Category Archives: Town Meeting

ATM draft warrant articles

Posted on January 2, 2015 | Comments Off on ATM draft warrant articles

Mike Sullivan circulated today an early draft of the tentative 2015 annual town meeting (ATM) warrant articles.  Note that there is no public safety building on this list, as the public safety building will be the subject of a special town meeting to take place before the ATM.

If anyone has any matters they want the ATM to address, now is the time to put them forth, as the warrant for the ATM will close at the end of January.  Ten voters can submit a citizen sponsored article.

 

2015 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES preliminary.docx

 

INDEX OF 2015 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT ARTICLES

 

  1. Town Election.
  2. Report of Town Officers.
  3. Accept Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Funds.
  4. Reauthorize Fire Alarm Revolving Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  5. Reauthorize Ambulance Revolving Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  6. Reauthorize Advance Life Support Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  7. Reauthorize Community Gardens Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  8. Reauthorize Rental Income Revolving Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  9. Reauthorize Library Revolving Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2).
  10. Reauthorize Respite Care Revolving Fund (Chapter 44, Section 53E 1/2)
  11. Accept Provisions of Section four, Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986; tax-exemptions.
  12. Fix Salary and Compensation of Elected Officials.
  13. Amend Personnel Administration Plan-Classification of Positions and Pay Schedule as set out in the Warrant.
  14. Operating Budgets
  15. Capital Budgets
  16. Appropriate sewer betterments paid in advance to Sewer Betterment Stabilization Fund.
  17. Transfer funds from fy15 County Retirement Budget to the OPEB Trust Fund and appropriate and/or transfer from free cash a sum of money to the OPEB Trust Fund and transfer funds in the Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance Stabilization Fund to the OPEB Trust Fund.
  18. Wheelock School Boiler Replacement.
  19. Appropriate sums of money from the Sewer Enterprise Fund for the purposes of conducting an Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) study and inspecting, repairing and upgrading the sewer infrastructure.
  20. Transfer funds from the Sewer Enterprise Unexpended Reserve to offset some of the fy16 operating expenses.
  21. Appropriate matching funds for the Medfield Cultural Council.
  22. Appropriate funds for construction and landscaping of a park on a parcel of land off North Street between Starbucks and Zebra’s and vote to name the park.
  23. Amend Town General Bylaws to adopt stretch code for building construction.
  24. Appropriate funds for former State Hospital master plan and studies.
  25. Appropriate funds for maintenance and security at former state hospital site.
  26. Authorize disposition of surplus equipment, furnishings and materials at the former state hospital site and establishing a special Stabilization Fund from proceeds of such to help with maintenance and security costs at site.
  27. Transfer of care, custody and control or “sledding hill” site to Park and Recreation Commission.
  28. Authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or the Conservation Commission to place a conservation restriction on a portion of the Holmquist Farm property off Plain St.
  29. Amend Town BylawsChapter 180 NOISE to add ARTICLE IV Residential Areas or Construction (?)to establish noise control regulations in residential areas or at construction sites (?).
  30. Amend Town Bylaws to delete existing dog regulations and adopt new dog control regulations
  31. Adopt Cemetery Regulations
  32. Amend Code of the Town of Medfield to authorize the Building Commissioner to make certain findings under MGL Chapter 40A, paragraph 6.
  33. Amend Zoning Bylaw to clarify methodology for calculating building heights.
  34. Amend Zoning Bylaw to clarify definition for half-story.
  35. Amend Zoning Bylaw lot coverage definition, Table of Area Regulations (Chapter 300: Attachment 2), and allow for relief in the form of a special permit.
  36. Appropriate funds and authorize bonding for design and construction of a solar photovoltaic array at the wastewater treatment facility.
  37. Amend the bylaws to allow a patient or responsible party to designate which hospital a patient is to be transported to in the Town Ambulance.
  38. Authorize Board of Assessors to use a sum of money from free cash to reduce the tax rate.

 

TOWN OF MEDFIELD

WARRANT FOR THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

2015

 

On Monday, the twentieth-eighth day of April, A.D., 2015 commencing at 7:30 P.M. the following Articles will be acted on in the Amos Clark Kingsbury High School gymnasium, located on South Street in said Medfield, viz

 

Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to accept the reports of the several Town Officers for the past year.

 

The reports are contained in the Annual Report, which is available at Town Meeting

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to accept the following named sums as Perpetual Trust Funds for the care of lots in the Vine Lake Cemetery, the interest thereof as may be necessary for said care, viz.

 

PERPETUAL CARE 2014

 

 

Article 4.   To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize an Ambulance Revolving Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for an Ambulance revolving fund for payment of principal and interest costs on the ambulance and/or purchase of a replacement ambulance, funds not to exceed $30,000 to come from the Ambulance Mileage Fee Account and to authorize the Fire Chief to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.                                                                                                                           (Fire Chief)

 

Monies accumulate in this Fund to finance the purchase or debt payments on the Fire Department ambulance.

 

                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

 

Article 6.   To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize an Advanced Life Support Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for the payment of Advanced Life Support charges, funds not to exceed $75,000 to come from the users of said services or their insurers and to authorize the Fire Chief to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

                                                                                                                          (Fire Chief)

 

                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

 

Advanced life support services are contracted for use with our Town ambulance staff to provide a higher level of medical care during transport. The Town’s EMT’s provide basic life support service (BLS). The contract service meets or intercepts the Town ambulance to provide advanced life support service (ALS) when a higher level of medical care is required.

 

                                                   WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

Article 7. To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize a Community Gardens Revolving Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for the payment of expenses for the operation of the Community Gardens Program, funds not to exceed $1,500 to come from registration fees paid by gardeners and to authorize the Town Administrator to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Town Administrator)

 

See explanation for Article 4 above. Monies accumulate in this Fund to finance the purchase or debt payments on the Fire Department ambulance.

