Monthly Archives: February 2015

Public safety building

Posted on February 28, 2015 | Comments Off on Public safety building

This email today from Mike Quinlan, co-chair of our Building Committee –

As some of you know, for the past few years, I have served as Co-Chair of the Medfield Permanent Building Committee.  Our committee oversees design and construction of all town facilities.  I wanted to reach out to you all to make sure you’re aware of some important upcoming town events as they will influence the future of Medfield and I believe it’s important that we all participate in shaping that.

In 2008 due to severely deteriorating facilities the town created a Capital Investment Plan that included four major building project organized by priority.  The first of which was the DPW Garage which was approved in 2013 and completed in the fall of last year.  The second major facility in need of replacement is the Police/Fire facility that we are now calling the Public Safety Building.  This month, the town will be holding a Special Town Meeting to decide whether or not to authorize the town to borrow funds to build a new Public Safety Building.  Subsequent to that, at the annual town election, there will be a ballot question requesting the approval of the town to borrow those funds.

The Permanent Building Committee has been working with architects and engineers for 2 years to design the facility and bids to build the facility are due this week.  This will give us an exact amount that the building will cost.  Currently, we are estimating the project to cost $20,350,000 of which the town has already allocated $1,350,000 at previous Town Meetings.  Thus we will likely be seeking $19,000,000 at this Town Meeting in 3 weeks.  This amount would add between $200-$500 to your annual tax bill depending on the value of your home.  This email seeks only to inform you of the details and not to advocate for either position.

There will be a Public Informational Forum held next Saturday to provide more detailed information about the proposed facility and there will also be tours of the existing facility so that people can see why the need exists.

Below is the schedule of important dates and I hope that you all are able to participate in some way.  You also should’ve received a mailer in your mailbox yesterday or today.

March 7th, 10AM, Dale Street School Auditorium – Public Information Forum

  • March 23rd, 7:30pm Medfield High School Gym – Special Town Meeting
  • March 30th, All Day, Medfield Council on Aging – Annual Town Election

Please forward to any neighbors, friends, spouses or other Medfield residents that may be interested.  Also, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions…

Best regards…

Mike

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Posted in Buildings, Elections, Town Meeting

Binit Shah – MFi Youth Volunteer of the Year

Posted on February 28, 2015 | Comments Off on Binit Shah – MFi Youth Volunteer of the Year

Binit Shah
YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2015

Binit Shah

The Medfield Foundation proudly recognizes Binit Shah as its 2015 Youth Volunteer of the Year for his initiation of the Tech Club at the Medfield Memorial Library.

Other organizations where Binit volunteers:
• Medfield.TV
• MFi Youth Leader program
• Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

For the past four years, Binit has volunteered at the library, first on its Teen Advisory Board to plan and implement programs for teens, and then a year ago Binit initiated the library’s Tech Club, where he teaches the basics of programming, in what has become one of the library’s most popular programs. Binit’s Tech Club inspires about fifteen students from 2nd – 8th grade with his effective, engaging teaching.

“I have been very impressed with the level of knowledge, patience, and maturity that Binit exhibits. He patiently maintains authority and control over fifteen adolescents, and yet provides differentiated instruction for different levels of learners,” said one parent. Binit handles internet failures and “glitches” with aplomb, smoothly switching to alternate teaching modalities. He also shows a high level of preparation before and after class, utilizing both his own YouTube videos and Kahn Academy, to provide recaps and to assign review material for at-home practice and class preparation.

Another parent, herself a teacher, said “Binit is a natural when it comes to teaching. He can really articulate the concepts and provides examples after presenting them. He is always well prepared and offers practice homework packets, videos, websites and other materials.” The materials that he provides in the club are well thought out, and often self created. He also adapts his class to the unique skill levels of each child and makes it easy for them to feel comfortable with and capable of programming. Binit’s teaching method is exciting and he manages a range of ages well.

Binit is a strong role model – friendly and casual, but at the same time mature, professional, and savvy. He models good character, helpful demeanor, and confidence. He also models for the Tech Club kids the use of his intelligence, to provide for their growth, while simultaneously helping them and inspiring them to improve their skills.

At Medfield.TV Binit does camera work, editing projects, field productions, and independent productions. He takes photos for the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

 

Since 2008 the Medfield Foundation has celebrated volunteers suggested by their fellow Medfield residents with the MFi’s Volunteer Awards, and annually named:

  • a Youth Volunteer of the Year
  • a Volunteer of the Year, and
  • awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year all the volunteers will be feted at a reception at 3:00 PM on March 22 at The Center.

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Posted in Medfield Foundation, Volunteers

MSH remediation area

Posted on February 28, 2015 | Comments Off on MSH remediation area

This is what the C&D area along the edge of the Charles River looks like this morning. In the middle is the new hill created in the hollow where the power plant used to stand, because that is where DCAMM piled all the contaminated material it dug out of the wetlands along the edge of the river, in the area that is in the left of the photo.

