARD– MAKING THE ZONING BY-LAW DEFINITION OF “STRUCTURE” VAGUE, AMBIGUOUS, AND AMORPHOUS, THEREBY PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT ENCROACHMENT ON ABUTTERS’ LOT LINES

FOLKS, above is the header I used for the following 2 March 2026 email I sent to the Town Administrator, copies to the Select Board twits and the Building Commissioner. UNFORTUNATELY this WordPress format did not allow me to transfer the red text referred to so below I inserted [Existing Text] instead.

Mr. Caldwell,

      The Planning Board, Chaired by walking conflict of interest, self-dealing, self-serving developer weasel Carl Corrinne, has proposed the gutting of Sterling’s present Zoning By-Law definition of “Structure” and the substitution of a new vague, ambiguous, amorphous definition of “Structure” that would permit developers like him to erect a variety of real stuctures encroaching on abutters’ lot lines, AND THAT IS THE CLEAR INTENT OF THIS BULLSHIT PROPOSAL THAT SPEAKERS OPPOSED DURING THE 8 DECEMBER 2025 ZONING FORUM.

     The proposed new vague, ambiguous, amorphous BULLSHIT definition is in black text below. The much superior and more definitive original definition is in red text below.

STRUCTURE: 

A combination of materials assembled at a fixed location to give support or shelter, such as a building, retaining wall which retains four or more feet of unbalanced fill, fences over seven feet high, swimming pools that contain water over 24 inches in depth and 250 square feet of surface area or the like. The word “structure” shall be construed, where the context requires, as though followed by the words “parts thereof”. A vessel shall not be considered to be a structure.

[Existing Text] A combination of materials to form a construction, including among others, buildings, stadiums, tents, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, water tanks, play towers, swimming pools, trestles, sheds, shelters, fences over six feet high, display signs, flagpoles, masts for radio antennas, courts for tennis or similar games, backstops, backboards; the term “structure” shall be construed as if followed by the words “or portion thereof.”

     UNLESS the Planning Board WITHDRAWS its proposed new definition of “Structure” and retains the existing definition of “Structure” I shall offer as an amendment at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting the following even more representative definition of “Structure:”

STRUCTURE: 

A combination of parts, components, or rigid members constituting a solid entity at a fixed location, such as a dwelling, storage shed, woodshed, radio antenna mast, fence over six feet high, berm, retaining wall, billboard, tennis or basketball court, tennis or soccer ball backstop, stadium, spectator stands, observation tower, observation platform, or swimming pool with rigid sides or a rigid deck, but shall not include temporary construction stagings or platforms; tents, awnings, or canopies erected for temporary events such as weddings, wedding receptions or parties; flagpoles; weather instrument stanchions and assemblies; or vessels.

 Sincerely, 

Jim Gettens

AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD DISGRACE. STERLING’S FECKLESS, GUTLESS, INCOMPETENT, FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS SPEND TO WITHIN $12,000 OF OUR TOWN’S PROPOSITION 2 ½ LEVY LIMIT AND PLAY SHELL GAMES USING WHAT’S LEFT OF ‘FREE CASH,’ THE STABILIZATION FUND, AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND

FOLKS, if you watched the 26 February 2026 joint Finance Committee-Capital Budget Committee meeting on Sterling-Lancaster Community TV you would have learned that for the next Fiscal Year’s proposed budget Town officials have spent to within $12,000 of our Town’s Proposition 2 ½ levy limit, meaning that we avoided a Proposition 2 ½ Override Vote by just that much—SO FAR. The figures could change before the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting. The Finance Committee-CBC are spending down and playing shell games with what are supposed to be prudent, healthy reserves in ‘Free Cash,’ the Stabilization Fund, and the Capital Investment Fund to stave off a Proposition 2 ½ Override Vote. From now through the 2026 Annual Town Meeting they, the Town Administrator, and the Select Board will posture and pretend that they are heroes and wizards for kicking the Proposition 2 ½ Override Can down the road to next year. WELL, ACTUALLY, NO: THEY ARE FECKLESS, GUTLESS, INCOMPETENT, FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE CRETINS WHO ALLOWED THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS TO BUILD OVER MANY YEARS BY FAILING TO CONFRONT THE WRSD’S SKYROCKETING PAYROLL/BUDGET BLOAT AND THE TOWN OF STERLING’S OWN SKYROCKETING PAYROLL BLOAT.