 

                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

Article 8. To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize a Rental Income Revolving Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for the processing of rental receipts and associated expenditures for the CENTER at Medfield, funds not to exceed $30,000 and to authorize the Council on Aging and/or its Executive Director to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Council on Aging)

 

See explanation for Article 4 above. The funds charged for rental of the CENTER will be deposited in this fund and used to pay for utility, custodial, supervisory and administrative costs associated with the rental of the CENTER at Medfield.

 

                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

Article 9. To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize a Library Revolving Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for payment of costs associated with providing photocopier/printer services to library users, with costs associated with providing after hours use of public meeting space to community organizations and for payment of costs associated with replacing lost or damaged materials; funds not to exceed $5,000 to come from the fees charged for use of photocopiers/printers, from fees charged for use of meeting rooms after regular hours and from the fees charged for the replacement of lost or damaged materials; and to authorize the Library Director to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Library Director)

 

                 The funds will be used for costs as detailed in Article 9 above.

 

                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

Article 10. To see if the Town will vote to re-authorize a Respite Care Revolving Fund, pursuant to the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 53E ½ to be used for the payment of costs associated with the operation of a respite care program at the Center at Medfield, funds not to exceed $50,000 to come from fees charged for participation in the program, grants, gifts or such other funds as might be made available for this purpose; and to authorize the Council on Aging and/or its Executive Director to expend from said funds, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

                                                                                                              (Council on Aging)

 

The Council on Aging offers a fee-based service three days a week to Medfield residents who need a safe place to leave a family member affected by memory-related impairments for short periods of time to attend to personal, family or other matters. This program is not intended to provide medical care. To date the program has been funded from fees, grants, gifts and bequests.

 

                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

 

Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to accept for the fiscal year 2016 the provisions of section four of Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of said section four, providing for an additional exemption for a taxpayer who shall otherwise qualify for an exemption under clauses 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37A, 41C, 42 or 43 of section five of Chapter 59 of the General Laws, or do or act anything in relation thereto.                                                 (Board of Assessors)

 

This section of the Massachusetts General Laws authorized the Board of Assessors to increase the amount of property tax exemptions granted to certain eligible veterans, elderly, widows and disabled taxpayers by an amount not to exceed the exemption for which they are already entitled to receive. It must be voted each year by the Town Meeting.

 

                                             WARRANT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PASSAGE

 

 

Article 12.   To see if the Town will vote to fix the salary and compensation of the following elected officers: Moderator, Town Clerk, Selectmen, Assessors, School Committee, Trustees of the Public Library, Park and Recreation Commissioners, Planning Board, Housing Authority and Trust Fund Commissioners, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

    Officer

Present Salary

W.C. Recommends
    Town Clerk $64,000 $       ?
    Selectmen, Chairman        900         ?
    Selectmen, Clerk        900          ?
    Selectmen, Third Member        900          ?
    Assessors, Chairman        900          ?
    Assessors, Clerk        900          ?
    Assessors, Third Member        900          ?
    Moderator            0          0
    Housing Authority            0          0
    School Committee            0          0
    Library Trustees            0          0
    Planning Board            0          0
    Park & Recreation Commissioner            0          0
    Trust Fund Commissioner            0          0 

(Board of Selectmen)

 

Section 9.3 of the Town Charter reads as follows: “Elected officers sh/all be compensated in an amount authorized by Town Meeting and provided for by a Town Meeting Appropriation”.

 

                                                       WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 13. To see if the Town will vote to amend the PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION PLAN and CLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS AND PAY SCHEDULE, effective July 1, 2015, as set out in the warrant, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

                                                                                                                (Personnel Board)

 

This article reflect the position classifications recommended by the Classification study recently completed by the Personnel Board. The cost of the ? percent increase, recommended by the Personnel Board, the Board of Selectmen and the Warrant Committee, is $. It is included in the various departmental budget recommendations in Article. 17 Operating Budget. By state statute, school department personnel are not covered by the Town’s Personnel Plan and Bylaw.  

 

                                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate and/or transfer from available funds sums of money requested by the Selectmen or any other Town Officer, Board, Commission or Committee to defray operating expenses of the Town for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2015, or such other sums as the Town may determine, as required by General Laws, Chapter 41, Section 108, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

(Board of Selectmen)

 

This article requests appropriations for the operating budgets for the various town departments for fy16 (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016).

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 15.   To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from the Fiscal 2016 Tax Levy and or transfer from available funds and/or borrow for Capital Expenditures, including the following:

 

 

 

FY16 CAPITAL BUDGET
RECOMMENDATIONS
DEPARTMENT PROJECT REQUEST
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
 
     

(Capital Budget Committee)

 

This article contains $ of departmental requests for various capital spending projects for fy16 and the recommendations of the Capital Budget Committee as to which of these projects should be funded. The Capital Budget Committee is recommending that $ be appropriated, with $ to be funded from                     and $ to be raised on the fy16 tax levy

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 16.   To see if the Town will vote to transfer $163.669.40 from sewer betterments paid-in-advance to the Sewer Stabilization Fund, established under Article 31 of the 2004 ATM in accordance with the provisions of G.L., Chapter 40, Section 5B as amended by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2003, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Town Accountant)

 

The Town has borrowed funds for twenty years to construct sewers in various parts of the Town. Abutters to the sewer lines are assessed for this betterment and can pay this assessment all-at-once, or over five, ten or twenty years. Because of the low interest rates and the mortgage interest deductions, many have paid off the betterment in its entirety. To recapture the interest lost on these payoffs and to spread the repayment of sewer debt over the life of the issued bonds, the funds can be placed in an interest bearing stabilization fund and a portion appropriated annually as an offset to the principal and interest payments included in the operating budgets. The amount requested to be transferred to the Sewer Stabilization Fund this year is $163,669.40. The balance in this Fund as of December 31, 2014 was $__________. The operating budget recommendations propose to transfer $400,000 from this fund to help pay for the principal and interest costs on fy16 General Fund   sewer debt Unless new sewer projects are approved the last of these bonds will be paid off in fy22, after which this stabilization fund will be dissolved.

