Category Archives: Medfield State Hospital

Demo at MSH

Posted on October 21, 2013 | Comments Off on Demo at MSH

I noticed while jogging at the Medfield State Hospital this weekend that the maintenance building was already down.  They just needed to clean up the broken concrete pieces and clean up the site.

The stable building is already prepped for its demolition, but has not yet been brought down.  For me it is too bad the stable building deteriorated to the point of being unsafe, as the stables was my favorite building at the Medfield State Hospital, and I always thought it would have made an interesting house.

Removal of the maintenance building will allow DCAMM to further explore the clean up of the volatile organic compound (VOC) plume that seems to emanate from under that structure.  That VOC plume will be remediated by pumping air into the ground.

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital

Commonwealth Magazine article on MSH

Posted on October 9, 2013 | Comments Off on Commonwealth Magazine article on MSH

Commonwealth Magazine article on the Medfield State Hospital clean up.

Former Medfield hospital cleanup sets precedent

Negotiated plan increases state spending $1 million

October 07, 2013

 

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital

Special town meeting (STM) info

Posted on September 28, 2013 | Comments Off on Special town meeting (STM) info

This email today from Bill Massaro –

Hi Everyone,

 A Special Town Meeting has been called for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct  7  at the High School.

Three Articles will be presented for your consideration and vote.

While Articles 2 & 3 request your approval of appropriations and expenditures,  Article 1 authorizes the Selectmen to request our State legislators to file a bill transferring 2 former Medfield State Hospital properties to the Town at no or nominal cost.

Because the outcome of the vote for each of these Articles will affect Medfield’s future, I urge you to attend this meeting..

Because of your past interest and support for our extensive efforts to ensure cleanup of the environmental problems at the Hospital, to safeguard the aquifer of our main Town well, and to provide safe recreational opportunities for current and future Medfield residents,  I am sending this e-mail to request your approval of Article  1.

Article 1- Background

After 4 years of Town and resident protests and 1 year in formal Mediation with the State, agreement was finally reached in June for an adequate and appropriate DCAMM cleanup of the historic landfill alongside and in the Charles River at the Hospital.

In addition to removing contaminated fill from the aquifer, restoration of the riverbank and wetlands to historic conditions, construction of a canoe/kayak launch area, and creation of a promontory and scenic overlook, DCAMM also agreed to transfer the Hospital’s old Tubular Well-field (29 acres) and the Hospital Water Tower & land (6 acres) to the Town at no or nominal cost.

The Well-field: While not currently active, the well-field will provide the Town with a significant reserve for future needs.  Under prior Hospital property disposition legislation, the transfer could have required the Town to provide 28.8 million gallons of free water per year, in perpetuity, to any Development at the Hospital.  At todays’ rates this could have been approximately $150 thousand a year— forever!  The new proposed legislation gives the Town ownership of the Well-field with the sole condition that it can be used only in the Town’s public water supply system.

The Water Tower & Land:   The Water Tower and its land have always been part of the Hospital property and subject to sale by the State.  (The urgent need for the Town to design a replacement for the 80-year old Tower is the subject of Article 2).  Under prior property disposition legislation, while the Tower and its land would have passed to the Town after Developer sale, it was with  the condition it must be used to provide water to the Development.  The new proposed legislation gives the Town ownership of the Tower and land  with the only condition  that it must be used in the Town’s public water supply system.

Here is a map showing the locations of the 2 properties to be transferred from DCAMM to the Town:

20130928-WM-TubularWell& Water Tower HospitalAerialCropfor Town Mtg jpg

Before Legislation can be filed with the Mass House & Senate to enable DCAMM to make this transfer, Medfield must first approve it.

Please forward this e-mail to anyone you feel may be interested, and please vote in favor of Article 1  at the Oct 7 Special Town Meeting  .

Thanks,

Bill

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital, Open space, Town Meeting, Water & Sewer

Special town meeting 10/7

Posted on September 20, 2013 | Comments Off on Special town meeting 10/7

Medfield is having a special town meeting (STM) on 10/7 at 7:30 PM at the MHS gym, to discuss three articles.

