The state primary election is today and the polls are open until 8PM at The Center.
There are contested races on both parties’ ballots.
The Democratic State Representative race features the following candidates, per this paragraph from the Charles River Chamber of Commerce’s e-newsletter this morning:
Five candidates want to fill Garlick’s 13th Norfolk seat covering Needham, Dover and part of Medfield. Democrats — Patrick Gatto, Ken Ruetenik, Josh Tarsky and write-in candidate Bhuren Patel compete today. They’ll face off against Bill Dermody, who’s running as an unenrolled candidate in November.
Posted onSeptember 1, 2024|Comments Off on Medfield TV’s 2nd Scarecrow Spooktacular 10/19, 12-4 PM
From Katie Duval, Executive Director, Medfield TV –
Medfield TV’s 2nd Annual Scarecrow Spooktacular festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Baxter Park in Medfield, MA. Kids of all ages are in for a treat!
The main attraction is a scarecrow contest, which registrants make in advance and bring to Baxter Park. These fun creations are put on display for the community and a panel of judges to view. Prizes are awarded to winners in these categories: Most Creative, Spookiest, Wackiest, Most Dazzling, and Community Favorite. You can register online by visiting www.medfield.tv/scarecrow
Sponsorships and Vendor opportunities are still available! Get your brand out to the Medfield community and beyond, while supporting your local community media center. Contact scarecrow@medfield.tv to inquire.
Medfield TV is a non-profit community media center serving the residents of Medfield. All proceeds from the event support the organization’s mission to provide media access and education to Medfield residents, students, and employees. For more information, visit www.medfield.tv
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Posted onAugust 27, 2024|Comments Off on EEE found in town again
From the town this afternoon –
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes from Medfield
DATE: August 27, 2024 TOWN: Medfield CONTACT: Brenda Healy, Public Health Nurse TELEPHONE: 508-906-3044 The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Medfield Massachusetts. In 2023, 10,765 mosquito samples were tested for EEE and 28 samples were positive. The Town of Medfield had zero EEE positive mosquito samples identified in 2023. EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under 15 years of age or over 50 years of age are at greatest risk for serious illness. By taking a few, common sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones: Avoid Mosquito Bites Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-mtoluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin. Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours – The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant. Mosquito-Proof Your Home Drain Standing Water – Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently. Install or Repair Screens – Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all your windows and doors. Medfield continues to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies to monitor the situation. Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.
Was great to meet up at Blue Moon Bagel Cafe in Medfield this morning with local leaders Select Board member Osler “Pete” Peterson, community leader Bill Massaro*, and former Norfolk Select Board member Kevin Kalkut. Bill has been holding the state’s feet to the fire on the Medfield State Hospital project, which entailed cleanup of a very contaminated site, and fingers crossed, it will soon be transformed into hundreds of units of housing in historic buildings, but in the meantime it’s a lovely trail next to the Charles River, I highly recommend it. We also talked stormwater, dams, and flooding. Decisions made at the local level are vital when it comes to a cleaner Charles River, and protecting our communities from impacts of climate change such as flooding and heat!
Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler shared her Summer 2024 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE with Select Board at our meeting on Tuesday, and I especially wanted to share the part below in blue font which is a follow up about the planned improvements to the West Street and RTE 27 intersection. At the Select Board meeting, Kris shared that in her meeting with MASSDOT that the state said that if Medfield builds the roundabout, as the state wants, that the state would find the town all of the monies to construct the roundabout. Whereas if we opt to install a traffic light, we will have to pay the entire $1.9m. cost on out own dime, as we will lose the $1.3m. Federal earmark.
To be clear, this Select Board member preferred the roundabout from the outset. It was the other two Select Board members who said they preferred the traffic light and who asked to have Kris pursue the traffic light option with the state.
The town now has the roundabout, which the MASSDOT traffic engineers say is the safest alternative, available to the town at no cost, versus a less safe traffic light option that will cost the town $1.9m. – should be an easy choice. If the town builds the traffic lights, your family’s share would be $4-5,000.
West Street and Route 27 Project Update
Maurice Goulet, Director of Public Works and I met with Beta Engineering and the MADOT engineering team to discuss the two different paths forward for the project as requested by the Select Board. For the first path, MADOT has confirmed that if we would like to utilize the 1.3 million dollar earmark we would have to continue with the MADOT process and that would include the consideration of a roundabout for this location. The total cost of that project is $1.9, however, MADOT indicated they would assist the Town in securing the remaining funding. MADOT believes that this location would benefit from a roundabout design. The next step if the Select Board elects this option is to go to the 25% design threshold.
