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MCAP newsletter #1

Posted on November 7, 2016 | Comments Off on MCAP newsletter #1

The first Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) newsletter is attached –

Welcome to the first edition of MCAP’s electronic newsletter. This newsletter is intended to provide you with information about teen substance abuse, trends, educational resources and stories and examples of community prevention efforts that work. We hope you will join us for upcoming focus groups in January. Your feedback will help craft our coalition’s strategic plan for keeping Medfield youth safe! See more details regarding dates/times of focus groups in this issue. Let us know what you think of our first edition! Expect our next quarterly edition in February 2017! Warmly, MCAP Coalition Members Inaugural MCAP Newsletter: Welcome About MCAP Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) Stay in touch! Website: https://www.medfieldcares.org Email: info@medfieldcares.org Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) Working together to promote mental health and prevent alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use amongst our youth November 2016 Volume 1, Issue 1 “…Bringing people together to ensure community programs work!” MCAP is comprised of people who care about youth in Medfield. Whether they live or work here in town, their commitment is to grow a culture of safety and health for the community’s youth. Members represent parents, youth, the public schools, law enforcement, mental health organi-zations, local businesses, parks & recreation, town government, substance abuse research, local media healthcare and faith communities. MCAP invites parents, youth and professionals to get involved with the coalition. We need parents whose children represent all grade levels and interested youth to join us. Contact us to learn more! Inside This Issue: Marijuana and Your Teen 2 Legalized Marijuana in Massachusetts: What You Should Know 2 Medfield Day Recap: Hidden in Plain Sight 3 MCAP: Community in Action 4 Upcoming Parent Focus Groups 5 Teen Corner 6 Member Spotlight: Cathleen Farrell 7 Page 2 Medfield Cares About Prevention Marijuana and Your Teen: What You Should Know By Sue Navalta, Ph.D. — MCAP Leadership Team Member* Talk to your kids! They are listening! The adolescent brain is still actively developing, especially in regions that are in-volved in abstract reasoning, decision-making, and even social interactions. The plasticity of ongoing development allows teens to develop their own individual identities, however, the same plasticity can leave them vulnerable to the effects of drugs of abuse. Research has shown that marijuana use during the teenage years is associated with increased impulsivity, lower IQ scores, and changes in social processing. Why? First, we need to appreciate that the marijuana that is available today is – at a minimum – 4-6 times more potent for THC (the active component that provides the “high”) than potency 20 years ago. That means that what we thought we knew about what marijuana’s effects cannot be based on past history. Second, this is not medical marijuana where the medicinal cannabidiol component is sig-nificantly represented. If it was, teens would not be using it. Marijuana effects short-term memory that is needed for learning. Marijuana use impairs motor skills, perception, and reaction times that are needed for driving and playing sports. Taken together, being high decreases our teens’ ability to do well in school and on the field. Finally, research has shown that college entrance and income in adulthood are lower for individuals that regularly used marijuana as a teenager. As teen per-ception that marijuana use is harmless increases, research tell us that use will certainly increase as well. With these facts in mind, don’t our teens deserve something better? Are you informed and ready to make a decision in November about Ballot Question #4 which would legalize adult recreational use and the sale of marijuana? Massachusetts Prevention Alliance (MAPA) has compiled fact sheets that may be of interest to parents and teens regarding the proposed legalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth. Visit http://www.mapreventionalliance.org/ or these links for the following key facts (please note that these links will take you away from our newsletter and will not open in a new window): 1) Be informed on MA Ballot Question 4 2) Marijuana Policy Fact Sheet 3) Details of changes in local controls proposed in Ballot Question 4 4) BQ4: Marijuana versus Alcohol 5) Report of the Special Senate Committee on Marijuana March 2016 Legalized Marijuana in Massachusetts: What You Should Know www.mapreventionalliance.org *Sue is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at McLean’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School and researches marijuana and its effect on the teenage brain Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 By Dawn Alcott, LICSW — Director, Medfield Youth Outreach & MCAP Leadership Team Member Hidden in Plain Sight: A Program the Community is Talking About! MCAP desires to provide opportunities that support parents and increase their knowledge about protective and risk factors to reduce substance mis-use in Medfield youth. MCAP participated in a display of Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) at the Natick Mall last May as part of a regional effort. Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) is an ages 21+ exhibit that seeks to build communication between parents and youth. As MCAP gathered the feedback from families who attended that exhibit, it was apparent that parents feel under-resourced when it comes to identifying and preventing teen substance misuse. MCAP created a Hid-den in Plain Sight display of its own and launched it at Beginning Years on Medfield Day. The HIPS exhibit features information about the impact of substance mis-use in teen’s lives alongside a staged room where various items may indi-cate teen substance misuse. Items in the room range from devices used to conceal drugs and alcohol, to subtle suggestions that indicate changes in a teen’s preference in friends, media, and apparel that may indicate substance use. Participants are encouraged to explore each item for themselves. The display is not meant to be scary. It is not meant to have the participant assume that they would find all of the items in a teen’s room, but rather open conversations that lead to deeper dialogues with teens. The exhibit has helped parents recognize the signs of possible sub-stance use so they can act if necessary. The HIPS exhibit is supplemented with educational materials that act as a reminder that teens are going through a process of significant brain devel-opment that continues well into