Category Archives: Medfield State Hospital

The town administrators circulated the draft charge that appears below, for the Board of Selectmen to give to the new committee to make recommendations for the redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital.  Seven individuals have expressed an interest to date in serving on that committee.  If you are interested in serving on that committee, please get your expression of interest in to Michael Sullivan, Kristine Trierweiler, or Evelyn Clarke before tomorrow evening.

Medfield State Hospital
Redevelopment Master Plan Committee

Committee Appointments

• Committee to be comprised of 7-9 members
• Appointments should reflect expertise in Planning, Architecture, Affordable Housing, Building Trades, Finance and a Citizen at Large
• Committee Appointments should be committed and willing to see the project through to completion, be creative and open minded for all types of redevelopment
• Committee will engage the assistance of a multi disciplinary master planning firm as well as utilize existing town hall staff

Mission Statement

The overall goal of the Committee is to present to the Board of Selectmen a comprehensive and coordinated vision for the sustainable redevelopment and reuse of the former Medfield State Hospital.

The Committee is tasked with, but not limited to, the following considerations when developing the redevelopment plan:

• Redevelopment should build upon the vision process that was completed by SHAC, including public outreach
• Work cooperatively with existing MSH committees as well as town boards/staff
• Utilize the building conditions study by C3 to determine the potential reuse for any buildings on site.
• Preservation of the scenic and natural characteristics of the site
• Any construction should be designed to enhance the property
• Public enjoyment of the natural open spaces surrounding the redevelopment parcel
• New uses for the property should not negatively affect the natural resources surrounding the property
• Redevelopment should consider a complimentary mix of land uses, provide long range economic benefits to Town, and are sensitive to the character of the site
• Financial impact analysis for any/all redevelopment proposals
• Diversity of housing should be investigated to address the affordable housing needs as well as the need for over 55 housing in Town.
• Redevelopment strategies should take into consideration the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Timeline

June—Appointment of Committee

July/August—Finalize the RFQ for Master Plan Firm

September—Issue the RFP once the Legislation has passed

November—Selection of the Master Plan Firm

November-May—Development of a Strategic Redevelopment Plan

May—Presentation of Redevelopment Plan to Board of Selectmen

June— Special Town Meeting for Redevelopment Plan

Role of the Board of Selectmen

• Medfield State Hospital Redevelopment Committee is appointed as an advisory committee to the Board of Selectmen
• The Committee is charged with creating a strategic redevelopment plan to bring to the Board of Selectmen for approval
• Board of Selectmen will work with the committee and other town boards to bring the redevelopment plan to the Town Meeting
• Committee will provide periodic updates to the Board of Selectmen at their regularly scheduled meetings

Rep. Denise Garlick assured me yesterday that Speaker DeLeo’s gun bill will actually be better for our chances to have the legislature pass our legislation, to approve the sale of the Medfield State Hospital to the Town of Medfield, because such different pieces of legislation are on such different tracts that they will not impede one another, and the Speaker’s interest in his gun legislation will actually create more days of legislative session in which we will have an opportunity for our legislation to get acted upon.  I was afraid that the gun legislation would consume the legislature and leave no time for anything else.

Convoluted, but good for us in the end.

The legislation to purchase the former Medfield State Hospital site (HR 4107) was amended by the Committee that just discharged the bill, to make our purchase monies dedicated to being used by the state for housing for DMH clients.  We do not care what they do with that money – we just want the bill passed before the end of July, so it can be signed by Governor Patrick before he leaves office next January.

The language the committee added is in bold below (the numbers from 71-76 are line numbering in the original).

Any proceeds received by the commonwealth pursuant to
71 this section, section 3, section 7 or section 8 shall be deposited into the Health and Human
72 Services Capital Projects Trust Fund established pursuant to section 2LLLL of chapter 29 of the
73 General Laws; provided, however, that the proceeds shall be specifically dedicated to and
74 appropriated for the acquisition, construction, or improvement of community-based housing
75 facilities for individuals receiving services, or eligible to receive services, from the department of
76 mental health.

