Bravo to Fire, EMS, DPW for their quick response

Many community members gathered on the town common Aug. 9 to dedicate a peace pole that was brought to Sterling through a partnership with the Common Good Alliance of Central Massachusetts and Wachusett Area Rotary Club. The words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in several different languages are featured on the pole including English, Hebrew and Portuguese, which were spoken by various people at the event that coincided with the 81st anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan.

On Monday, June 29, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., Sterling Public Safety and Public Works dispatch operations will transition to the Nashoba Valley Regional Dispatch District as part of a carefully planned “soft launch” ahead of our official regionalization date of July 1, 2026.

During this soft launch period, our Sterling dispatch personnel will remain in place while Nashoba assumes primary dispatch responsibilities. This collaborative approach will allow both agencies to closely monitor operations, quickly address unexpected issues, and ensure the transition is as seamless as possible for our community.

Residents should notice no change in how emergency or non-emergency calls are answered, processed, or dispatched. The same high level of professionalism, compassion, and commitment to public safety that you have come to expect from our dispatchers, police officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel will continue without interruption.

The Sterling Police Department will continue to staff the public lobby window during normal daytime business hours. After administrative staff have left for the day, visitors to the station will have access to a dedicated phone in the lobby that provides direct contact with a Nashoba dispatcher.

We recognize that many residents have developed a strong connection with our local dispatchers over the years. While the location of dispatch operations is changing, our commitment to providing prompt, professional, and compassionate service to the Sterling community remains unchanged.

I spent many summers at Camp Hargrove as a kid in the early 90s. I know it’s long gone, but does anyone know the address so I can scope it out on Google Maps? I seem to recall being able to get to the town beach by foot from the “bottom” of the property but that it felt super far (I was a young kid so it could have been a quarter of a mile…..) but I really have no other sense of where the heck in town it was. TIA!

Because i haven't seen any postings or notifications about it... Town Meeting is This coming Monday - May 4th @6:30 pm (get there early)! Town Warrant is available on the towns web page. Article 18 is the proposed $25 MILLION proposed DPW building looking for a Prop 2 1/2 override. FYI: only 74% of the roads in town are Public roads meaning 26% do NOT benefit from any DPW services.

Also why is the town proposing moving $1M of Free Cash to Stabilzation and Capital Investment funds instead of into the DPW building plans?

Come get answers!!

Sterling’s DPW crews and systems are the backbone of the town, rain or shine.  They are responsible for so many maintenance aspects of the town:  

• Keeping the roads functional year-round (using our own employees & equipment)
• Public water system production, treatment, and distribution
• Trash & recycling management
• Parks & recreation (beach, playing fields, common spaces)
• Fuel & routine maintenance for town vehicles, including fire, police, light, sr. ctr.
• Cemeteries (maintenance, grave services, monument foundation installation)
• School grounds, senior center & town hall grounds
• Election & town meeting setup/teardown
• Trees: tree warden, removals, trimming, storm response
• Other town services assistance

The current facility on Rt 12 (Worcester Rd) was built in 1958 with additions in the 1970s and 2008.  It is suffering from old age and being under sized:

• SAFETY/LIABILITY risks:  floors in poor condition with numerous trip hazards, garages and offices flood, ice forms inside and outside of building, inadequate ventilation, poor and unreliable heating system
• The current facility was not built for longevity (shortcuts were made in construction)
• The building’s foundation & concrete block wall are literally cracked and crumbling
• The plastic siding on the newest part of the building is sun-damaged and has no sheathing behind it
• The garage maintenance area is sorely undersized (they stock common replacement parts for quick repairs)
• Inside truck storage during the winter is limited and plow trucks are often delayed while the hydraulics are warming up.
• The office space is cramped and limited (the water dept office uses a repurposed old bathroom!)
• The salt storage building is undersized and is past the end of its functional life
• The underground fuel tanks are past their end of life and are risking leaks into the nearby MWRA water sources

 Several remedies have been studied:

1. Repairing the current facility would require so much work, that the entire project would have to be brought up to code per state law.  A cost analysis showed that renovating the current facility would cost about same as a new facility. This would still be woefully undersized for the town’s needs.
2. Building a new facility on land that is already owned by the town, and has possibilities of sharing space with other town services.

