Author Archives: Select Board member Osler "Pete" Peterson

ATM votes last Monday on ALS & AHT

Posted on April 28, 2017 | Comments Off on ATM votes last Monday on ALS & AHT

town meeting

ALS Study Committee & Affordable Housing Trust at ATM

The town posted a summary of the votes on each warrant article at last Monday’s annual town meeting (ATM) (20170424-Warrant_votes_2017) .

On the only two substantially disputed warrant articles, my own estimate of the votes was that the warrant article:

  • #15 about ALS had the ATM voting about 80% against giving $500,000 to the selectmen to implement ALS as it saw fit in the next year if the selectmen felt it was needed – a clear mandate that the residents wants to make that decision themselves, rather than delegate it.  ALS will now go to the study committee that both the Warrant Committee and selectmen recommended; and
  • #17 about funding the Affordable Housing Trust with a $1m. bond had the ATM voting about 80% in favor.  Those monies will provide the town a financial tool to use to create affordable housing, in its efforts to get to 10% affordable housing and to therefore eliminate unfriendly 40B’s.  The town needs about 139 more affordable housing units to reach that 10% threshold, or about 160 if one considers the likely increase in housing units in town to be needed after the 2020 census.

Residents interested in serving on either the newly created ALS Study Committee or the just created Affordable Housing Trust should contact Evelyn Clarke (eclarke@medfield.net) to make his or her interest known.

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Posted in Affordable housing / 40B, Fire Department, Town Meeting

Donate to ANGP

Posted on April 28, 2017 | Comments Off on Donate to ANGP

From Tracey Rogers, ANGP Co-chair –

ANGP-2

Please support the CLASS of 2017 by making a donation to this year’s All Night Graduation Party (ANGP). Medfield’s ANGP is a time-honored tradition that has provided a safe and fun way for Seniors to celebrate on graduation night for 25 years. The party held at the Medfield High School could not take place without the support of our community. Graduation Day is Sunday, June 4th, for 218 Medfield Seniors. Use the blue form in the ANGP flyer that was recently sent to all Medfield residents or simply mail your contribution to MHS All Night Graduation Party, PO Box 38, Medfield, MA 02052. On-line donations can be made at medfieldhspto.org.  THANK YOU!

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Posted in Charity, Events, Medfield High School, Volunteers

SWAP volunteers 4/30

Posted on April 26, 2017 | Comments Off on SWAP volunteers 4/30

From Megan Sullivan –

Swap area

SWAP SET-UP

On Sunday April 30th the final tent/canopy will be set up AND the washed tables, shelves, bookcases, signs etc. will be set up into the  tents. We need 4-6 men to help with the canopy set-up.  If you can commit to helping with the tent set up please contact n.nancyirwin@verizon.net.   Other help is welcome anytime from 10-3 and while a sign-up is appreciated, you are also more than welcome (and encouraged to) just to stop by to help for 15 minutes or more!

Thanks

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Posted in Recycling & Solid Waste

Vote daily to 5/12

Posted on April 26, 2017 | 2 comments

vote.2msh-lee-chapel-by-jt

VOTE DAILY ONLINE FOR CULTURAL ALLIANCE GRANT

The Cultural Alliance has submitted a video grant application. If the video gets enough votes (i.e. lands in the top 10 of the category “arts and culture”), it advances to the next round of evaluation which will award one application in each category $100k and two applications $50k each. A lot of money!
PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR VIDEO GRANT today and everyday thru May 12
http://act.usatoday.com/submit-an-idea/#/gallery/60445715

Leave a browser tab open, refresh the page each day, and click “VOTE.”

2 Comments

Posted in Cultural, Medfield State Hospital

Warrant Committee handout about ALS

Posted on April 24, 2017 | Comments Off on Warrant Committee handout about ALS

ALS OPTIONS OVERVIEW

 

The Warrant Committee has prepared this Options Overview for Article 15.

 

Option 1.  As Is – For a Limited Time Period

 

Rely on neighboring communities to provide ALS intercept service (as we have in recent past) while evaluating an optimal long term solution

 

Expected Investment:             Potential $25K to study committee (no over-ride required)

Service:                                   Effective – ALS intercept will continue to work well for us if neighbors continue to support us while we evaluate other solutions

Uncertainty:                           Not a long term solution

 

Option 2.  Contract out ALS Services

 

Contract with a private service to dedicate an ambulance and 2 Paramedics to Medfield 24/7

 

Expected Investment:             $570K per year (based on one quote only)

Service:                                   Response time fast (have 2 ambulances available – ALS & BLS)

Ambulance utilization low

Staffed from a pool of paramedics with high utilization/experience

Uncertainty:                           Control of resources, Potential to share costs & services

 

Option 3. Hire FF/Paramedics

 

Hire paramedics and equip current ambulance to accommodate ALS service

 

Expected Investment:             6 hires < $700K ($544K-$606K per year +  $90K startup costs)

(Lower if we hire entry level Paramedics but will grow to this level within 7 years as a result of step increases)

4 hires would decrease investment 30%

8 hires would increase investment 30%

Service:                                   Response time fast (assuming no concurrent calls),

Equipment and Paramedic utilization low

Uncertainty:                           Number of hires/level of coverage
New Fire Chief not yet available – who will hire/train?
Cost (contract negotiations ongoing, retirement benefits not included,
budget to support required wage growth without future over-rides)

 

Option 4. Regionalize ALS Services

 

Share resources (either hired or contracted ALS) with other towns locally

 

Expected Investment:             Unknown – but lower than other long term options.

