Category Archives: Medfield State Hospital

Martin Sexton at Bellforge 9/17

From Stacey David, Director of Marketing & Communications, Bellforge Arts Center –

BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES MARTIN SEXTON CONCERT

(Medfield, MA): The Bellforge Arts Center is pleased to present an afternoon of free live music on Sept. 17 with Martin Sexton and special guest Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls. National Academy of Songwriters’ Artist of the Year award-winner Martin Sexton is a singer-songwriter who blends soul, gospel, country, rock, blues, and R&B. He released his tenth studio album this year and says he is “touring with what Rolling Stone calls his ‘soul-marinated voice,’ acoustic guitar, and a suitcase full of heartfelt songs.”

Sexton is joined by Billboard’s Top 20 singer-songwriter quartet Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls, who will be sharing their own special brand of magic. Pianist Muller tours regularly and has made appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Jazz Open in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Telluride Jazz Festival in Colorado. Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls will be opening the show at 3:30pm, with Sexton following at 4:30. Doors open at 3:00.

Various food options and a full bar featuring Patrón Tequila will be available for purchase. Audience members are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the outdoor concert. To register for free tickets, visit bit.ly/BellforgeMartinSexton. For directions and parking info, visit www.bellforge.org/getting-here. The concert’s rain date will be Sept. 18.

Martin Sexton with special guest Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the season. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule  of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.

BAMS at Bellforge Arts Center – 12-7PM on 8/20

From Jean Mineo, Executive Director, Bellforge Arts Center

BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER BRINGS BOSTON’S BAMS FEST TO MEDFIELD

(Medfield, MA): The Bellforge Arts Center and BAMS Fest will present #SOULFULL on Saturday, Aug. 20, from noon to 7 pm. The well-established Boston festival will be bringing six notable artists to Medfield for an all-day music event featuring Tenille Ja’Nae, Ava Sophia, The Undaunted Professor Harp, Jonathan Suazo, D. Ruff, and DJ SavSoul.

“The Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Festival is one of the fastest growing urban arts and music festivals in the City of Boston that celebrates Afro-centric identity and Black artistry, all while amplifying the voices and creative contributions from local, regional and national entertainers of color,” says BAMS Fest organizers.

#SOULFULL will offer not only a great line up of Blues, Soul, Jazz, and R&B artists, but also a variety of food options from Suya Joint, and a full bar featuring Patrón Tequila, all at the site of the new Bellforge Arts Center on the former Medfield State Hospital campus. Free tickets and more information, including musical clips from the artists, can be found online at https://bit.ly/BellforgeBAMSAug. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor concert. Aug. 21 is set as the rain date.

The BAMS Fest Pop Up is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the summer. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.

# # #

The Bellforge Arts Center is a new multi-arts complex being built on the grounds of the former Medfield State Hospital to support artists, expand cultural opportunities, and nurture the creative community. Bellforge currently offers outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events, along with over 200 miles of nature trails and outdoor recreation space. Once fully renovated, the center will also offer visual and performing arts studios, arts education, a 300-seat performance venue, and more.

BAMS Fest is a cultural movement led by Greater Boston Black and Brown artists, culture makers and creative entrepreneurs who are on the front lines of racial equity, spatial justice, and economic empowerment.

Bellforge presents 100 Thousand Poets for Change – 12-3PM on 8/6

From Stacey David, Director of Marketing & Communications, Bellforge Arts Center –

 
 
BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES 100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE EVENT
 