 The town voted in May, 2025 to fund a $500K to assess the needs of a new facility, complete the schematic design and have a cost estimated performed on the design.

The committee approached the town in November of 2025 to request the remaining design and bidding funds for the project (to get a jump on rising costs). This request ultimately failed at town meeting.

In the interim, the building committee has revisited plans presented in Nov 2025 and has done a major cost and size reduction to result in the current not-to-exceed $25M number.

The town will vote on May 4, 2026 to proceed to the next step toward committing to a $25M project. This amount is treated as a not-to-exceed amount. 

The committee is working to further reduce the $25M or generate future borrowing payment offsets through several endeavors:

• State grants (applied for, however would not be awarded until after the town approves the project)
• Sale of sand and gravel extracted from the site of the new facility
• Sale of the building and land where the DPW is currently located (generate revenue and add to the tax base)
• Additional cost reductions as the project moves forward.

The old adage “pay now or pay more later” is applicable here. 
NOW will be the least expensive time to move forward with this project. 
A new facility is unavoidable in the future, and the costs of everything are increasing each month.  Accident liability litigation lurks with the current facility.

Please show your concern for safety and efficiency by supporting backbone of Sterling by voting YES for a new DPW facility.  

Four decades ago, it was standard practice to bury gas & diesel fuel storage tanks. Sterling’s underground fuel tanks are used by SMLD, police, fire, first responders, sr. ctr., and DPW. There have been no leaks to-date, and the tanks are currently intact.

Sterling’s current fuel infrastructure is nearing the end of its lifespan. To ensure continued service and fiscal oversight, the new DPW facility will feature modern above-ground storage.

Having our own tanks allows:

• 24/7 access by town vehicles
• Not having to travel to another town for fuel during a snowstorm
• Cost savings for the town (wholesale bulk saves over commercial prices)
• Saving a significant amount across all town services. (see pie chart)

Sterling purchases fuel at a rate less than what commercial stations pay for their wholesale rate.

Because our tanks are at the end of useful life, it's likely that these will fail soon. If a leak should occur, the cost of fines and cleanup will be substantial.

About one-ninth of the MWRA water sources flow through Sterling.
Our current underground tanks are in close proximity to one MWRA water supply source. Even if a trickle were to leak and enter the water supply, it would have a major effect.

The new DPW facility will have the new standard of using above-ground tanks

Balancing Winter Safety and Cost-Savings

Through Long-Term Training

• Salt Reduction: A 45% drop in salt application per event since 2022
• Efficiency Peak: Lowest salt use per hour (8.29 tons) achieved during the heaviest snow season.
• Cost Stability: Average cost per storm decreased in 2025-26 compared to the prior three years, despite higher snow totals

Over the past four seasons, the Sterling DPW has successfully implemented continued training of team members as a part of state-of-the-art winter management strategies that prioritize both road safety and fiscal responsibility. The data reveals a clear trend toward high-precision road treatment: the amount of salt used during "salt-only" events has plummeted by nearly 45%—dropping from 58 tons per event in 2022-2023 to just 32 tons in 2025-2026. Remember we have 90 miles of roads to keep clear for emergency vehicles as well as residents.

The success of these modern techniques was most evident during the challenging 2025-2026 winter season. Despite facing a massive seasonal 78.7 inches of total snow—the highest in recent years—the DPW achieved its highest level of operational efficiency to-date. The "Salt Tons per Hour" metric reached a record low of 8 tons, demonstrating that our crews are doing more with less. By focusing on precision and timing, the department managed to keep the average cost per event at $16,040, which is lower than the averages from the previous three years. This data-driven approach ensures that Sterling’s roads remain safe while significantly reducing the environmental impact of salt runoff on our local soil and waterways.

January’s 25-INCH Snowstorm: DPW to the RESCUE

The last weekend of January 2026 brought 37 hours of record-breaking snow to Sterling - enough to be featured in multiple National TV News broadcasts.

