This is the current VHB design for crosswalks at the North & Harding roundabout that Select Board requested at our July meeting. Crosswalks were not part of the original design. In initial discussions I asked VHB to position the roundabout so as to leave enough space between the roundabout and the stone wall to allow for a sidewalk there. VHB did and that sidewalk is shown in the lower left of this plan.
Posted in Medfield State Hospital, Planning, Safety, Transportation
[ PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2026
April 24, 2026
The Town of Medfield recently installed delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions as traffic-calming measures designed to improve pedestrian safety in the downtown. Initial public response to this installation has raised a number of critical concerns about its impact on traffic flow through the center of town. This press release is intended to provide background information to answer some of the questions that have been asked, as the town works to address public concerns and adjust installations where appropriate to achieve the intended safety improvements while minimizing avoidable disruptions to traffic flow in the downtown.
The Town of Medfield received a $146,000 Pedestrian Improvement Grant from MassDOT as part of their Shared Safe Streets and Spaces Program. Pedestrian safety, particularly crosswalk safety, was identified as a concern in both the Townwide Master Plan and the Rapid Recovery Plan.
The project was designed by traffic engineers and included two construction phases. The first phase of the project took place in the fall, with the installation of new crosswalks on Main Street and North Street, and the realignment of the crosswalk at North/Janes Avenue. New crosswalk beacons were also installed on Main Street and North Street, as well as new ADA ramps in the downtown.
The second phase of the project was the installation of delineator flexposts and painted curb extensions to serve as traffic-calming measures, slowing vehicles and turning speeds while increasing visibility for crossing pedestrians.
The following are some of the questions that have been raised:
Who approved the Project?
The Select Board accepted the grant from MassDOT, and a review and presentation were made at the Select Board meeting on September 17, 2024.
Why did the Town apply for a Pedestrian Improvement Grant?
The 2021 Master Plan cites residents' concerns about pedestrian safety in the downtown area. The Downtown Rapid Recovery Plan cited concerns about the safety of pedestrians in downtown crosswalks and vehicles turning off Main Street.
Are the delineators permanent?
The flexposts are a traffic-calming pilot project and can be moved during this test period. Any of these locations deemed successful can be made permanent, and any that are not can be removed. The flexpost delineators are not permanent installations.
The new crosswalks, ADA ramps, and the flashing beacons on Main Street and North Street are permanent installations.
Were the Handicapped Accessible Spots blocked?
Yes, this was done in error, and those flexposts were removed. A broader discussion is underway regarding our downtown handicapped spaces, as some are not in compliance and need to be upgraded and/or moved to be fully compliant.
How will this impact snowplowing?
The flexposts will be removed for the winter months to allow for snowplow operations.
Posted in Downtown, Safety, Transportation
Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler shared her Summer 2024 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE with Select Board at our meeting on Tuesday, and I especially wanted to share the part below in blue font which is a follow up about the planned improvements to the West Street and RTE 27 intersection. At the Select Board meeting, Kris shared that in her meeting with MASSDOT that the state said that if Medfield builds the roundabout, as the state wants, that the state would find the town all of the monies to construct the roundabout. Whereas if we opt to install a traffic light, we will have to pay the entire $1.9m. cost on out own dime, as we will lose the $1.3m. Federal earmark.
To be clear, this Select Board member preferred the roundabout from the outset. It was the other two Select Board members who said they preferred the traffic light and who asked to have Kris pursue the traffic light option with the state.
The town now has the roundabout, which the MASSDOT traffic engineers say is the safest alternative, available to the town at no cost, versus a less safe traffic light option that will cost the town $1.9m. – should be an easy choice. If the town builds the traffic lights, your family’s share would be $4-5,000.
Maurice Goulet, Director of Public Works and I met with Beta Engineering and the MADOT engineering team to discuss the two different paths forward for the project as requested by the Select Board. For the first path, MADOT has confirmed that if we would like to utilize the 1.3 million dollar earmark we would have to continue with the MADOT process and that would include the consideration of a roundabout for this location. The total cost of that project is $1.9, however, MADOT indicated they would assist the Town in securing the remaining funding. MADOT believes that this location would benefit from a roundabout design. The next step if the Select Board elects this option is to go to the 25% design threshold.
Posted in Development, DPW, Federal Government, Planning, Safety, State, Transportation
The email below is from David Temple to follow up on his Tuesday Select Board meeting comments in support of installing a roundabout at RTE 27 and West Street instead of new traffic lights and to share his data sources (NB- David did not include a reference to the Roman philosopher Cicero materials he cited). David noted that all who study the issue seem to agree that roundabouts are safer and significant improvements over lights for multiple reasons.