(Medfield, MA): The Bellforge Arts Center announces “Change to Heal, Heal to Change” on Aug. 6, from noon to 3:00 pm, an afternoon of storytelling and poetry on the ways change affects us: personal change, social change, climate change, change for growth, living in change, awakening through change. This spoken word event is one of the 100 Thousand Poets for Change (100TPC) worldwide events promoting peace, sustainability, and justice and calling for social, political, and environmental change. Award-winning slam poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists will share their commitment to environmental and social justice issues, including:
Jackson Gillman, a talented mime, actor, songsmith and storyteller, and the recipient of the Oracle Award at the National Storytelling Network. He has featured at the National Storytelling Festival multiple times, and has been Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center.
Thea Iberall has been called “a shimmering bridge between heart and mind.” An inductee into the International Educators Hall of Fame, she writes stories and poetry that springboard from the personal into emotional truths around climate change, racism, and discrimination. Thea is a member of Northeast Storytellers and is on the leadership team of the Jewish Climate Action Network.
Jamele “Harlem 125” Adams is a celebrated and high-energy slam poet whose TEDx Talk on “Race. Love. Freedom.” electrified audiences. He believes that with “love – inclusion – trust” no one will be left out, and our ability to come together amongst different beliefs is limitless.
Betsy Johnson, local poet and storyteller, will share poems on journey, transformation, lessons we teach our children, Alzheimer’s, and grounding.
Teddy Lytle is a performance artist and poet who co-founded Spectrum Theatre Ensemble, a neurodiverse theatre company. He has produced a number of solo shows focused on destigmatizing mental health and addiction and exploring how people and communities can change for the better.
Deana Tavares will share poems about moving through adversity towards healing oneself and the world, weaving in the topic of hope. She is a creatively fluid exhibiting visual artist, published poet, singer/songwriter, and actor. She is an Arts Connect International 2021 Ripple Grant recipient. 
Change to Heal, Heal to Change is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the summer. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy this outdoor event. People are encouraged to register as well, for event updates, at https://bit.ly/BellforgePoets. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule  of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.
 
# # #
 
About 100 Thousand Poets for Change: 100 Thousand Poets for Change (100 TPC) has organized over 5,000 poetry, art and music gatherings for the cause of Peace, Justice, and Sustainability across the globe in the last 10 years. Poets have come together year after year to lead and promote poetry readings, without any preconditions or censorship, where participants speak out for causes nearest their hearts. In the process, oppressions, exploitative practices, biases, and abuses of many kinds have been highlighted—whether based on gender, race, class, or religious affiliation, color, territory, language and cultural tradition, or any form of differentiation whatsoever. For more information, visit 100tpc.org.
 
About the Bellforge Arts Center: The Bellforge Arts Center is a new multi-arts complex being built on the grounds of the former Medfield State Hospital to support artists, expand cultural opportunities, and nurture the creative community. Bellforge currently offers outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events, along with over 200 miles of nature trails and outdoor recreation space. Once fully renovated, the center will also offer visual and performing arts studios, arts education, a 300-seat performance venue, and more.

Summer Sounds at Bellforge – 12-7 on 7/30

From Stacy David, Director of Marketing & Communications, Bellforge Arts Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2022

Contact: Stacey David, Director of Marketing & Communications, sdavid@bellforge.org

BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES “SUMMER SOUNDS” MUSIC FESTIVAL

(Medfield, MA): The Bellforge Arts Center’s second concert in their three-date outdoor music festival series called Summer Sounds is July 30, from 12:00-7:00pm in Medfield, MA. July’s free concert will feature Van Buren Records, Latrell James, Red Shaydez, Najee Janey, Greg Roy, and DJ WhySham.

Summer Sounds will offer not only a great line up of hip hop and reggae artists, but also a variety of food options from Ribpublic BBQ, and a full bar featuring Patrón Tequila, all at the site of the new Bellforge Arts Center on the former Medfield State Hospital campus. Free tickets and more information, including musical clips from each of the artists, can be found online at https://bit.ly/SummerSoundsJuly. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor concert.

The Summer Sounds Festival will be returning on Aug 27 with a concert featuring Valleyheart, The Q-Tip Bandits, 5ever, and more. Summer Sounds is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the summer. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule  of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.

# # #

The Bellforge Arts Center is a new multi-arts complex being built on the grounds of the former Medfield State Hospital to support artists, expand cultural opportunities, and nurture the creative community. Bellforge currently offers outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events, along with over 200 miles of nature trails and outdoor recreation space. Once fully renovated, the center will also offer visual and performing arts studios, arts education, a 300-seat performance venue, and more.

Trinity passed at STM, almost unanimously

The special town meeting (STM) last night went quickly, and resulted in a virtually unanimous vote to proceed with the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Trinity Financial to build 334 units of rental apartments (25% affordable) in the existing buildings at the former Medfield State Hospital site. Over 800 residents were spread out between the gym, a tent in front of MHS, and a separate air conditioned area for seniors in the MHS library.

The Select Board and Trinity signed the LDA last night. Next Trinity will begin its permitting.

Message from the School Committee Special Town Meeting Tonight and School Committee Vote in Support

From the School Committee –

Message from the School Committee Special Town Meeting Tonight and School Committee Vote in Support

Dear Parents, Guardians and other members of our community,

As many of you are aware, there will be a Special Town Meeting scheduled for tonight Tuesday, June 21 at 6 p.m. in the Medfield High School Gymnasium.