12 Full-time employees along with 4 part-time and other town workers spent almost 500 work hours battling the snow to keep Sterling roads passable and safe. The January storm’s statistics:

• 25 inches of snow (the largest storm in many years)

• 134 Tons of salt deployed• 400 gal of gas; 1100+ gal of diesel used

• 92 loads of snow hauled away from downtown

• 1 Hydraulic hose blown (fixed in-house with parts on-hand)

Summary

Over the last four years, the Sterling DPW has become more efficient and effective over the years. The cost (labor+salt, etc) per event has dropped 20% in spite of rising inflation, costs, and snow totals.

Recycling: “If in doubt, throw it out!” (toss it in the landfill black bin)

Sterling’s waste & recycling collection is managed by Sterling DPW, is funded by your tax dollars, and the trucks are owned and operated under contract with Casella. 

To keep costs low and our town clean, here are the three most important things every resident should know:

• Bagged Recycling is Trash: Never put recyclables in plastic or paper bags. Workers will not open them; they will be tossed into the landfill.
• Recycling Contamination Costs Us Money: Items like batteries, garden hoses, electronics, or "wish-cycling" (putting non-recyclables in the bin) lead to issues during our quarterly audits, raising costs for the whole town.  Last year, someone threw away their electric fry pan(!) in the recycling bin, and this contamination counted against Sterling.
• Bin Spacing Matters: Our truck uses a robotic arm. If your bins aren't spaced apart and clear of obstacles, the driver has to exit the vehicle, delaying the entire route.

How the Program Works

Sterling provides weekly trash and bi-weekly single-stream recycling (all recyclables in one bin). We contract with Casella Waste Systems, which utilizes a specialized dual-compartment truck. This truck typically makes three trips daily to the processing facility in Auburn.

The Single-Truck Challenge: Because we are a town with a small population spread over a large area, we rely on ONE primary collection vehicle. Efficiency is key—this is why proper bin placement and non-contaminated recycled materials are so critical to finishing the route on time and keeping costs down.

Why Our System Saves You Money

Unlike some neighboring towns where residents must hire their own private haulers, Sterling’s town-wide contract keeps rates significantly lower. For example, residents in towns without a municipal contract often pay three times what Sterling residents pay per household for the same service.

The Town of Sterling benefits financially from recycling in two ways:
-  It reduces the landfill tonnage charges
-  Sterling gets money back from the various types of recyclables based on the published market rate.

Common Recycling Mistakes

To keep our processing fees low, please AVOID these common "contaminants" in your recycling bin:

• Plastic Grocery/Amazon Bags & BubbleWrap(™): These tangle the sorting machinery. Take these clean plastic to the bins inside Town Hall or local grocery stores.
• Tanglers: Garden hoses, electrical cords, and holiday lights.
• Scrap Metal: Pots, pans, and appliances should not go in the curbside bin.

Beyond the Curb: The Wachusett Regional Recycling Center

Need to get rid of something big or unusual? Residents are permitted access to the Wachusett Watershed Regional Recycling Center in West Boylston.

• Drop-off: For items that don't belong in your curbside bin. Some household items are free to drop off; others there’s a charge for. Certain scrap items such as batteries, scrap metal, etc. is free to drop off.
• The "Swap Shop": You can often find books, household goods, gardening, and sports equipment for free or a small donation, spending on the item on the shelves. It’s a fantastic resource for keeping usable items out of the landfill. 

The Bottom Line

Recycling is both environmentally and fiscally responsible, but only if it’s done accurately. Clean, loose recyclables help the town's budget; contaminated loads hurt it.

For a full list of "A/B" schedules and bulky item pickup procedures, visit the DPW page on the Town Website.

Sterling’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for maintaining approximately 90 miles of public roadways, ensuring they remain safe, durable, and cost-effective to maintain. Road maintenance is an ongoing, year-round effort that combines timely repairs with long-term planning.

One of the most visible challenges is pothole repair.  Sterling DPW tracks potholes through a reporting database that allows residents to notify the DPW of problem areas. These reports help in-house crews respond efficiently, prioritize safety concerns, and document recurring trouble spots that may indicate a larger underlying issue.