IN FACT, with a mere $12,000 breather the Finance Committee-CBC signaled approval for a Town employee cost of living allowance/COLA [increase] of 3% instead of exercising prudence and limiting it to 2%. THAT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE F#CKING STUPID INVERTEBRATES, TOGETHER WITH THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR AND THE SELECT BOARD, TWO OF WHOSE MEMBERS—INCOMPETENT POSEUR CHAIR KIRSTEN NEWMAN, AND MAUREEN “OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL BULLSHIT” CRANSON—WERE SITTING IN ATTENDANCE.

THE SELECT BOARD APPOINTS, OR FAILS TO RE-APPOINT, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE-CBC MEMBERS, SO THE PRESENCE OF NEWMAN AND CRANSON AT THAT MEETING WAS A NOT-SO-SUBTLE HINT THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE-CBC SHOULD MIRROR THEIR OWN STUPIDITY AND PLAY ALONG.

NOTE: During that meeting it was revealed that Maureen “Our Lady of Perpetual Bullshit” Cranson’s pet, the Sterling Senior Center, wants to build an addition!

GEE, I wonder if the Council on Aging will hire Weston & Sampson as project engineers and Vertex as project manager and run the per-square-foot cost for THAT addition up to $912 as they have for the Sterling D.P.W. Re-packaged Garage Mahal Boondoggle.

ALL OF THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT STERLING IS RUN BY OUT-OF-CONTROL SPINELESS BUFFOONS.

REMEMBER: YOU GET WHAT YOU ELECT.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

THE STERLING FINANCE COMMITTEE, CAPITAL BUDGET COMMITTEE, SELECT BOARD, AND D.P.W. BOARD AGREE ON A PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN TO PUSH APPROVAL OF THE OUTRAGEOUS, RE-PACKAGED D.P.W. GARAGE MAHAL BOONDOGGLE AT $25,535,000 FOR 28,000 SQUARE FEET, OR $912 PER SQUARE FOOT, A HIGHER PER-SQUARE-FOOT COST THAN THE ORIGINAL D.P.W. BOONDOGGLE PROPOSAL SHOT DOWN AT THE 13 NOVEMBER 2025 SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

If you thought that ANY Town of Sterling Board, Committee, or Department gives a rat’s ass about YOU, THE TAXPAYERS, YOU’D BE ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

Just before the joint Sterling Finance Committee-Capital Budget Committee 26 February 2026 meeting wrapped up Select Board member/pernicious dope Maureen “Our Lady of Perpetual Bullshit” Cranson, sitting in the audience along with the officious and incompetent Select Board Chair, Kirsten Newman, to universal approval of the Finance Committee and CBC, announced that there will be a concerted propaganda campaign to push approval of the re-packaged Sterling D.P.W. Garage Mahal Boondoggle at $25,535,000 for 28,000 square feet, or $912 per square foot, instead of the $33,000,000 for 37,000 square feet, or $892 per square foot, original Garage Mahal Boondoggle shellacked and shot down at the 13 November 2025 Special Town Meeting by a vote of 373 to 183. The D.P.W. says that the $25,535,000 figure is fixed and non-negotiable. All the afore-mentioned aim to enlist the Sterling Meetinghouse News and The Landmark in their propaganda campaign, and probably The Item too.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT—THESE A$$HOLE$ ARE ABSOLUTELY OUT OF CONTROL.

In 2018 the Town of Berlin got an excellent 13,000 to 14,000 square foot new D.P.W. building for $4.1 million, or about $304 per square foot.

This BOONDOGGLE will be coming up in several months for ANOTHER Special Town Meeting vote.

In the meantime hold on to your wallets and stay tuned.

J.G.