The primary issue at hand is a to vote to allow the Board of Selectmen to enter into a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Trinity Financial for a specific parcel of the former Medfield State Hospital land, generally known as the “Core Campus (Article 1).

On June 8, 2022, the School Committee met in open session with representatives of Trinity Financial and the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee (MSHDC). We engaged in a comprehensive conversation about the predicted impact of the proposed development on the District. Over the past week, Trinity, the MSHDC, and Town and District Administration have worked to address the Committee’s concerns both informally and within the terms of the proposed Land Disposition Agreement (LDA).

On June 16, 2022, the School Committee again met in open session and discussed Trinity Financial’s response to the Committee’s concerns. In particular, the Committee noted:

  • that the sale and consequent redevelopment resolves an open 20 million dollar liability in hazardous material mitigation costs should we continue to own this portion of the property, which would have a significant impact upon the town’s ability to fund a new elementary school project,
  • Trinity’s responsiveness to the Committee’s concerns regarding space and potential future staff needs.

The Town Moderator, Scott McDermott, has asked that we also distribute this open letter to the community, which includes important details about the anticipated order of the proceedings  

The Medfield School Committee

Jessica Reilly, Chair

Leo Brehm, Vice Chair

Timothy Knight, Recording Secretary

Michelle Kirkby, Financial Secretary

Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, Member at Large

STM on MSH 6 PM Tuesday

The Town of Medfield’s special town meeting (STM) is Tuesday, June 21 at 6 PM at the Medfield High School to consider whether the town should proceed with the Trinity Financial proposal for the development of the former Medfield State Hospital site.

FIRST IS THE FOLLOWING FROM THE TOWN WEBSITE, FOLLOWED BY A LETTER FROM THE MODERATOR:

2022 Special Town Meeting

The Medfield Board of Selectmen called a Special Town Meeting for Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 6:00PM in the Medfield High School Gymnasium (an outside location will also be available) for a vote on the proposed Medfield State Hospital redevelopment.

Last Day to Register to Vote at the Special Town Meeting: Friday, June 10, 2022 by 8:00 PM. 

Pursuant to Chapter 22 of the Acts of 2022 the Medfield Board of Selectmen in consultation and agreement with the Town Moderator have voted to reduce the quorum of the Special Town Meeting to 150 registered voters. 


Town Moderator

Moderator’s Open Letter

Town Meeting Proceedings

Special Town Meeting 

Special Town Meeting Warrant

Special Town Meeting Warrant Report

Article SummaryTM VoteAdditional Information
1. Convey Portions of the Medfield State Hospital Property and Approve Sewer Extension 
TWO-THIRDS VOTE REQUIRED

Warrant Committee APPROVAL
Board of Selectmen Recommend APPROVAL
 
Medfield State Hospital 
Land Disposition Agreement
Sewer Extension Bylaw
Medfield State Hospital Development Committee
Trinity Due Diligence Reports
Medfield State Hospital RFP
MSH Redevelopment Q&A’s
2. Amend the Medfield Town Code Article 300-20 Zoning “Medfield State Hospital District”

Warrant Committee APPROVAL
Board of Selectmen Recommend APPROVAL
Notice of Planning Board Hearing
Planning Board Memo
Medfield State Hospital Zoning District

Attendance:

72114_Medfield_Town Meeting-EDDM-9x6.25_Page_1

SECOND, THE LETTER BELOW IS FROM TOWN MODERATOR, SCOTT F. MCDERMOTT:

