Office Hours this Friday 9-10AM

office hours sign

Selectman Office Hours this Friday 9-10AM

My regular monthly selectman office hours are at The Center on the first Friday of every month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM (this Friday).

Residents are welcome to stop by to talk in person about any town matters. Residents can also have coffee and see the Council on Aging in action (a vibrant organization with lots going on).

I can be reached via my cell phone at 508-359-9190 or my blog about Medfield matters, where any schedule changes will be posted.

My May Office Hours Postponed to 2nd Friday, 5/8

Select Board Office Hours this Month on 5/8


FOSI yard sale preparations at The Center on 5/1/26 are bumping my regular monthly office hours (usually on the first Friday of every month) to May 8 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. 

I will get back at FOSI for bumping me by buying all the good stuff at their sale!

EV Car Show, 5/3, 1-3PM at The Center

From Chris Gordon of the Medfield Energy Committee –

Joint Commitment by SB, SC & WC ahead of Monday Town Meeting

Attend the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) Monday, May 4 at 7PM at the Medfield High School.

Coordinated Commitments for the Proposed Operating Budget Override
Joint Release by the Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee

TOWN OF MEDFIELD
Coordinated Commitments for the Proposed Operating Budget Override
Joint Release by the Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee
1
Executive Summary
This statement outlines the shared fiscal commitments of Medfield’s Select Board, School
Committee, and Warrant Committee in support of a proposed operating budget override
and stabilization fund. The override is designed to sustain essential Town and School
services for two years through FY2028 under current projections and assumptions, while
maintaining disciplined budget growth, protecting reserves, and mitigating taxpayer impact.
These commitments establish clear guardrails to ensure responsible stewardship of public
funds and transparent reporting to residents..
Shared Fiscal Commitments to Sustain Town and School Operations Through FY2028
Medfield faces a structural fiscal challenge: the Town’s primary revenue source is limited to
2.5% annual growth under Proposition 2½, while major cost drivers—such as contractual
obligations, mandated services, health insurance, and inflation—typically grow at a higher
rate. As a result, the override is necessary to protect current essential services, not expand
them.
The Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee jointly affirm the need for an
operating budget override and commit to the following high-level principles to ensure
disciplined, transparent financial management..
1. Duration of the Override
The override is designed to sustain Town and School operations for two years through
FY2028, based on current revenue projections, cost trends, and long-range financial
modeling. This two-year horizon reflects conservative assumptions and incorporates
known cost drivers. If conditions change materially, we will update the community
promptly and transparently.
2. Annual Budget Growth Commitments
To ensure the override lasts two years through FY2028, the Town and Schools commit to
the following FY 2027 operating budget growth parameters:
• Medfield Public Schools: Annual operating budget growth for FY 2027 not to exceed
3.64%.
• Municipal (Town) Operations: Annual operating budget growth for FY 2027 not to exceed
3.33%.
TOWN OF MEDFIELD
Coordinated Commitments for the Proposed Operating Budget Override
Joint Release by the Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee
2
For FY2028, the Town and Schools acknowledge that the override structure includes a
planned stabilization fund deposit based on the best available forecast today. Actual FY2028
budget development will occur next year based on updated revenues, federal and state aid,
contractual obligations, and cost conditions. The Town and Schools remain committed to
disciplined, sustainable, and balanced budgeting that preserves the long-standing
proportionality between School and Town budgets as we support the two‑year override
framework.
3. Fiscal Discipline and Efficiency Measures
The Town and Schools will continue to pursue cost control and operational efficiency,
including:
 Continue reviewing programs, staffing, and service delivery models as part of
regular budget planning
 Reviewing health insurance plan design in collaboration with employee groups.
 Explore shared services and collaborative procurement where appropriate.
 Maintaining disciplined hiring practices.
 Use benchmarking to inform decision-making, not as a prescriptive requirement.
 Avoiding the use of one-time funds for recurring expenses.
4. Revenue Development and Grant Strategy
To reduce long term reliance on overrides, the Town will:
 Support responsible economic development, including the Trinity redevelopment at
the Medfield State Hospital, as a long-term strategy to strengthen the tax base.
 Periodically review fees and explore non-tax revenue opportunities.
 Pursue aligned state and federal grants.
 Regularly review fees and charges.
While the Trinity project represents a significant future opportunity, its timing and revenue
impact remain dependent on the pace of development.
5. Reserve and Long-Term Liability Management
The Town commits to maintaining reserves at 8% of the operating budget (net of debt
service) to protect financial stability, maintain the Town’s strong credit rating, and provide
a buffer for emergencies. These reserves are not intended to fund recurring operating
deficits.TOWN OF MEDFIELD
Coordinated Commitments for the Proposed Operating Budget Override
Joint Release by the Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee
3
6. Commitment to Taxpayer Impact Mitigation
The Town reaffirms its commitment to managing taxpayer impact through the Tax Impact
Mitigation Stabilization Fund, with a goal of accumulating $5.0 million to reduce the initial
tax impact of the Dale Street School replacement during the early years of borrowing.
7. Transparency and Public Reporting
The Town and Schools will provide periodic updates through existing public budget
processes.:
 Progress toward these commitments.
 Actual budget growth versus caps.
 Reserve levels.
 Efficiency initiatives.
 Updated financial projections.
 Use of the Tax Impact Mitigation Stabilization Fund.
Unified Statement
The Select Board, School Committee, and Warrant Committee present these principles as a
unified framework to maintain Medfield’s financial stability, protect essential services, and
ensure transparent, responsible stewardship of public resources.
All three boards support the FY2027 override budget and the two‑year override structure,
including the planned FY2028 stabilization fund deposit. Each board recognizes that
FY2028 budget development will occur next year using updated information, while
maintaining the shared goal of sustaining operations through FY2028 under the override
framework.