Skiing was great.[ end]

Best,Pete

Osler L. Peterson, Esq.
PETERSON | Law
580 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458-1416
66 North Street, PO Box, 358, Medfield, MA 02052-0358
617.969.1500 W
617.969.1501 Direct
617.663.6008 F
508.359.9190 M
Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com

Sent from my phone – please excuse any typos.

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Posted in Uncategorized

EPA award for WWTP

Posted on February 28, 2015 | Comments Off on EPA award for WWTP

Bob McDonald and Bill Donovan of the Waste Water Treatment Plant at the selectmen meeting to report on their receipt of the EPA award for the quality of the improvements at the WWTP. The EPA commendation is on the table in the foreground. Medfield was the only recipient in Massachusetts.

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Posted in Uncategorized

BoS on 3/3

Posted on February 27, 2015 | Comments Off on BoS on 3/3

PLACE OF MEETING DAY, DATE, AND TIME
Town Hall, Chenery Meeting Room, 2nd floor Tuesday March 3, 2015@ 7:00 PM

AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
The Medfield Board of Selectmen needs to meet in Executive Session at close of business to discuss the Clark Tavern court appeal

ACTION
Town Administrator to review town finances

Discussion of snow deficit through February 24

Discussion of Selectmen’ s Annual Calendar

The Medfield Foundation cordially invites the Board of Selectmen to attend their March 22, 2015 Reception honoring Volunteers of the Year and recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award Further the Foundation requests permission to post signs at designated locations promoting the event that will be held at the CENTER beginning at 3 :00 PM

Copy of letter from Representative Denise Garlick and Representative Shawn Dooley to Stephanie Pollack, newly appointed Secretary MASS Department of Transportation regarding the proposed rail service through Medfield to Foxboro

INFORMATIONAL
General Contractor bid opening for Public Safety Building on Wednesday March 4, 2015 @ 11 :00 AM

 

02/24/2015

TOWN OF MEDFIELD
YEAR-TO DATE BUDGET REPORT
FOR 2015 99
ACCOUNTS FOR:  423 SNOW & ICE
TOTAL SNOW & ICE    -169,606 . 40\ 161. 2%
TOTAL EXPENSES        -169,606 . 40

 
REPRESENTATIVE
DENISE C. GARLICK
13TH NORFOLK DISTRICT
NEEDHAM, DOVER, MEDFIELD
ROOM 473G, STATE HOUSE
TEL. (617) 722-2070

February 17, 2015
Secretary Stephanie Pollack
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
10 Park Plaza, Suite 4160
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Secretary Pollack,

Congratulations on your recent appointment as Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. We look forward to working together on issues so important to our Districts and to our Commonwealth.
We are writing in regards to the recent effort of the last administration’s Department of Transportation to purchase the C_SX freight line for approximately $23 million to extend the commuter rail service through the Town of Medfield to Foxboro. As Representatives for the Town of Medfield, we are disconcerted by this process, as well as this purchase.

In regards to process: the Town officials were not notified of the transaction until October of 2014 and have expressed grave concerns about the lack of transparency and the lack of a comprehensive period of public comment. We, as the elected Representatives of the Town of Medfield, were not notified by the Department of Transportation, at any point in the process. We · share the concerns of many of the issues raised to us by Medfield residents. This includes the impact on traffic, as this line crosses Route 109. Additionally, the current freight trains travel at a speed of about 10 miles per hour but the proposed commuter rail will travel at 45 miles per hour or greater through densely populated neighborhoods and the busy commercial district creating a
safety risk for pedestrians and motorists.

In regards to purchase: it is an issue of great consternation to us that $23 million for purchase and an estimated $84 million in capital costs would be expended for a rail service that is not desired by the citizens and elected leadership of the Town at a time when the existing commuter rail service in the Commonwealth is in crisis and resources are so desperately needed to meet the ·cmreht equipment, infrastructure and ‘serefice demands.

We respectfully request an increase of communication with the residents and staff of the Town of Medfield and the elected officials involved. Furthermore, we request there be a reversal of the purchase so these issues and concerns can be fully addressed.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.

 

/Denise Garlick/

/Shawn Dooley/

cc. Medfield Board of Selectmen
Mr. Mike Sullivan, Medfield Town Administrator
Speaker of the House Robert A. DeLeo
Chairman Brian Dempsey, House Committee on Ways and Means

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Posted in Select Board matters

Corrigan family assistance

Posted on February 26, 2015 | Comments Off on Corrigan family assistance

Dear Medfield Neighbor Brigade,

As many of you have already heard on Sunday, Feb. 22nd Medfield resident, Sean Corrigan, died as a result of a tragic accident. He was a loving husband and father of three beautiful, young children ages 10, 6, and 4. The Corrigan family moved to Medfield from Ireland in the summer of 2013 and quickly established friendships and roots in our community. His loss is devasting to so many. This family is now forced to face the difficult challenge of continuing on without the love and support of Sean.