MassDOT prefers we install a roundabout thereso much that we would lose our Federal earmark for $1.3m. and it would cost the town over a $1m. more to install traffic lights instead.:
I spoke in support of installing roundabouts instead of traffic lights in Medfield, and I presented documents from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Massachusetts Dept, of Transportation, and the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation. They asked for electronic copies, for which I have attached links. Please forward them to the board and Kristine. Thanks.
Posted in DPW, Safety, State, Transportation
Email today from Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler, also sharing the Eversource storm update –
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Chief Carrico is closely monitoring the storm as Emergency Management Director. We have staffed additional public safety personnel including the DPW through Monday.
8/22 8:30am Eversource Hurricane Henri Update
Good morning,
As of 8:30 a.m., the company does not have storm-related outages on its Massachusetts system. Eversource has crews staged throughout its service area Sunday morning in preparation for any damage caused by the high winds and heavy rain of Hurricane Henri.
The storm has changed track several times in its approach to New England and is now tracking further to the east, which could increase wind impacts in Eastern Massachusetts. Eversource is prepared to shift resources as necessary to respond to hardest-hit areas. Rainfall of 2 to 5 inches is predicted for Western Massachusetts, with up to 1½ inches forecasted for eastern areas. Peak wind gusts could reach 70 mph on the South Shore, Cape Cod and Islands; 55 mph in Boston and other areas of Eastern Massachusetts; and 45 mph in Western Massachusetts. Winds are expected to peak Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in eastern areas, and between 3 p.m. and midnight in western areas.
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Posted in DPW, Events, Fire Department, Police Department, Safety, Utilities
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  PETERSON | Law Osler “Pete” Peterson 617-969-1500 May 2021 | ||
 Parents Key to Safe Teen Drivers Every parent knows that feeling of dread when handing over car keys to a teenager. Rightfully so, as the number one threat to a teen’s safety is driving or riding in a car with a teen driver. The good news: Research shows teens actually listen to their parents more than peers when it comes to driving. Thus, parents can play a significant role in protecting teen drivers from serious injury or death. Leading by example, driving with your teen, understanding the eight danger zones, and creating a parent-teen driving agreement – all covered in this month’s newsletter – are a great place to start. Continue reading.  Protect Teen Drivers This Summer with Our Safety Tips School’s out for summer School’s out forever School’s out with fever School’s out completely Summer mania – as immortalized in this iconic 70‘s teen anthem by rocker Alice Cooper – is almost here. Along with it will come a flood of teen drivers anxious to hang out with friends, start summer jobs and make up for all those good times lost to COVID-19 restrictions. Many challenges here for parents, but especially motor vehicle crashes – the leading cause of accidental death for teens. READ MORE BY THE NUMBERS 6-a-Day Six teens 16 to 19 die every day from motor vehicle crash injuries and are three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than older drivers. READ MORE VIDEO BOOKMARK Best Vehicles for Teens Best choices, good choices ranging from $5,000 to nearly $20,000 from IIHS and Consumer Reports. VIEW VIDEO TEENS DRIVING DISTRACTED Young adult and teen drivers are most at risk for distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control. READ MORE THE DOCKET GET TOWN OF MEDFIELD INFORMATION AT MY BLOG | ||
The raising of the funds to renew the Interface Referral Service annual membership (off of the town’s property taxes) was championed by MCSP stalwart Andreea Cazacu Hagood, MD.
This from the Medfield Patch –
Interface Referral and Resource Card. (Courtesy photo)
The Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) is proud to announce successfully funding the renewal of Interface Referral Service for the Town of Medfield for 2020-2021. In a year as emotionally trying as 2020, MCSP hopes to increase the awareness of this valuable service for any resident of Medfield.
The William James INTERFACE Referral Service, offered through the Freedman Center, is a mental health and wellness referral Helpline available Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm, at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for residents of participating communities. Callers from these participating communities are matched with licensed mental health providers from an extensive database, on average, within 2 weeks of their call to INTERFACE. Each referral best meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller.
MCSP would like to thank the following organizations for their support and generous contributions that allow for the continued service: Norwood Hospital/Steward Health Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – Needham, and CHNA7 – Community Health Coalition of Metrowest.
In addition to the aforementioned health partners, there are others to thank. Several local businesses and many community members have supported programming that raises funds for the coalition; others have shown their support by making donations. Special thanks to long time supporters: Tracy Buckley of Medfield Yoga Studio, Burning Wheel Yoga, and Karen Johnson.