THE STERLING TOWN ADMINISTRATOR AND PLANNING BOARD SUPPOSEDLY WANT FEEDBACK ON THE PLANNING BOARD’S PROPOSED 2026 ZONING CHANGES. ACTUALLY, THEY’RE LYING BUT THEY JUST GOT MY OPENING SALVO ANYWAY

The pro-development hacks constituting the Sterling Planning Board, Chaired by utterly contemptible walking conflict of interest, self-dealing, self-serving developer weasel Carl Corrinne, and the Town Administrator, say that they welcome feedback concerning the Planning Board’s proposed zoning changes to be on the 2026 Sterling Annual Town Meeting Warrant—

https://www.sterling-ma.gov/718/Zoning-Proposals-for-2026-Annual-Town-Me

 Actually, they’re lying and would prefer that you not read or understand them and, if you do, to keep your mouth shut because they’d prefer to jam the Town and everyone in it who cares about preserving Sterling’s semi-rural character. Well, their bullshit doesn’t work with me so here’s my opening email salvo addressing a couple of the zoning proposals, copies to all the Select Board twits:

Mr. Caldwell.

       During the 8 December 2025 Sterling Zoning Forum at which you, the Newmans, and the utterly contemptible walking conflict of interest, self-serving, self-dealing developer weasel Carl Corrinne, Planning Board Chair, were present, multiple people in attendance spoke out against “Senior Housing Developments” being “allowed By Right upon Site Plan approval from the Planning Board….” In fact, all who addressed that issue said that such developments should be subject to Special Permits issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals. And that is because no one with at least half a brain residing in Sterling trusts the pro-development hacks constituting the Planning Board to do right by existing abutters, existing neighborhoods, the Town’s natural resources, or the Town’s semi-rural character.

     In response then-Town Planner Stephen Wallace, since departed, told all present that he would seek to change that language and make it consistent with that of the Multi-Family Development Zoning By-Law that makes such developments contingent upon Special Permits granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Apparently Corrinne and his Planning Board cohorts refused to make the requested change because they prefer to see such developments crammed in wherever possible under THEIR auspices.

    Further, under “Building Design” I see that such purported “Senior” dwelling units can be up to 1800 square feet. For “Seniors” seeking affordability a maximum of 1200 square feet would be about right but then, of course, such a limit would restrict Corrinne’s potential profiteering margin.

     And GEE, what a coincidence! It just so happens that Stephen Wallace said that ‘Over-Age-55’ development zoning language and provisions had generated applicability and succession problems in Littleton and other towns. SO, since by law the number of bedrooms in a dwelling unit cannot be restricted, HE, WALLACE, ADVOCATED THAT “Senior Housing Developments” DWELLING UNITS BE LIMITED IN TERMS OF SQUARE FOOTAGE. WELL, 1800 SQUARE FEET IS HARDLY A LIMIT. AGAIN, THANK YOU CORRINNE.

    NOTE: Despite Stephen Wallace’s recommendation that all ‘Over 55” language be eliminated from “Senior Housing Developments” By-Law provisions, it remains.

    Then there’s this. At the 8 December 2025 Zoning Forum it was pointed out that “[a] portion of the [required] common land/open space may be used for… [septic] leaching fields…,” a “portion” being undefined, meaning a “portion” could be 95%. WHAT A CROCK. That was duly noted by Mr. Wallace. AN EVEN BIGGER CROCK IS THIS UNLIMITED DISCRETION: “The Planning Board shall have the authority to approve or disapprove particular uses proposed for the common land/open space in order to enhance the specific purposes of this Section.” YEAH, RIGHT. No one in his/her right mind would give those CLOWNS discretion to run a lemonade stand.

