Category Archives: Town Services

Warrant Committee on Budget/Override

Posted on January 14, 2026 | Comments Off on Warrant Committee on Budget/Override

From Stephen Callahan, Chair of the Warrant Committee, this afternoon –

Discussion of Operating Budget Override Article Warrant Committee January 13, 2026 Discussion of Operating Budget Override Article Warrant Committee January 13, 2026 Updates Budget A (Prop 2 ½ budget): New department guidance recommends 1.3% growth rate and asks departments to idenfify cuts and savings to achieve a balanced budget. The Select Board has voted for a placeholder for an operating budget override on the 2026 Town Warrant. The Governor’s budget preview is expected on January 23rd, after which updated guidance will be provided. Many municipalities, as reported in a recent Boston Globe article, are struggling with their budgets this year. Why is there an Article to Override the Levy Limit? Proposition 2 ½ : The Structural Math • Major Cost Drivers: +4 – 18% per year Health Insurance Special Education Transportation Utilities Contractual Wages Result: A predictable multiple year structural gap Preference for residents to be provided with a choice to restore some costs and service cuts while weighing the related tax impact.Why Now? Inflationary pressures remain high, especially in health insurance. Growth in state aid is modest and not sufficient to cover increased costs and Federal relief funds have been exhausted. Department level service budgets are estimating annual increases of 3% -5% for FY 2027. Proactive planning is necessary to avoid future negative “cliff” decisions. Voter approved override can bridge the gap, maintaining service levels and preventing cuts. Scenario Modeling of Department Budgets Estimate of FY 2027 Baseline Average Single Family Tax Bill Increase of $401 Department Budget Growth Scenarios of: +2.5% +3.0% +3.5% Override to the Levy Limit: Impact to Average Single Family Tax Bill Budget Options Budget A ( Prop 2 ½ budget): • Warrant Committee provided department budget growth guidance of 1.3% with request to identify prioritized cost and service cuts. Budget B (Override budget): • When deciding which cuts to restore, departments are looking for WC guidance and input. • What is a reasonable department growth rate? What is a reasonable single family tax increase that is sustainable and has the best possibility of passage at Town Meeting? Scenario Modeling of Department Budgets Estimate of FY 2027 Baseline Average Single Family Tax Bill Increase of $401 Department Budget Growth Scenarios of: +2.5% +3.0% +3.5% Override to the Levy Limit: Impact to Average Single Family Tax Bill Department Budget Growth of 2.5% FY 2026 FY 2027 Forecast Prop 2 /12 $ Change FY 26 to FY 27 % Change FY 26 to FY 27 FY 2027 Forecast $ Change FY 26 to FY 27 % Change FY 26 to FY 27 Override Amount Remaining Revenue Available for Departments $ 59,082,913 $ 5 9,829,657 $ 746,744 1.3% $ 60,559,986 $ 1,477,073 2.5% $ 730,329 School Department $ 44,598,730 $ 4 5,158,788 $ 560,058 1.26% $ 45,706,535 $ 1,107,805 2.48% Town Departments $ 14,484,183 $ 1 4,670,869 $ 186,686 1.29% $ 14,853,451 $ 369,268 2.55% Total $ 59,082,913 $ 5 9,829,657 $ 746,744 1.3% $ 60,559,986 $ 1,477,073 2.5% Impact to Average Single Family Tax Bill FY 2027 Assumed Department Growth 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% Assumed Override Amount $ 730,329 $ 1,025,743 $ 1,321,158 Estimated Average Single Family Tax Bill Impact for Department Override $ 1 75 $ 247 $ 319 Estimated Average Single Family Tax Bill Impact within Prop 2 1/2 $ 4 01 $ 401 $ 401 Estimated FY 2027 Total Single Family Tax Bill Impact with Override $ 5 76 $ 648 $ 720 Assumes Average Single Family Assessed Value $1,028,374 Assumes the Estimated Property Tax Increase Within Prop 2 ½ is $1,680,701 Preferred Scenario ??? • Final recommended override amount will be after Warrant Committee review of savings from department detailed cost reductions and services from a Level Service budget. • Criteria will include tax impact on residents, service restoration extent, alignment with community priorities and fiscal sustainability. • Provide preliminary guidance (subject to change) to departments for Override budgets

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Town Meeting, Town Services, Warrant Committee

FY27 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET REDUCTIONS

Posted on January 14, 2026 | Comments Off on FY27 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET REDUCTIONS

From Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler this morning, her FY27 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET
REDUCTIONS to the Warrant Committee last night –

FY27 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET REDUCTIONS Department Proposed Cuts Police Department Eliminate on-call animal control officer Police Department Eliminate funding to staff community events at no charge Assessor’s Department Reduce Full Time Admin to Part Time MSH Maintenance Eliminate dog waste pickups Select Board Eliminate printing GFOA Budget Book Select Board Eliminate offsite storage at Montrose Facilities Reduction of electricity budget due to solar Parks and Recreation Reduction in overtime budget