MCSP is an initiative of Medfield Foundation, Inc. (MFi), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization administered by Medfield Outreach. For more information, visit medfieldfoundation.org. To donate, visit the Medfield Foundation’s Network for Good page. When making a donation through Network for Good, please be sure to include the name of the coalition (Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention) in the designation of the online form.
The Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention welcomes you to join monthly meetings and learn more about what we do! If you’re interested please email medfieldoutreach@medfield.net to be added to MCSP’s email list. Be sure to check out our social media and website at www.facebook.com/medfieldcsp and www.medfieldcsp.org
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Posted in Financial, health, MCSP - Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Medfield Foundation, Safety
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PETERSON | Law Osler “Pete” Peterson 617-969-1500 – Newton July 2020 |
Fireworks Sales Up …
… Injuries May FollowEvery year thousands of Americans are injured by fireworks, and this year will likely be no exception. In fact, purchases of personal fireworks are soaring as organizers cut the fuse on traditional Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks displays. Here just in time for the holiday are tips on fireworks safety to better protect you, your friends and family, and all freedom-loving Americans from sea to shining sea. |
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BY THE NUMBERS73% Last year, 73% of fireworks injuries requiring an emergency room visit happened between June 21 and July 21. |
VIDEO BOOKMARKRed, White and BOOM We think of fireworks as a burn hazard, but the explosions can also cause hearing loss. Protect yourself and enjoy the show! |
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SPARKLERS CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIESSparklers may seem safe, but they cause one-third of emergency room injuries from fireworks each year.
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Posted in Safety
SRS tracks information about the automotive industry. I like this lawyer as hero story –
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Cobalt Cover-Up
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Cobalt Cover-Up Why did Brooke Melton die at the wheel of her 2005 Chevy Cobalt on a rainy night in March 2010? It took Marietta, Georgia, lawyer Lance Cooper 18 months to solve that mystery, eventually forcing GM to recall millions of vehicles with defective ignition switches and to pay billions in compensation and fines. There are many stories about the scandal, but none so close to the action as Cooper’s new, first-person account. It’s also a reminder that but for Cooper’s work, Brooke Melton’s death – and many others – would have been chalked up as yet another tragic case of “driver error.” Read our review at The Safety Record Blog.
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Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh, Interim Director of Medfield Youth Outreach announced this afternoon that Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) (www.MedfieldCares.org) was today awarded a Drug-Free Communities grant of $625,000, to fund a Substance Use Prevention Coordinator who will run MCAP’s prevention efforts. The Federal grant will pay MCAP $125,000 per year for five years, with the hope that the Substance Use Prevention Coordinator position will become permanent after five years. About 150 DFC grants nation wide were awarded this year. Towns that have received past DFC grants have seen a statistical decrease is substance abuse.
Medfield Youth Outreach, first through Dawn Alcott and now Chelsea, initiated, oversee, and manage the MCAP coalition. MCAP had come exceedingly close to getting the Federal grant in prior years it applied.
This year, however, MCAP had the added benefit of having received a $5,000 grant from the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund’s 2018 inaugural round of grants, which monies MCAP used to hire a grant writer, thereby parlaying the Legacy Fund grant into the $625,000 of benefit for the Town of Medfield.
The Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund is an endowment, created and being funded to make life better in Medfield.
Above photo was from the inaugural Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund grant awards celebration. From L to R are Todd Trehubenko, Christian Donner of the Medfield Rail Trail, Dawn Alcott of MCAP, Jean Mineo of the Cultural Alliance, and Chris Cahill (Todd and Chris are the Co-chairs of the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund’s Community Board).
The following was Chelsea’s email announcing her good news to MCAP –
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I am happy to report that Medfield Cares About Prevention was selected as one of the Drug-Free Communities grant recipients for this funding cycle! Our town will receive $125,000 a year for 5 years ($625,000 total) to implement prevention strategies aimed at reducing youth substance use. You can see the list of recipients here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FY-2019-DFC-New-Grant-Award-Recipients-10.29.2019.pdf
Thank you all for your hard work in making our grant application a success! Our next step is to solidify the hiring process for a full-time coalition coordinator with the grant funding to help us implement this work. Our next MCAP meeting on Monday, November 4th at 11:30 am will largely be dedicated to coming up with a hiring plan. I’ve attached a copy of the job description for the coalition coordinator for your reference.
Congratulations to you all for this successful team effort!
Warmly,
Chelsea
Medfield Youth Outreach
Medfield Select Board member
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.
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