The Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce newsletter today reports that the number of real estate hose sales were up a lot last year, just not in Medfield, however Medfield prices appear to have risen 13.4% last year, perhaps because there were not enough houses for sale in town, given the demand. The 2020 median single family home sale price was $805,000.
More single-family homes were sold last year in Massachusetts than in any other year since 2004, despite a once-in-a-century pandemic that threatened the financial security of thousands of residents and dramatically changed the process of buying and selling a home, reports Colin A. Young at State House News.
There were 61,469 single-family home sales in 2020 — a 3.9 percent increase over the sales total of 2019, according to The Warren Group. And December 2020 saw 6,410 single-family home sales in Massachusetts — the most ever recorded for the month and up 28.6 percent from December 2019.
Eversource press release announces energy saving assistance for our town’s businesses –
Eversource Energy : Partners with Medfield to Launch Energy Efficiency Campaign for Small Businesses
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09/15/2020 | 02:55pm EDT
Energy company helps business owners identify specific ways to save on building’s operating costs now and in the future
BOSTON September 14, 2020 – Eversource is working with Medfield next month on the Main Streets energy efficiency initiative to help local, small businesses reduce their energy costs, save money and have a positive impact on the environment. From September 14th until September 18th, energy experts from Eversource-approved contractor, Rise, will be in the community meeting with businesses, scheduling no-cost energy assessments and answering questions about energy-efficient equipment upgrades and improvements.
‘Energy efficiency provides businesses of all sizes with a competitive edge and directly impacts their bottom line through energy savings,’ said Eversource Vice President of Energy Efficiency Tilak Subrahmanian, ‘Many small businesses are facing financial hardships right now, and this effort will help connect small business owners with ways to save on their energy costs.’
Medfield is one of 15 communities chosen for this initiative in 2020. In 2019, Eversource visited nine communities and helped small business owners reduce their energy use by more than 2.7 million kWh and save more than $400,000 as a result of this initiative.
The Main Streets energy efficiency program begins with a no-cost, no-obligation energy assessment identifying energy-saving opportunities for small businesses, such as new lighting, occupancy sensors, programmable thermostats, refrigeration controls, insulation and more. Some of the improvements, such as installing aerators and spray valves, happen on the spot at no cost to the customer. Larger improvement projects, like HVAC equipment upgrades or the installation of energy-efficient motor controls, are scheduled for a future date. For a limited time, Eversource has increased incentives for a range of energy-efficiency improvements to further offset the cost of upgrades, and interest-free financing is available for any remaining costs.
Local, licensed electricians contracted by Eversource will complete approved projects, ensuring minimal disruption to daily business operations. All contractors are required to follow state-of-the-art health and safety guidelines to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and all high-efficiency products installed as part of the program will include warranties for both materials and labor.
Eversource has delivered postcards with more information about the program to Medfield businesses. For more information about the program and to schedule a free assessment at a convenient time, businesses should contact Eversource’s contractor, Rise, directly at 401-784-3700 x 6158.
The U.S. Small Business Administration on Monday released some details of the companies that received loans under the coronavirus stimulus package. (Shutterstock)
MEDFIELD, MA — More than 240 companies and non-profits in Medfield received loans of less than $150,000 from the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, helping retain nearly 1,000 jobs.
The U.S. Small Business Administration on Monday released some details of the companies that received loans under the coronavirus stimulus package. While it named all the companies that received loans of over $150,000, it did not name companies that received less than that.
Still, the numbers showed that 242 companies and non-profits got smaller loans totaling $9,152,604.51, helping retain 972 jobs.
Thirty-five businesses and non-profits in Medfield received loans of $150,000 or more from the PPP, helping retain 740 jobs. You can see those here.
PPP loans were established as part of the federal government’s CARES act, and are similar to grants: they will be forgiven as long as businesses keep its employees on their payroll, without cutting their pay. However, the money does not necessarily have to go directly to employees as long as the business keeps paying them, it can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.
On Monday, the government released data showing that nearly 5 million businesses have received PPP loans totaling over $521,000,000,000. The U.S. Treasury says that money has supported 51.1 million jobs, as much as 84 percent of America’s small business employees.
