The board of selectmen met twice this past week, first on January 25, 2011 (a makeup session for the prior week which had been snowed out). That meeting was abbreviated so that the selectmen could attend the Lyme disease study committee meeting which followed., To allow amounts to be spent on snow removal above and beyond what had been budgeted. The following budgets were submitted for review, all of which were level funded from last year: Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Human Resources, Work Committee, Planning Board, Zoning Appeals, Town Report/Meeting.
On February 1, 2011 selectmen reviewed the Park and Recreation budget, in which $298,000 was requested as opposed to $283,874 last year. The increase was primarily for maintenance of facilities. John Thompson, chair of SHERD, reported on four areas of environmental cleanup by DCAM at the former Medfield State Hospital site. First, DCAN is performed to new work. Second, the VOCs that were found may require DCAM to redraw the lot boundaries to exclude areas in which the VOCs were found. Third, the building condition status should be queried, given that the buildings have been cold mothballed far longer than anticipated. John referenced the DEP consent judgment against DMH which required the asbestos to be removed from the buildings “as soon as possible.” Fourth, given the impending development of the site, he recommended that it behooves the town to review its bylaws to make sure that the bylaws adequately address that development. The board voted to create a bylaw review committee and to task town counsel to that committee. Interested citizens are invited to apply to serve on that committee. Additionally, John noted that DCAM must submit its draft Phase II Scope of Work by March 1, 2011, and it is that document that will detail precisely what cleanup work will be done and how.
The selectmen voted to send the draft letter to DCAM Re: the Supplemental Phase II Scope of Work. Selectable voted to sign a letter of representation with the town auditor to approve minutes, and to close the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
The Annual Town Meeting Warrants include articles to authorize borrowing for a town garage, feasibility study for a public safety building accept as public ways Kettle Pond and Cole Drive, amend site plan buffer cards to prohibit use as driveways, amend firearm discharge by law to allow for culling deer to reduce Lyme disease, transfer Hinckley Swim Pond lands to Park and Recreation and allow the lease of the Lowell Mason house site, authorize leases to MAP, appropriate consultant monies for State Hospital reuse, and to qualify for the Green Communities Act by adopting the stretch building code and permitting energy R&D and manufacturing on industrial lands.
Selectmen Fisher and Peterson reported on attending the Massachusetts Municipal Association annual meeting. The governor and his chief budget officials presented on the state budget, and there were a myriad of workshops on municipal issues. It was reported as a inspirational and informational meeting. All selectmen attended the Lyme disease study committee meeting at which the state wildlife biologist documented the overpopulation of deer in Medfield and that the only financially feasible means of reducing Lyme disease is by culling the deer. Selectmen Thompson and Peterson attended the Safety Committee, which focused on high traffic volumes and speeds on Knollwood Road, and a new regional selectmen effort in Medway. Peterson reported that the Medfield Foundation will be holding a reception to recognize volunteers on March 27 at The Center from 4 to 6 PM, and that he attended a Riverside Community Care meeting to highlight its emergency crisis response services to assist municipalities with people having psychiatric issues.
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