Category Archives: Town Meeting

REPORT ON THE WARRANT FOR THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING AMOS CLARK KINGSBURY HIGH SCHOOL
GYMNASIUM

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Monday, March 10,2014
7:30 P.M.
Prepared by BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Guidelines for the Conduct of the March 2014 Special Town Meeting

There are three Articles for our consideration tonight. We will address these Articles consistent with the printed Proceedings of the Meeting and in the order they appear on the Warrant. Article 1 requires a 2/3 vote for passage. Articles 2 and 3 require a majority vote for passage.

The subject matter of the meeting is limited to the Articles. The Moderator will limit the discussion and debate to the particulars of the Articles. State statutes provide: “The moderator shall preside and regulate the proceedings,· decide all questions of order, and make public declaration of all votes.”

All non-voting visitors, and residents not duly registered to vote, must be seated in the area designated for visitors.

The Moderator will recognize the Warrant Committee for the purpose of making the Main Motion on each Article. Immediately after the Main Motion, the Moderator will recognize a member of the Warrant Committee for the purpose of providing the Warrant Committee’s Report. There will be no requirement of a ‘second’ from the floor on Main Motions.

As each article of the Warrant is presented, the discussion and the vote are not on the Article as posted, but rather on the Motion that is on the floor for consideration. To avoid confusion, the Moderator will allow only one Motion to Amend be pending on the floor at anyone time.

After the Warrant Committee Report, we will have a presentation by the appointed State Hospital Advisory Committee. After the Committee’s presentation, the Selectmen as the sponsors of the Articles will have an opportunity to state their positions and ‘point of view. The Moderator will then ask Michael Sullivan, as Town Administrator, to briefly address the Motion.

The Moderator will then open the microphones for those in attendance to specifically, and only, ask questions or seek clarification from the members of the Warrant Committee, State Hospital Advisory Committee, Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, or Town Counsel. This is not the time to debate the merits of the Motion or to make a statement expressing support or opposition to the Article.

The Moderator will then open the floor and ask voters wishing to speak to the Town Meeting to go to a designated microphone – proponents of the Motion to Microphone #1; and opponents of the Motion to Microphone #2. This will allow the Moderator to assess and gauge the need for Town Meeting to hear certain positions, arguments, and points of view. Upon being recognized by the Moderator, the speaker should identify herlhirnself by name, street address and town office (if any). This is not a time for speeches or broad historical reviews – speakers should endeavor to accurately, briefly, and clearly state their positions, make persuasive  arguments, bring new and insightful information, and enrich the understanding of the Town Meeting through their comments.
The Moderator will announce and enforce a time limit on speakers. The time limits will be at the judgment and discretion of the Moderator. Please do not be offended if you are asked to
complete remarks within a limited and defined timefrarne. Please appreciate and respect the good faith efforts of the Moderator to balance open and constructive dialogue with the expediency and efficiency required of any well-run meeting.

When the time comes to vote on a Motion or Amendment, it will be the practice of the Moderator to initially take a voice vote. If the Moderator is in doubt as to the outcome of a voice vote, the Moderator will then routinely ask for a show of hands. If the Moderator is still in doubt, or wants further verification, then a count by standing vote will be taken. If members of the Town Meeting doubt the ruling of the Moderator on a voice or hand vote, by state statute, any seven voters may demand that a standing vote be taken. Such count shall be administered by the Deputy Moderator. Only one standing count will be taken on each Motion or  Amendment.  Once the voting procedures commence, no further discussion will be allowed on the Motion until the Moderator declares the outcome of the vote.

All cell phones, portable devices, and pagers should be turned to ‘off’ or ‘silent’ throughout the Town Meeting.
Thank you.

TOWN ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING PROCEEDINGS
1. Declaration of Quorum and Return of Service

2. National Anthem and Welcome

3. Introductions by Town Moderator

4. Moderator’s Guidelines, Review of Proceedings, and Basic Motions

5. Positive motion from the Warrant Conimittee on Article 1
o A majority report from the Warrant Committee

6. Presentation from the State Hospital Advisory Committee (SHAC)

7. Comments from each member of the Board of Selectmen as Article Sponsors
o Selectman DeSorgher
o Selectman Peterson
o Selectman Fisher, Chairman

8. Comments from the Town Administrator, Michael Sullivan

9. Open the floor for factual questions or points of clarification only

10. Open to the floor for debate, discussion and comments
o Proponents at Microphone #1
o Opponents at Microphone #2

11. Termination of the floor debate

VOTE on Motion on Article 1 (2/3 vote required)

If Motion on Article 1 Passes:
o Positive Motion on Article 2 from Warrant Committee
o Clarification discussion (only as required)