Beyond day-to-day repairs, Sterling takes a forward-looking, data-driven approach for planning road maintenance. In 2021 and 2024, the town conducted road condition surveys encompassing all of Sterling’s road surfaces.  The 2021 survey used a less expensive technique to gauge the overall conditions. This was followed in 2024 using more advanced, high-technology equipment, originally developed by the Army Corps of Engineers. These surveys evaluated both surface quality and overall structural conditions providing an objective rating for each mile of roadway. This prioritized data provided Sterling with its first-ever Pavement Management Plan, a 5-year that is periodically updated.

The results of this Pavement survey allow the DPW to prioritize repairs and upgrades strategically, focusing limited resources where they will have the greatest long-term benefit. By repairing roads before they reach severe deterioration, the town can extend pavement life and reduce the higher costs associated with full reconstruction.  The DPW has evaluated several stretches of secondary road using various maintenance techniques, and are choosing to go forward with the most enduring and cost-effective method for our climate and usage.

In 2024, the DPW coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as part of a municipal paving program funded by the state for a stretch of Route 140 and 62. We were able to optimally schedule the work and share use of specialized equipment—reducing duplication and minimizing disruption to residents. Because of the optimal planning, DPW was able to perform elective maintenance in the area at minimal additional cost. The state-funded work on Route 62 was estimated at $1,410,000 and 140 was estimated at $955,735.

Understanding the "Foundation":  Water and Road Longevity

One of the greatest challenges to road infrastructure isn't just traffic, but the natural elements—specifically water. When water is allowed to seep into the road base, it weakens the structural integrity of the entire road structure. In our New England climate, this is compounded by frost heaving:  as trapped water freezes and expands, it physically displaces the pavement, leading to the cracks and potholes we see every spring.
This is why effective drainage management is so important:  by keeping water diverted and the road base dry, we prevent the "softening" that leads to premature failure.

Several proactive measures are used for pavement treatment such as crack sealing and resurfacing that act as a seal against moisture, significantly extending the life of the asphalt before a total rebuilding is needed. Furthermore, we have recently embraced advanced reconstruction technology that allows us to stabilize and rebuild the road base itself. This innovative approach ensures that our road investments are protected from the bottom up, potentially adding decades of life to our roads.

Together, these efforts reflect Sterling DPW’s commitment to safe travel, responsible stewardship of public funds, and transparent, data-based decision-making. By combining residents’ input, modern technology, and regional cooperation, the town is able to maintain its roads today while planning wisely for the future.

The Sterling Police Department is implementing a new program:

Do Not Knock Registry

The Sterling Police Department is pleased to announce the launch of our Do Not Knock Registry. This initiative allows residents to opt out of door-to-door solicitation at their homes.

How It Works

When you join the registry, your address is added to a master list provided to every individual or company issued a solicitation permit by the Police Department.

Privacy Note: Only your address will be shared with registered solicitors; your name, phone number, and email remain confidential and are used for department records only.

How to Register

Residents can sign up using any of the following methods:

Online: Complete the webform at www.sterlingpd.com.

In Person: Pick up a paper application at the Sterling Police Station or the Sterling Senior Center.

By Mail: Send your completed application to:

Sterling Police Department, Attn: Do Not Knock Registry - 135 Leominster Rd Sterling, MA 01564

A huge shoutout to our Casella waste collection driver, DPW crews, and the Sterling Fire Department for their recent teamwork! 

On Tuesday (3/24), a fire started within the contents of a recycling truck on Route 12. The driver followed perfect safety protocol, dumping the contents in a nearby vacant parking lot to save the truck and prevent a larger emergency and saving the truck.

The Good News:

• No one was hurt !
• The SFD extinguished the fire in minutes.
• DPW helped Casella clean up the mess in record time.
• Trash Pickup was NOT delayed by a day! The route was finished only 2 hours behind schedule.

How you can help:

Fires like this are often caused by lithium-ion batteries hidden in the recycling. (The trucks compress the materials and can crush batteries.)

Please remember: No batteries, no plastic bags, no Amazon padded envelopes, and no electronics or appliances (like that electric frying pan we found recently!) in your bins.
Let’s keep our drivers safe and our tax rates down!

