Medfield’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with case and testing data as of 1/28/2021. Medfield remains in the yellow category and has a case count of 70 cases over the last 14 days.
| UPDATE | View all updates |
| January 29, 2021 03:24 PM Medfield’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with case and testing data as of 1/28/2021. Medfield remains in the yellow category and has a case count of 70… Read on Click here to open the dashboard. |
Comments Off on 70 cases over the last 14 days
Posted in COVID-19
There is no agenda packet as yet. Check here for it – https://www.town.medfield.net/663/Agenda-Packets
Comments Off on Select Board 2/2/2021
Posted in Select Board matters
Look for the new signs, and think about upgrading your mask –
Really helpful article in the Globe today about masks – https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/27/business/you-need-better-mask-heres-how-find-buy-one/
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Q: Cloth masks are relatively inexpensive. How much do some of these upgrades cost?
Srikrishna: The Envo mask, which I personally have been using quite a bit and fits like a sleep apnea mask, is $79. It’s reusable for three to four months and has replacement filters for $2, and is now sold with a valve cover. 3M’s Elastomeric mask costs about $30 and has filters for $7 or $8, and these may last up to a year. The Fire Department of New York is using them. SoftSeal masks have a gel seal but are still disposable, and they cost between $7 and $16. And Fix The Mask is a flexible brace or harness that you put over a regular surgical mask and it forms a tight seal and provides a really good fit throughout the face. They cost about $15 each.
Below are Medfield’s cherry sheet numbers in the Governor’s budget released by Division of Local Services (DLS) this week. The town’s state monies will be up $335K or 3.96% over last year per these numbers.
The town’s state revenue numbers are called “cherry sheet” numbers because historically these budget numbers were issued on red paper – back when things were still done on paper.
Next in the annual state budget process the House will produce its budget numbers, followed by the Senate version, the consensus version of the two, the Governor’s vetos, any legislative veto overrides, which is what will then be next year’s budget. That process usually takes until April.
January 27, 2021
Today at noon, Gov. Charlie Baker submitted a $45.6 billion fiscal 2022 state budget plan with the Legislature, proposing to reduce overall state expenditures by almost 1 percent next year as the Administration plans a sustainable recovery from the fiscal and service delivery disruptions caused by the ongoing coronavirus public health emergency and the related economic recession. Similar to the recently finalized fiscal 2021 budget, the Governor’s spending plan for next year relies on temporary and one-time revenues, including emergency federal funds related to the pandemic and up to $1.6 billion from the state’s Stabilization Fund.
UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID INCREASED BY $31.6 MILLION
As Gov. Baker pledged to local officials at the beginning of his administration, his budget includes a $39.5 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, tracking the expected 3.5% increase in state tax revenues. Implementing this state-local revenue sharing framework is good news in a very challenging time for state and local finances.
OVERALL CHAPTER 70 SCHOOL AID WOULD GO UP BY $197.7 MILLION, A 3.7% INCREASE – ALTHOUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT MINIMUM AID ONLY
The Governor’s budget recommendation re-starts implementation of the funding schedules in the 2019 Student Opportunity Act (SOA) that were delayed last year after the coronavirus recession upset the original first year funding plan.
Fulfilling the commitments in the new Student Opportunity Act, the Governor’s fiscal 2022 budget submission would bring Chapter 70 school aid up to $5.48 billion, a $197.7 million increase in school aid. This would fund the first year of the 7-year plan to add $1.5 billion in new state funding for K-12 education. The majority of the funds would implement the improvements to the foundation budget, adding weight for low-income students, English Language Learners, special education costs, and school employee health benefits. While this is important progress, an initial look at the budget indicates that a large percentage of cities, towns and school districts would remain minimum-aid-only, and receive the minimum $30 per-student increase in the Act. The MMA will continue to strongly advocate for significantly higher minimum aid throughout the budget process.
The Governor’s Chapter 70 recommendation would make a significant change in how cities and towns can meet their required local contributions for fiscal 2022. Municipalities may use up to 75% of the total grant awarded to the local school district through the Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief (ESSER) program enacted by Congress last month (also known as ESSER II) to fund a part of the increase in its local contribution requirement under Chapter 70, but not more than the increase in required local contribution in FY2022 relative to FY2021. This is a new temporary provision that is explained in the narrative and slides on the DESE school finance website provided below.
This landing page will also include the preliminary fiscal 2022 charter school assessments and reimbursements.
CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD INCREASE TO $143.5M – CHARTER FUNDING REMAINS A SERIOUS PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED
The Governor’s budget would increase the charter school reimbursement account up to $143.5 million, intended to meet the commitment in the Student Opportunity Act to fund 75% of the state’s 100-60-40 statutory obligation to mitigate Chapter 70 losses to charter schools.