their 20’s. Adolescence is a time where the brain is particularly vulnerable to injury or disruption. Substances used during these years can adversely affect brain development. The part of the brain responsible for higher order thinking, impulse control, and anticipat-ing consequences is the last part of the brain to develop. Teens need their parents to set and continually communicate clear and consistent rules and expectations around substance use. The educational materials also highlight the risk teens face from medica-tion misuse. Opioid medications are frequently prescribed to athletes fol-lowing an injury or to teens following wisdom teeth extraction. Through ac-tively partnering with teens and their healthcare providers, parents can be Hidden in Plain Sight is a “staged room” It is NOT intended to SCARE you or make you assume that you would find all of these items within one teens room. The intention IS to PROVIDE you with knowledge and support you in parenting a connected family. Hidden in Plain Sight: A “Staged Room” Page 4 Medfield Cares About Prevention a crucial part in the management process through administering only the medication necessary for acute pain and helping a teen to transition quickly to non-addictive pain control. On Medfield Day, in just four hours, MCAP was pleased to guide 85 individu-als representing parents, grandparents, educators, clergy, business owners, and other concerned community members through the HIPS exhibit at Begin-ning Years. During that time, many residents expressed interest and commu-nicated that they did not have the time to fully view the exhibit Medfield Day. Hidden in Plain Sight will be featured again in connection to various educa-tional opportunities for parents in the upcoming months. MCAP is also ex-ploring other settings for the exhibit, perhaps even parent coffee evenings where one set of parents invite a circle of parents to come together to view the exhibit and discuss the prevention of teen substance misuse following the viewing. HIPS was sponsored by a generous donation from Needham Bank. MCAP has also enjoyed support from Jack Conway Realtors who sold ‘02052’ baseball caps to raise funds for MCAP! MCAP: Community in Action — Medfield Day HIPS Exhibit MCAP is a coalition of dedicated volunteers working together to promote mental health and prevent alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use amongst our youth. It takes a village to keep our kids safe and HIPS is just one of the ways the coalition and the community came together for this purpose. MCAP would like to thank the following supporters that made the HIPS exhib-it possible: Beginning Years Child Development Center — location Department of Public Works — use of printer for posters Evan Weisenfeld—web master Liz Sandeman—logistical support Melissa Zilinski—marketing design Medfield Foundation—financial management Medfield Public Schools — lamination and publicity Medfield Youth Outreach and Sue Navalta — educational materials Needham Bank — general donation to support our efforts Parent and community volunteers: Kathy Thompson, Jeff Marsden, Cathleen Farrell, Bob Meaney, Carryl Navalta, Ali Cronin, Osler Peterson, Susan Cowell, David Traub, Annette Anderson, Dawn Alcott, Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh Page 5 Medfield Cares About Prevention Parent Focus Groups: Coming Soon! Interested? Our next two focus groups will be offered on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 11AM - 1PM (light lunch provided) or 7PM - 9PM (dessert, coffee and tea provided) Registration required. Please contact Dawn or Chelsea at medfieldyouthoutreach@medfield.net or 508-359-7121 This focus group is sponsored by the Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) coalition www.medfieldcares.org Your feedback will help craft our coalition’s strategic plan for keeping Medfield youth safe! Medfield Cares About Prevention Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 6 Medfield youth, we’d love to hear from you! We were so thankful to hear from many of you during focus groups in the Spring of 2016 and we want to keep the conversation going. We are still seeking teens to participate in upcoming youth focus groups in an ongoing effort to hear your voice! Stay tuned for more information in our next newsletter regarding focus groups for Spring 2017. If you have questions or ideas you want to share, please contact us at info@medfieldcares.org Do you want to meet other teens from the region and share ideas about how to address substance misuse in our communities? In our next issue, we will have more information on the upcoming Spring 2017 Metrowest Youth Summit. In the meantime, be sure and check out our website for lots of great resources geared towards teens: http://medfieldcares.org/wp/?qards_page=resources-for-teens Overcoming the Shame and Stigma: Mental Health and Today’s Youth Walpole Library Community Room Monday, November 7 at 7PM or Wednesday, November 9 at 10AM Upcoming Event Teen Corner Our next MCAP newsletter will focus on opioid abuse. Do you have a ques-tion you might want answered in the upcoming issue? Please feel free to submit any questions, specific area(s) of interest or feedback to us at info@medfieldcares.org We look forward to hearing from you! Next Issue Cathleen Farrell is the mother of three children, two of whom are currently in the Medfield school system. The other child attended Medfield through 9th grade and then attended private school for three years (and is now a freshman in college). Cathleen has lived in Medfield for 14 years. Cathleen has an Associate’s Degree from Lasell College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Life from Wheelock College. She also has a Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Cathleen has owned Beginning Years Child Development Center in Medfield for 12 years and recently opened Beginning Years at Medfield High School. Prior to owning Beginning Years, her career was spent working with children and families through a variety of state and federal grants for Partners Health Care and Children's Hospi-tal. Cathleen was also the state wide Inclusion Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Within the Medfield community, Cathleen is the representative of MEMO on Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) and is also a member of the Medfield Cares About Prevention (MCAP) Leadership Team. Finally, she also serves on the Parent Advisory Committee for Lasell College. Cathleen Farrell Medfield Cares About Prevention Coalition Member Spotlight: Cathleen Farrell Stay in touch! Website: https://www.medfieldcares.org Email: info@medfieldcares.org MCAP, 201620161107-newsletter_page_220161107-newsletter_page_320161107-newsletter_page_420161107-newsletter_page_520161107-newsletter_page_620161107-newsletter_page_7