Two-thirds vote required

                  

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 17. To see of the Town will vote to transfer $33,428 from the fy15 County Retirement Contribution Budget, account 01-911-2, to the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust, appropriate to said fund from free cash or other sources, such other sum(s), as the Town deems appropriate for the purpose of setting aside monies to cover the unfunded retiree health insurance costs in accordance with the provisions of G.L., Chapter 40 Section 5B as amended by Chapter 46 of the Acts of 2003, or do or act anything in relation thereto and further, to transfer the balance of funds in the Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance Stabilization Fund to said OPEB Trust, which was authorized by vote of the 2014 Annual Town Meeting (Article 21).

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                         (Town Administrator)

 

A private rule-making body, the General Accounting Standards Board(GASB), issued a rule several years ago, that requires all state and municipal governments to record unfunded retiree health insurance liabilities on their financial statements starting in fy10. This article seeks to continue gradually ramp up a program, begun seven years ago, to set aside funds to cover this liability by taking the savings achieved by the Treasurer/Collector from paying the Norfolk County Pension assessment in one payment rather than two. The 2% discount for the current year(fy15) amounts to $33,428 and this article would appropriate those savings to the Other Post Employment Benefits Trust, which was authorized at last year’s annual Town Meeting                                           . In addition, the Warrant Committee is recommending that another $   be transferred from free cash and an additional $ be raised on the tax levy, bringing the total amount requested to $                     . The actuarial unfunded liability as of January 1, 2015 was $                         . In addition, all funds in the Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance Stabilization would be transferred to the OPEB Trust. The fund balance in the Unfunded Retiree Health Insurance Stabilization Fund as of December 31, 2014 was $­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________. Moving these funds from a stabilization fund to a trust fund assures that these funds will be used for the purpose intended and, consequently, lowers the Town’s unfunded OPEB liability, which helps to maintain the Town’s excellent credit rating.                                             .

 

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

 

Article 18.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised, including transferring unexpended bond funds balances available under Article 27 of the 2013 Annual Town Meeting (Town Garage), for the purpose of purchasing and installing new boilers to replace the existing boilers at the Wheelock School, and that to accomplish said purpose the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen and/or the Town Administrator be authorized to enter into contracts with federal, state or private parties, and to accept federal, state and/or private grants to accomplish said purpose, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(School Committee & Board of Selectmen)

 

The Massachusetts School Building Authority has approved an Accelerated School Repair Grant to replace the original boilers at the Wheelock School. The Town must appropriate funds to cover the total cost of the project and then apply for reimbursement of a portion of the cost (approximately 40%) upon completion of the work. These reimbursement funds will be deposited in the Town’s General Fund for future appropriation by the Town Meeting.

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 19.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money from the Sewer Enterprise Fund for the purposes of conducting an Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) study and for inspecting, repairing and upgrading the sewer infrastructure, or do or act         anything in relation thereto.

(Water & Sewerage Commissioners)

 

As part of the requirements for the Town’s EPA sewer discharge permit, which must be renewed every five years and allows the Town to discharge treated effluent from the wastewater treatment plant into the Charles River, the Town is required to conduct an annual infiltration-inflow study to detect and repair leaks in the sewer collection system. In addition the Sewer Department must continually repair and upgrade equipment in the treatment plant and in the nine sewer pumping stations that are part of the sewer collection system.

 

                                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 20.   To see if the Town will vote to transfer from Sewer Enterprise Fund Unreserved Fund Balance a sum of money to offset the operating cost of the Sewer Enterprise Fund for fy16, or do or take any action relating thereto.

 

The Water And Sewerage Board, after reviewing the fy14 closing balances in the Sewer Enterprise Fund, has determined that it can use a portion of the surplus funds to offset some of the Sewer Department’s fy16 operating costs and still maintain a healthy reserve balance in the Sewer Enterprise Fund. This is similar to the vote taken at the end of each town meeting to appropriate funds from free cash to the General Fund to offset that Fund’s operating expenses.  

 

 

Article 21. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised, to provide funding to the Medfield Cultural Council to enable it to expend funds for public purposes including but not limited to organizing, presenting, sponsoring and supporting artistic and cultural exhibitions, performances and events and to authorize the Medfield Cultural Council to contract with individuals and organizations for any of said purposes and to create a new Town account with a separate line item in the Town’s annual operating budget to reflect this vote, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

(Board of Selectmen)

 

Each year the Medfield Cultural Council receives funding from Massachusetts Lottery proceeds to enable it to assist local arts and cultural groups with a variety of projects, ranging from concerts, art exhibits and classroom performances. Last year the Town Meeting appropriated $4,250 as a match for the state funds. With these additional Town funds, the Council was able to fund more of the requests submitted to it. They are asking the Town to continue to match the amount from the Lottery proceeds by appropriating $____________ for fy16.

                                                                   WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 22.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised for the purpose of constructing a pocket park on a parcel of Town-owned land between Starbucks and Zebra’s, shown on the Board of Assessors’ maps as Map 43, Lot 022, said design and construction to be done under the direction of the Board of Selectmen or its designee, and to vote to officially designate the appellation by which said park will be known, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Medfield Cultural District Committee)

 

At the 2014 Annual Town Meeting an similar article was on the Warrant but was withdrawn because the design of the park had not been completed and fund raising for the private share had not begun. The design has now been finished and private funds to be used along with the funds requested in this article have been and are continuing to be raised. The Public works Department will assist with the construction and landscaping.

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 23. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield, Chapter 110 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION by adding Article entitled “Stretch Energy Code”, for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy, pursuant to Appendix 115.AA of the Massachusetts Building Code, 780 CMR , the Stretch Energy Code, including future editions, amendments or modifications thereto; with an effective date of July 1, 2015; a copy of which is on file in the office of the Town Clerk, and to authorize the Town Clerk to renumber or take any other action necessary to format this new bylaw to fit within the new codification of the Town’s existing bylaws if approved by this Town meeting, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Medfield Energy Committee & Board of Selectmen)

 

One of the five criteria for qualification as a Green Community is adoption of a so-called “Stretch Code”. It is an appendix to the Massachusetts 8th Edition, Massachusetts State Building Code, which creates a higher tier of Energy Conservation. At the present time the Town’s building code is the same as the State’s Stretch Energy Code. If this is adopted by the Town, the Town’s Building Code would be modified by future changes to the State’s Stretch Energy Code.