To my friends and neighbors in the Medfield community:
On Tuesday evening, the voters of our town will gather for a Special Town Meeting to determine if we
will authorize the sale and disposition of a portion of the property at the former Medfield State Hospital to
a chosen development partner, Trinity Financial. I invite, encourage, and urge all Medfield voters to
attend this important and strategic legislative meeting.
 Tuesday, June 21, at 6:00pm at the Amos Clark Kingsbury High School.
• The meeting’s main venue will be the high school gymnasium. We will also provide an outdoor
venue under a tent adjacent to the main entrance of the high school. Children are permitted to
accompany parents and are encouraged to sit within this outdoor venue. Finally, a socially
distanced, air-conditioned option for seniors will be located in the high school’s library.
• All registered voters in Medfield are eligible to attend the meeting, participate in the proceedings,
and vote on the two Articles open for consideration. The sale and disposition of the land requires
a two-thirds vote.
• Registration of voters for the Special Town Meeting begins at 5:15pm. Registration is at the main
entrance to the high school
• The Town of Medfield website www.town.medfield.net has a highly informative and comprehensive
library of presentations, meetings, videos, proposals, and answers to FAQ’s.
• The Moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings, decide all questions of order, and
make public declaration of the votes.
On Tuesday night our collective judgment will set the course for Medfield’s future. We gather as the
town’s legislative body. Consistent with our heritage, we use the open town meeting format of direct,
democratic, participatory self-government as the instrument for making such a significant decision. We
will discuss, debate, and deliberate – and then we will decide.
Since the closure of the former state hospital in 2003, many, many of our friends and neighbors have
devoted an immeasurable amount of time and effort planning for Medfield’s future and the future of this
unique property. We met in a Special Town Meeting in 2014 voting to acquire the land and buildings
from the Commonwealth. Then we gathered community input and prepared a comprehensive Master
Plan; and we met again in a Special Town Meeting in 2019 to pass zoning provisions for the property.
TOWN OF MEDFIELD
Scott F. McDermott
Town Moderator
No matter how you feel about the ultimate determination, I urge you to attend the meeting on Tuesday
evening at 6:00pm. Participate -- choose to be a member of the town’s governing legislature. I hope to
see you at the high school.
Finally, I want to wish everyone in Medfield a great summer of 2022. The last couple of years have been
challenging for our community. But the warm nights and long days of a New England summer provide us
all the perfect occasion to enjoy, refresh, relax, renew, and re-energize. Have a great summer.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott F. McDermott
Town Moderator

Trinity & MSH site- update

From what I call the Select Board –

Update from the Town of Medfield, Board of Selectmen View this email in your browser

 

Come meet Trinity’s VP of Development Abby Goldenfarb (and her dog Milo) at the grounds of Medfield State Hospital on Saturday, June 18th from 9 am to 11 am. This is an opportunity to ask some final questions prior to the Special Town Meeting on June 21.  

Important Update: The Board of Selectman have scheduled the Special Town Meeting for Tuesday, June 21st at 6:00 PM at Medfield High School.

 
The Chapel

Medfield State Hospital News – Water / Sewer  
Important Update:
 
The Land Disposition Agreement (“LDA”) between the Town and Trinity Financial is available for review on the Town’s website. The LDA sets out important terms of the transaction, including: Land to be acquired which is approximately 45 acres north of Hospital Road Purchase price of $2 million plus reimbursement of Town costs Trinity’s responsibility for environmental remediation Trinity’s obligation to fund all infrastructure associated with the project.  

In addition, Trinity will offer additional mitigation of the development’s possible impact, including improvements to three key intersections along Harding Street and a $1 million mitigation payment for the Medfield Public Schools.
 
Upcoming Events:

Thursday, June 16 at 7 pm: School Committee

Thursday, June 16 at 8 pm: Warrant Committee

Saturday, June 18 at 9 am to 11 am: Breakfast with Trinity Financial at the Medfield State Hospital

Tuesday, June 21 at 6 pm: Special Town Meeting at Medfield High School  

During public information sessions over the last several months, the Town has received important questions about the proposed redevelopment and possible impacts on water and sewer, finances including education costs and capacity, and traffic.  Please see FAQs below for water and sewer capacity.  Stay tuned for additional updates focusing on fiscal impacts (including schools) and traffic mitigation. 

  Does the Town have sufficient water and sewer capacity to support the redevelopment?  
Yes, the Town has sufficient water and sewer capacity to support Trinity’s proposed redevelopment while still retaining capacity under its permits and to allow for future development in Medfield. Two studies have been completed this year, in addition to two studies commissioned by the Town in 2019. All four studies conclude there is sufficient capacity.
 
On behalf of Trinity Financial, their engineering consultant, VHB, developed conceptual water and sewer infrastructure plans, sewer flow estimates, and water demand estimates. VHB’s report is available for review here. VHB anticipates the proposed redevelopment will generate 56,295 gallons of wastewater that needs to be treated by the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. VHB anticipates the proposed redevelopment will require 61,925 gallons of water per day, based on a 10 percent increase over estimated sewer flows to account for non-consumptive uses.
 
The Town hired its engineering consultant, Environmental Partners, to peer review Trinity’s wastewater flow and water demands. The Board of Water and Sewerage also discussed the estimates at their meeting on June 7 and board members noted that there is sufficient capacity. The video of this discussion is available here. Christian Carpenter, a member of the Board of Water and Sewerage, met with the Warrant Committee on June 13 to discuss water and sewer impacts further.
 
