The Board announced several upcoming community events to celebrate fall in Sturbridge:

Trick or Treat & Horrible's Parade — Friday, October 31 from 5–7 p.m. The Sturbridge Firefighters Association will host their annual Horrible's Parade immediately following at 7 p.m., starting behind Town Hall. The evening concludes with a costume contest featuring prizes, hot chocolate, and cookies for all attendees. Town Administrator Grimm also invited trick-or-treaters to visit Town Hall on Halloween to see employees dressed in costume.

The Great Sturbridge Pumpkin Walk — Saturday, October 18 from 3–8 p.m. at Riverlands. This inaugural community event offers free participation for a pumpkin carving contest on conservation land.

35th Annual Harvest Fest — October 18–19 on the Town Common. Managed this year by Keith DeVarnne of Deep Roots Distillery, the festival emphasizes local agriculture and homegrown products. Activities include pumpkin and wood carving, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, and highlights from local farms. The event is seeking two food truck vendors.

✅ Police Officer Brandon Hill Appointed
— The Board voted 3-0 to appoint Brandon Hill as a full-time Police Officer effective October 7, 2025, with benefits of a three-year officer (excluding longevity) at $39.16 per hour.

✅ K-9 Raya Transferred to Charlton Police Department
— A transfer agreement for K-9 Raya was approved unanimously, allowing the police dog to continue service with the neighboring Charlton Police Department.

✅ Sturbridge Rotary Friendship Day Proclaimed
— The Board signed a proclamation designating October 15, 2025 as Sturbridge Rotary Friendship Day, recognizing the bond between Sturbridge, Massachusetts and Stourbridge, England. Klaus Hachfeld, President of the Sturbridge Rotary Club, spoke about an upcoming virtual meeting with their UK counterparts. The relationship began during Sturbridge's 250th anniversary celebration when invited guests from Stourbridge created lasting community ties.

✅ Sewer Abatement Partially Approved
— David Arnold of 16 Old Hamilton Road requested an abatement for charges related to clearing a clogged sewer line. While the issue was determined to be the homeowner's responsibility, the Town had cleared the clog and charged the full cost of $530 to Mr. Arnold. The Board voted 3-0 to reduce the charge by $140 (the DPW labor portion), with a payment plan to be offered for the remaining balance.

✅ Route 131 Sewer Replacement Engineering Contract Approved
— The Board authorized the Town Administrator to approve a Tighe and Bond contract for $106,200 for engineering services related to Route 131 sewer replacement, funded by Article 42 from the FY24 Annual Town Meeting.

✅ Stormwater Engineering Contract Approved
— A Tighe and Bond contract for $90,000 was approved for Permit Year 8 Stormwater Assistance engineering services, funded by Article 34 from the FY26 Annual Town Meeting.

✅ Cedar Street Sidewalk Project Tabled
— Consideration of a contract with Detour Construction LLC for $309,308 for the Cedar Street Sidewalk Project (Route 20 to Burgess School Road) was tabled. The project is funded by Complete Streets grants.

✅ Harvest Fest Liquor Licenses Issued
— Two one-day liquor licenses were approved for the 35th Annual Harvest Fest: one for Deep Roots Distillery USA and one for Hardwick Vineyard & Winery.

✅ Live Entertainment License Granted
— Angelina's at 538 Main Street received approval for a live entertainment license.

✅ Special Town Meeting Articles Placed
— The Board voted to place and support three articles on the November 17 Special Town Meeting warrant:

✅ Officer Resignation Accepted
— The Board accepted the resignation of Officer Garrett Danna, effective September 28, 2025.

✅ House Bill 2432 Supported
— The Board voted 3-0 to support House Bill 2432, An Act to Reduce Incidence and Death from Pancreatic Cancer, and will send an official letter of support.

The meeting's most extensive discussion centered on the Veterans Service Office, following VSO Michelle Durkee's request to move her scheduled executive session discussion into the public meeting. Chair Goodwin agreed to the change.

Community member Seth Mansur of 148 Cedar Street opened the discussion by explaining the history of Sturbridge's veterans assistance fund, which currently holds approximately $13,000. The fund originated from community donations, particularly from events like the Home of the Brave 5K and other veteran-support activities. Originally managed through a "Friends of" model (similar to Friends of the Seniors), the fund was intended to help local veterans not eligible for Chapter 115 benefits—specifically for food, fuel, and home heating assistance.

What is Chapter 115? Massachusetts General Law Chapter 115 is the state's veterans benefits program that provides financial assistance to eligible veterans and their dependents for basic necessities. The state reimburses cities and towns for 75% of these benefits.

Mansur explained that the Anti-Aid Amendment in Massachusetts law prohibits publicly collected town funds from being donated to private nonprofits, such as the American Legion. In 2024, funds were distributed to the Legion, but this was a one-time situation due to prior advertising commitments. This practice cannot legally continue in 2025, as town funds cannot be commingled with vendor or privately raised funds in violation of this constraint.