The Town of Medfield has the opportunity to pursue funding in order to create a local microenterprise grant program. Microenterprises are businesses with 5 or fewer employees, one of which is the owner. In order to determine the amount of the prospective funding request and how the program will operate if funded, we need to know more about microenterprises in Medfield. Please take this short survey: https://forms.gle/21XyGaYof2VAoKym9
Two of Medield’s best, Park Street Books and the Medfield Food Cupboard team up this Saturday 10-4 –
Come see the Little Blue Truck and Donate Food
Stop by Medfield’s beloved Park Street Books on Saturday, May 23 between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM. Participants are encouraged to bring their camera and take a photo with the adorable blue truck as described in the popular children’s book The Little Blue Truck — a story by Alice Schertle about friends helping friends. While stopping by for a fun photo, please consider bringing a bag of food to donate to the Medfield Food Cupboard. Requested kid-friendly food items include: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, crackers, packets of oatmeal and cookies. Donors are encouraged to post their cute photos on Medfield Food Cupboard’s Facebook page. The rain date is set for Sunday, May 24.
The Massachusetts Municipal Association explained the reopening as follows –
Baker-Polito Administration Releases State Reopening Plan
The Baker-Polito Administration today released the Reopening Advisory Board’s report, Reopening Massachusetts, which details a four-phased strategy to reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19. The state has launched a comprehensive website with detailed reopening information at www.mass.gov/reopening.
The Administration also released a new “Safer at Home” Advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19.
All businesses and expanded activities, including governmental services, will need to comply with mandatory safety standards for workplaces that were announced last week, including social distancing, hygiene protocols, staffing and operations, and cleaning and disinfecting. In addition, the state will be setting industry-specific safety requirements and guidance, if clearer or more stringent steps are necessary, as determined by public health officials.
The Administration’s COVID-19 Reopening Advisory Board finalized the specifics of the plan over the weekend. Today’s announcement was accompanied by an official report, specific industry guidance for those businesses/activities that will be permitted in Phase 1, materials for businesses to use for preparation and self-certification of their compliance with state-set health and safety requirements, and updated Executive Orders to implement the new phase.
Phase 1 of the Reopening (“Start”) Begins Today, May 18
Allowed Activity During Phase One
Gatherings will continue to be limited to a maximum of 10 people, unless otherwise provided in other orders and guidelines.
The state is eliminating the “Essential” and “Non-Essential” distinctions, and will authorize categories of businesses or industry segments to reopen following specific guidance and conditions that will be provided in advance of each phase.
For the Start phase, the state is allowing the following business activity as of May 18:
Essential Businesses that are operating now will remain open, and have until May 25 to implement the new mandatory workplace safety standards and other Phase 1 requirements for their industry sector.
Manufacturing and Construction, following specific industry workplace guidelines & standards (links to these requirements can be found below).
Houses of Worship, with only 40% of maximum capacity allowed and other safety requirements (a link to the requirements can be found below).
Gun Stores are open due to a federal court ruling.
Outdoor Recreation activities, including Beaches, Parks, Fishing, Hunting, and other activities, following guidelines published today by the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (a link to these can be found below).
For the Start phase, the state is allowing the following business activity as of May 25:
Offices and Laboratories (June 1 for Boston), with a cap on occupancy at 25% and other requirements, and a very strong “Work From Home” advisory for all those who can operate remotely (links to the requirements can be found below).
Retail Establishments – Fulfillment and Curbside Only, with no indoor customer access during Phase One.
Hair Salons, Car Washes and Pet Grooming, following conditions and requirements established by the state (links to these can be found below).
Expanded Elective Medical Procedures could proceed, following state guidelines.
For Phase 2, the reopening plan expects to include the following: In-store retail, restaurants and lodging (the limitations are under review), additional personal services (nail salons or day spas, e.g.), campgrounds, playgrounds, public and community pools, athletic fields, limited youth sports (no games).
For Phase 3, the reopening plan expects to include the following: bars, gyms, museums, other arts & entertainment (other than nightclubs and large venues), youth sports with games and tournaments (with limited crowd sizes).
Enforcement Will be a Combination of Self-Certification and On-Site Inspections
In order to reopen, businesses must develop a written COVID-19 Control Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. Required materials are located on mass.gov/reopening, and include detailed sector-specific circulars and checklists to facilitate compliance. Many of these links are listed below.
Rule-Making and Enforcement Roles – The Department of Public Health and the Department of Labor Standards is responsible for developing the health and safety standards for each industry sector, and enforcement will primarily occur through local Boards of Health.
Administration provides guidance document on municipal enforcement – the Baker-Polito Administration has provided a document outlining their guidance on municipal enforcement protocols and procedures as businesses begin to reopen. MMA is providing a link to the state’s guidance document here and below, and is reviewing the guidance with municipal officials.