  1. whether to accept for free the transfer from the state of 5-6 acres at the Medfield State Hospital site on which to locate a new water tower and the existing Medfield State Hospital tubular well fields (located across the railroad tracks, off Colonial Drive).  The water tower land includes and surrounds the old existing water tower, which water tower is too low compared to the other Mt. Nebo water tower and too old to warrant repairing.  This land transfer is part of the mediated resolution of the Medfield State Hospital environmental clean up dispute that was successfully mediated over the past year by a town committee with DCAMM, to a win-win solution.
  2. appropriating monies to plan the new water tower.
  3. whether to exercise the town’s right of first refusal to buy the 30 acre Kenny land that stretches between Phillips and Foundary Streets.  The Kenny land has been paying lower property taxes as Massachusetts General Laws c. 61  forest land, in exchange for which the town gets a right of first refusal when the land comes out of the forest designation, which is now happening.  There is a purchase and sale agreement for $1.4 m. from about 18 months ago and now the buyers have an approved subdivision for 7 house lots.  The owners recently gave the town the required notice, which triggered the town’s 120 days to effect the purchase of the property, if it chooses to do so.  The special town meeting (STM) was already happening to seek to pass the water tower and well fields articles, which are needed to move forward with the required home rule petition legislation in the legislature, so the Kenny land question is fortuitously being included in that special town meeting (STM) as well.

Last day to register to vote at the special town meeting (STM) is 9/27, and last day to register to vote in the election is 10/1.

Both topics are on the agenda for the Board of Selectmen meeting next Tuesday, 9/24/13.

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital, Open space, Permitting, Planning, Select Board matters, Town Meeting, Water & Sewer

Westboro pays only $2.2 m for WSH

Posted on August 14, 2013 | Comments Off on Westboro pays only $2.2 m for WSH

Westboro is the first town buying state land under a new Massachusetts state partnership plan with towns, and Medfield is to be the second.

Today it was announced that

  • Westboro will pay $2.2 m. for the 95 acre former Westboro State Hospital campus,
  • the state will finance the purchase over ten years, and
  • Westboro will not even require an Proposition 2 1/2 override vote given those terms.

See newspaper article

DCAMM has been telling the Town of Medfield that

  • DCAMM wants the town to buy the former Medfield State Hospital site,
  • DCAMM will price it to recoup someof its sunk costs at the Medfield State Hospital site it will be treasferring
  • DCAMM will give the town incentive to develop the site and incentive s to do so quickly

DCAMM has put off telling the Town of Medfield just how much it will be seeking for the Medfield State Hospital site, most recently again just this week while it gets approval from higher ups.

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital

On being a selectman

Posted on July 25, 2013 | Comments Off on On being a selectman

Long discussion yesterday with Mike Sullivan and his intern, Kyle Andrulonis, about Building Committee and town governance issues.

  • garage site work being preformed by our own DPW is ahead of schedule
  • huge amounts of underground infrastructure being installed, including what Mike described as several Olympic sized swimming pool holes to allow for on-site disposal of  the storm water run off
  • DPW saving the town lots of money
  • salt shed almost completed

The DPW will deal with the North Street paving before the start of school – it is greatly needed as soon as possible given how bad the hole at Green Street has become

I reminded Mike of my suggestion to have Ken Feeney lead a discussion about how our road maintenance efforts extend the life of our roadways and to confirm our use of best practices to extend road life.  The Massachusetts Municipal Association has been providing a lot of information about how ongoing maintenance is the cheapest route in the long run.  I also reminded Mike that Ken should publish his list of streets planned for repairs so pe0ple know just where their street stands on the list – that will give residents some idea of how long they will be waiting.  Giving the residents good data is what the town needs to be doing.

The DPW also needs to get to the Garden Club projects approved by the Board of Selectmen relating to upgrading the plantings at all four town signs and the Hospital Road at Rte 27 island.

The Affordable Housing Committee draft of its Affordable Housing Production Plan was put out last fall, but progress seems to have stalled.  In response to my queries, Mike mentioned that the consultant, Judy Barrett, we hired to write the plan, left the company with whom we contracted for that plan (specifically so we could get Judy to do it).

I have no town committee meetings this week, but I am still spending lots of time reviewing the draft legislation and documents about the transfer to the town of the Medfield State Hospital land for the water tower and the wellfields, as the details of the language are worked out to match the agreement with DCAMM that was part of the mediated resolution of the MSH environmental clean up.  I am told that we are now hoping that the legislature will take up that issue come September, given their light summer schedule.  The town owes thanks to resident volunteers Steve Nolan, Bill Massaro, and John Harney for shepparding that effort along.