HB4107 – Joint Committee on State Administration & Regulatory Oversight – An Act authorizing the commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain parcels of land in the town of Medfield

Action: 05/22/14 – H – Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

From the Waltham paper –

Waltham is on its way to making real estate history this year with the acquisition of the much-desired, nearly 200-acre parcel of land known as the Walter E. Fernald Center.

The Fernald property, at 200 Trapelo Road, is the largest piece of available land inside the Rte. 128 corridor and the state has offered to sell it to the city for $3.7 million

http://waltham.wickedlocal.com/article/20140506/NEWS/140507811

It sounds to me like a better price than Medfield got for 134 acres.  However, the state priced the lands based on what it had spent on them, not on their value.

At 2:30PM this afternoon I attended the totally uneventful  legislative hearing at the State House, Room B-2, before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight for the Medfield State Hospital bill (H4050).  That is the special legislation that will allow the state to sell the Medfield State Hospital to the Town of Medfield.  Per Representative Denise Garlick , only this one public hearing is required, but the bill still needs to move through several other committees before it can be voted.  The town is hoping for passage of the bill before the end of July.

Representative Denise Garlick, who took time out from her reported twelve hour day budget hearing duties this week, introduced the town officials to the committee, having already done her homework ahead to explain the bill to the committee members.

Testifying at the hearing for the Town of Medfield were

• Assistant Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler

• Chair of the State Hospital Advisory Committee, Steve Nolan

Attending from DCAM were:

• Carole Cornelison, Commissioner
• Dana Harrell, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Real Estate Services,
• Mary Beth Clancy, Senior Project Manager
• John Billera, Director of Business Impact Services
• Martha McMahon, Deputy General Counsel

The hearing lasted all of ten minutes, with the only real question being posed to the Commissioner, and that being what is happening to the purchase money.  The answer was that it is going to the secretariat, the Executive Office of Human Services’ (EOHS), for capital purposes.  That is dealt with in the first section of the bill, so it would appear the member had not read the bill.  The committee was composed of about seven Senators and representatives, who asked to see maps – and Kris had brought them maps, which were explained by Steve Nolan.

Interestingly, the Committee chair mentioned that he had written the reuse plan for the Northampton State Hospital.

There were two other bill hearings scheduled for this afternoon before this committee.

Also in attendance were

• Elizabeth Broda, Legislative Director from the Office of Senator James E. Timilty
• Amanda Bernardo, Aide to Representative Garlick

A lot of people power was brought to bear for what turned out to be a very quick hearing – however, better to be safe.

Per an email from Representative Denise Garlick this afternoon, the Medfield State Hospital purchase bill was assigned a hearing this Wednesday –

The Medfield State Hospital bill (H4050) just received a hearing in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The hearing will be held this Wednesday, April 30^th at 2:30 pm in the State House Room B-2.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Yours in service,

Denise C. Garlick

State Representative

This is again Gil Rodgers’ emailed copy of the legislation to buy the former MSH, this time with the actual legislation attached.

Here is a copy of H 4050, a bill for transfer of properties at the Medfield State Hospital, that is sponsored by our legislators – Senator Timilty and Representatives Garlick and Dooley.

Congratulations to all.

Bill H.4050188th (Current)

An Act authorizing the commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain parcels of land in the town of Medfield

By Representative Garlick of Needham and Senator Timilty, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Denise C. Garlick, James E. Timilty and Shawn Dooley (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain parcels of land in the town of Medfield. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. [Local Approval Received.]