The Student Opportunity Act pledges to phase in full funding of the statutory reimbursement formula over three years, and while this plan may meet that requirement, it would not fix the serious flaws in the charter school finance system. Charter schools will continue to divert a high percentage of Chapter 70 funds away from many municipally operated school districts, and place greater strain on the districts that serve the vast majority of public school children. Major problems will continue unless a true resolution of the charter school funding problem is achieved, a top MMA priority.
SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER INCREASED TO $367.7M
The Governor’s budget would add $22.5 million to fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker program at $367.7 million, an increase of 6.5%. The Student Opportunity Act expanded the special education circuit breaker by including out-of-district transportation, an important enhancement for cities and towns.
REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENTS REDUCED
Gov. Baker’s budget submission would reduce funding for regional transportation reimbursements from $82.2 million this year to $75.9 million. This will be a hardship for virtually all communities in regional districts. Reimbursements for transportation of out-of-district vocational students remains significantly underfunded at $250K. Increasing these accounts is a priority for cities and towns and the MMA.
McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS REDUCED
The Governor’s budget would reduce reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students from $13.5 million this year to $11.1 million in fiscal 2022. The impact of this funding level will vary from community-to-community depending on the number of homeless families that remain sheltered in local hotels and motels. The Administration has been successful in reducing the number of homeless students who are dislocated from their original district, but those communities that continue to provide transportation to many students may continue to see shortfalls.
PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT) LEVEL FUNDED
The Governor’s budget would level fund PILOT payments at $31 million, which would be a significant hardship for many smaller, rural communities with large amounts of state-owned land. This is a key account due to the major impact that PILOT payments have on budgets in very small communities.
Please contact your legislators today and ask them to support the $39.5M increase in municipal aid and the $197.7M increase in Chapter 70 aid.
Please ask your legislators to address the serious flaws in charter school funding, increase minimum Ch. 70 aid to $100 per student, and increase funding for school transportation, PILOT payments, and ensure full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker
As vaccines become available to people, my mind necessarily turned to when can I get it. The NN Chamber of Commerce newsletter today (a copy of the email appears below) had a good explanation of vaccines and when we might be eligible. I especially found this “new searchable map” helpful, as it connects to the state’s website with all the vaccine data and explanation.
Good morning friends,
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
So when Gov. Charlie Baker announced yesterday that he was moving residents 65 or older up on the COVID vaccination priority list, it meant pushing back workers in grocery, restaurants, transit, sanitation, public works, public health workers and K-12 teachers who had been next in line.
Just how much of a delay that creates for those who thought they were next depends on how much vaccine is in the federal pipeline.
Starting Monday (Feb. 1), residents 75 and older are eligible to be vaccinated as the second phase opens; followed by those 65-plus; then those listed above and in the vocations listed here; and then individuals with one comorbidity.
Everyone else is in phase 3, scheduled to start in April, although that’s subject to change.
Baker also promised to accelerate the state’s distribution infrastructure in the coming weeks, adding dozens of new vaccine sites by mid-February, for a total of seven mass vaccination sites and 165 overall.
A new searchable map and online tool will make it possible for anyone needing a shot to schedule an appointment once eligible.
Massachusetts ranks in the bottom half of the 50 states when it comes to number of vaccine doses administered per capita according to federal data, and lags behind all other New England states, despite having what the state often touts as the best healthcare system in the world, notes Sarah Betancourt at CommonWealth.
Just over 360,000 of the state’s 5.8 million adults have been given at least a first-dose, leaving 5.44 million more.
The email below is from the Massachusetts School Building Authority today.
One of the next steps is for the town to evaluate using the MSBA’s Model School approach. Assistant Town Administrator, Nick Milano, reports that employing a Model School approach saved the City of Marlborough around $11m. on construction of a new school when he worked there, before coming to Medfield.
A subcommittee of the School Building Committee is also looking into whether the town can make the new school a net zero building. Lexington reported to the Select Board that its last new school was a net zero school that saved the town money from the first year, while also being better facility for the students, teachers, and the environment.
Unfortunately, the MSBA has yet to adopt a net zero Model School.
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RE: MSBA/Medfield: Dale Street Elementary School: Facilities Assessment Subcommittee Meeting
Good afternoon, Mr. Peterson:
I would like to thank the Town of Medfield (the “District”) and its consultants for their presentation on the proposed Dale Street Elementary School project (the “Proposed Project”) at the Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (“FAS”) meeting on January 20, 2021.