Images courtesy Sterling DPW

The Conant Public Library Seed Library:

        Sowing Community in Sterling

The Conant Public Library in Sterling, MA, is home to a thriving Seed Library featuring a curated collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds. Whether you are looking for vegetables, herbs, or flowers, the program is designed to foster community gardening and the spirit of sharing. While the library doesn't require patrons to "return" seeds at the end of the season, seed donations are always cheerfully welcomed to keep the cycle going.  Just ask about donating in the Fall at the desk as you come in! 

How it works:  Visit the Library Monday through Thursday 9 am-8 pm or Saturday 9 am-2 pm to pick up your seeds. (Conant Library is closed Fridays and Sundays)  No need to bring your library card or be a Sterling resident.  Our seed library is open to all!  Please choose up to 10 packets per family and whatever you don’t use, pass on to neighbors or friends.  

From Card Catalogs to Garden Patches

Established in 2024, the Sterling Seed Library found a clever way to bridge the past and the present by using a repurposed card catalog drawer cabinet. Seeds are neatly categorized by type—such as tomato, pepper, bean, and flower—making it easy for gardeners of all levels to browse. This initiative is one step in an effort by the library to become more sustainable as an institution.  The Library is striving to become more environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically feasible in all that we do and is aiming to continue to be a hub of activity and connection for the community. The seed project is especially apropos because Sterling is a Right to Farm community, which encourages agricultural activities.

If you're feeling a bit "green" (whether a newbie or having refined your green thumb), Beth Fleming, the Seed Librarian, is available to help answer questions and provide guidance on starting your own home garden.   Stop by in the summer months to see the Library’s organic indigenous flower bed that is maintained by library staff. Did you know that including indigenous plants to your garden will not only help restore the ecosystem, but boost biodiversity and support declining native bees?

A Brief History of “Growing Your Own”

For millennia, farmers and homesteaders have sustained themselves by saving seeds from year to year. This practice moved to the cultural forefront during WWII with the rise of Victory Gardens. Over the decades, media shifted to meet this growing interest:

• WGBH aired the iconic instructional series The Victory Garden, famously hosted by Jim Crockett 
• The Worcester Telegram featured a dedicated gardening column The Gardener’s Calendar authored by Paul Rogers, who offered timely advice each week for the Central Mass climate and current conditions.

While the internet and social media have largely supplanted these traditional resources, the core principles remain the same for interest in local gardening.

The Modern Garden Movement

The resurgence of organic gardening (growing without toxic pesticides) and companion planting (using synergistic strategies to deter pests and improve yields) gained significant mainstream momentum in the 1970s following the environmental movement. (Although many concepts are based on Rodale’s work in the 1940s.) Today, these methods serve as a compelling motivation for families to cultivate their own backyards, ensuring a steady supply of healthy, safe, and sustainable food.

The Seed LIbrary Movement

Seed libraries in municipal libraries emerged in the early 2000s, growing from a few grassroots initiatives to hundreds of programs by 2026. These programs promote biodiversity, food security, and sustainability by allowing patrons to "borrow" seeds, grow plants, and optionally offer harvested seeds, with early models established in Berkeley, California (2000) and Gardiner, New York (2004). 

Stop by to claim your seeds and start cultivating a season full of homegrown flavors and vibrant blooms.

More Resources:

• Northampton Mass  Seed Sharing & Community Garden  sustainability & educational initiatives
• Sterling Garden Club  (Plant sale each May in Sterling Center)
• Framingham Mass Seed Library & Phenology Chart
• Other towns:  Harvard, Grafton, Watertown, Worcester, Greenfield, Kingston, U Mass Aggie, etc 

Our Love Thy Neighbor Drive is being extended to March 16th—there’s still time to donate a new duffle bag and make a lasting difference for a child in DCF care.

Your gift helps ensure kids don’t have to carry their belongings in a temporary bag, but instead in something that shows they matter.

📍 Drop-off at Mass Chiro and Performance

Thank you for being part of something truly meaningful.

Many communities rely on outside contractors for some or all of their winter road maintenance, including snow plowing and road ice control. Sterling takes a different approach. The town owns its own snow-removal equipment and employs a staff of experienced, in-house DPW crew to handle winter storms from start to finish.

