The Select Board met last week for its final meeting before Annual Town Meeting.
This recap covers the final board updates before tonight’s vote, including the Route 20 pump station study, the Liberty Elm planned for the Town Common, Special Town Meeting article updates, and questions about ARPA-funded town plantings.
Annual Town Meeting is tonight at 7:00 PM at Tantasqua Regional High School. For a full article-by-article breakdown, read our Annual Town Meeting warrant guide and FY27 budget breakdown below.
🗳️ Annual Town Meeting
📅 Monday, April 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM
📍 Tantasqua Regional High School, Sturbridge
🔗 Add Annual Town Meeting to Google Calendar
Before you go, catch up on the two big pieces that explain what voters will be deciding:
Table of Contents
This summary is based on the April 21, 2026 Select Board meeting transcript. Official minutes are pending town approval.
The Town Minute is an independent publication and is not affiliated with the Town of Sturbridge or any municipal office. While we strive for accuracy, errors or omissions may occur. This content is intended as a public-friendly summary, not an official record. For official and complete records, please refer to the Town’s approved meeting minutes and official meeting recordings on the Town’s website.
Public Announcements
Housing Forum Scheduled for May 6
Town Administrator Robin Grimm reminded residents that the town is holding a housing forum on May 6 at 6:00 PM at the Town Hall.
The forum will use results from the town’s housing survey and focus on the future of housing in Sturbridge, including affordable housing, seniors, first-time home buyers, and broader housing development.
The town encouraged participation from residents, local realtors, developers, and anyone interested in the future of housing in town.
Key Decisions & Votes
✅ Route 20 Pump Station Engineering Proposal Approved: The board authorized the Town Administrator to sign a $150,000 engineering services proposal for preliminary design work on the Route 20 pump station.
✅ Liberty Elm Location Approved: The board approved the proposed location of a Liberty Elm on the northeast corner of the Town Common, near the bench area.
✅ Assessor’s Office Fee Increase Approved: The board approved increasing abutter list-related fees, including moving the abutter list fee from $5 to $25 and labels to $4 per sheet.
✅ AED Donation Accepted: The board accepted an automated external defibrillator donation from G&F Precision Molding, Inc.
✅ $5,000 Senior Center Donation Accepted: The board accepted a $5,000 anonymous donation to the Senior Center, with the donor’s identity known internally but not publicly named at the meeting.
✅ Special Town Meeting Article 55 Supported: The board supported the snow and ice removal deficit article in the amount of $216,783.57.
✅ Special Town Meeting Article 56: No Action: The board voted to take no action on unpaid bills from a previous year because there were no unpaid bills.
✅ Special Town Meeting Article 57 Supported: The board supported an additional $105,000 for wastewater treatment plant clarifier number one repairs and painting.
✅ Special Town Meeting Article 60 No Action": The board voted to take no action after learning the town did not need the proposed legal acceptance related to water/sewer liens.
✅ Annual Town Meeting Article 8 Budget Amendment Approved: The board approved moving $11,274 in the veterans services line item from purchase of services to salaries and wages.
Route 20 Pump Station Study Approved
The board approved a $150,000 proposal for preliminary engineering design work related to the Route 20 pump station.
The pump station was described as being near Yankee Spirits and Wicked Licks. The discussion focused on studying options for the pump station’s future, including rebuilding in place, relocating it, how far it could be relocated, what land may be viable, and what different options would cost.
The money will come from the FY26 capital operating budget. When asked whether enough funding existed in that line, the Town Administrator said yes, while noting that the eventual pump station project itself would likely require borrowing.
This is not the final construction vote. It is the design and feasibility step that helps the town understand its options before committing to a larger infrastructure project.
Liberty Elm Approved for the Town Common
The board approved the proposed location of a Liberty Elm on the Town Common.
The tree was described as a large American Liberty Elm, roughly 35 to 40 feet tall, being purchased as part of the town’s 250th celebration. The proposed location is on the northeast corner of the Common, near a bench area.
The discussion covered several practical questions:
whether the location would interfere with Farmers Market or Harvest Festival layouts
whether the tree would be too close to electrical conduit
whether a newly planted tree of that size could survive
how the town would handle watering
whether the Parks and Recreation Committee should weigh in before planting
The tree warden explained that the Liberty Elm is a disease-resistant American elm and said elms have historic significance on the Common. The discussion also noted that several trees have been removed from the Common over the years without being replaced.