     And then there is the SHAM, FRAUD-ON-THE-PUBLIC, OUTRIGHT PRO-DEVELOPER SO-CALLED “COMPACT DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY DISTRICT” that reads as follows:

Compact Development Overlay District (CDOD) Planner’s Explanation:

Input received at public forums and Sterling’s recent housing survey indicates a desire and need for a zoning district that will encourage the construction of smaller, more affordable housing units. Such housing is needed for young families just starting out and for senior citizens looking to downsize and stay in town. Unfortunately, Sterling has few such housing options available. This new overlay district will be located on the residentially zoned portion of the airport property off Greenland Road and an abutting property under the same ownership that fronts on Old Princeton Road. The overlay district will cover approximately 181 acres of land, but only approximately 30 acres is developable with the rest of the land having development constraints (wetlands, steep slopes). All of the uses permitted in the underlying zoning district (Rural-Residence) would still be allowed in the overlay district with the addition of multi-family development as a By Right use. This new overlay district would allow for smaller lot sizes plus reduced frontage and setback requirements.

—————————————————————————————————————— 

§ 301-4.3.B Compact Development Overlay District (CDOD) Purpose: The purpose of this overlay district is to encourage the creation of compact neighborhoods and the construction of smaller, more affordable housing units by allowing for smaller lot sizes and reduced dimensional requirements.

Location: the residentially zoned portion of the airport property (Tax Parcels 94-9 & 117-4).

Uses Permitted by Right: All of the uses allowed By Right in the Rural-Residence district, plus multi-family dwellings. 

Uses Permitted by Special Permit: group residences, assisted elderly housing, convalescent or nursing home, bed & breakfast.

1. Minimum lot size: 30,000 square feet.

2. Minimum frontage requirement: 60 feet. 

3. Front yard setbacks: a minimum of 20 feet.

4. Side yard setbacks: a minimum of 20 feet.

5. Rear yard setbacks: a minimum of 20 feet.

6. Maximum dwelling unit size: 1,800 square feet. 

7. Minimum setback distance for freestanding accessory buildings: 10 feet from all lot lines (emphasis added). 

     FIRST, as you can see, these pro-development Planning Board hacks are at it again, attempting to allow “By Right” Multi-Family Developments on 30,000 square foot lots while subverting the Multi-Family Development Zoning By-Law that requires a Special Permit granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals before such a development can be built.

     SECOND, a 1200 square foot dwelling unit size in would be much more aligned with the stated goal of building “smaller, more affordable housing units. Such housing [being] needed for young families just starting out and for senior citizens looking to downsize and stay in town.”  BUT, of course, such a limit would cut down Corrinne’s profiteering margin.

     THE REAL INTENT: The real intent of this proposal is to extract maximum developer profits from small, high density lots, NOT TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES JUST STARTING OUT OR FOR SENIORS SEEKING TO DOWNSIZE.

      If the Planning Board fails to make appropriate changes to these proposed Zoning By-Laws then I shall offer multiple amendments at the Annual Town Meeting.

      In the days ahead I shall review the other proposed zoning changes in which I am sure to find multiple layers of crap because the Planning Board just can’t contain themselves. 

Sincerely, 

Jim Gettens

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FACING A DECLINING STUDENT POPULATION AND DECLINING STATE REVENUES, WILL IMPLEMENT MAJOR PAYROLL CUTS, AND THAT’S THE EXACT REMEDY NEEDED FOR THE PAYROLL-BLOATED, SUB-STANDARD WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Boston Public Schools, undergoing declining student enrollment and a corresponding decline in state funding because of its declining student enrollment, have decided to swallow a reality pill and implement major payroll cuts, despite the mau-mauing parasitical teachers’ union’s objections. Yeah, cry me a river!

Here are some details:

BPS proposed staffing cuts slated for over 13% of general education, 11% of bilingual education teacher positions

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH THE PAYROLL-BLOATED, SUB-STANDARD WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR YEARS. ITS TOTAL STUDENT ENROLLMENT HAS DROPPED BY MORE THAN 1000–14.5%– SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUT ITS BUDGET HAS SKYROCKETED FROM $81.3 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2015 TO MORE THAN $129 MILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR, A 59.3% INCREASE IN JUST 11 FISCAL YEARS.

HOW HAS THE WRSD BEEN ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS HIGHWAY ROBBERY OF DISTRICT TAXPAYERS???