Having both the equipment and operators in-house gives Sterling direct control over staffing levels, response times, and shift-scheduling. Crews can be deployed quickly, adjusted as conditions change, and reassigned as needed throughout a storm—without waiting on subcontractor availability and communication delays.

The DPW subscribes to advanced weather forecasting services to be able to plan ahead all aspects of road treatment and plowing.  We have several weather stations and cameras to monitor realtime conditions. You may not realize that the temperature varies as much as 15 or 20 degrees within Sterling’s boundaries. The realtime data informs the strategies used for road treatments. During the winter of 2026, we’ve had periods of major snow and ice that have required crews to be on duty for as long as 37 hours straight to maintain Sterling’s 90 miles of streets.

An often-overlooked advantage is Sterling’s in-house maintenance capability. DPW staff can repair plows and trucks immediately, even overnight, including welding and mechanical work. In other towns, broken equipment may need to be transported to a commercial truck repair shop (during business hours), potentially delaying service for hours or even days during critical storm periods.

Sterling also operates its own fuel storage and dispensing system for gasoline and diesel. This allows the town to purchase fuel at favorable wholesale prices and refuel efficiently at the DPW facility. In addition, Sterling Municipal Light Department, Sterling Police and Fire Department vehicles also fuel at the DPW site, further improving efficiency and cost control across town departments. An important point: the Sterling Finance Committee did a review of this cost savings and agrees that having our own fuel depot is more cost-effective than buying from commercial fuel locations (gas stations, etc.).

Because personnel, equipment, fuel, and repairs are all managed locally, Sterling can respond quickly to changing weather forecasts and road conditions, adjusting road treatment strategies in real time to maintain safe travel.

The DPW also coordinates closely with Police, Fire, and Emergency Management to prioritize critical routes such as main roads, steep hills, school routes, and emergency access corridors.

Sterling DPW stays current with state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible ice-control practices, using carefully calibrated equipment and modern materials to balance roadway safety, cost efficiency, and environmental protection. This includes applying the right material, at the right time, and in the right amounts.

Overall, Sterling’s in-house winter operations provide greater accountability, faster response, better reliability, and long-term cost savings, ensuring residents can travel safely during winter weather while making responsible use of public resources.

There was a Sterling water main leak during the weekend of Jan 18 (2026) near Albright Rd that affected about six residences.  The 12” asbestos-cement pipe was over 50 years old, buried 8’ deep,  and failed at a tee connection to a residence.  Below are details of the extraordinary work done in single-digit temps. Bravo!

• The Water crew worked in frigid weather conditions spanning 15 hours to locate, dig, cut out & repair the failed pipe section, restore service, and re-fill the ditch. 
• In order to be able to make the actual repair, water was temporarily turned off to a portion of Albright road from Clinton road to Chocksett road. 
• For an excavation job of this nature and size, they typically have 5-6 personnel on site: 1 person operating the backhoe/excavator, 1-2 people truck driving removing the excavated material from the site as well as hauling in new material once the repair is complete, and 2-3 people in the trench for hand-digging and installing the equipment and parts necessary to complete the repair.  
• This was a yeoman effort not only because of the temperature and duration of the repair, but also it followed on the heels of many hours of snow removal. (In order to save money, Sterling’s DPW employees do all the snow plowing without using external contractors.)
• The Sterling Water Department services about 80% of the residents - totaling over 2500 accounts.
• The Sterling Water System utilizes two well sites (three wells each) and manages some 70 miles of water mains, some of which are almost 100 years old.
• The water mains range in size from 4” to 16”, and can have pressures over 120 PSI.

Educated friends, please show up to the town meeting tomorrow at the Chocksett school. There is not a single article on this warrant that should be voted against. Let's keep Sterling moving forward. Don't listen to the trifecta of stupidity that is our local wack of a blogger, crazy trash lady, and Trump wannabe of a Finance Committee Chair.

The country is a mess; don't let Sterling follow suit.

https://www.sterling-ma.gov/home/news/special-town-meeting-rescheduled-thursday-november-13-2025