MMA on budget in Senate

Posted on May 1, 2019 | Comments Off on MMA on budget in Senate

The Senate actually seems more willing than the House to look at the revenue side of the equation, and seek out new revenue.

MMA-3

SENATE PREPARING FOR FY20 BUDGET DEBATE

Please Call Your Senators Today and Ask them to Support Key Municipal and School Aid Priorities!

 

May 1, 2019

 

Dear Osler Peterson,

 

Now that the House of Representatives has adopted their proposed fiscal 2020 state budget, all attention has turned to the Senate. The Senate Ways & Means Committee is developing a separate spending plan, and we expect to see a Senate budget committee recommendation within the next two weeks. This is the time to call your Senators to emphasize the importance of full funding for municipal and school aid priorities!

 

This is a great time to check in with your Senators – so that you can ask your Senators to contact the budget committee before the Senate Ways & Means budget is released. After the budget is released, Senators will be scrambling to file amendments, and then the debate will occur during a whirlwind of activity over 3 or 4 days.

 

The MMA testified at the joint House and Senate Ways & Means Committee’s budget hearing in Fall River on March 18, and our budget testimony provides excellent talking points on the major municipal and school aid priorities.

 

Please click here to read a copy of MMA’s budget testimony

 

Please click here to read MMA’s article summarizing the changes made by Representatives during last week’s House budget debate

 

Please talk to your Senators about these budget accounts and any others that might be a local priority.

 

Last year, there were almost 1,200 proposed amendments filed when the Senate debated the budget. The Senate Ways & Means recommendation may not be the last word on the Senate spending plan, but individual Senators will have their greatest influence from now through the end of the floor debate. That’s why it is so important for you to contact them now to discuss the budget items that matter most to you.

 

Here are some of the priority highlights to discuss:

 

UNRESTRICTED GENERAL GOVERNMENT AID (UGGA) – Ask your Senators to fund the UGGA account at $1.13 billion, which would provide an increase of $29.7 million, or 2.7 percent, consistent with the “consensus” state tax revenue growth forecast. The House and Governor’s budgets do this.

 

REFORMING AND INCREASING PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING – There are a number of Chapter 70 funding issues:

 

  • Ask your Senators to implement the consensus Foundation Budget Review Commission reforms, including funding for employee benefits, special education costs, low-income students, and English Language Learners (the House provides a $218 million increase to Chapter 70, while the Governor is proposing a $200 million increase.)

 

  • Ask your Senators to end the damage caused by the flawed charter school finance system (the House is proposing $23 million more for charter school reimbursements, which is $7 million more than the Governor’s budget, but still far below full funding), and ask for a permanent solution, such as a cap on Chapter 70 diversions to charter schools, in the separate education finance bill that will be debated later in the session.

 

  • Ask your Senators for adequate minimum aid of $100 per student (the House is proposing $30 per student, and the Governor is offering $20 per student), so that no community is left behind, and all districts receive an adequate increase.

 

  • Ask your Senators to add funding to address the unique challenges facing rural schools, especially those with declining enrollment.

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER – Ask your Senators to support full funding of the Special Education Circuit Breaker Program. (The House underfunds this account by approximately $15 million, while the Governor’s budget is $20 million short.)

 

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENTS – Ask your Senators to support full funding for: 1) reimbursements to regional school districts; 2) the transportation of homeless students under the McKinney-Vento program; and 3) transporting out-of-district vocational students.

 

PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES (PILOT) – Ask your Senators to support increased funding for the Commonwealth’s obligations and commitments to the program for Payments in Lieu of Taxes for state-owned land (PILOT), at a minimum including funds to hold communities harmless from changes in property valuation.

 

Please Call Your Senators Today to Support Municipal and School Accounts!

 

Thank You Very Much!!

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Select Board matters, State

Tribute to Mike Sullivan

Posted on April 30, 2019 | Comments Off on Tribute to Mike Sullivan

Medfield TV’s Olivia Deval, a senior at Medfield High School and soon to be Babson student, crafted a nice video tribute to Michael Sullivan, that was played at the start of the annual town meeting (ATM) last night, resulting in a standing ovation of appreciation for Mike.  Our first town meeting without Mike for the last 44 years.

 

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Posted in People, Town Meeting

Annual town meeting (ATM)

Posted on April 30, 2019 | Comments Off on Annual town meeting (ATM)

Through a technology failure last night, my photo did not get posted last night, so here is that post again with the photo.

20190429_ATM

The ATM moved along quickly. Not much controversy. All articles passed.

The greatest controversy seemed to be residents wanting the selectmen to spend $15,000 instead of the $1,000 that was recommended on such town improvements as the Board of Selectmen saw fit. $1,000 won out, and the budget was balanced without an over ride.  I estimated that one passing by about 60%-40%.

Water donated by CVS and distributed by the Medfield Foundation.

Along with spare controversies at the ATM, there was also sparse attendance.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Town Meeting

Posted on April 29, 2019 | Comments Off on Town Meeting

20190429_ATM

 

The ATM moved along quickly. Not much controversy. All articles passed.

The greatest controversy seemed to be residents wanting the selectmen to spend $15,000 instead of the $1,000 that was recommended. $1,000 won out, and the budget was balanced without an over ride.

