The Select Board discussed both items during its September 21 meeting, while also providing an update on the town’s transition toward regional emergency dispatch.

Sturbridge is beginning the process of putting a temporary pause on new data-center development while the town considers how those facilities should be regulated locally.

On September 21, the Select Board voted to send the proposed moratorium to the Planning Board for further work and added a related article to the warrant for the November 16 Special Town Meeting.

Nothing has been approved yet.

The Planning Board still needs to work through the language, and Town Meeting voters would ultimately decide whether the temporary moratorium takes effect.

For residents, the key distinction is that this is not a vote on a specific data-center project. The town is considering whether to temporarily pause that type of development while officials review Sturbridge’s zoning rules.

Watch the discussion: September 21 Select Board meeting

TTM will keep following the proposal as the Planning Board develops the language and the final Town Meeting warrant comes together.

The Select Board also supported a proposed new agreement with Teamsters Local 170, which represents Department of Public Works employees.

The remaining issue is funding.

Town Administrator Robin Grimm told the Board that the negotiated agreement would require roughly $20,000 to $25,000 more than what is currently included in the town budget.

Because of that, Town Meeting approval will be needed before the agreement can be fully implemented.

The $20,000–$25,000 figure was an estimate provided during the meeting. The final amount should become clearer once the Town Meeting warrant and supporting documents are released.

Watch the discussion: September 21 Select Board meeting

Sturbridge is also continuing preparations for the move toward regional emergency dispatch.

During the meeting, Grimm said the Abbey in Spencer currently appears to be the likely location for the regional dispatch center because the building would require relatively little work compared with other options.

That location has not been finalized.

Employee-transition discussions and other implementation details are also still being worked through as the participating communities move closer to launching the regional system.

Watch the discussion: September 21 Select Board meeting

The next major date is November 16, when Sturbridge will hold its Special Town Meeting.

Between now and then, residents should get more detail on the proposed data-center moratorium, the DPW funding request and the other articles that will appear on the warrant.

TTM will continue tracking those proposals as the language is finalized and residents get a clearer picture of what they will be asked to vote on.

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