 

                                                    WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 24.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised for the purpose of hiring consultants, engineers and/or attorneys to assist the Town with the preparation of a master plan for reuse of the former hospital and surrounding areas and to advise the Town on matters concerning the site’s disposition, reuse and environmental remediation, said funds to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen, with the understanding that the Board of Selectmen may authorize any other Town board, commission, committee or department to expend a portion of said funds for such purposes, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

                                                                                                             (Board of Selectmen)

 

For the past several years the Town Meeting has appropriated funds to pay for environmental and legal consultants to advise on the clean-up and disposition of the former state hospital property. The ground pollution clean-up should be completed in a few months, except for on-going inspection and monitoring. Last year (fy15) $100,000 was appropriated to prepare a master plan for development/preservation of the site, now that the Town Meeting has acquired the property from the Commonwealth. The funds requested this year (fy16) will be used along with last year’s appropriation to prepare that master plan and/or to prepare such other studies and/or tests, and/or inspections, as may be necessary to assist   in the Town’s deliberations.

 

                                                        WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 25.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised for the purpose of providing ongoing maintenance and security at the site of the former state hospital, or do or take any action in relation thereto.

(Board of Selectmen)

 

Until the future of the former state hospital site is determined, the property must be maintained and kept secure. The requested funds will provide for mowing, snow plowing, securing buildings, providing security, and other essential services.

 

                                                          WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 26.   To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell, trade or otherwise convey surplus and/or obsolete equipment, furnishing and supplies, but not buildings or land, located on the grounds or in the buildings at the former state hospital site, provided that any funds received by the Town from such transactions, be deposited in a special state hospital maintenance and security Stabilization Fund, as provided under MGL, Chapter   , Section   , to be used to maintain and secure that property until such time as a determination and/or disposition of the property is made, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

(Town Administrator)

 

Since the Town took possession of the former state hospital property, town employees and residents have noticed that certain items of no use to the Town, but with some residual and/or scrap value, are located on the grounds or in buildings. If allowed to remain on the site their value may diminish and/or they could deteriorate to the point that it will cost the Town to remove them. Authorizing the Selectmen to dispose of such materials, and authorizing the Town Meeting to use any funds derived to maintain and secure the property would seem to makes sense.

 

                                                         WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to transfer care, custody and control of a parcel of land on the westerly side of Hospital Road, identified on the Medfield Board of Assessors’ maps as Lot 4, Map 63, commonly known as the Sledding Hill, to the Park and Recreation Commissioners, for recreational and agricultural use, provided that any use of said property by said Commissioners, be in accordance with the Land Disposition Agreement between the Town of Medfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset and Management, or do or take any other action in relation thereto.

(Park and Recreation Commission)

 

This 39 acre site adjacent to McCarthy Park, would be placed under the jurisdiction of the Park and Recreation Commission and could only be used for recreation and agricultural activities. The Disposition Agreement with The Commonwealth provides that only twelve acres may be used for recreation, with the remaining acres being reserved for agricultural use.

 

WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

 

Article 28, To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen and/or the Conservation Commission to place a conservation restriction on a portion of the Holmquist Farm property off Plain Street, said portion to be determined jointly by the Selectmen and the Conservation Commission, in consultation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in satisfaction of a condition of the Land Disposition Agreement between the Town of Medfield and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) regarding the sale of the former state hospital property, or do or take any other action in relation thereto.

 

In return for allowing the Town of Medfield to convert 12 acres of the sledding hill site from agricultural to recreational use, the Commonwealth stipulated that the Town must place an agricultural restriction on a similarly sized parcel of land elsewhere in the Town. This is to maintain compliance with the Commonwealth’s policy of no net loss of agricultural land. The Holmquist Farm land is presently used for agriculture, so this seemed to be a likely parcel upon which to place an agricultural restriction.

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield, Chapter 180, NOISE by addiding Article IV Regulation of Noise in Residential Areas and at construction sites, a copy of which is available in the Town Clerks’s office and in the Planning and Zoning department Offices, or do or take any action relating thereto. (DRAFT = FINAL FORM TO BE SUMBITTED BY PLANNING AND ZONING).

 

Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield by deleting Chapter 100 ANIMALS and substituting in its place an new Chapter 100 ANIMAL CONTROL, a copy of which is available in the Town Clerk’s office and in the Medfield Memorial Library, of do or take any action relating thereto.

 

(Town Clerk and Animal Control Officer???)

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 31.   To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield, by adopting Cemetery Regulations (?????) , or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield Chapter 300 ZONING by   (??????) to authorize the Building commissioner to make certain fundings under MGL Chapter 40A, paragraph6. Or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 33.    To see if the Town will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield, Chapter 300 ZONING by (??????) to clarify the definition for half-story, or do or take any other action relating thereto.

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                        WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 34.   To see if the Tow will vote to amend the Code of the Town of Medfield Chapter 300 ZONING by (???????) to change the lot coverage definition, Table of Area Regulations, and to allow for relief in the form of a special permit.

 

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 35.   To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money and determine in what manner said sum shall be raised, and to authorize the Treasurer-Collector, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen to borrow under the provisions of MGL, Chapter 44, Section     for the purpose of designing, construction and equipping a solar photovoltaic array at the wastewater treatment plant, and that the Board of Selectmen, the Water and Sewerage Board and/or the Superintendent of Public Works be authorized to expend said funds and to enter into contracts with the federal government, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and/or private contractors to accomplish said purposes, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

 

(Water and Sewerage Board and Medfield Energy Committee)

 

This past year the Medfield Energy Commissioned a study to evaluate the potential of three sites in the Town on which to locate a solar photovoltaic array (solar panels). Of the three sites, tow were deemed suitable, the wastewater treatment plant and the roof of the new town garage. The Energy Committee has decided to proceed with constructing a ground-mounted solar array at the treatment plant and has been working with the Water and Sewerage Board and the plant operator-in=charge to iron out the details. It has also obtained a grant form the Commonwealth Department of Energy Resources to cover 15% of the cost. The Committee will report further at the Town Meeting..

