Category Archives: Information

Branch Pick Up

Posted on September 2, 2011 | 4 comments

Just discussed town issues with Mike Sullivan ahead of the Board of Selectmen meeting 9/6, and I suggested to him that I thought in the future that the town should pick up from the curb the tree branches that residents stack there after bad storms, such as Irene last week.  Maybe take everything up to 4″ in diameter.  The DPW did a great job with the clean up they did this past week, and they have the equipment to handle the tree trunks and limbs that most residents just do not possess.  The DPW clean up that happened was an example of government working really well for its citizens.

Mike feels it would cost the town too much to have the DPW pick up everyone’s branches, and that some would take advantage to clean out their brush piles.  I suggested that we have Ken Feeney report to the Board of Selectmen on how much it might cost to do in the future, plus I do not think we should scuttle the idea out of fear of a few bad apples taking unfair advantage – they can be spoken to individually and/or their piles just left – perhaps say we will only collect freshly fallen branches.  But the cost does need to be considered.

It is really up to residents whether they want such a service or not, as if so, they will pay for it.  We would want to know the cost before implementing it.  It is probably also  another good question to ask the residents in the town by means of the on-line polling that I asked Kristine Trierweiler to implement to ask residents about whether they want the town to pay for mailboxes damaged by the town’s plows.   Makes sense to me to ask residents whether they want the town to provide a particular service or not, then, if there is enough support for what is proposed, to consider moving forward.

I wished the town had everyone’s email address this past week so that a blast email notice could have gone out to advise of the transfer station being open every day this past week.  Having resident’s email addresses would have been one of the side benefits of the town e-newsletter I proposed, as probably most residents would to sign up for the town e-newsletter in order to stay informed, and then the town captures their email addresses to use for other important communication.

4 Comments

Posted in Information, Town Services

Medfield to NSTAR

Posted on August 31, 2011 | Comments Off on Medfield to NSTAR

Mike Sullivan’s email to NSTAR this afternoon

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

8/31/2011  4:17PM
Remaining areas of power outages Medfield
Sullivan, Michael J.
“‘Salvucci, Barry'”
===========================================================
Barry, The following is the list of remaining power outages in Medfield as
of 4:00 p.m., August 31, 2011.

MEDFIELD

Lower Indian Hill and sewer pump station on South St at base
of Indian Hill

Nauset Street

Mohawk Street

Penobscot Street

Granite Street (just before Liberty Road)

Snyder Road – blocked with wires

11 -13 Plain St. (beginning part)

Kettle Pond

Cole Drive

74 Wood End Lane (tree on wire)

Wood End Lane (beginning part)

38 Bridge Street

69 & 71 Dale Street

94 High Street – water well

Noon Hill Road

Appreciate your attention to these. Would like to get together with NSTAR to
discuss new dispatch system and other communication issues.

Mike Sullivan, Bob Meaney. Bill Kingsbury, Ken Feeney

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Posted in Information

Verizon and NSTAR Emergency #s & Advice

Posted on August 26, 2011 | 3 comments

Messages below with respect to the storm from NSTAR and Verizon, with telephone #s to report problems  you may have – ====================================================

NSTAR is closely monitoring the storm’s progress and we’re prepared to respond to any damage or outages as soon as it’s safe to do so.

We’ll be activating our Emergency Response Plan, opening regional service centers as storm response headquarters and adding extra staff in our service centers and customer call center.

NSTAR is prepared to address any damage and outages resulting from the storm and we encourage customers whose electric service is affected to call us at 1-800-592-2000. As always, we strongly urge people to stay away from all down wires and to report them to us and local emergency officials.

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

VERIZON

Dear Municipal Official:

The following helpful information and Verizon contact numbers will help residents and your municipality deal with telecommunications related issues over the next several days as we prepare for Hurricane Irene.  The customer check list below, Verizon’s toll free number 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) and website www.verizon.com/support may be posted to your Municipal website and public access channels.

The Verizon network is a complex collection of assets, from buildings to transmission facilities to vehicles and people, and Verizon’s regional control center is preparing for possible flooding, power outages and downed trees and wires from Irene’s aftermath.  For example, generators are being fueled and tested and portable equipment like trucks and specialized gear is being moved from low-lying areas, where possible.  Building sump pumps are also being tested, and drains and gutters cleared.  Verizon teams are also reviewing the inventory of supplies like utility poles, cable and other equipment and are planning for staffing of essential positions.

The telecommunications network, like your home, requires power to function properly.  If commercial power goes out, backup batteries and generators in Verizon’s central switching offices or field facilities keep power flowing so customers’ phones ring even when the lights go out.  Verizon suggests customers prepare for Irene by taking the following steps:

Customer Check List

·        If you rely solely on cordless phones in your home, you should consider getting an inexpensive hard-wired phone that plugs directly into your home’s wall jacks.  Cordless phones will not function without commercial power, but corded phones will work in the event of a loss of commercial power.

·        Remember home answering machines won’t work without power, but Verizon voice mail service – which is powered by the network – will work and can serve as a convenient family message board.

·        Charge all battery-powered devices before the storm hits, including wireless phones and PDAs, laptop computers, personal entertainment devices (like MP3 players), flashlights and radios. And check your supply of batteries.

·        Many people keep all of their contact information in their PCs or wireless devices.  Make contact lists and create communications plans for loved ones before the storm hits.  If you are evacuated or are otherwise unreachable, make plans to communicate via wireless calling, text messaging, the Internet or other alternatives available at relocation sites.

·        Top off all vehicle and generator fuel tanks before the storm – gas pumps also rely on commercial power.