Delineator Flexposts – test installed downtown

[ PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2026

April 24, 2026

Downtown Pedestrian Improvement Grant

The Town of Medfield recently installed delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions as traffic-calming measures designed to improve pedestrian safety in the downtown. Initial public response to this installation has raised a number of critical concerns about its impact on traffic flow through the center of town.  This press release is intended to provide background information to answer some of the questions that have been asked, as the town works to address public concerns and adjust installations where appropriate to achieve the intended safety improvements while minimizing avoidable disruptions to traffic flow in the downtown. 

The Town of Medfield received a $146,000 Pedestrian Improvement Grant from MassDOT as part of their Shared Safe Streets and Spaces Program. Pedestrian safety, particularly crosswalk safety, was identified as a concern in both the Townwide Master Plan and the Rapid Recovery Plan. 

The project was designed by traffic engineers and included two construction phases. The first phase of the project took place in the fall, with the installation of new crosswalks on Main Street and North Street, and the realignment of the crosswalk at North/Janes Avenue. New crosswalk beacons were also installed on Main Street and North Street, as well as new ADA ramps in the downtown. 


The second phase of the project was the installation of delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions to serve as traffic-calming measures, slowing vehicles and turning speeds while increasing visibility for crossing pedestrians. 

The following are some of the questions that have been raised:

Who approved the Project?
The Select Board accepted the grant from MassDOT, and a review and presentation were made at the Select Board meeting on September 17, 2024. 

Why did the Town apply for a Pedestrian Improvement Grant?

The 2021 Master Plan cites residents' concerns about pedestrian safety in the downtown area.  The Downtown Rapid Recovery Plan cited concerns about the safety of pedestrians in downtown crosswalks and vehicles turning off Main Street. 

Are the delineators permanent? 

The flexposts are a traffic-calming pilot project and can be moved during this test period. Any of these locations deemed successful can be made permanent, and any that are not can be removed.  The flexpost delineators are not permanent installations.

The new crosswalks, ADA ramps, and the flashing beacons on Main Street and North Street are permanent installations. 


Were the Handicapped Accessible Spots blocked?

Yes, this was done in error, and those flexposts were removed. A broader discussion is underway regarding our downtown handicapped spaces, as some are not in compliance and need to be upgraded and/or moved to be fully compliant. 

How will this impact snowplowing? 

The flexposts will be removed for the winter months to allow for snowplow operations. 

1676 King Philip’s War marker dedication at 6 PM Friday

The new King Philip’s War historic marker dedication occurs this afternoon at 6:00 PM, followed by the opening reception for Medfield History Week at the Dwight-Derby House –

My May Office Hours Postponed to 2nd Friday, 5/8

Select Board Office Hours this Month on 5/8


FOSI yard sale preparations at The Center on 5/1/26 are bumping my regular monthly office hours (usually on the first Friday of every month) to May 8 from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. 

I will get back at FOSI for bumping me by buying all the good stuff at their sale!

No Access

From Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler on 4/22 –

MFi’s “CAMP FUND” Sends Our Medfield Kids to Camp

Medfield Foundation Camp Fund Creates Summer Opportunities for Local Families

For eight years, the Medfield Foundation’s Camp Fund has been quietly transforming summers for families in town, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent children from experiencing the joy and growth that comes with summer camp.

Since 2021, the Camp Fund has supported 70 campers providing over 131 weeks of summer camp fun.  “The Medfield Foundation’s Camp Fund supports families who want to give their children meaningful summer experiences but face financial constraints,” said Abby Marble, President of the Medfield Foundation. “We believe every Medfield child deserves the opportunity to make memories, build friendships, and discover new interests during the summer months.”

The Camp Fund exists through the generosity of Medfield community members, the Home Committee, and local businesses who recognize the importance of ensuring children can participate in summer activities. The Medfield Foundation works collaboratively with Medfield Outreach which determines eligibility for the campership program on a confidential basis, and also with Medfield Parks and Recreation which offers campers a discount.

The Medfield Foundation continues to accept donations to the Camp Fund throughout the year. For more information or to make a donation, visit https://www.medfieldfoundation.org/campfund or contact Abby Marble at info@medfieldfoundation.org.

Families interested in learning more about camp opportunities can visit https://medfieldma.myrec.com/info/default.aspx

Earth Day Talk at First Parish Unitarian Universalist this Sunday

Every year, Medfield’s First Parish Unitarian Universalist church holds a special Sunday service in honor of Earth Day. For this year’s service, at 10 AM on Sunday, April 19, I have been invited to be the featured speaker. I will speak about my experiences as a member of Medfield’s Energy Committee and about the climate issues and challenges faced by Medfield and similar towns in our area. All are invited.

META loses today in SJC – Suit Will Proceed

The Supreme Judicial Court today held that META is not entitled to dismissal of Massachusetts’ suit under section 230.

The seven justices’ chairs at the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

COMMONWEALTH vs. META PLATFORMS, INC.

WENDLANDT, J. The Commonwealth alleges that Meta
Platforms, Inc., and Instagram, LLC (collectively, Meta),
engaged in unfair business practices by designing the Instagram
platform to induce compulsive use by children, engaged in
deceptive business practices by deliberately misleading the
public about the safety of the platform, and created a public
nuisance by engaging in these unfair and deceptive practices.
Meta moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing, inter alia, that
§ 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA), 47 U.S.C.
§ 230 (§ 230), barred the claims. A Superior Court judge denied
the motion, and Meta appealed.

Thus, at least at this preliminary stage of the litigation, Meta
has not shown it is entitled to the protection provided by
§ 230(c)(1).