Massachusetts Historic Commission 7/18/13 letter to DCAMM agrees to allow demolition of the stable and maintenance builds at the Medfield State Hospital, but refused demolition of the Odyssey Building across the street.  The stable is beautiful, but in danger of collapse.  The mainenance building needs to be removed so testing for the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) can continue under the site of the building.  DCAMM had kindly agreed to demolish Odyssey house at the town’s request as part of the mediated settlement of the Medfield State Hospital environmental clean up, but now the MHC stands in the way of that happening.  There will need to be a long discussion with the MHC over the 1890’s building at the Medfield State Hospital, as it is expected that their condition will turn out to be so poor as to be uneconomic to rehab.  The MSH Development Committee is exploring undertaking condition studies to get better data.  The Town of Medfield also needs to know how its own Historic District Commission will react if the town asks to demolish those 1890’s buildings – Commission chair, Mike Taylor, at the MSH Development Committee meeting last week intimated that he preferred the buildings to be saved.  All mainly agree that is an admirable goal, but the real question is at what cost – if it costs too much to rehab the 1890’s buildings, it could make any redevelopment of the MSH site uneconomic.  Most are guessing that the poor, dilapidated conditon of those buildings will mandate their demolition.

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Posted in Affordable housing / 40B, Buildings, DPW, Garden Club, Medfield State Hospital, On being a selectman

Mass Hx to town – “Odyssey House stays”

Posted on July 23, 2013 | Comments Off on Mass Hx to town – “Odyssey House stays”

Massachusetts Historic Commission letter to DCAMM below wherein Mass Historic refuses to permit Odyssey House to be demolished by DCAMM, as DCAMM had agreed to do for the town, as part of the mediated settlement of the environmental clean up.

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

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
Massachusetts Historical Commission

July 18, 2013

Carol Meeker, Deputy General Counsel, DCAMM
I Ashburton PI, 15th FI
Boston, MA 02108

RE: Medfield State Hospital Demolition of Farm Dormitory (“Odyssey”), StablelMain Garage, & Laundry (Buildings #31, #42, & #56), 45 Hospital Road, Medfield, MA; MHC# RC.54413

Dear Ms. Meeker:

The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) is in receipt of a Project Notification Form (PNF) for the project referenced above, received at this office on June 20, 2013. The staff of the MHC has reviewed the information submitted and has the following comments.

This project proposes the demolition of three buildings at Medfield State Hospital. The former dormitory (“Odyssey” Building, Building #31, MED.126), stable/main garage (Building #42, MED.132), and the laundry building (Building #56, MED. 142) are contributing elements to the Medfield State Hospital (MED.C, MED.D), which is listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Demolition of these buildings will have an “adverse effect” (950 CMR 7I.05(a)) on the Medfield State Hospital Historic District through the demolition of three historic properties that are contributing elements of this State Register-listed historic district.

At this time, the MHC cannot accept the adverse effect to the former dormitory/Odyssey Building. Based on the structural analysis and MHC’s site visit, it appears that the former dormitory/ Odyssey Building is in fair condition on the interior, and the exterior envelope appears to be in relatively good condition. The MHC requests that DCAMM and the Town of Medfield explore alternatives to demolition in order to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effect of the proposed demolition.
The MHC suggests DCAMM and the Town of Medfield explore the possibility of leasing the structure to a 3’d party. Leasing the structure to 3’d party entities such as a Boys & Girls Club and/or recreation related commercial/retail entities could enable the building to be adaptively rehabilitated for compatible recreation-related uses, including concessions, retail, public recreation space, and public facilities among other potential uses. Through the use of certain types of lease, a 3’d party may be eligible for State and Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits to assist in rehabilitation expenses.

The MHC looks forward to receipt of an alternatives study and to consultation with DCAMM, the Town of Medfield, the Medfield Historical Commission, and the Medfield Historic District Commission in order to avoid, mmlmlze, or mitigate the adverse effect to the former dormitory/Odyssey Building
pursuant to 950 CMR 7L07.

The MHC understands. that the stable/main garage (Building #42) and the laundry building (Building #56) are in poor condition and that there are no feasible or prudent alternatives to demolition.

These comments are offered to assist in compliance with M.G.L. Chapter 9, Section 26-27C, (950 CMR 7LOO) and MEPA (301 CMR II). Please do not hesitate to contact Brandee Loughlin of my staff if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
BronaSimon
State Historic Preservation Officer
Executive DireCtor
Massachusetts Historical Commission

xc: -Town of Medfield  Board of Selectmen

Town of Medfield Plarming Board
Medfield Historical Commission
Medfield Historic District Commission
Taya Dixon, Epsilon Associates

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Posted in Environmental, History, Medfield State Hospital

Water tower & wellfields legislation

Posted on July 23, 2013 | Comments Off on Water tower & wellfields legislation

This is a section by section analysis of the draft legislation that the Board of Selectmen have recently been working on with the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee, to effect the transfer of lands, as part of the environmental clean up mediation settlement.  The lands are (1) on which the town can construct a new water tower at the MSH, and (2) the existing MSH tubular wellfields for a back up water supply for the town.  The new water tower land surrounds the existing water tower site.  The wellfields are about a mile from the MSH, located across the Bay Colony Rail line and are accessed by a right of way off of Colonial Road.

