SHAC votes 10-3 to recommend MSH purchase

The State Hospital Advisory Committee (SHAC) last night voted 10 to 3 to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the Town of Medfield purchase of the Medfield State Hospital site from the state.  Warrant Committee chair, Gus Murby, was unable to attend, but sent word that he supported the purchase, which means that of the fourteen committee members, eleven members ultimately favored the purchase.

These were a number of the comments made:

• Several members indicated that it was essential for the Town of Medfield to control the ultimate development of the site, rather than let the state arrange for the development without town input as would happen if the town does not buy it.  They was the town’s purchase as the best way to assure town control.
• Several members indicated that they would not support the purchase without redevelopment of the site, so the committee general sense was that yes the town should purchase and also quickly arrange for the redevelopment of the site.
• Several members expressed that the pirce was high, especially when compared to the $2m. that Westboro is paying for the 90 acre Westboro State Hospital site, which by comparison is prime commercial land.
• Members wanted development of the site that preserves economic diversity and creates a greater housing options than exists in town today (there is not much housing available in town for seniors and empty nesters).
• There was great concern expressed over what large costs the town might incur in the future on an ongoing basis if the state controlled the redevelopment of the site instead of the town.
• The purchase fulfills the town’s moral responsibility to its future.
• There should be reuses that benefit the entire town.
• There were fears expressed that the land might not be redeveloped, because residents might rather keep it as open space.
• There were fears that the taxes might go up.

Next steps include –

• A SHAC information night at 7:30 PM in the Blake Middle School auditorium on Monday, March 3.
• Discussion and vote by both the Warrant Committee and the Board of Selectmen at their separate meetings on March 4 of whether the town should purchase the site.
• The special town meeting (STM) at 7:30 PM at the Medfield High School gym on Monday March 10 for the town to make the purchase decision (2/3 vote required)
• Paper ballot question at the annual town election on Monday, March 31 on whether to buy the Medfield State Hospital site (50% required).