VOTE on Motion on Article 2 (majority vote required)
o Positive Motion on Article 3 from Warrant Committee
o Clarification discussion (only as required)

VOTE on Motion on Article 3 (majority vote required)
If Motion on Article 1 Fails:
o Motion to dismiss Article 2 and Article 3

12. Thank you and Motion for Dissolving of Special Town Meeting

TOWN OF MEDFIELD
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT
MONDAY, MARCHIO, 2014
On Monday, the tenth day of March, A.D., 2014 commencing at 7:30 P.M. the following articles will be acted on in the Amos Clark Kingsbury Gymnasium, located on South Street, in said
Medfield, viz

Article 1. 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 in accordance with the provisions of G.L. Chapter 44, Section 7, clause (3), or any other enabling statute, for the purposes of purchasing or otherwise acquiring a portion of the Medfield State Hospital property, so-called, and to authorize the Selectmen to enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to accomplish said purchase, provided that said borrowing shall be contingent upon the passage of a debt exclusion override in accordance with the provisions of G.L. Chapter 59, Section 21 C, Paragraph (k) or any special enabling legislation governing such debt exclusion override, or do or act anything in relation thereto.
(Board of Selectmen)

Article 2. 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 purposes of maintaining and/or securing the land and building of the former Medfield State Hospital property, so-called, or do or act anything in relation thereto. .
(Board of Selectmen)

Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for special legislation to authorize the purchase of all or a portion of land and buildings at the former Medfield State Hospital, shown on the Town of Medfield Board of Assessors’ Maps as Lot 001, Map 71 and Lot 004, Map 63, further shown as Parcels A and B on a Plan entitled Location of Land Parcels Medfield State Hospital Medfield. Massachusetts provided by The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), legislation to include such terms, conditions, and language as the Board of Selectmen determines to be in the best interest of the Town of Medfield, or do or act anything in relation thereto.
(Board of Selectmen)

The Medfield Press made me make my letter to the editor shorter to comply with its maximum length rules, and I think it really is true what they say, when you spend more time to make something shorter you do make it better.  So here are 443 words instead of 595 on why the town should buy the Medfield State Hospital  –

To the editor:

Medfield is on the cusp of one of the most momentous decisions in its history, whether to buy the former Medfield State Hospital site.  Given that in my role a selectman I have gone to literally many scores of meetings about the MSH for over ten years, I thought that people might like to know what I learned and what I concluded.  In sum, short money, total control, getting what we want, and avoiding really high costs means buy it.

First the choice is all about the town rather than the state or others controlling the development that is going to happen there, as development will happen regardless.  A development we did not pick may cost us many times more than what we will pay to buy and own.

Second, the $3.1m. price is not high, especially if compared to the likely costs for generations if we do not control the ultimate development.  The terms are attractive, as the state will finance the purchase, with the interest baked, in over ten years, so  we pay $310,000 per year

Town control get us the uses and development the town needs and wants.  There is so much open space and recreational lands that will remain forever, so those uses continue in spades.  The town’s  actual development will be of the already built up areas and is yet to be determined, but for me it should be a mixed use development, mainly residential, with small amounts of retail and commercial space.  The housing should be attached and densely sited units for one or two person households, empty nesters, or older residents.  Importantly, this is the sort of housing that the town now generally lacks, but also it is housing that can make money for the town.

The time is right to make the deal now, as no one can predict whether the next Governor come January 2015 will continue to sell to the town – in the past the state refused us the purchase option.

The town’s ownership costs going forward should be manageable.  The lands the town is buying are already environmentally cleansed.  The asbestos and lead paint in the buildings will be removed when buildings are demolished, and the town’s developers will likely demolition the buildings.  Per DCAMM, who does similar demolitions all the time, the developers can do the demolitions at about $6 per sq. ft., all in, whereas prevailing wages mean the town would have to pay $11-14 per sq. ft.  There are about 600,000 sq. ft. of buildings at the site.  Long term, worst case ownership scenarios are way cheaper than developments we do not chose.

Osler L. Peterson

The Town of Medfield is at the cusp of one of its most momentous decisions ever, whether to buy the former Medfield State Hospital site.  Given that in my role a selectman I have gone to literally scores of meetings about the MSH over twelve years, I thought that I should share what I learned and what I have concluded.

First I conclude that the town absolutely should buy the MSH site.  Buying is all about the town controlling the choices, rather than the state or others choosing the development that will happen in our town, since development will happen there whether we buy it or do not.