DRAFT

Medfield State Hospital – Water Supply Legislation

Section by Section Summary: Transfer of property from DCAMM to Town of Medfield, specifically, the Medfield State Hospital Water Tower, Water Tower Land and Abandoned Hospital Wellfield (a/k/a Tubular Wellfield), revising Section 32 through 37, of Chapter 7C of the General Laws, chapter 180 of the Acts of 2002, and chapter 269 of the acts of 2008 relative to the redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital.  These parcels and easements were originally acquired by the Commonwealth, acting through the Department of Mental Diseases, for the purpose of providing the Medfield State Hospital with an additional supply of pure water.  See Acts of 1929, chapter 163.

Purpose:  The expedited transfer of water supply interests from DCAMM to the Town of Medfield.  As part of a mediated settlement between Medfield and DCAMM, DCAMM supports the expedited transfer of the Water Tower and related land, easements and tubular well field to Medfield.  See attached Comprehensive Executive Summary and July 11, 2013 letter from Commissioner Carole Cornelison to the Medfield Board of Selectmen.

Current Acts relative to the redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital transfer interests in these properties to the Town after redevelopment.  However, the redevelopment plan envisioned in these Acts is no longer desirable or feasible and there are discussions between Medfield and DCAMM regarding a new approach to redevelopment.

The current water tower is beyond repair and the Town of Medfield needs the water tower and related interests to be transferred now so that a new water tower can be built to maintain the public water supply.  The tubular well field and related easements would be transferred for the future preservation of Medfield’s water supply.

Section 1:   Primarily for the purpose of the public water supply system, transfers from DCAMM to Medfield at no or nominal cost:

The water tower and the water tower land, totaling approximately 6.4 acres (water tower parcel).

A 25 foot wide parcel for travel and utilities extending from Hospital Road to the water tower parcel, totaling approximately 1 acre.  This parcel has been configured to run along the edge of the core campus parcel in order to minimize the impact on the development potential of the core campus.

Includes a standard reversion clause.

Section 2:  (a) Primarily for the purpose of the maintenance and improvement of the public water supply system, transfers certain property interests from DCAMM to Medfield at no or nominal cost, as identified in clauses (b) through (d):

(b)   The tubular well field property which comprises approximately 23 acres.

 

(c)    The existing rights of way or easements for the water main extending from the tubular well field to the Medfield state hospital property line.

 

(d)   A new easement for the existing water main, across that portion of the MSH property that is not being transferred from the Commonwealth, to the water tower parcel, 25 feet wide totaling .08 acres.

 

(e)   Reserves an existing easement to the Commonwealth for a right of way for travel that overlaps a small portion of the property to be transferred to Medfield as part of the tubular well field.  This existing easement is otherwise unrelated to the water supply and this reservation ensures that the Commonwealth can utilize the rest of the right of way for travel.

 

(f)     Directs DMH to transfer existing water withdrawal permits or registrations to Medfield. The Town is investigating whether there is any withdrawal permit or registration in effect and if none is found this section will be deleted from the legislation.

(g)    A standard reversion clause.

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Posted in Environmental, Medfield State Hospital, Water & Sewer

MSH doings

Posted on July 16, 2013 | Comments Off on MSH doings

Things noticed from walking the Medfield State Hospital grounds –

  • Spectra, the owner of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline that crosses the Medfield State Hospital property and is adjacent to the C&D area where the river clean up is scheduled to occur has been digging to see how deep its pipeline is in the C&D area.
  • There are ham radio operators ensconced in two locations at the Medfield State Hospital, testing out the area ahead of the every four year competition that will occur next year.   The guard said they have $500,000 into the project.
  • bumper crop of lightning bugs in the tall grasses

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital

MSH mediation – most important item

Posted on June 14, 2013 | Comments Off on MSH mediation – most important item

This was the slide from the MSH mediation report with the most important items, to my mind (see all the slides) –

Additional Components

• Building Demolition:

Odyssey House
Carriage House
Laundry Building

• Legislative Support:

Water tower land and well field

• Police/Fire River Access: Rail Road Trestle

• Ongoing Collaboration

• Public input

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Posted in Medfield State Hospital