ANSWER: BECAUSE THE ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE VIRTUE-SIGNALING DOPES ON THE 5 DISTRICT TOWNS’ SELECT BOARDS AND FINANCE COMMITTEES HAVE RECOMMENDED AT ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS, YEAR AFTER YEAR, THAT THE DISTRICT’S TAXPAYERS FUND THIS WRSD MONSTROSITY AND THEREBY MAKE UP FOR THE STATE’S FUNDING CUTS TO THE WRSD, CUTS THAT ARE REALITY-BASED AND TIED TO THE WRSD’S DECLINING STUDENT ENROLLMENT.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE STATE IS DEALING IN REALITY WHILE THE 5 DISTRICT TOWNS’ SELECT BOARDS AND FINANCE COMMITTEES EXIST IN DELUSIONAL ‘LA-LA LAND,’ EVER READY AND WILLING TO ABSOLUTELY SCREW THE DISTRICT’S TAXPAYERS.

The outright cretins constituting the Sterling Finance Committee admitted as much in their delusional, self-congratulatory article published on page 20 of the June 2025 Sterling Meetinghouse News, reciting May 2025 Annual Town Meeting results.

SEE https://sterlingmeetinghousenews.com/virtual-paper/ (select the archived June 2025 issue and keep advancing to page 20).

If you believe ANY future Annual Town Meeting Sterling Select Board or Finance Committee recommendation to increase funding for the WRSD, THEN YOU ARE AS IDIOTIC AS THEY ARE.

This year the absolutely out-of-control payroll-bloated sub-standard WRSD has forced Holden, Paxton, and Rutland into Proposition 2 ½ property tax override votes at their upcoming 2026 Annual Town Meetings. Let’s hope that their respective Select Boards are intelligent enough to make the Fiscal Year 2027 WRSD budget request, AND NOT THEIR TOWN OPERATING BUDGETS, contingent upon passage of Proposition 2 ½ property tax overrides. When it comes to their intelligence levels, though, don’t hold your breath.

NOTE: In the past the WRSD has NEVER prevailed when Paxton and Rutland made passage of a WRSD budget request contingent upon passage of a town-wide Proposition 2 ½ tax override.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

HMMM, HAVE YOU BEEN WONDERING HOW VERTEX GOT THE STERLING D.P.W. GARAGE MAHAL TRUCK PALACE PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTRACT??? WELL, PLEASE MEET STEPHEN P. THERAN, VERTEX SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, WHO JUST HAPPENS TO RESIDE AT 19 HARDSCRABBLE ROAD, STERLING, HIS 7.63 ACRE COMPOUND ASSESSED AT $1,266,200. NOW WE STERLING TAXPAYERS ARE HELPING TO PAY HIS STERLING PROPERTY TAXES

HEY ALL OF YOU SILLY STERLING PROPERTY TAXPAYERS. I BET YOU THOUGHT THAT STERLING TOWN OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE SELECT BOARD, THE D.P.W. BOARD, THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR, AND THE D.P.W. SUPERINTENDENT SELECTED THE VERTEX COMPANIES, LLC TO BE THE STERLING D.P.W. GARAGE MAHAL PROJECT MANAGER AFTER A THOROUGH, COMPREHENSIVE, OBJECTIVE STATE-WIDE SEARCH FOR THE MOST COMPETENT PROJECT MANAGER AT THE BEST PRICE, RIGHT???

WELL, YOU’D BE WRONG!!!

MEET STEPHEN P. THERAN, VERTEX SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER, WHO JUST HAPPENS TO RESIDE AT 19 HARDSCRABBLE ROAD, STERLING, A 7.63 ACRE COMPOUND ASSESSED AT $1,266,200.

SEE https://vertexeng.com/team-member/steve-theran/

Here’s the Town of Sterling property card info on the Stephen Theran Compound:

Click to access SterlingMA-1769887156.258461.pdf

According to a ‘white pages’ search Theran formerly resided in Athol, but now lives here.

YA, BABY, THIS IS MORE PROOF THAT STERLING TOWN GOVERNMENT CRONYISM IS ALIVE AND THRIVING!