Mansur highlighted several operational challenges:

Mansur suggested creating a clear structure for applying for aid, expanding eligible uses to include Activities of Daily Living (such as home care and hygiene assistance) following models used by other towns like Warren under VSO Durkee, and developing a clear memo or operational policy outlining administration, application requirements, and disbursement processes. He also raised the possibility of making the VSO position full-time (currently 20 hours per week) to ensure stronger support and continuity.

VSO Michelle Durkee, who was hired as Interim VSO in April 2025 and accepted the permanent position on July 7, 2025, addressed the Board regarding a contemplated termination based on alleged misclassification of funds and improper financial advice.

Durkee explained that she had requested two safety-related repairs for veterans, one of which was rejected. She defended her decision to use the "meds" column in the benefits tracking system for certain expenses, citing state regulations (Chapter 647, Acts of 1989) and constraints of the electronic system used to track Chapter 115 benefits. Durkee argued that the Town's misunderstanding of VSO regulations forced her to use categories in ways that could create compliance problems, and that her goal throughout has been to maximize state reimbursement while staying compliant with Chapter 115 requirements.

Durkee raised several serious concerns about town management of veterans services:

Alleged Mismanagement and Lack of Authority — Durkee stated that neither the Town's Finance Director nor the Town Administrator properly understood the VSO role or consulted on VSO duties, yet were making decisions outside their authority.

Alleged Illegal Tax Garnishment — Durkee claimed that Chapter 115 benefit checks were being garnished to cover veterans' back taxes, which she asserted is illegal under state law.

HIPAA Concerns — Durkee alleged the Finance Director requested HIPAA-protected documents inappropriately.

Missing Documentation — Durkee reported finding that a 96-year-old veteran had been receiving $700 in retirement income on his benefit calculations for two years, but no documentation existed to support this income source.

Confidentiality Issues — Durkee cited problems with the VSO office being located in the Senior Center, where veterans must sign in to access services, compromising their privacy.

Durkee asserted that her job performance was not the issue and alleged that the contemplated termination stems from retaliation for calling out allegedly illegal tax garnishments, questioning missing or mismanaged town funds, and challenging practices by the Finance Director and Town Administrator.

Following the discussion, VSO Durkee was placed on paid administrative leave until a determination can be made regarding the allegations and concerns raised.

👮 Public Safety Staffing Strengthened
The appointment of Officer Brandon Hill helps maintain adequate police staffing levels for the community.

🐕 K-9 Program Continues Regional Service
K-9 Raya's transfer to Charlton Police Department allows the trained police dog to continue serving the region.

🌍 International Friendship Recognized
The Sturbridge-Stourbridge connection celebrates cross-Atlantic community ties and cultural exchange.

🚰 Infrastructure Improvements Advance
Engineering contracts for Route 131 sewer replacement and stormwater management move forward critical infrastructure projects that protect water quality and public health.

🎃 Fall Festivals Build Community
The Harvest Fest, Pumpkin Walk, and Halloween events promote local agriculture, family activities, and community gathering.

🎖️ Veterans Support Under Review
The extensive discussion about veterans services highlights the community's commitment to supporting veterans while navigating complex state regulations and funding requirements.

The Board placed three articles on the November 17 Special Town Meeting warrant:

Article 46: Unpaid Bills of a Previous Year — This article addresses outstanding bills from prior fiscal years that require town meeting approval for payment.

Article 47: Proposed Change to General Bylaws Chapter 115 (Animal Control) — Updates to animal control regulations.

Article 49: Proposed Change to General Bylaws Chapter 129 (Buildings and Building Construction) — Amendments to building and construction bylaws.

Details on these articles will be available in the official warrant prior to the Special Town Meeting.

✅ Officer Brandon Hill appointed to Sturbridge Police Department
✅ K-9 Raya transferred to Charlton PD
✅ October 15 proclaimed Sturbridge Rotary Friendship Day
✅ Infrastructure engineering contracts approved (Route 131 sewer, stormwater)
✅ Harvest Fest liquor licenses and live entertainment license approved
✅ Three warrant articles placed for November 17 Special Town Meeting
✅ VSO placed on paid administrative leave following extensive discussion of veterans services concerns
✅ Halloween events announced: Trick or Treat, Horrible's Parade, Pumpkin Walk, Harvest Fest

📄 Official Meeting Minutes
🎥 Watch Full Meeting Video

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The Town Minute is an independent publication not affiliated with the Town of Sturbridge or any municipal office. While we strive for accuracy, errors or omissions may occur. For official and complete records, please refer to the Town's approved meeting minutes or watch the official meeting recordings on the Town's website.