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Posted in MCAP - Medfeild Cares About Prevention, Uncategorized

MHS turns 125 – party tonight

Posted on November 7, 2016 | 1 comment

Celebrating 125 Years of the Medfield Historical Society
richard-desorgher

Speaker Richard DeSorgher.

Monday, November 7

7:30 pm

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

26 North Street, Medfield

Former society president and town historian Richard DeSorgher will celebrate the 125th of the founding of the Medfield Historical Society in 1891. All in town are invited to come to hear about those responsible for its beginning, to see photos and images of the major events and undertakings by the Society over the past 125 years, and to take part in its birthday party, complete with a town-size anniversary cake.

The Society was founded in 1891 with William Tilden, appropriately, as its first president. Excellent record keeping by Society secretaries over the years have unveiled a treasure of materials on past Society programs and policies.

Through readings, photos, and a PowerPoint presentation you will be transported back to the Medfield of 1891. That year, Town Meeting, by a vote of 17 to 5, gave the Historical Society a room in Town Hall, free of charge. The Society now had a home! It would later move to the public library and then to its current location in the former Medfield Co-operative Bank at 6 Pleasant Street. Residents whose ancestors went back to the very founding of the town itself began to donate family heirlooms and town-related artifacts to begin the Society’s collection. Those donations have continued up to the present day. The program will also have on display, for all to see, some of the most valuable and interesting artifacts collected by the Society over the past 125 years.

One of the most important efforts by the Society that will be presented was saving the Peak House from demolition by neglect and taking over the historic home, restoring it to its former Colonial look and preserving for all time, what is today Medfield’s most famous landmark.

All are invited to the party!