Were you wondering for how much Stephen P. Theran’s time is billed out by Vertex to the Town of Sterling (meaning we the taxpayers)???

Well, according to the Sterling D.P.W.-Vertex contract I got in response to my Mass.Gen.Laws Ch. 66, Section 10 Public Records Request, his time as a Senior Project Manager was billed out at $184 per hour in 2025 and will be billed out at $193 per hour in 2026. Gee, and wouldn’t you just know it, he’s named as “Sr. Project Manager” on the contract’s “ATTACHMENT A– PAYMENT SCHEDULE” !!!

MMMM, DON’T YOU LOVE THE SMELL OF STERLING TOWN GOVERNMENT CRONYISM AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THE MORNING?

HECK, THE REST OF US STERLING TAXPAYERS ARE HELPINNG TO PAY THIS CONNECTED PARASITE’S PROPERTY TAXES.

I’M SHOCKED, SHOCKED I TELL YOU!—

Since intelligent Sterling taxpayers shellacked the proposed $33 Million, 37,000 square foot Sterling D.P.W. Garage Mahal Truck Palace, 373 to 183, at the 13 November 2025 Special Town Meeting, the Town’s contract with Vertex was amended because planning for the proposed, re-packaged 28,000 square foot D.P.W Garage Mahal Truck Palace will now be extended into 2026. For 2025 we paid Vertex $76,157.36. For 2026 we are on the hook to Vertex for an additional $54,091.25, for a total of $130,248.61.

AND FOOTNOTE 1 of the contract says that’s for the “Schematic Design” phase only.

Now you know why Vertex parasites were handing out Sterling D.P.W. Garage Mahal Truck Palace propaganda flyers at the 13 November 2025 Special Town Meeting.

Yes people, we Sterling taxpayers have been, and will be further, well and truly F#CKED by the Sterling Select Board, the D.P.W. Board, the Town Administrator (who signed the Vertex contract and its amendment), and the D.P.W. Superintendent.

THEY SHOULD ALL BE RUN OUT OF TOWN ON A RAIL.

Stay tuned.

J.G.

HMM, HAVE YOU BEEN WONDERING WHY WESTON & SAMPSON ENGINEERING KEEPS GETTING STERLING TOWN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS??? WELL CHECK THIS OUT!!!

Sterling folks have been wondering why Weston & Sampson Engineering keeps getting Sterling Town Government contracts to the apparent exclusion of other engineering firms. It’s a curious phenomenon, is it not??? Doesn’t look like a fair, level playing field, does it???

Well, turns out that Weston & Sampson advertises various services such as the following, found on its webpages:

“Weston & Sampson provides reliable operation and maintenance, repair, health and safety, and training services, including 24/7 emergency response.

Our team of licensed engineers, certified operators, electricians, plumbers, and technicians delivers full-service operation and maintenance (O&M) for both public and private clients. We support conventional and alternative wastewater and water treatment systems, pump stations, and collection/distribution/storm drain systems. Our services include preventive maintenance (site visits, inspections, reports, and scheduling), full-service contract O&M, and scheduled/emergency corrective maintenance. We also offer cross-connection control programs, backflow testing and repairs, and 24/7 emergency service.”

And Weston & Sampson just happens to have a service location listed at 16 Legate Hill Road, Sterling, just across from DMH Electric, as listed on its webpages.

Service Locations

24-hour Emergency Contact: 1.800.SAMPSON (1.800.726.7766)

Wilmington

44 Concord Street
Wilmington, MA 01887

Driving Directions781.933.2246

Sterling

16 Legate Hill Road
Sterling, MA 01564

Driving Directions978.615.4606

Plymouth

14 Apollo 11 Road
Plymouth, MA 02534

Driving Directions

South Yarmouth

47 Workshop Road
South Yarmouth, MA 02664

Driving Directions508.760.2414

Quelle surprise! What a coincidence! I’m sure that it’s pure happenstance that the Town of Sterling keeps awarding engineering contracts to an engineering firm having a business location in Sterling!

Stay tuned.

J.G.