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Town Meeting, Town Services

Town’s Buildings Require $100m in Repairs in Next 5 years

Posted on December 11, 2025 | 1 comment

 https://town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/9333/Medfield_CapitalPlan_DecarbonizationStudy-1

1 Comment

Posted in Budgets, Buildings, Financial, Select Board matters, Town Meeting, Town Services, Warrant Committee

Medfield Community Electricity (“MCE”) 1st Year, Midterm Report

Posted on October 9, 2025 | Comments Off on Medfield Community Electricity (“MCE”) 1st Year, Midterm Report

Recently authored by Medfield Community Electricity

Medfield Community Electricity (“MCE”) 1st Year, Midterm Report

  1. What is Medfield Community Electricity?  

MCE is Medfield’s electricity supply program designed to provide Town residents and businesses with regulated (DPU and Town oversight) alternatives to Eversource’s Basic Service supply offering and offerings from third party suppliers by leveraging the town’s collective buying power.  This program was approved by the Medfield Town Meeting in 2021, approved by the Department of Public Utilities in January 2024 and implemented month end in June 2024. Nearly 170 other cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Millis, Walpole and Westwood have similar programs.

  • Benefits, in summary
  • Price stability: contract duration 30 months, June 2024 – December 2026 with a set price.

Eversource renews its Basic Service contract every 6 months with probable rate change at each renewal.

  • Price competitive: all 3 MCE Plan rates have performed favorably to Eversource’s Basic Service Rate to date, saving subscribers money.
  • More Renewable Energy Consumption: Under MCE, there has been an increase in percentage of power consumed from renewable sources over that of Eversource Basic Service and State mandate.  This has removed carbon dioxide that, otherwise, would have been emitted into our atmosphere, a positive environmental impact.
  • What are the program options?

3 program options: Medfield Basic, Medfield Standard, Medfield 100

 Medfield Community Electricity Program Options 
 Medfield Basic (Equivalent to Eversource Basic Service)Medfield Standard (default registration)Medfield 100Eversource Basic Service- Residential
Price$0.1265/kWh$0.13063/kWh$0.14108/kWh$0.14884/kWh
Additional Renewable Energy ContentNo additional renewable energy content beyond State requirementAdds 10% renewable energy (MA Class I RECs) beyond State requirementProvides 100% renewable energy by adding 37% more renewable energy (MA Class I Recs) beyond what the state requiresNo additional renewable energy content beyond State requirement
Program Duration30 months: June 2024 meter reads until December 2026 meter reads30 months: June 2024 meter reads until December 2026 meter reads30 months: June 2024 meter reads until December 2026 meter reads6 Months: August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Enrollment (July 2025)288339672615
MCE cannot guarantee savings beyond the current (August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026) Eversource Basic Service 6 month term rate of 14.885 cents/kWh since future 6 month term rates are unknown.   2025 State minimum renewable energy content required of electricity suppliers – 63%

The Eversource Basic Service Rate for August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026 is included in the chart above for comparison with the MCE offerings. All MCE options will recognize more savings in the forthcoming 6 month Eversource contract period (August 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026).  Eversource rates in effect during the MCE program’s first year are as follows (Note: Eversource Small Business Rates have varied slightly from the Residential Rates shown here):

Eversource Basic Service Rates
Term PeriodJune 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025Aug. 1, 2024 -Jan. 31, 2025Feb. 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025Aug. 1, 2025 -Jan. 31, 2026
Rate ($/kWh)0.172160.157720.132410.14884
  • How are the MCE options performing?
  • Assuming the average residential consumption of 786 kWh/month, $ savings for the period June 2024 – June 2025 follow:
Average Residential MCE Subscriber Savings vs Eversource Basic Service June 2024 – June 2025 meter reads*
Medfield BasicMedfield StandardMedfield 100
$206$167$68
*Most Medfield residents and businesses have a meter read on or around the 23rd of the month. Exact dates are in your Eversource bill.

Small business savings over this period approximate those of residential subscribers.

  • What will happen after expiration of the current contract in December 2026?
  • A new RFQ (Request for Quote) will be submitted to Supply providers in the spring of 2026, as was done in March 2024 for the current contract.
  • The MCE Town Committee (also known as the “CCA”, Community Choice Aggregation Committee), Town Administrator and Select Board must agree to an RFQ response believed to be competitive with market conditions of the time for an extended period, preferably 2-3 years duration, following December 31, 2026.
  • If you do not participate in MCE yet, how can you sign up?  
  • Eversource Basic Service – You may switch from Eversource Basic Service at any time to an MCE program of choice.
  • You are under contract with another electricity supplier – You may sign up for the program at any time, but you should check with your current supplier for any cancellation penalties.

To join an MCE program of choice, use the form at electricity.medfield.net or call the supplier, Direct Energy, at (866) 968-8065.

  • FAQ regarding the MCE program
  • Participation is voluntary, customers may opt-in or out at any time, without penalty.  Opting-out returns a customer to Eversource Basic.
  • Customers may switch between any of the 3 program options at any time.
  • Customers in the Low-Income (R2) rate class continue to receive their current percentage discount on their entire electricity bill.  Budget billing customers also continue to receive budget billing for their entire bill.
  • Customers that receive solar electricity benefits from net metering credits, community shared solar or similar payments, continue to receive those benefits.