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Posted in History, Uncategorized

Solarize Medfield hits Tier 4

Posted on November 7, 2016 | Comments Off on Solarize Medfield hits Tier 4

solarize mass medfield

From Marie Nolan, Medfield Solar Coach, (508) 361-8786 mznolan@comcast.net

Susan Boucher, New England Clean Energy, (978) 567-6527 susan@newenglandcleanenergy.com

SOLARIZE MEDFIELD REACHES TIER 4 WITH ONE MONTH LEFT IN COMMUNITY SOLAR PROGRAM

 

 MEDFIELD, Mass., Nov. 1, 2016 – With the signing of a contract for a 14,400-watt solar electric system by Heidi and Tripp Johnson on Hospital Road, the Solarize Medfield community solar initiative has reached Tier 4 savings, Solar Coach and Medfield Energy Committee member Marie Nolan announced today. Since the program began in July, nearly 200 people have expressed interest, and homeowners have signed up for a total of 109 kilowatts (kW) of emissions-free solar.

 

“Achieving Tier 4 is fantastic but we’ve got a lot of work to do to hit the final Tier 5 before the program ends on November 30. If you’ve ever thought about solar, this is the time to look into it. And don’t worry if another installer said your roof is too shady or the financials don’t work for you. The Solarize pricing is so good that a lot of borderline roofs are proving very economical,” said Nolan.

 

“Now is the time to band together to help make Medfield a clean community, and to help your neighbors get the lowest possible prices on solar. Panel choices include the most powerful panel available today, and an all-black panel that fades into the roof. We’re also installing ductless mini-split heating and cooling systems under the Solarize program,” said Mark Durrenberger, president of New England Clean Energy.

 

Solarize Medfield offers discounted prices from the start. As more people sign up and new tiers are reached, the discounts become greater. Everyone in the program gets the final discount, regardless of when in the program they sign up. Those who sign up first will have their systems installed first. The limited-time program has five tiers and runs through November.

 

New England Clean Energy, which was selected as installer after a competitive bidding process, is offering solar electric systems for purchase, with financing available, as well as leased systems for those with limited tax liability. The company is also offering energy-efficient ductless heating and cooling systems, installed in conjunction with solar or on a standalone basis. Those systems count toward the Solarize Medfield tiers.

 

For more information about Solarize Medfield, or to volunteer, contact Marie Nolan, Medfield Solar Coach, at (508) 361-8786 or SolarizeMedfield@gmail.com. More information can also be found at http://www.solarizemedfield.org/ or the Solarize Medfield Facebook page.

 

Property owners ready to have their roofs evaluated for solar can complete the registration form on the Solarize Medfield website or call New England Clean Energy directly at 978-56-SOLAR (978-567-6527).

 

Solarize Medfield is a community program designed to help local homeowners and business owners save money and help the planet by installing solar energy systems at discounted prices. Solarize Medfield is supported by the Town of Medfield, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, and run by local volunteers.

 

New England Clean Energy of Hudson, Mass., designs and installs solar electric systems for homes and businesses in central, MetroWest and southeast Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The company has installed 700 systems in this region since being founded 10 years ago. It has more positive reviews than any Northeast installer on independent website Solar Reviews.

 

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Posted in Energy Committee, Green, Medfield Day, Uncategorized

MFi Legacy Fund launched

Posted on November 5, 2016 | Comments Off on MFi Legacy Fund launched

Thank you so much to all who took time to celebrate the launch of the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund with us at the Zullo Gallery on 10/25. It was great to have so many people gathered together who all are committed in so many different ways to supporting the Medfield community into the future.
Special thanks to Richard DeSorgher for his inspiring stories of Medfield individuals and organizations that have from the 1600’s to the present day, made Medfield what it is today.
Some photos from the event are below, and here is a link to the recent Medfield Press article, if you haven’t seen it.

We hope that all will stay in touch and spread the word to others who might also want to know how to support and be involved in the effort to build the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund!

With gratitude from all of us at the Medfield Foundation and the Foundation for MetoWest.

The Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund is an Endowed Fund of the Foundation for MetroWest in partnership with the Medfield Foundation.
Ashley Peterson, Janet Kern and Judy Salerno from Foundation for MetroWest
Medfield Foundation Board
Front (L-R): Bonnie Wren-Burgess, Dorrian Fragola,  Abby Marble, Leanne LaBelle, Pete Peterson.
Back (L to R): John Byrne, Adam Graber, Evan Weisenfeld, Jan Rimmel,Todd Trehubenko.
Stay Connected
3 Eliot Street, Natick, MA · 508.647.2260

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Posted in Medfield Foundation, Uncategorized

Town notice of website changes

Posted on November 4, 2016 | Comments Off on Town notice of website changes

Today I got a new automatic notice from the town, listing changes made at the town’s website (a copy of the notice appears below) –

 

Great and easy way to stay abreast of updates.  And the individual changes are hyperlinks that connect to the website, although he one I tried never opened.