 

Two-thirds vote required

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 36.   To see if the Town will vote to allow a patient or authorized representative of the patient to designate which hospital the ambulance will transport that patient to, within a 15 mile radius of the location from which the patient is being transported from, or do or take any other action relating thereto.

 

(Citizen Petition)

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

Article 38. To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Assessors to use a sum of money from free cash in the Treasury for the reduction of the tax rate for the fiscal year 2016, or do or act anything in relation thereto.

(Board of Assessors)

 

At the close of the fiscal year, the Town Accountant submits financial statements to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, which then certifies the amount of free cash available to the Town as of June 30 2014. These funds are then available to be used for reduction of the fy16 tax rate, for emergency purposes or for avoiding temporary borrowing costs until tax and/or other Town revenues are collected. The Certified Free Cash as of June 30, 2014 is $2,426,282.

 

                                                           WARRANT COMMITTEE WILL BE HEARD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting an attested copy thereof, in the usual place for posting warrants in said Medfield, seven days at least before the time of holding said Town Meeting.

 

Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant with you doings thereon, unto the Town Clerk at the time and place of the Town Meeting aforesaid. Given unto our hands this_______day of April, Two-Thousand and Fifteen.

 

 

Osler L. Peterson, Chairman S/___________________

 

Richard DeSorgher S/_______________________________

 

Mark L. Fisher S/_____________________________

 

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

 

By virtue of this Warrant, I have notified and warned the inhabitants of the Town of Medfield, qualified to vote in elections and at town meetings, by posting attested copies of the same at five public places, seven days before the date of the elections, as within directed.

 

Constable:                                   S/______________________________

 

Date: April ____, 2015

 

A TRUE COPY ATTEST:

 

Carol A. Mayer, CMC, CMMC   S/__________________________

Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
   

 

 

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Posted in Town Meeting

Warrant Committee on the stretch code

Posted on May 21, 2014 | Comments Off on Warrant Committee on the stretch code

In one of the most contested issues at the 4/28/14 annual town meeting (ATM) the 400 or so residents present voted to not adopt the Stretch Code by a voice vote that I ball parked at 60% – 40%, which resulted in the Town of Medfield unfortunately not qualifying as a Green Community under the Green Communities Act, and more unfortunately in the town not receiving the $148,000 DOER grant available to the town if we did so.

The Stretch Code is a building code that contains requirements to make structures more energy efficient than under the then current building code.  The way it works is that every several years a new Stretch Code is created, and the state eventually makes that Stretch Code into the building code and adopts a new Stretch Code.

Since all of Massachusetts eventually adopts any Stretch Code, to me the issue was whether Medfield would be an early adopter of the forward thinking consensus rules that are designed to be both good for the buildings we put up (they will use less energy and rapidly pay back the extra costs incurred) and for our planet (using less energy reduces the building’s carbon footprint).  In fact, the current Stretch Code becomes the required building code this summer.

I am told that Massachusetts has become the model for the whole nation on what building codes should be used, as the rest of the nation has been adopting the building codes that Massachusetts initiates.

So, by voting down adoption of the Stretch Code, we lost the $148,000 grant money, and yet we still have to live by the Stretch Code.  For your information, what follows are the majority and minority reports put forward by the Warrant Committee members at the 4/28/14 annual town meeting on the Stretch Code.

 

Warrant Committee: Majority Report on Article 35
The Warrant Committee recommends dismissal of Article 35, and does not believe it is in the interest of the Town of Medfield to adopt the Stretch Code at this time. While we appreciate the efforts by the Medfield Energy Committee to obtain “Green Communities” status for Medfield, the costs of the stretch code to Medfield’s residents are not justified by the benefits to the town. In particular, we are mindful that these costs will fall most heavily on those of our citizens least able to bear them. Thus, even if the code may be a net benefit, we must consider its impact on our most vulnerable citizens.

First, the $148,000 grant is a one-time grant to be used only for energy-efficiency projects. It will not lower the tax rate nor can it be used to achieve other longstanding priorities.  We have seen no evidence that this amount will bring significant, long-term benefits to the town.

Second, the stretch code will increase costs on Medfield residents who wish to renovate or remodel their homes. The burden of these costs will fall primarily on those of our residents with the most limited incomes. The renovations at issue may be necessary, and not optional or cosmetic. We think in particular of seniors or others living on fixed incomes who made need to make renovations for safety reasons, or to accommodate physical limitations. Implementing the stretch code will increase their costs.

The supporters of this article have put out charts showing that the increased up front costs of the stretch code will be offset by energy savings later on. The Warrant Committee takes no position on whether these hypotheticals are accurate.

Even if those projections are correct, there is nothing to prevent homeowners from choosing to build to the stretch code or beyond to capture these savings. Indeed, we believe that if it is cost effective to built to the stretch code, the intelligent, well-educated citizens of Medfield will choose what is in their best interest, without it being forced upon them in the name of well-meaning paternalism.

Third, adopting the code will add uncertainty and there for cost, to commercial and residential development at a time when Medfield is seeking additional development and is looking to increased commercial development as a path to mitigate the need for additional residential taxes. Medfield already has its challenges as a site for commercial development, adopting the stretch code in its current and future iterations will only increase that cost and make it less attractive to commercial development.

Finally, we would be committing the town to future, yet-to-be-written versions of the Stretch Code whose costs may be higher than the code currently under consideration. The early adopters will be the ones left to work out the kinks before architects and builders have had time to adjust to the new rules and develop cost-effective means of compliance. Given that everyone will have the option to build or renovate to the code, or beyond, we do not believe it wise to make such an open-ended commitment. Even though we could, in the future, reverse course on this issue, in practice, that is unlikely ever to happen.