SECTION 1. Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2KKKK the following section:-

Section 2LLLL. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund, to be known as the Health and Human Services Capital Projects Trust Fund, hereinafter in this section referred to as the fund, administered by the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance at the direction of the secretary of health and human services. The fund shall be credited: (i) the portion of any net cash proceeds from the conveyance, lease or other disposition of any facilities vacated by any agency within the executive office of health and human services and determined to be surplus by the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance; (ii) any appropriations; (iii) bond proceeds; or (iv) other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited thereto. The comptroller shall disburse amounts in the fund at the direction of the commissioner of the division of capital asset management and maintenance, in consultation with the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, without further appropriation, for the purpose of paying costs of, or paying down any portion of any debt incurred to pay costs related to the acquisition, construction or improvements to health and human services facilities. The comptroller shall establish procedures necessary to effectuate this section, including procedures for the proper transfer, accounting and expenditures of funds. The comptroller may make payments in anticipation of receipts and shall establish procedures for reconciling overpayments and underpayments from the trust fund. The commissioner shall report semi-annually to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the revenue and expenditure activity within the fund. The fund shall be an expendable trust fund and shall not be subject to appropriation. Money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding sections 32 to 37, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws, chapter 269 of the acts of 2008 or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, hereinafter referred to as the commissioner, may convey 1 or more parcels of land located at the former state hospital in Medfield to the town of Medfield. The parcels are shown as parcel A and parcel B on a plan entitled “Compiled Plan of Land, Medfield State Hospital, Medfield, Massachusetts, prepared for Division of Capital Asset Management”, dated June 14, 2005, prepared by Judith Nitsch Engineering, Inc., on file with the division of capital asset management and maintenance. The exact location and boundaries of the parcels to be conveyed shall be determined by the commissioner, in consultation with the town of Medfield. The use of the parcels to be conveyed to the town shall not be restricted to use for municipal or other specific uses; provided, however, that the town may so restrict the parcels at a later date, in accordance with applicable general and special law. The parcels shall be conveyed by deed without warranties or representations by the commonwealth.

SECTION 3. As consideration for the conveyance of the parcels described in section 2, the town of Medfield shall pay the commonwealth an amount equal to certain costs related to the closure of the former state hospital in Medfield including, but not limited to, the costs of removing combustible materials, disconnecting certain utilities, and otherwise closing those buildings located on the parcels conveyed, routine security, and other capital expenditures and operating expenses incurred by the commonwealth in preparation for or following the closure of the former state hospital, as determined by the commissioner and agreed to by the town. The town of Medfield may pay the amount so determined by the commissioner and agreed to by the town upon its purchase of the parcels described in section 2 or the town may pay the amount so determined in 10 annual payments pursuant to section 20A of chapter 58 of the General Laws. If the town’s payment of consideration pursuant to this section so requires, the town may seek voter approval pursuant to subsection (k) of section 21Cof chapter 59 of the General Laws.

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding chapter 269 of the acts of 2008, or any other general or special law to the contrary, parcels A-1 and A-2, as shown on the plan referenced in section 2 shall be maintained as open space or used for agricultural and passive recreation purposes, subject to those subsurface utility easements on parcel A-1 serving the town’s water system. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to such subsurface utility easements, the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance may transfer the care and custody of parcels A-1, A-2 or C, or portions thereof, to the department of conservation and recreation for open space and passive recreation purposes. Such transfer shall be without consideration and shall not be subject to chapter 7C of the General Laws.

SECTION 5. In the event that the town of Medfield sells or leases any portion of the parcels described in section 2, the net proceeds from such sale or lease as determined by the town and agreed to by the commissioner, shall be allocated between the town of Medfield and the commonwealth in equal shares, ; provided, however, that the commissioner may agree to reduce the share of the commonwealth’s proceeds to not less than 30 per cent of net proceeds in order to provide certain incentives to the town of Medfield to sell or lease some or all of the parcels described in section 2 expeditiously or to facilitate the development of some or all of the parcels in accordance with smart growth principles promulgated from time to time by the governor and the secretary of energy and environmental affairs. In the event that the net proceeds, as so determined, is a negative amount, the commonwealth shall not be required to make any payments to the town of Medfield. Any proceeds received by the commonwealth pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the Health and Human Services Capital Projects Trust Fund established pursuant to section 2LLLL of chapter 29 of the General Laws.