Assessor’s Office Fee Increase
The board approved a fee increase related to abutter lists and labels from the Assessor’s Office.
The Town Administrator said the town had been charging $5 for an abutter list and $3 per sheet of labels, while surrounding communities were generally charging closer to $25 for the abutter list. She said the town was barely making money or possibly losing money on the process once mailing and staff work were considered.
The approved change brings the abutter list fee to $25 and label sheets to $4 per sheet.
Donations Accepted
AED Donation from G&F Precision Molding
The board accepted a donated automated external defibrillator from G&F Precision Molding, Inc.
The Town Administrator said the AED was offered along with conference tables, though the town did not have room for the tables. The AED is expected to be placed where the town can use it, likely at a recreation facility after coordination with fire and recreation officials.
Anonymous $5,000 Donation to the Senior Center
The board also accepted a $5,000 anonymous donation to the Senior Center.
The donor did not want public recognition at the board meeting, but the Town Administrator said the donor’s identity would be known internally. She also said the donor did not have business dealings with the town that would create an apparent conflict.
The board accepted the donation with that understanding.
Special Town Meeting Article Updates
The board took several votes related to Special Town Meeting articles ahead of Annual Town Meeting.
Article 55: Snow and Ice Removal Deficit
The board voted to support Special Town Meeting Article 55 in the amount of $216,783.57.
The Town Administrator explained that the final number was not available when the warrant was first prepared because snow and ice costs were still coming in.
Article 56: Unpaid Bills
The board voted to take no action on Special Town Meeting Article 56 because there were no unpaid bills from a previous year.
Article 57: Wastewater Treatment Plant Clarifier Repairs
The board voted to support Special Town Meeting Article 57 in the amount of $105,000 for wastewater treatment plant clarifier number one repairs and painting.
The Town Administrator said the town had received support for the project at Town Meeting last year, but the original amount was not enough once bids came in. The additional $105,000 is needed to meet the lowest bid.
Article 60: Water/Sewer Legal Acceptance — No Action
The board voted to take no action on Special Town Meeting Article 60.
The article involved acceptance of sections of Massachusetts General Laws related to water and sewer liens. The Town Administrator said that after further review with attorneys, the town learned it did not need to accept those sections for the intended purpose.
Annual Town Meeting Article 8: Veterans Services Line Item Amendment
The board approved a budget line item amendment related to veterans services.
The amendment moves $11,274 from purchase of services into salaries and wages.
The Town Administrator explained that the town had originally considered regionalizing the service through another community, which is why the amount had been placed under purchase of services. That arrangement is no longer the expected path, so the amount needs to be categorized as salary instead.
Old Business: Town Plantings and ARPA Follow-Up
Board members raised questions about town plantings funded through ARPA.
The issue appears to involve a $30,000 ARPA allocation for plantings, including areas around the Welcome to Sturbridge sign and other town locations.
A board member said the information provided so far was not detailed enough. The memo apparently showed $6,599 in plants for one portion of the work, but did not clearly list prices for other plants, labor, mulch, shipment or pickup, or where all plantings were installed.
Concerns included:
whether the town received a complete cost breakdown
how much went to plants versus labor
where specific plantings were placed
whether the plantings matched the original intent of the ARPA funding
whether some plantings survived the winter
whether the Welcome to Sturbridge area received the expected seasonal plantings
One board member said it was disappointing that nothing appeared to bloom in the spring around the Welcome to Sturbridge sign and that some evergreen plantings appeared to be in poor condition.
The Chair said the issue was not necessarily that anything improper happened, but that the town needs a clearer breakdown of what was purchased, where it went, and what costs were included.
What’s Next
📅 Annual Town Meeting — Monday, April 27, 2026 Residents vote directly on the FY27 budget and all capital articles. Your vote here determines what gets funded. 🔗 Add to Google Calendar
🗓️ Housing Forum — Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Residents can weigh in on the future of housing in Sturbridge, including affordable housing, seniors, first-time home buyers, and development priorities. 🔗 Add to Google Calendar
Resources
The Town Minute covers Sturbridge town government so you don’t have to sit through the whole meeting. All summaries are sourced from official recordings, meeting transcripts, official documents, and/or approved minutes whenever available. Verify anything important at Sturbridge.gov.
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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.