Ultimately, it is likely a relatively small minority of Medfield residents who will be negatively impacted by the Stretch Code. But, we must always consider how our decisions impact those least able to bear the costs of those decisions. For these reasons, the Warrant Committee recommends dismissal of Article 35.
H:\My Documents\Warrant Committee\Stretch Code Majority Report.docx

 

Warrant Committee Minority Report in Favor of Passage of Article 35

I wish to make clear that this article is not proposing the introduction of an Energy Code to the town of Medfield, as new buildings, additions, and renovations are presently required to adhere to an existing Massachusetts Energy Code.

The first energy codes in the United States was developed in the 1970s in response to the OPEC oil embargo and energy crisis of that decade. These first energy codes were meant to lessen and try to eliminate the United States dependence on foreign energy sources as both a national and an economic security issue. The energy used in today’s commercial and residential buildings account for over 40% of the total energy used in the United States. So the building energy codes are critical in controlling and conserving the consumption of the nations energy resources. The original intent of the national energy codes as a policy of national energy independence continues to this day but we have now realized that there are additional benefits that include money savings, water conservation, the reduced emissions and health issues related to pollution as well as reduction in man–]made green house gases.

The United States now uses the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) that is then adopted by the different states. The 2012 IECC is the most recent published version but presently Massachusetts has only adopted the 2009 version of IECC. The present Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code was adopted in 2009 and closely mimics the 2012 version of the IECC. Massachusetts will be adopting this newer 2012 version of the IECC as its standard energy code as of July of this year (2014). This will make the required Massachusetts energy code and Stretch Code virtually the same until Massachusetts adopts a new Stretch Energy Code sometime in the near future. The arguments that the present Stretch Energy Code

The next Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code will most likely incorporate significant portions of the 2015 IECC which is due to be published later this year (2014). From published reports much of the changes in the 2015 IECC related to residential construction will include new performance paths to compliance that are easier for the public to understand and implement but will require homes to be only slightly more energy efficient than the 2012 IECC.

Without going into the detailed minutia of the energy codes, please also know that neither the new energy code nor the new Stretch Energy code will retroactively require existing buildings to comply with the latest codes. Only new buildings and when a minimum threshold for new additions or renovations is met will the new codes come into effect –]–] and then only on those portions of the building affected by the new work. Doing renovations or additions will not require the whole building or home meet the newest Energy code.

The voters should know that the adoption of the Stretch Energy Code will not have any additional affect on the costs any of the new town buildings being proposed for construction. It has been the Permanent Building Committee’s objective to design and build the town’s new buildings to meet the Stretch Energy Code because the Committee already sees the cost benefits of constructing buildings to the higher energy standards.

The vote on this article should not focus too much on the specifics of the present Stretch Energy Code or its costs. The present Stretch Code will become the required minimum energy code in 2 months. Codes related to the building industry are continually being changed, updated and adopted approximately every three years. As a consequence, the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code will become part of the required Massachusetts standard energy code approximately every three years and a new Stretch Energy Code will take its place.

Much of the arguments against adopting the present Stretch Energy Code because of additional cost to the homeowner will also be moot in 2 months as these special requirements adding these most of these costs will become part of the standard Massachusetts Energy Code on July 1, 2014. These additional costs are also typically a fairly small percentage of the overall costs of the construction.

The minority voting members believe that as the new Stretch Codes are developed anare adopted their additional cost burden on the home owner will be lessen but will still create financial pay backs. The minority voting members of the Warrant Committee feel that the taxpayers should vote in favor on the adoption of the Stretch Energy Code because the higher energy standards and the required verification of the energy performance of our buildings and homes in Medfield provide us with the consumer protection that the buildings and renovations we pay for will perform as they should. The higher standards we implement by committing to adopting the Stretch Energy Code will have many tangible benefits to the individual homeowners, the community, and the entire nation.

Medfield will also be taking the philosophical stance that Medfield is doing more than the minimum requirement to conserve energy in the built environment and that this will help create a country less dependent on foreign energy sources and more control of our energy future.

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Posted in Energy Committee, Environmental, Town Meeting

ATM results – 41 out of 45

Posted on April 29, 2014 | 1 comment

At the three hour annual town meeting (ATM) last night all but one article passed, with the adoption of the stretch code for buildings being the only article that was defeated.  By my ear, I noted that article lost by about 60% to 40%.  Defeat of that article prevents the town from becoming a Green Community under the Massachusetts Green Communities Act, and therefore claiming the $148,000 state DOER grant that we would have been awarded as a Green Community.

Leasing authority to the Board of Selectmen for lot 3 on Ice House Road passed by about 70% to 30%, again to my ears.

The 0.75% local option meals (about $100,000 per year for the town) tax passed, also to my ears, by a 70% to 30% margin.

Three articles were dismissed:

  • Article 27 – Medfield Park & Recreation Commission seeking to have lot 3 transferred to them.  MPRC now has its sights set upon land at the Medfield State Hospital site instead.
  • Article 38 – seeking $80,000 to build out and create the Straw Hat Park was dismissed after the Warrant Committee recommended its dismissal due to other budget constraints this year.
  • Article 39 – seeking to create a walking path from Wild Holly Lane to the Wheelock School was dismissed after the Conservation Commission’s agent raised questions about whether the proposed path was in wetlands.

All other articles passed by unanimous votes, including the following highlights:

  • The town’s operating budget came in at $53,491,540.
  • $500,000 of free cash was voted to be used to reduce property taxes.
  • $6m. to build the new water tower and water mains to it at the former Medfield State Hospital site.
  • $850,000 to complete design drawings for the new public safety building.  It was the decision to pay for that cost out of the operating budget that made the budget tight this year.  That public safety building is expected to cost about $19m.