Self-Attestation – All allowed businesses and activities would be required to download and sign an “Attestation Poster” from the state website to attest that they are in compliance with the mandatory safety standards announced last week and the supplemental industry-specific requirements published by the state.
Plans – All allowed businesses and activities would be required to develop their own plans on how to comply with the mandatory safety standards, with a sample template provided on the state website.
Posting – The attestations must be posted on site for employees and customers to see.
• On-Site Records – The attestations and plans would be kept on site, and would not be filed with the Commonwealth or local government.
• Access and Inspections – State and local enforcement agencies would have the authority to review the attestations and plans upon request and inspect to ensure compliance.
Additional Elements
The state is developing a series of guidelines and procedures for the Commonwealth’s own operations, and will be sharing those with municipalities, including human resources policies for state employees, the use and operation of public buildings (being developed by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance), and the delivery of public-facing services (being developed by the Registry of Motor Vehicles);
Future phases will progressively include additional activities and business operations (in-store retail operations, personal services, restaurants, bars, lodging, team sporting activities, large sporting and entertainment events, e.g.);
State officials will closely monitor key COVID-19 health metrics, and determine when it is safe to proceed to the next reopening phase, with at least three weeks needed in each stage before adequate information is available to assess public health outcomes and decide the timing of moving from Start to Cautious, and then to Vigilant and New Normal;
The state will continue to expand its testing and contact tracing capacity, with the intention of placing priority on high-density areas and hot spots;
The Administration projects that the childcare/daycare operations that are running now for emergency and healthcare workers have the capacity to serve families that need these services during Phase One; and
In the coming weeks, childcare/daycare and transportation, key enablers for reopening the economy will continue to be explored and expanded as possible within the realities of COVID-19, following strict health protocols to ensure public health and safety.
The Administration also reported that public health officials are currently drafting specific guidance on summer camps, and those recommendations will be forthcoming within the next couple of weeks – summer camps are not expected to begin until Phase 2 at the earliest.
Helpful Links to Reopening Documents and Materials
Links to updated (May 18) state guidance on outdoor recreation, beaches, campgrounds, boating, hunting, fishing, campgrounds, facility restrooms and more:
Providing timely notice, guidance and information to municipalities in advance of each phase;
Issuing strong and clear directives and standards in each phase, including specific guidance for delivering public-facing programs and services;
Ensuring universal access to resources for all municipalities, including PPE, equipment, cleaning supplies, testing for municipal employees and the public, technical assistance and funding; and
Affirming clear local enforcement authority.
MMA leaders are continuing to hold detailed and productive discussions on these priorities at the highest levels of the Administration, and we appreciate that this collaborative and open discussion will be ongoing throughout the entire reopening process, particularly on those items that were not fully reflected in the state’s reopening plan as announced on May 18. Many details and questions will emerge in the coming days and weeks, and MMA will continue to work on all of these issues.
The MMA will provide further updates and information on the state’s reopening process as details become available
Chief Carricon and Chief Guerette holding donated masks.
2,000 masks donated by Sam Aronson, of StringKing Lacrosse and Medfield High Class of 2011
String King Lacrosse, of LA, CA was founded by Jake McCampbell, Medfield High School Class of 2007 and Luke Aronson, Medfield High School Class of 2005 (cousins). Sam Aronson joined the company after graduating from Tufts in 2015.
The attached list has been compiled by the Town of Medfield for community members to know what services are available in the community as businesses adapt to the COVID-19 situation. Please confirm offerings with establishment directly.
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS FEATURE: We have enabled comments/suggestions feature on this document. We are encouraging both business owners/managers and customers to alert us of a change by adding a comment or suggestion to this document. Open in Google Docs HERE (no sign-in required).
Open for Business in Medfield, MA The following list has been compiled by the Town of Medfield for community members to know what services are available in the community as businesses adapt to the COVID-19 situation. CONFIRM OFFERINGS WITH ESTABLISHMENT DIRECTLY.
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS FEATURE: We have enabled comments/suggestions feature on this document. We are encouraging both business owners/managers and customers to alert us of a change by adding a comment or suggestion to this document.
The Town of Medfield is committed to helping local businesses through this unprecedented challenge but we need your input on how we can be of assistance. It has been remarkable seeing how adaptive local business has been. Please use THIS GOOGLE FORM so we can identify and support the needs of our business community.
Additionally, please update our Medfield Open For Business Google Doc with details of your offerings as well. We have enabled comments/suggestions feature on this document. We are encouraging both business owners/managers and customers to alert us of a change by adding a comment or suggestion to this document.
Sign up for COVID-19 alerts from the Town of Medfield HERE
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.