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Posted in Town Services, Uncategorized

Office hours Friday 0-10

Posted on November 3, 2016 | Comments Off on Office hours Friday 0-10

Office Hours tomorrow at The Center from 9-10.

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Posted in Uncategorized

MFi Legacy Fund kickoff

Posted on November 3, 2016 | Comments Off on MFi Legacy Fund kickoff

Nice article in the Medfield Press (and a much better photo than I got from the back)-

 

mfi-legacy-fund-launch-at-zullo

Residents celebrate launch of Foundation Legacy Fund

 Wednesday
Posted Nov 2, 2016 at 10:49 AM

Over 50 Medfield residents gathered to celebrate the launch of the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund on Oct. 25.The program for the evening featured Town Historian Richard DeSorgher, who provided a history of community philanthropy in Medfield. DeSorgher described how Medfield residents have, since the 17th century, given themselves and their resources to make Medfield the community it is today.

The Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund is a new initiative in partnership with the Foundation for MetroWest that offers individuals, families, civic groups and businesses of Medfield the opportunity to contribute to the community. The Foundation for MetroWest, located in South Natick, is a community foundation serving 33 cities and towns in the area, including Medfield since 1995. In addition to its programs for regional grantmaking and philanthropy education, the foundation provides a Town Fund program, specifically developed to provide the resources and support for establishing funds dedicated to particular towns.

For information, visit medfieldfoundation.org/legacy.

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Posted in Events, Medfield Foundation, Uncategorized

DPW update

Posted on November 1, 2016 | Comments Off on DPW update

DPW sign

MEMORANDUM

TO: Board of Selectmen
Michael Sullivan, Town Administrator
Kristine Trierweiler, Assistant Town Administrator
FROM: Maurice G. Goulet, Director of Public Works
DATE: October 31, 2016
SUBJECT: Department of Public Works Update

The following is a list of current updates on projects and tasks relating to the Department of Public Works:

  • The Medfield Salt Bid was opened on September 28th and the Town of Medfield
    will have Eastern Minerals, Inc. from Lowell, Massachusetts as its road salt
    vendor for the upcoming winter season. Eastern Minerals bid for road salt is
    approximately $12.00/ton below what it cost the Town a year ago.
  • The Philips Street Bridge was recently closed by MassDOT bridge inspectors.
    The Town initiated contact with MassDOT to assist in necessary funding for
    bridge repairs through the Municipal Small Bridge Program that the State has
    been offering. The application for this program has been processed and we are
    awaiting announcement for the approval for the funding. We are in contact with
    the State engineers’ office in Worcester, MA to help expedite this project. In the
    meantime we are working with an engineering firm to assist in the design for the
    improvements.
  • The Department of Public Works has organized safety training for their
    employees through our insurance carrier Mass Interlocal Insurance Association
    (MIIA). The classes that were conducted for this quarter were Back Safety
    Training and a wellness/nutrition class that provides safety credits towards our
    insurance premiums.
  • The Highway Division continues to maintain multiple roads in town by milling
    (grinding) sections of roadways that have deteriorated and then paving those
    sections to make the roadways safer and have an improved driving surface in
    preparation for the upcoming winter months. This maintenance operation will
    resume in the spring.
  • Crack sealing operations have taken place on many streets in town to prevent
    water from seeping into these cracks, freezing and then creating hazardous
    conditions with frost heaves during the cold winter months. This is one of the
    preventable maintenance techniques that will provide extended longevity to some of our roadways.
  • After many interviews and a matrix process, the Department of Public Works has
    hired a new mechanic for the Highway Division to maintain the fleet of vehicles
    and equipment. One of the main goals in the near future is to develop a fleet
    maintenance program that tracks costs of repairs and to implement a preventative maintenance component.
  • The Department of Public Works would like to extend their sincere thanks to two
    of their employees that have moved on recently to other employment
    opportunities. Thanks go out to Robert McDonald, WWTP Chief Operator and
    James Connors, Water Technician.
  • The Water and Sewer bills have been processed and will be mailed out sometime
    the week of October 31st.