Second, the $3.1m. price is not too high, especially if compared to the possible costs for municipal services to the site’s residents for generations if the town does not control the ultimate development.  The state will finance the $3.1m. price, with the interest baked in, over ten years, so that we pay $310,000 per year

Town control gets us the type of uses and development the town both needs and wants.  There is so much open space and recreational lands in that area that will remain in state control, that those uses will continue to be available in spades – town development will only be on the areas that are already built upon.  While any town development will be decided upon by residents later, in my mind it should be a mixed use development, mainly residential, with small amounts of retail and commercial space, with the housing being small attached units for one or two person households, empty nesters, or older residents looking to down size.  Importantly, this is the sort of housing that the town generally lacks, but also, more importantly, it is housing that can make money for the town, because such housing will not require expensive town services.

The time is right to make this deal, as no one can predict whether the new Governor who takes over in January 2015 will continue to let the town buy the site.  In the past the town has been refused the purchase option.

After purchase, the town’s cost to own the property until redevelopment occurs should not be too high.  I suggest doing without the 24/7 security the state employed, in favor of limiting access to the site by physical barriers, install monitoring cameras, and having the Medfield Police do limited patrols.  Beyond that I would have our DPW keep the buildings sealed up.  The lands the town is buying have already been environmentally cleansed.  The only remaining hazard issues on those lands are the asbestos and lead paint in the buildings, and those will be removed when the buildings are demolished.  Ideally the town will let the town selected developers demolition the buildings.  DCAMM, who contracts for similar demolitions all the time, says developers pay $6 per sq. ft. to do demolitions, all in, whereas prevailing wages mean the town would pay $11-14 per sq. ft.  There remain about 600,000 sq. ft. of buildings at the site.

Lastly, the development gives the town the opportunity to both get the development it most desires, but also perhaps to make some money.  The state’s partnership model has the state getting a 30-50% share of any resale.  The site will be improved by the state’s river clean up and the new park area to be built on the adjoining state lands.

In sum, for short money we gain control and we get what the town wants, with an outside chance to make some money.

Osler L. Peterson, Selectman

The State Hospital Advisory Committee held an informational meeting about the Medfield State Hospital purchase decision last night.  About fifty residents attended the two hour long session at the Blake Middle School auditorium, to hear SHAC chair Steve Nolan and committee member Gil Rodgers explain the purchase status and issues.  the time was about equally divided between the presentation and a questions and answer period.

Medfield.TV had me in last week to talk about the Medfield State Hospital purchase decision with Jack Petersen and Josh Perry, Editor of the Hometown Weekly.

Below is the link to that video, as well as an earlier interview by Jack Petersen of Selectman Richard DeSorgher and Bill Massaro about the Medfield State Hospital issues.

NB – the special town meeting (STM) is 3/10, not 3/4 as I misstated near the beginning.

Medfield.TV ‏@MedfieldTV Feb 22

Selectman’s Update: Pete Peterson (2/14): http://youtu.be/KuC8NP88HZc?a  via @YouTube

John Thompson and Richard DeSorgher will lead a site walk of the Medfield State Hospital property at 11 AM on 3/8/14 to give interested residents a look at the property that the town will be asked to buy at the special town meeting (STM) on 3/10/14.

The town’s consultant for the State Hospital Advisory Committee’s visioning session has put together the first draft of he calls a “shared concept plan” for the re-use and re-development plans for the Medfield State Hospital site developed by the participants at the recent visioning session.  At that visioning session, the 100+ participants broke into groups of ten or fewer, and as small groups articulated our own visions for the reuse of the site.  The consultant then took all the ten or more groups’ responses and synthesized those into his version of a consensus plan for the ultimate uses of the site, based on the input from the 100+ participants. That consultant’s plan is attached.  20140216-shared concept plan

The SHAC has yet to review this plan to make sure t conforms with their sense of what was decided.

The town residents will have the ultimate say on how the site is re-developed, and there needs to be much more work done to come to any final conclusions about what the developments should include.  With that caveat in mind, it is interesting to see the general agreement upon many of the uses.

The State Hospital Advisory Committee (SHAC) has prepared a flyer to provide residents with information and the basic data for the 3/10/14 special town meeting (STM) on the proposed purchase from the state for $3.1 m of the 134 acres at the former Medfield State Hospital site. 20140216-draft town meeting handout 02-16-14 Greater information can be found at the SHAC website www.mshvision.net, and will also be presented prior to and at the STM.

The SHAC members will be voting at the next SHAC meeting on 2/2714 on whether to support recommending the purchase of the former Medfield State Hospital site to the Board of Selectmen.  While the SHAC members appear to be split on whether to purchase the land, this observer guesses that the committee will vote at least two to one in favor of purchasing the land.

The town residents would also have to vote by at least a two to one margin at the special town meeting (STM) to purchase the land as well for the deal to proceed.