In addition to the comments which were discussed as part of the District’s FAS presentation, Christina Forde, MSBA Project Manager, included the following comments in her opening statements:
· The academic organization of the proposed building;
· Site circulation; and
· Opportunities for outdoor learning.
The following items were topics of discussion:
· Appreciation of the Educational Program;
· Inclusion and location of outdoor learning spaces
· Appreciation of the Main Street concept
· Appreciation of a campus approach
The MSBA will be forwarding a formal Model School Evaluation to the District under separate cover shortly.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or Christina Forde
Thank you,
Jenn
Jennifer Flynn
Senior Project Coordinator
Massachusetts School Building Authority
Al’s daughter, Lorrie Guindon, reported Friday that “Last night, at 6:25pm, Al was called up by the Commander in Heaven to join him.”
In 2013 Al was recognized by the Medfield Foundation with its Lifetime Achievement Award:
Condolences to Al’s family and friends.
Long time and highly talented Town of Medfield Veterans Service Officer Ron Griffin submitted these remarks at the time of Al’s nomination for the Medfield Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award:
Al Manganello
I have been contacted as a Nominee reference for Al Manganello Jr. I have known Al for many years and am familiar with many of his volunteer contributions to the Town of Medfield Veteran population.
Within the Veteran community Al is widely recognized for his
participation and support of just about every veteran related project in
Medfield.It was with this knowledge that I asked Al Manganello to
perform the honorary privilege of unveiling the Vietnam Memorial Plaque
at the Blake Middle School this past year.
Most of Al’s volunteer effort has been through the American Legion, a
volunteer organization.Al has in capacity as Post Commander or as
Committee Chairman has lead Post volunteers in many community efforts
throughout Medfield.Not all of those efforts have been specifically
veteran related but all have been involved in our small community.He is
a long standing member of the Cemetery Commission and served on a number
of town committees.
Perhaps most notably has been the Memorial Day Committee.Here along with
Past Police Chief Bill Mann, Al has been a constant fixture in the
successful implementation of our Memorial Day celebration.Those efforts
do not stop following the Memorial Day program and ceremonies at Vine
Lake.They end only after cleanup is performed after all parade members
have been served a luncheon.
His foot turned over the first shovel of dirt when the American Legion
Post was relocated from the old GAR building on pleasant Street to its
present location at Peter Kristof Way.So named in honor of Medfield’s
second resident who was killed in service in Vietnam.Again it was his
shovel, when ground breaking began on Baxter Park.Though this Veterans
Park was the dream and effort of many citizens, Al was there from
conception to dedication.
Often his efforts are without recognition through providing leadership
and direction. One example is through his efforts as the advisor to the
Son’s of the American Legion organization (SAL).This volunteer
organization is comprised of male descendants of American Legion
eligible veterans. Perhaps this is most significant because the Veteran
population is aging and volunteer efforts often require younger
strengths and stamina. That organization is now more active in providing
volunteer services where needed throughout our community. Recently with
Al’s support and guidance they have teamed with the “Angel Tree”
organization in an attempt to bring a bit more Christmas Joy for those
who less fortunate children in town. The SAL members now prepare the
Memorial Day luncheon provided to all those who participated in our
Memorial Day parade.
There is also little recognition when you are visiting a sick Veteran or
comforting a veteran’s family during the loss of a loved one.But Al is
there, he is always there when you need him.
Many of Al’s Volunteer efforts continue day to day, year to year with
2012 being no exception. He is still active in all the various
committees that he sits on and remains the backbone of the American
Legion and SAL organizations. Many know to turn to Al when they need
assistance but you’ll not find him being “Front and Center” when the
spotlight is turned on. But do look for him when its time to fold the
chairs and sweep the floors.
Ron Griffin
Medfield Veteran Service Officer
American Legion Post 110 Service Officer
From Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke –
The Dale Street School Project’s Preferred Schematic Report (PSR) was presented at the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Facilities Assessment Subcommittee (FAS) Meeting and was favorably received on January 20, 2021. In addition, the FAS was very complimentary to the Education Plan developed by the Medfield Public Schools. Representatives of the Town also saw the possible model schools that the MSBA has determined may work given our particular needs. The next step is for the Town to decide whether to proceed in the model school process which involves interviewing possible candidates.
Please consider tuning into two upcoming Zoom meetings:
– Monday, February 1 at 7pm: Wheelock Neighborhood Public Forum #2. Analysis of the recent traffic questionnaire will be shared.
– Wednesday, February 3 at 7pm: Joint meeting of the School Building Committee, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee
Further information about the project and to sign up for email updates please visit medfield.net. Please also follow the Dale Street School Building Project on Facebook.
Any questions: email DaleStreetSchoolProject@gmail.com.
Posted in Select Board matters
Medfield Select Board member
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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