·        Check your local emergency-readiness authorities for their recommendations and advisories about the situation in your area. Be sure to check back with them if the situation gets worse.

·        If you live in a flood-prone area, protect sensitive equipment like computers and TVs by getting them as high above ground as you can so when service comes back up, you’ll be back in business quickly.

To Report Service Related Issues 

Customers can contact Verizon at 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) or online at www.verizon.com/support to report any service-related issue.

3 Comments

Posted in Information

Medfield Crime Statistics – ShangrI-La?

Posted on August 26, 2011 | Comments Off on Medfield Crime Statistics – ShangrI-La?

These crime figures and charts make Medfield look like a great place to live

http://www.cityrating.com/crime-statistics/massachusetts/medfield.html

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Posted in Information, Uncategorized

1. Selectmen to meet Monday re MSH & 2. Storm Prep

Posted on August 26, 2011 | Comments Off on 1. Selectmen to meet Monday re MSH & 2. Storm Prep

1 – The Board of Selectmen will hold a special meeting on Monday to coordinate plans with the SHERC about how to respond to the current Medfield State Hospital clean up issues.  This morning the Conservation Commission issues a 31 page single spaced Order of Conditions in response to DCAM’s application seeking to cover both the oil in the river and the pollution at the C&D area adjoining the river.  Congratulations to the ConCom and its stand in agent, Norma Cronin, for yeoman service to the town to make this happen.

2 – Just reviewed the town’s Hurricane Irene preparations with Mike Sullivan – mainly planning for lots of rain and possible trees down.  Boards have been taken out of dams to lower water levels at ponds, chain saws readied, DPW employees are on stand by, the MEMA facility will function, Medfield High School will be the shelter if needed, the town’s tree service is contractually obligated to work for the town first before taking any private jobs, and a decision will be made later whether more transfer station days need to be added for brush disposal.

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Posted in Information, Medfield State Hospital

List of streets scheduled for paving.

Posted on August 22, 2011 | Comments Off on List of streets scheduled for paving.

Email on Friday lists paving schedule as follows – schedule not known –

Adams Street
Dale Street
High Street and South Street
Spring Street
West Street

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Posted in Information

Street Trees

Posted on August 18, 2011 | Comments Off on Street Trees

I would like to see the Town of Medfield engage in a planned program to plant more street trees.  I am motivated by the old photographs I have seen of the tunnels of the tree canopies formed by the towering elm trees along along Main Street and the full willow trees along Rte. 109 where it crosses the Charles River.

There are hybrid elm trees that are resistant to the Dutch Elm Blight, so we could return to elms.  The ornamental pear trees do well as street trees, and might work well in the downtown.  Where chestnut trees were once such a common New England hardwood, it might be nice to see if there is a chestnut tree now that can both survive and prosper. The willows could look spectacular along the river crossing.

Given our town budget issues, I would hope to see the trees donated, and perhaps adopted by residents who would take responsibility for watering and fertilizing them.  Perhaps we could map the town trees on the town’s GIS, with notations as to which family has adopted and agreed to be responsible for which trees, as a way to spur the individual attention that may be needed.  An individual tree is not that expensive, but by comparison the planting and care can cost money.  Plan and plant for the long run, by planting inexpensive small trees now, but leaving a gift of majestic large trees to our children and grandchildren.

The Medfield Garden Club is a paradigm of how to beautify public spaces in town with living plant material.  Perhaps similar such organizations and local arborists would share their organizational abilities and/or expertise to make such a project happen.

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Posted in Information, Planning

Former Selectmen Expertise

Posted on August 18, 2011 | Comments Off on Former Selectmen Expertise

I just suggested to Mike Sullivan that it might behoove the town to invite all our former selectmen to meet so as to advise us on and brainstorm about solutions to town issues.  There is a lot of knowledge that one acquires from being a selectman, and if former selectmen were willing, it might well assist the town to have them meet once or twice a year to hash through the most intractable problems the town faces  so that the town could tap into their special expertise.

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Posted in Information

Letter with Feedback

Posted on August 10, 2011 | Comments Off on Letter with Feedback

Nice letter I received yesterday with feedback from Jerry Cianciolo follows – it is not often someone takes the time to say thanks, so thank you Jerry!

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

Dear Mr. Peterson,

As one resident of Medfield , I appreciate and applaud your monitoring the way our town spends its money.

Your evaluation of the recent town garage proposal struck me as solid.

The same with your questioning the merits of MEMO receiving town services for free, especially when it seems the group has the money to reimburse the town.

No doubt you’ ll get your share of flak for calling it as you see it – you already have. But with you as a selectman, my level of confidence is considerably raised and I not only feel you’ ll guard against excesses but yo u’ ll be reasonable and open along the way.

If all of those in town government – or state and federal government for that matler – approached their responsibility as you do, confidence and efficiency would soar.

Best wishes and proud to vote for you.

Jerry Cianciolo
Medfield, MA

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Posted in Information

Dinner at the Zullo

Posted on August 4, 2011 | Comments Off on Dinner at the Zullo

Stopped by the Zullo Gallery last night and spoke with Bill Pope about the Zullo being open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (5-11:00 PM) for the rest of the summer.  He is marketing the Zullo as the place to come for dinner, a meal taken out or delivered from elsewhere.  Bill showed off their newly donated Sam Adams umbrella tables.

Kristen and I returned with our dinners, and enjoyed Medfield’s most beautiful al fresco dining location – who would have expected that being above Rte. 109 could be so removed, so interesting, and so magical.

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Posted in Information