STERLING — The special town meeting of Oct. 16 was initially called to address a citizens’ petition, but the warrant grew to nine articles.
Voters approved all but one article, to amend the regional school agreement to reflect the latest population figures, which includes weighted voting.
Four of the five member towns must approve the change.
According to School Committee member Linda Woodland, while the make-up of the committee is reviewed every five years, and the make-up was set to be changed at the upcoming May election from 19 to 16, the committee was hoping to make it closer to an even weighting, which would require one more member for Holden.
But Finance Committee Chair George Handy said his board did not recommend approval, adding it would “further dilute the voting power of non-Holden towns,” allowing Holden and any other town to push through a vote. Under the already planned change, Handy said Holden, Rutland and Sterling representatives, as a block, could push through a vote.
“I don’t like that, either, but we are stuck with it,” Handy said.
Woodland noted that, while she does not dispute Handy’s math, in her five years involved with the committee, towns have not voted in block.
The article was defeated, 223-46.
The two citizens’ petitions on the warrant, both concerning the Board of Health, were approved.
The first is to “urge the Board of Health to rescind their Dec. 8, 2022, revisions to Sterling Subsurface Disposal System Regulations” by deleting mandates for deep observation hole inspection requirements.
Some residents who spoke called the mandate subjective, pointing out that Sterling was the only community with this regulation.
While people were still at the microphones to comment, there was a call to end discussion, which was approved 134-131.
The ultimate vote was approved to urge the change, 251-33.
In an email to supporters Monday night, proponent Gary Menin wrote: “Thanks so very much to all of you who overwhelmingly voted tonight towards controlling your own destiny.”
He also made a promise for the future: “Now if our tone-deaf board does not move quickly to rescind — I certainly would be happy to lead the next initiative — the ‘recall’ of two members of the board.”
The second citizens’ petition called for $10,000 to audit the Sterling Board of Health “to examine the systems, programs and financial data” to provide “independent assurance that our community’s financial interests are paramount and that statements are reliable, accurate and complete.”
Confusion occurred over amendments; the first was to present the actual amendment submitted by residents as the one printed had some differences from what was submitted, then that amendment was amended to include a source for the money, in this case the general stabilization fund.
The Finance Committee recommended passage, and it was clarified that if the audit costs more than $10,000, the town would have to return to a town meeting to get additional funding.
Richard Lane, speaking for the amended article, said it was important not just to audit the finances, but the practices.
The article passed, 217-52.