With only two articles remaining, a gentleman stepped to a mike to question whether there was still a quorum.  It was clear to anyone in the room that there were no longer 250 people in the Medfield High School gym at that point.  If the man had invoked the magic words “quorum call,” the ATM would have had to grind to an early end, adjourn, and reconvene this evening if 250 residents would attend.  Luckily the moderator first assured the man that it seemed to him that there were enough residents.  Then the moderator effectively finessed the question, the man sat down, and then fifteen minutes later the ATM successfully concluded.

1 Comment

Posted in Budgets, Town Meeting

Cultural Council get $4,250 at ATM

Posted on April 29, 2014 | Comments Off on Cultural Council get $4,250 at ATM

The Cultural Council got a first time $4,250 budget out of our annual town meeting (ATM) last night, a request that was so modest for a return that is so big, that it made that decision easy for me even in a year of self-created tight budget decisions.  The Cultural Council gets $4,250 from the sate each year, so they will now have double the budget going forward.

My summary I had written out, if the Board of Selectmen needed me to speak to it, was going to be:

  • Small money
  • Big Value
  • Huge addition to quality of life

I have come to believe that the quality of life in town is the sum of the many small things that happen that are interesting and good, and all the items supported by the Cultural Council are high on that list.  Their new grant awards ceremony this past month is the newest one of those.

I want to believe in the idea that spending on the arts redounds to the community economically as well, as I have heard, but I am still not sure about that in my mind.  Regardless, I feel it is still worthwhile spending even if we do not get a direct financial return out of our spending on the arts.

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Posted in Cultural, Town Meeting

$6m. for new water tower & lines

Posted on April 28, 2014 | Comments Off on $6m. for new water tower & lines

These emails from Mike and town’s Water & Sewer consultant last week laying out the expected $6m. cost of the new water tower and new water mains at the former Medfield State Hospital site.  The $6m. figure will be what is used at the annual town meeting (ATM) tonight –

Gus, Pete, Richard, Mark and Scott. Bids for water mains opened this afternoon and results attached. Revised estimate for town meeting appropriation also attached. Based on this estimate, I’ll prepare a motion to appropriate $6 million for the State Hospital water tower and mains, of which $160,000 will be from North and Green St bond funds and $5,840,000 will be authorized for bonding. Let me know if that’s okay  and I’ll have Evelyn put it in the motion folders. Please do not post the results on your blogs, as the Water and Sewer Commissioners have not yet had a chance to see or to review this information. Thanks Mike

From: “Paul C. Millett”
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 5:02 PM
To:
Subject: Updated: Medfield Water Project: Hospital Rd. Water Main and Tank Cost Estimate

Update:

We received and opened 12 bids this afternoon for the watermain project.  The bids ranged from $1.65M to $2.265M.

The apparent low bidder is Oliviera Construction Inc. Somerset, MA.

The next three bids were $1.780M, $1.794M and $1.799M.  A copy of a portion of the bid results checklist is attached.

EPG will review all bids for math errors, accuracy and completeness and issue a letter of recommendation by the end of the week.

I spoke with Mike Oliviera from Oliviera Construction this afternoon around 4:30 p.m and he is comfortable with his bid of $1.65M.

I updated the total project cost table using the low bid amount of $1.65M.  The revised table is attached.

The total project cost is now $6.018M…say $6M.  This includes 10% contingency and 10% for engineering services during construction.  The tank cost estimate is based on quotes from 3 tank contractors.

There are costs for CSX fees during the pipe jacking construction under the tracks that are unknown at this time. CSX will not provide a firm price for the # of flagmen, inspectors etc. or the total cost. These costs may be in $25-50k range and will be taken from contingency.

Conclusion:

This total project cost estimate is now $0.4M less than last week’s (April 18) estimate of $6.4M.

For overall budgeting purposes, I would recommend that $6M be used as the total project cost at this time.  If a 5% contingency is used, then the total project cost drops to about $5.8M. However, until the additional soil testing at the tank is completed (we are still waiting for DCAMM approval for Round 2 of sampling), I would recommend against reducing the contingency at this time.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Paul

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Posted in Town Meeting, Water & Sewer

ATM 7:30 tonight

Posted on April 28, 2014 | Comments Off on ATM 7:30 tonight

The annual town meeting (ATM) is tonight in the Medfield High School gym.  45 warrant articles to decide, to lay out the future course of the town.

For those who want a private discussion, I will hold my monthly office hours at 9-10 AM at The Center this Friday.

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Posted in Select Board matters, Town Meeting

Posted on April 22, 2014 | Comments Off on

This from Medfield Energy Committee –

Medfield Energy Committee Recommends ‘YES” vote on Articles #34 and #35 at Town Meeting.

For Medfield to qualify for an $148,000 grant from the State Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the two articles must pass at Town Meeting April 28.

Medfield is working to become a Green Community within the Green Communities Act administered by the DOER. The Green Community designation acknowledges that a Town has taken steps to encourage energy conservation and facilitate renewable energy. There are 5 criteria that must be met to qualify. Article #34 achieves two of the criteria and Article #35 a third. The final two criteria are policies to be adopted by the Board of Selectmen and the School Board before the Fall 2014 application to the DOER.

Article #34, to “.. .add new Section 19, Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Overlay District (PVOD)…” will fulfill the requirement to facilitate renewable energy in the town.   The by-right overlay district will be the Industrial Extensive (IE) district that is North of West Street. Section 19 regulates large-scale solar location, construction and operation to minimize visual and environmental impacts and provide financial assurance for the eventual decommissioning.

Over 50 Massachusetts communities have passed by-right Solar Bylaws, including Sherborn, Medway, Dedham & Ashland. Article #34 was passed unanimously by the Planning Board and is supported by the Board of Selectmen and Warrant Committee.