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Posted in DPW, Uncategorized

Rail Trail Study Committee – Update

Posted on November 1, 2016 | 2 comments

Rail Trail Study Committee –

Update to the Selectmen

11/1/2017 Outlining the Study Committee Recommendations

The Study Committee intends to deliver a report before the end of the year. The highlights of the recommendations are:

  • A trail is feasible and desirable for the town
  • A professional design study will answer important questions and, above all, provide a sound cost estimate
    • The BCRTA has offered to fund such a study with a donation of up to $20k
  • The town should sign a lease in 2017 and move forward with a public-private partnership model, provided that an adequate plan to fund the trail can be developed

Update on the formation of the Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail

  • A local volunteer group is forming that will
    • Pick up the work after the Study Committee
    • Educate and inform Medfield residents about the rail trail and its benefits
    • Liaise with the BCRTA
    • Become an initiative of the Medfield Foundation
    • Deliver a design study to the town by March 2017
    • Develop a plan to finance the project
    • Advocate for the trail at Town Meeting
    • Work on construction, and once completed, maintenance of the trail

Christian Donner | pod
Email : christian@podconsulting.com
Skype : christian@podconsulting.net
Office : (617) 661 0802
Direct : ( 617) 681 4006
Cell : (617) 610 1527

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Posted in Medfield Rail Trail, Uncategorized

Planning Board vacancy

Posted on November 1, 2016 | Comments Off on Planning Board vacancy

planning

Medfield Planning Board Vacancy – Associate Member

The Town of Medfield Planning Board is seeking to fill a vacant Associate Member position.  Anyone who may be interested should submit a letter of interest to Evelyn Clarke at eclarke@medfield.net in the Board of Selectmen’s office by January 11, 2017.  For questions regarding the Planning Board or this specific position please contact Sarah Raposa, Town Planner at sraposa@medfield.net.

The Planning Board is an elected town board of five members, each with a five year term. The purpose of the Planning Board is to guide the development of the Town in the best interests of all its residents. The Board has very specific responsibilities and authorities as granted by Massachusetts General Laws and the Medfield Zoning By-Laws.

The Planning Board generally meets in the evening 2-3 times per month. Regular meetings are scheduled for the first and third Monday and there is usually an additional work session scheduled.

The Planning Board is responsible for the review and approval of all subdivisions (the division of a tract of land into two or more lots) through a comprehensive process involving review by relevant regulatory agencies, public hearings, covenants with developers, performance bonding, and ongoing compliance monitoring.

Under “Site Plan Approval,” in the Zoning By-Laws, the Board also has the responsibility to assure that prior to any new construction or significant changes to an existing structure, other than single family dwellings, such factors as community needs, abutters’ concerns, visual amenities, safety issues, and environmental and historic features on the site and in adjacent areas are considered.

Any requests for Zoning By-Law changes or amendments are also reviewed by the Board. Public hearings are held to allow input from any abutters or other interested citizens. The Board is required to provide a recommendation on any Zoning By-Law amendment at Town Meeting, where a two-thirds vote is required to approve the change.

The Planning Board serves as a resource to assist interested individuals with the process of proposing plans or projects under the Zoning By-Laws. Communications are maintained on an ongoing basis with related Town agencies including the Zoning Board of Appeals and other planning groups within the Town such as the Medfield State Hospital Master Planning Committee.

Letters should describe your interest in the Planning Board as well as any professional experience or other qualifications that will complement the Board. Additionally, please contemplate the following in your letter of interest:

  • Do you have ideas about the direction the Board should be headed? If so, have you thought about integration of those ideas (meaning how the idea coalesces into existing regulations or whether new regulations would need to be created)?

 

  • Land use boards such as the Planning Board, do not always have the kind of discretion to approve or deny a specific project that residents often think they have. It is important to recognize and avoid any conflict of interest; not to pursue special privileges, and maintain confidentiality. Are you prepared for being thought of as a villain by some and a hero by others?
  • Planning Boards wear two hats, proactive and reactive, and the schedule is robust. The proactive hat is devoted to long-range planning and is often difficult to quantify as the effects aren’t recognized for several years, if at all. The reactive hat focuses on subdivisions and site plan review and the effects are more immediately seen and felt in the community. How would you rationalize your reactive hat with your proactive hat? Do you see an overlap?

 

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Posted in Planning, Uncategorized