To opt-in or out or to switch plans, use the form at electricity.medfield.net or call the supplier, Direct Energy, at (866) 968-8065.

  • What changes when someone joins the Medfield Community Electricity program? There are two parts to an Eversource electricity bill – (1) Supply and (2) Delivery. Enrolling in Medfield Community Electricity changes the Supply part of an Eversource invoice only. Eversource continues to provide all Delivery services, which includes responding to power outages, and continues to manage billing and other management functions.
  • Where does the voluntary renewable energy come from? The voluntary renewable energy (i.e. the amount above and beyond the minimum required by the State) qualifies as Class I.  Class I is the State’s term for new, regional renewable energy which, for Medfield, comes primarily from New England wind and solar projects.

For more information about the Medfield Community Electricity program, go to electricity.medfield.net

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Posted in Climate, Environmental, Town Services, Utilities

Town Committees Seeking Volunteers

Posted on October 9, 2022 | 2 comments

From the town website – https://www.town.medfield.net/1986/Board-Committee-Appointment-Information

Boards and Committees currently seeking new members include:

  • Affordable Housing Trust (vacancy beginning July 31, 2022)
  • Board of Council on Aging (remainder of a term expiring in 2024)
  • Committee to Study Memorials 
  • Community Gardens Committee
  • Conservation Commission (associate positions available)
  • Dog Control Bylaw Committee
  • Kingsbury Pond Committee
  • Medfield Community Choice Aggregation Committee
  • Medfield Energy Committee
  • Medfield Historic District Commission
  • Medfield Wildlife Committee
  • Memorial Day Committee (posted September 3, 2021)
  • Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (formerly Safety Committee)
  • School Building Committee (application process closes October 18, 2022 at noon)
  • OPEB Trust Fund Committee (posted Sept 28, 2022)
  • Permanent Planning and Building Committee (posted Sept 28, 2022)

If interested in a board or committee that is not listed, or not sure which one might be the best fit, please contact Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler to discuss further and learn more. Kristine Trierweiler can be reached at ktrierweiler@medfield.net

2 Comments

Posted in Town Services, Volunteers

Snow closures tomorrow

Posted on February 24, 2022 | Comments Off on Snow closures tomorrow

Text from Town Administrator, Kristine Trierweiler this afternoon (and not having kids in the schools, I asked if the schools were going to be closed tomorrow as well!) –

Just met with Chiefs, Moe and Jeff. We are going to close all the town offices tomorrow. Moe is concerned about the timing and the rate of snowfall.

School Athletics and library will be open Saturday.

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Posted in Town Services

Drop Box moved

Posted on December 14, 2020 | 1 comment

Email from Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler about an improvement at the Town House. Making town services better all the time. Thanks to Georgia Colivas, Moe Goulet, and Bobby Kennedy, Jr.!

With the increase of people using the drop box at the town hall, Georgia worked with Bobby and Moe to move the box so that people can now drive up to use the box. This is not only more convenient, handicapped accessible and overall a much safer option.

We are now working on an additional “walk up” box for the front of town hall where we see more walking traffic.

Great teamwork! 

1 Comment

Posted in Town Services

Melissa Coughlin, RN & BOH member on Medfield services related to COVID-19

Posted on December 7, 2020 | Comments Off on Melissa Coughlin, RN & BOH member on Medfield services related to COVID-19

Read Melissa Coughlin’s full Medfield Patch article here https://patch.com/massachusetts/medfield/help-covid-19-relief-medfield-residents

Melissa is both a nurse at a downtown hospital and a member of the Town of Medfield’s Board of Health. The Board of Health has been providing our town historically unprecedented, diligent services this past year because of COVID-19.

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Posted in COVID-19, health, Medfield Foundation, Town Services

Election Ballots Accepted Here

Posted on August 17, 2020 | Comments Off on Election Ballots Accepted Here

Ballots Accepted Here

This email this afternoon from Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler –

“We have received numerous inquiries today about dropping off absentee ballots and/or ballot applications at the Town Hall. Anyone who would like to drop it off with us directly may do so using the Green Drop- Box in the rear of Town Hall. The box underwent a makeover recently and is ready for a busy fall! “

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Posted in Elections, Town Services

Town House office hours

Posted on August 12, 2020 | Comments Off on Town House office hours

Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler and other town employees are moving their office functions outside, to encourage resident interaction and use of the town services.  This afternoon Kris (left) and Kathy VandenBoom, Director of Human Resources, were holding court in front of the Town House front entrance.

20200812_Kristine Trierweiler office hours

During my visit, I waited in line behind Matt McCormack and his son, and then this user dropped off his vote by mail request in the USPS mail box on the table, went inside to sign the Town Clerk’s warrant for the upcoming primary election, to sign the weekly town spending warrants, and to pick up the Medfield Foundation’s mail.

Kris posts on Twitter when the outside office is available – it has recently been several times a week.  Look for them out front.

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Posted in Employees, Events, Information, People, Town Services