Potentially half (or less) than other options; could it be a profit center?

Service:                                   Response time fast (assuming no concurrent calls) especially if ambulance housed in Medfield, Utilization higher

Uncertainty:                           Partners, cost sharing, location of ambulance

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Posted in Fire Department, Uncategorized

Town clean up tomorrow

Posted on April 21, 2017 | Comments Off on Town clean up tomorrow

From Jonathan Chechile –

=========================================================

Looking forward to seeing everyone at God Loves Medfield! Come clean up the community, and then enjoy lunch from Cutlets.

God Loves Medfield |
Don’t forget your rake! We will be providing extra’s, but please bring a pair of gloves and a rake. We will be providing bags for trash collection.
godlovesmedfield.com

April 22, 2017

Community Celebration: 12 – 3:00 pm

Service Projects: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

 

Instructions and notes:

Don’t forget your rake! We will be providing extra’s, but please bring a pair of gloves and a rake. We will be providing bags for trash collection.

If you are planning on serving at a downtown location, please meet at Gazebo Park next to the Medfield Public Library: 468 Main Street, Medfield, MA 02052 for a quick time of welcome and then Location Captains will be heading to Baxter park, Meetinghouse Pond, or the Dwight Derby house.

If you are planning on serving at the Charles River Cleanup, Kingsbury Pond, Medfield State Hospital, or Hinkley Park, please meet at the worksite. There will be a Location Captains there to greet you.

 

  • If you are planning on serving at the Charles River Cleanup, please do not bring kids under 10, as we will be working along West Street as it passes over the Charles, and along the banks.
  • Note for Scouts. Den Leaders will be communicating with the pack as the where you will be meeting, and what time to meet if other than 9.
  • Note on Community Service hours. For Scouts and any/all in need of community service hours, the Location Captain will have a form to give you confirming you served.

Community Celebration: 12 – 3:00 pm

Meet at Gazebo Park next to the Medfield Public Library: 468 Main Street, Medfield, MA 02052.

Food will be served a little after 12 thanks to Cutlets, and Ice cream and drinks will be provided thanks to Brothers Marketplace.

After everyone is served, representatives of the Medfield Green, the Lowell Mason House, and other community partners and friends will give updates on projects they are working on, and then there will be games and fun for the whole family!

 

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Posted in Downtown, Volunteers

Fire Chief selection process

Posted on April 20, 2017 | 2 comments

The Board of Selectmen were given the following outline of a Fire Chief selection process on Tuesday evening this week by Kristine Trierweiler.  She said it was a process that she had worked out with the Personnel Board, mainly derived from the town’s last Police Chief search.  The difference this time is that the town’s consultant will be hired at the outset, instead of when we are substantially into the process, as was done with the Police Chief.

Kris opined that the process of selecting a new chief will take 4-5 months, which means that we should have a new chief on board to have input into resolving the ALS issue, if the town opts to pursue the recommendation of the Warrant Committee and selectmen to appoint an ALS Study Committee at the town meeting.

Mike Sullivan opined that the Chief needs to live in town, and/or commit to moving to town within 18 months per Kris, and that will be an issue that the selection committee will decide.  I have heard the suggestion that it is not a necessity and not required by other towns.

Residents interested in serving on the committee should contact Evelyn Clarke at the Town House – 508-906-3012.

mfd

April 2017

FIRE CHIEF SELECTION PROCESS

  1. Personnel Board to develop Fire Chief Selection process and file with the Town
  2. Formation of a search committee to include:

Scott McDermott, Town Moderator

Robert Cordon, Personnel Board Representative

Dr. Jeffrey Marsden, Superintendent of Public Schools

Chief Robert Meaney

Kristine Trierweiler, Asst Town Administrator

John Naff, Building Commissioner

Current/Retired Fire Chief

Resident at Large

Resident at Large

Committee’s first tasks will be to choose a Public Safety Management Consultant to assist in the transition and Assessment Center Process as well as develop selection criteria for position posting.

  1. Development of selection criteria
  2. Selection Criteria Finalized and Position Posted

Selection Committee will present selection criteria to the Board of Selectmen for their review. All changes should be agreed upon by both the Search Committee and the Board of Selectmen at a joint meeting.

Selection criteria determined after interviews with town officials, fire department employees and residents.

  1. Design of Comprehensive Assessment Center

Consultant will work with the Selection Committee to design and conduct a Fire Chief Assessment Center to evaluate candidates using various exercises and measure performance.