Posted onAugust 24, 2024|Comments Off on ADU’s – coming to a Medfield yard near you in February
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s), or small homes of up to 900 sq. ft., become permitted as of right in Massachusetts starting 2/2/2025 on any single family lot, subject only to “reasonable regulations.” The recently enacted Affordable Homes Act (AHA) stated the new rules, adding ADU’s onto the exemptions from local zoning that already exist for educational, religious, and agricultural uses. The permitted reasonable regulations cited are “dimensional setbacks and the bulk and height of structures and . . . short-term rental.”
STATUTE
The Affordable Homes Act, Chapter 150 of the Acts 2024
SECTION 7. Section 1A of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition “Accessory dwelling unit” and inserting in place thereof the following definition:- “Accessory dwelling unit”, a self-contained housing unit, inclusive of sleeping, cooking and sanitary facilities on the same lot as a principal dwelling, subject to otherwise applicable dimensional and parking requirements, that: (i) maintains a separate entrance, either directly from the outside or through an entry hall or corridor shared with the principal dwelling sufficient to meet the requirements of the state building code for safe egress; (ii) is not larger in gross floor area than 1/2 the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller; and (iii) is subject to such additional restrictions as may be imposed by a municipality, including, but not limited to, additional size restrictions and restrictions or prohibitions on short-term rental, as defined in section 1 of chapter 64G; provided, however, that no municipality shall unreasonably restrict the creation or rental of an accessory dwelling unit that is not a short-term rental. SECTION 8. Section 3 of said chapter 40A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- No zoning ordinance or by-law shall prohibit, unreasonably restrict or require a special permit or other discretionary zoning approval for the use of land or structures for a single accessory dwelling unit, or the rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district; provided, that the use of land or structures for such accessory dwelling unit under this paragraph may be subject to reasonable regulations, including, but not limited to, 310 CMR 15.000 et seq., if applicable, site plan review, regulations concerning dimensional setbacks and the bulk and height of structures and may be subject to restrictions and prohibitions on short-term rental, as defined in section 1 of chapter 64G. The use of land or structures for an accessory dwelling unit under this paragraph shall not require owner occupancy of either the accessory dwelling unit or the principal dwelling; provided, that not more than 1 additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling unit; and provided further, that no additional parking space shall be required for an accessory dwelling located not more than 0.5 miles from a commuter rail station, subway station, ferry terminal or bus station. For more than 1 accessory dwelling unit, or rental thereof, in a single-family residential zoning district there shall be a special permit for the use of land or structures for an accessory dwelling unit. The executive office of housing and livable communities may issue guidelines or promulgate regulations to administer this paragraph.
ANALYSIS
The law firm Mirrick O’Connell last week sent out an emailed update that summarized the legislative change that permits ADU’s as follows:
Accessory Dwelling Units Permitted By-Right (Sections 7 and 8)
The AHA amends the Zoning Act by prohibiting towns and cities from restricting accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zoning districts. ADUs, sometimes known as in-law apartments, now fall under the protection of M.G.L. c. 40A, Section 3, which exempts religious, educational, and other uses from local zoning.
One ADU is now allowed by-right on each lot in a single-family zoning district, subject to “reasonable regulations”, which may include non-discretionary site plan review, certain dimensional controls, Title 5 septic regulations, and restrictions on short-term rentals.
The AHA provides that an accessory dwelling unit must have a separate entrance (interior or exterior) that complies with the State Building Code and may not be larger than half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is smaller. The AHA prohibits restrictions on owner-occupancy and rentals of ADUs, eliminating the requirement in many towns and cities that in-law apartments may only be used by an owner’s close relative.
In addition, towns and cities must allow additional ADUs in single-family zones through a special permit process.
The ADU provisions take effect on February 2, 2025, so municipalities have a few months to consider zoning amendments consistent with the AHA.
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WGBH is advertising that Jared Bowen will be doing a story on the Bellforge Arts Center and interviewing Jean Mineo today. Based on the just shared introduction, it sounded like Jean will be at the end. they listed 4-5 stories.
Email from Michael Taylor who lives at 243 North Street –
North Street between School Street and Farm Street is now closed. Stolen car hit telephone pole, which will have to be replaced. Occupant(s) missing. Considered a crime scene. A Canine unit searched the area. Happened just before 5 am.
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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