Article #35 to “…enact…“Stretch Energy Code”, for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy…”  The energy code is a component of the building code; it sets a minimum energy efficiency for new buildings and major renovations. The “stretch” energy code of 2009 is a more-efficient option available for towns to voluntarily adopt. Both base and stretch energy codes are updated every few years. This July, the current “stretch” code will be replacing the current base energy code statewide. Passing this Warrant Article will thus accelerate Medfield’s adoption of the current stretch code by only a few months. As new “stretch” energy codes are developed, Medfield will adopt them immediately and not wait for them to become the new base energy code. The benefit of adopting the stretch energy code now is to be able to qualify for the $148,000 DOER grant.

Although 134 towns have adopted the stretch energy code, Medfield has not yet done so. Passage of this Article would keep Medfield one step ahead, meaning more efficient homes and buildings. The added construction cost to meet the stretch energy code is quickly recovered through reduced energy costs. (See attached table)

The Board of Selectmen and the Energy Committee recommend passage of Article #35. The Warrant Committee vote was split 5-2-2

  Added construction costs to meet code Increase in 30 year mortgage Annual Energy savings Annual Net Savings
New Large size Home *

(4,462 sq. ft.)

 $6,400 $471 / year $1,455 / year $984 / year
New Average size Home*
(2,672 sq. ft.)		 $2,900 $214 / year $507 / year $293 / year
Smaller Home*

(renovation as part of development)

(1,706 sq. ft.)

 $4,100 $302 / year $583 / year $281 / year

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Posted in Energy Committee, Town Meeting

MEC’s ATM articles

Posted on April 16, 2014 | Comments Off on MEC’s ATM articles

The Medfield Energy Committee has provided the following explanation of its two annual town meeting (ATM) warrant articles, that if passed will allow Medfield to become a green community under the Green Communities Act –

Medfield Energy Committee

Recommends a YES vote on

Article #34

“.. .add new Section 19, Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Overlay District (PVOD)…”

 

  • Solar Photovoltaic is a very safe, proven, economical way of generating non-carbon, renewable energy
  • The purpose of this Section is to promote and regulate the use of commercial and municipal solar photovoltaic facilities within the Town of Medfield and encourage their location and use in a manner which minimizes negative visual and environmental impacts on scenic, natural and historic resources and to the residents of Medfield.
  • The purpose is also to provide adequate financial assurance for the eventual decommissioning of such installations. 
  • The by-right overlay district will be the IE district (the industrial area North of West Street)
  • Over 50 Massachusetts communities have passed by-right Solar Bylaws, including Sherborn, Medway, Dedham & Ashland
  • 30 Communities have reduced their energy costs by installing large-scale Solar generation on town land
  • Passage of this article puts Medfield one step closer to becoming a Green Community which would qualify the Town for a $148,000 grant
  • Passage of this Bylaw will facilitate Town interest in solar energy generation to further reduce Town energy bills. Estimated return on solar investment is 9 to 12%
  • Energy Committee & Town are studying Solar for Waste Water treatment plant, Town Garage and other locations.
  • Article #34 passed unanimously by the Planning Board and supported by the Board of Selectmen.

 

Vote YES on Article #34

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

Medfield Energy Committee

Recommends a YES vote on

Article #35

“…enact…“Stretch Energy Code”, for the purpose of regulating the design and construction of buildings for the effective use of energy…”

 

  • Stretch energy code promotes energy efficient buildings. Over 70% of Medfield energy use is for buildings
  • Added cost of construction is paid off by reduced energy bills.

Examples:

Large Home 4,462 sq. ft.

o       Added construction cost to meet code   $6,462

o       Energy savings                                         $1,455/yr

o       Return on investment                                22%

o       Increase in 30 yr. mortgage                     $471/yr

o       Annual net savings                                    $984/yr

Small home renovation 1706 sq. ft.

o       Added construction cost to meet code   $4,162

o       Energy savings                                         $583/yr

o       Return on investment                                14%

o       Increase in 30 yr. mortgage                     $302/yr

o       Annual Net Savings                                   $281/yr

  • Stretch energy codes eventually become State building codes. Current Stretch Code to be adopted as State code in July 2014.
  • Passage of this article on Stretch Energy Code puts Medfield one step closer to becoming a Green Community and qualifying the Town for a $148,000 grant
  • A no vote means NO $148,000 but the Stretch Code becomes law in July anyway.
  • Future editions of Stretch Code will continue energy and dollar savings balance.
  • This article saves money for homeowners, but builders and developers may not like that it adds cost to construction.
  • Article #35 supported by Board of Selectmen. Building Commissioner stands ready to enforce Stretch Energy Code

Vote YES on Article #35

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Posted in Energy Committee, Town Meeting

STM now online

Posted on March 13, 2014 | Comments Off on STM now online

From Medfield.TV –

You can also watch the Special Town Meeting on Medfield.TV YouTube, link
below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpcBe4ft91U

Thanks,
Aditi

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Posted in Town Meeting

STM replays on Medfield.TV

Posted on March 12, 2014 | Comments Off on STM replays on Medfield.TV

Missed the real thing – catch the replay of the special town meeting (STM) being rebroadcast by Medfield.TV, per this email from Aditi –

Thank you all for your support to Medfield.TV for the ‘Live’ broadcast of the Special Town Meeting.

We are airing the Special Town Meeting on Comcast channel 22 and Verizon channel 45. We will also broadcast the Special Town Meeting next week, please check the schedule for next week at http://www.medfield.tv

Special Town Meeting Schedule 3/12/14 – 3/16/14:

+     Sun     3/16/2014     10:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Sun     3/16/2014     4:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Sun     3/16/2014     12:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Sun     3/16/2014     6:00:00 am     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Sat     3/15/2014     8:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Sat     3/15/2014     10:00:00 am     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Fri     3/14/2014     10:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Fri     3/14/2014     4:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Fri     3/14/2014     12:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Fri     3/14/2014     8:00:00 am     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Thu     3/13/2014     6:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Thu     3/13/2014     2:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Thu     3/13/2014     6:00:00 am     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
+     Wed     3/12/2014     10:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)
Wed     3/12/2014     4:00:00 pm     Channel 22/45 (Town House)

Thanks,
Aditi

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Posted in Medfield TV, Town Meeting