 

April 2017

  1. Recruitment and Selection

Selection Committee will work with Consultant to utilize various recruitment sources to construct a list of potential candidates. Initial screening of all resumes will be completed by the Selection Committee.

Candidates will be chosen by the Selection Committee to attend preliminary interviews and/or the One day Assessment Center to evaluate knowledge, skills, and ability.

Once the Committee has final list of candidates, the Consultant will complete character, background, and reference, checks on each of the finalist candidates. Standard reference checks will be used for all candidates by the Consultant in consultation with the Personnel Board.

  1. Board of Selectmen Appointment

After the reference checks are completed, finalist candidates will be presented to a full meeting of the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen will then interview each of the candidates and based on the scores of the Assessment Center, interviews and the reference checks a Fire Chief may be appointed by the Board of SelectmenMFD

2 Comments

Posted in Fire Department

Affordable housing at the Legion

Posted on April 20, 2017 | Comments Off on Affordable housing at the Legion

Selectmen were informed yesterday that the Legion is looking to build affordable housing for veterans at its current location, and as a byproduct of the affordable housing project, to get a new facility (a copy of the email appears below).

I suggested to Ron Griffin that I would like him to follow up on my past suggestion to explore the possibility of adding onto the Legion’s land some of the adjoining town owned land, where the town both has an interest in developing more affordable housing and may well have no other possible use for that land.  That town land could perhaps allow the number of affordable units provided to be increased.

 

Legion

From: Vet Ron G HM [mailto:rgriffin@medfield.net]
Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 5:47 PM
To: Pete Peterson ; Mike Marcucci ; Gus Murby
Cc: Mike Sullivan
Subject: American Legion discussing 40B units

 

Hi Pete, Mike and Gus

I wanted to inform you that the American Legion is discussing with developers Ralph Costello and  Mike Larkin to build 40b rental units on their property on Peter Kristoff Way.

Preliminary discussion, is for the Legion to receive a new building on the existing property in exchange for 40B rental units to be developed on the remainder of the 2.5 acre piece of property.  Some of the rental units would be reserved for low income veterans or their surviving spouses.

The current Legion building has turned into a money pit of needed expenses.  We have been trimming operational costs for the building for the last few years but heating and cooling this metal building with limited insulation is overwhelming.  We now have major roof, sewer and parking lot maintenance issues pending.  We’ve patched our patches with more patches.

Our goal is to have a two story building with a function hall on the first floor and in the basement the members rooms.  We hope to offer Medfield, an attractive location to hold functions larger than 40 people but less than 140.  With limited building overhead costs, we hope to be financially able through function rentals to support the many programs that the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion support through out our community.

We also understand that this project might meet the towns Safe Harbor requirement for 2018

I provide this infromation as Executive Board Chairman of American Legion Beckwith Post 110, Medfield Ma. and very close acquaintance of Medfield’s Veteran Service Officer.

Ron Griffin
Medfield VSO

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Posted in Affordable housing / 40B, Veterans

LED’s at ATM

Posted on April 18, 2017 | Comments Off on LED’s at ATM

This from the Medfield Energy Committee chair, Fred Bunger –

LED streetlight

Letter to Editor

 

I am writing in support of Article #25 on the Town Meeting warrant.  Article #25 proposes that the Town save $31,870/yr. on lighting cost by converting 347 streetlights in Medfield to LED.   Medfield would join over 50 other Massachusetts towns that have made the conversion to LED.

 

The net cost of the project is $67,600 after State grants and utility incentives.  This gives a simple payback of 2.1 years or 47% return on investment. With conservative allocation for future replacement and doubled maintenance costs, the payback is still an excellent 3.1 years.

 

The LED lights will provide a more natural light than the HID lights currently used.  LED lighting improvements in the last few years have permitted adjustments to the light color to avoid the harsh blue light seen in earlier LED installations.  To see what the Medfield lights might look like, take a drive on Route 109 into Westwood, which converted to LED recently.

 

The Medfield Energy Committee has been considering LED street lighting for several years.  The recent availability of State grants makes this an excellent time to implement the project.  We urge your support.

 

Sincerely,

Fred Bunger, Chairman Medfield Energy Committee

 

 

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Posted in Energy Committee, Town Meeting

Relay for Life – Chili Chowder Challenge, 4/22

Posted on April 16, 2017 | Comments Off on Relay for Life – Chili Chowder Challenge, 4/22

From Medfield firefighter, Bill DeKing –

chili chowder-page-001-2017

Come taste and vote on your favorite chili & chowder from some of the best local restaurants to benefit the Relay For Life of Millis / Medway/ Medfield/ Norfolk on April 22nd from Noon – 4pm. We will have raffles, silent auction, music, cash bar and much much more! Tickets are $20 per person and are available to be purchased in advance or at the door. The following restaurants are going to be there to judge. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to donate.
Thank you,
Bill DeKing
508-254-9008

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Posted in Charity, Events, Uncategorized