SECTION 6. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the town of Medfield shall pay for all costs and expenses of the transactions authorized in this act as determined by the commissioner including, but not limited to, the costs of any recording fees and deed preparation related to the conveyances and for all costs, liabilities and expenses of any nature and kind related to the town’s ownership of the parcels; provided, however, that such costs shall be included for the purposes of determining the net proceeds of the town’s sale or lease of any portion of the parcels described in section 2. Amounts paid by the town of Medfield pursuant to section 3 shall not be included for the purposes of determining the net proceeds from a sale or lease.

SECTION 7. (a) In the event that the town of Medfield does not complete its purchase of the property described in section 2 on or before December 31, 2015, notwithstanding sections 33 to 38, inclusive, of chapter 7C of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the commissioner may sell, lease for terms up to 99 years, including all renewals and extensions, or otherwise grant, convey or transfer to purchasers or lessees an interest in the property described in section 2 or portions thereof, subject to this section and on such terms and conditions that the commissioner considers appropriate; provided, however, that the purchase by the town of Medfield shall be considered complete upon the transfer of title to the parcel or parcels described in section 2 to the town. The commissioner shall dispose of the property, or portion thereof, using appropriate competitive bidding processes and procedures. At least 30 days before the date on which bids, proposals or other offers to purchase or lease a property, or any portion thereof, are due, the commissioner shall place a notice in the central register published by the state secretary pursuant to section 20A of chapter 9 of the General Laws stating the availability of the property, the nature of the competitive bidding process and other information that the commissioner considers relevant, including the time, place and manner for the submission of bids and proposals and the opening of the bids or proposals.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the grantee or lessee of all or any portion of the property described in section 2 and subject to this section shall be responsible for costs and expenses including, but not limited to, costs associated with deed preparation and recording fees related to the conveyances and transfers authorized in this section as such costs may be determined by the commissioner.

(c) No agreement for the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of the property described in section 2 and subject to this section, or any portion thereof, and no deed executed by or on behalf of the commonwealth, shall be valid unless the agreement or deed contains the following certification, signed by the commissioner:

“I, the undersigned commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance, hereby certify under penalties of perjury that I have fully complied with the relevant provisions of general and special law in connection with the property described in this document.”;

SECTION 8. In any disposition pursuant to section 2 or section 7, the commissioner may retain, accept or acquire by purchase, transfer, lease, eminent domain, pursuant to chapter 79 of the General Laws or otherwise, and may grant by deed, transfer, lease or otherwise any rights-of-way or easements, in, over or beneath any parcel or portions thereof, or any other portions of the former Medfield state hospital, as the commissioner deems necessary and appropriate for the continued access to, egress from and use of portions of the former Medfield state hospital including, without limitation, parcels A-1 and A-2, by the general public or other state agencies or to carry out this act; provided however that in any disposition pursuant to section 2, such retention, acceptance, acquisition, or grant of any rights-of-way or easements in, over or beneath parcels A or B shall be subject to the approval of the town of Medfield.

SECTION 9. Sections 2 to 8, inclusive, shall take effect upon their acceptance by a majority vote of the board of selectmen of the town of Medfield, but not otherwise.

Associate Professor Charles Cimino of the Wentworth Institute of Technology orchestrated a display of his architecture students’ projects yesterday focused on the reuse of the Medfield State Hospital.   It turned out to be remarkably interesting to see what fresh eyes did with the Lee chapel and a couple of the surrounding buildings.  Colleen Sullivan took pictures and wrote a great article describing what was shown.    Click here to see her photos and article.

PURCHASE UPDATE  – The special legislation for the Town of Medfield to buy the Medfield State Hospital site has reportedly been through one committee hearing already in the legislature.  Shall we start a pool betting on when the town will actually get to buy the property.  I bet it will be 1/1/2015, getting in just under the wire before Governor Patrick leaves office the following week.