Environmental Partners is an engineering firm that performs significant utility engineering for the Town and has assisted the Town with numerous other projects.   Environmental Partners conducted a peer review of VHB’s report on behalf of the Town. The firm agreed with VHB’s estimated wastewater flows and water demand as they were prepared using standard methodology. Environmental Partner’s peer review is available here.
 
Excerpts from Environmental Partners’ peer review are below: Environmental Partners’ initial evaluation finds that current proposed project’s estimated peak day water demands of 61,925 gpd (0.06 MGD) could be accommodated under current authorized limits provided that the Town continues to be proactive with its water conservation programs.   Based upon a review of recent historical April and September WWTP flow data (2019 through 2021), the Town’s existing WWTP can accommodate the estimated sewer generation from the MSH development. The Town is currently working on reducing I/I (Inflow and Infiltration) issues in the sanitary sewer system. The MSH development is located in Sewershed Area 1. The Town should identify an equivalent level of I/I reductions in Sewershed Areas 1 and 2 (contributes to Area 1) to offset the proposed MSH development flows.  
Environmental Partners also reviewed the wastewater flow and water demand in relation to the Town’s existing permits. For water, the Town would have complied with its water withdrawal limits each year since 2011, except 2014 and 2015 when it would have slightly exceeded its permitted withdrawal amounts. Since 2015, the DPW Water Division and the Board of Water and Sewerage have worked diligently to identify and repair leaks. Fixing these leaks decreases the Town’s unaccounted for water (water pumped at our wells but that does not pass through a water meter to a customer) and expands the amount of water capacity under the Town’s permitted amount.
 
The Town’s Water Management Act permit allows the Town to pump an average of 1.51 million gallons of water per day over a calendar year. The Town’s five wells have a design capacity to pump well above the limits in our permit. This capacity will be expanded further upon the completion of the new water treatment plant project at Wells 3 and 4 (anticipated Spring 2023), an important project for the Town which is being pursued irrespective of the proposed Medfield State Hospital redevelopment. 

  Why do we have water bans every summer if there is sufficient water capacity?  
Water use restrictions are separate and distinct from whether the Town has sufficient water capacity.
 
Water use restrictions are determined by the Town’s Water Management Act permit. This permit uses a benchmark of water in the area by using the streamflow in the Charles River at the Dover station.  When the flow in the river is lower than certain thresholds as set in the permit, this triggers the Town to adjust the water restrictions accordingly.
 
In addition, there may be drought declarations by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that also dictate water restrictions in areas that impact Medfield. These state-imposed restrictions can override the restrictions specified in the Town’s permit. So even though the Town has access to sufficient water and has the ability to pump water from its wells AND the flows in the Charles River may allow for the Town to pump water from its wells according to its permit to higher levels, the state may still require the Town to put restrictions in place during drought conditions.

  Why have we had a water restriction in place since May?  
The Town is currently under a Tier 4 water restriction which prohibits nonessential water use, except by a handheld hose. This restriction is in place due to equipment failure at Well 6 which is anticipated to be repaired by mid-June. If Well 6 were not shut down and the Town did not need to impose this temporary restriction, Medfield would still be under a Tier 3 restriction (nonessential water use only allowed one day per week) due to the current drought declaration by the state for our region.
 
As of Wednesday, June 15, repairs to Well 6 are underway. We will update the community as soon as Well 6 is operational.

   

Submit Questions and Comments

Please use the form at this link to submit questions and comments  to the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee regarding Trinity Financial’s proposed redevelopment of the Medfield State Hospital.

Trinity Financial Due Diligence information is available on this page.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Nicholas Milano, Assistant Town Administrator nmilano@medfield.net   781-856-5287

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LDA with Trinity has been posted on-line

The town’s Land Disposition Agreement with Trinity Financial is available on the Medfield State Hospital webpage: 

https://www.town.medfield.net/1959/Medfield-State-Hospital

or this is a direct link to the document: 

https://www.town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/6229/Medfield-Trinity-LDA-6-13-22

The agreement now contains a newly added $1m. mitigation payment to the schools.

Mailing for STM re Trinity proposal for MSH

Look for your mailed copy of the postcard that the town sent out as a reminder of the special town meeting (STM) at 6 PM on June 21, 2022 to decide whether to proceed with Trinity Financial on its proposed development for the former Medfield State Hospital site. All the Trinity materials and the town peer review materials and information are on-line, except the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA), which should be finalized and released in days.