In times like this we all wish there was something that we could do to help. A fundraising page has been created in the hopes of helping this family to cover the funeral expenses, keeping up with the bills and getting back on their feet. This is a very significant and critical way that we can all support this Medfield family. By donating any amount, large and small, your help will be felt and gratefully appreciated. If you are able to make a donation please click on the following link  http://gfwd.at/1Fsrdy8 This is the same fundraising page that was tweeted out by our Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden today as well.

We will also be supporting this family with meals starting next week. Another email will be coming out shortly with this information.

We are all so blessed to live in a community that truly loves and takes care of each other. Thank you for the difference YOU make for others!

Laurie and Kathleen

—
Laurie Nealon

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Posted in Charity

Thistle coming to MSH

Posted on February 26, 2015 | Comments Off on Thistle coming to MSH

Thistle: a temporary art project at Medfield State Hospital
Submitted by Jean Mineo, Art in Public Places, a Medfield Foundation Inc. initiative

Exhibition dates: May – October, 2015

 

2015-02-26_14-58-24
THISTLE
Thistle is a temporary outdoor exhibition of plastic “collars”, installed around tree trunks as a tribute to trees. It is based on a piece the artist created for an ancient apple tree in her backyard. The project first became public in 2011 with nine bands installed as part of Art in the Park, in historic Elm Park (Worcester).

Evans realized the celebratory appropriateness of both the bright pink color and form. The Long Horned Beetle infestation had forced the removal of 28,000 trees, leaving both parks and people devastated. These bands of “Thistles” gave the trees a very distinct look of celebration as victors of the blight. Other installations have occurred in Concord, Stockbridge, Providence, RI and Stowe,
VT.

Each Thistle band is customized in size to the tree, made of plastic hardware cloth and ties, and affixed around the tree by tying the ends of the band together. The tree is not harmed and the bands are easily removed at the end.

MEDFIELD STATE HOSPITAL
An installation of up to 24 Thistles is proposed for the trees lining Hospital Road and within the adjacent open space. Volunteers will be asked to adopt and assemble a Thistle (with instruction from Evans). The artist will run a workshop at Zullo Gallery in March, installation is proposed for May – October.

The goal is to draw attention to the open space at the front of the property and engage people in thinking about the property in a new way (other than a hospital). Funding will be sought from the Cultural Council and sponsors. No additional insurance is needed.

THE ARTIST
Catherine Evans is a Boston based artist. Her art deals with the repurposing of common objects; transforming everyday materials into the powerful, and the unordinary; stretching preconceived notions about that object. Multiples and repetition are an important part of her work. http://www.CatherineEvansArt.com

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Posted in Art, Cultural, Medfield Foundation, Medfield State Hospital

Globe’s GRANT

Posted on February 26, 2015 | 1 comment

Let’s put our Boston Globe GRANT (Globe Readers And Non-profits Together) ballots towards Medfield non-profits this year.  I am putting mine towards the Medfield Foundation, so MFi can run an ad for the Angel Run, as the proceeds from the Angel Run have been used to assist Medfield families in need.

Logo_Small_RGB

All Globe subscribers are getting mailings with the certificate to be mailed in.  If choosing the Medfield Foundation, Inc. use as its location the address of 459 Main Street, Medfield, MA 02052 (MFi mail goes to the Town House).

MFi_AngelRun

1 Comment

Posted in Medfield Foundation

Recycling

Posted on February 25, 2015 | Comments Off on Recycling

Commonwealth Magazine has an article on trash and recycling in Massachusetts, and we do not look so good – too much trash per person, and therefore spending too much on trash disposal.  On the map they publish we are one of the few in the red (800+ lbs of trash/person/year).

trashmap

Our single stream recycling has upped our recycling numbers some and brought our trash tonnage down some.

However, DEP consistently tells me that the only way to get our trash numbers down a lot is to go to pay-as-you-throw, but no one likes PAYT.  DEP pointed me to Duxbury’s example, as Duxbury saw a slight drop in its trash amounts when it went to single stream, but Duxbury only achieved a dramatic drop when it implemented PAYT a year of two later.

To me it is an issue of trade offs, how much inconvenience and cost are we willing to suffer via PAYT to save the town money on trash disposal.  We know PAYT saves towns money, but we currently prefer to pay higher taxes to avoid PAYT.

CommonWealth magazine points out that Massachusetts pay-as-you-throw communities-nearly one-third of municipalities in the state-throw out just 432 pounds per person per year on average, compared with 670 pounds in non-PAYT cities and towns.

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Posted in Budgets, Recycling & Solid Waste

Blog stats

Posted on February 25, 2015 | Comments Off on Blog stats

Word Press Statistics:

I was just looking to see what Word Press statistics tell me, and these were the ones that I found interesting:

479 people get a Word Press email of blog posts

238 get posts via Twitter

149 get posts via Facebook

??? via LinkedIN

 

Biggest view days at Word Press were:

800 (almost) people wanting to know if their street was going to get DPW work done last spring, when Patch linked to the list.

473 people looking at post about Medfield having run out of salt on 2/9/15.

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Posted in Uncategorized