Water donated by CVS and distributed by the Medfield Foundation.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Stop River

Posted on April 27, 2019 | Comments Off on Stop River

The Stop River this morning – Medfield acting as the sponge that keeps Boston from flooding.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Eagle Scout

Posted on April 27, 2019 | Comments Off on Eagle Scout

Eagle Scouts Alex Hissong, Chris Johnson, and Collin Judge at today’s Court of Honor at the UCC this afternoon.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Town Meeting Monday – 7PM

Posted on April 26, 2019 | Comments Off on Town Meeting Monday – 7PM

From the Moderator, Scott McDermott – NB starts at 7PM, not 7:30

2019 ANNUAL TOWN MEETING INVITATION Friends and neighbors: When spring comes to Medfield, it becomes my pleasure to invite you to attend our Annual Town Meeting next Monday evening, April 29, 2019 at 7:00pm at the Amos Clark Kingsbury High School gymnasium. Please note that 7:00pm is our new starting time. I encourage all voters to come to Town Meeting. Together we are the legislative branch. Our collective determinations next Monday continue to set the course of Medfield’s future. Our votes become local laws and regulations; the budgets approved will determine the town’s operating and capital expenditures. I’m pleased to report, compared to the last three years, the coming Town Meeting will consider a significantly smaller agenda of warrant articles. It should be a very straight- forward evening conducting the town’s business. . Thank you for your consideration of this invitation. I hope to see many of you. May we all have a great spring and summer here in our special spot on the east bank of the Charles River. All the best, Scott Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator TOWN OF MEDFIELD Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator I encourage you to review the Report on the Warrant recently mailed to every resident of Medfield. The Report contains the text of all of the articles coming before the Town Meeting. Importantly, the Report (pages 5 to 17) also contains a highly informative snapshot of Medfield’s finances. We have a special place to call our home. We value education, community, open space, safe streets and homes, the well-being of the young and the well-being of the old, quality municipal services, and the advancement of local commerce. It takes hard work and open communication to do the work of self-government. Our Annual Town Meeting, even with all of its imperfections, is the night we gather to speak with one another and deliberate as a law-making body. Please join us at Town Meeting on Monday evening. Scott New Start Time20190425-SM-Town Meeting Invitation_Page_2

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Town Meeting

BoS 4/23

Posted on April 22, 2019 | Comments Off on BoS 4/23

See the agenda below and the backup materials here –

http://www.town.medfield.net/663/Agenda-Packets

 

PLACE OF MEETING TOWN OF MEDFIELD MEETING NOTICE I POSTED: Board or Committee DAY, DATE, AND TIME TOWN CLERK ... 8 Town Hall, Warrant Committee Room, 1st floor Tuesday April23, 2019@ 6:30PM Town Hall, Chenery Meeting Room. 2nd floor Tuesday April23, 2019@ 7:00PM AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) 6:30PM Declare meeting open 6:30PM Vote to go into Executive Session: Exemption #2: To conduct strategy session in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel: discussion of Police Chief contract for Michelle Guerette 7:00PM Call to order Disclosure of video recording We want to take a moment of appreciation for our Troops serving in the Middle East and around the world Citizen Comment Appointments 7:00PM Ron Gustavson to request permission to hold the annuai"Lions Toll Booth" Saturday May 11, 9AM to noon 7:05 PM Jay Duncan, Townwide Master Planning Committee Review and approve red-lined charter; review and approve draft RFP for distribution 7:15 PM Town Planner Sarah Raposa Discussion of zoning articles including Upper Spring Street Overlay District 7:30 PM Maurice Goulet, DPW Director Discuss proposed policy for Transfer Station Stickers Action Items Vote to sign Mayrock LIP Application and LIP MOU DPW Director Maurice Goulet requests the Selectmen vote to sign: FEMA Contract regarding March 13, 2018 Winter Snowstorm Contract with Stumpy's Tree Service, term April 23, 2019 through December 31, 2020 (Town Counsel reviewed) Megan Sullivan, Chair Transfer Station and Recycling Committee requests the Selectmen vote to appoint Cheryl Dunlea as a member of the Committee Resident Michelle Gaudet requests permission to hold a fund raising car wash behind Town Hall this summer, date TBD, to benefit Save Children with Autism Uganda Town Accountant requests the Selectmen vote to approve Fraud Risk Assessment Policy Kingsbury Pond Committee requests the Selectmen vote to appoint Rick Ebbs and Angela Filice to the Committee Selectmen are requested to proclaim Friday April 26, 2019 as Arbor Day in Medfield and to sign the Proclamation Town Administrator requests the Selectmen sign the Solar installation contract Town Administrator requests the Selectmen vote to sign Abacus contract for Parks and Recreation feasibility study Town Administrator requests the Selectmen vote to approve and sign insurance proposal for state hospital property Selectmen are requested to approve and sign Police Chief Employment Agreement for Michelle Guerette Selectmen are requested to vote to sign Eagle Scout citations for Alexander Jason Hissong, Christopher Liam Johnson, Collin Robert Judge. Eagle Court of Honor will be held on Saturday April 27 at the United Church of Christ at 1:00PM Review and vote on Town Meeting Articles rc 0 -ci-1 ---r ..,. ~-- - - rr1 .. }'20190423-agenda_Page_220190423-agenda_Page_3

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Posted in Select Board matters

Medfield Clean-Up Days 4/27 & 4/28

Posted on April 18, 2019 | Comments Off on Medfield Clean-Up Days 4/27 & 4/28

From the Medfield DPW –

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

Posted on: April 18, 2019

Medfield Clean Up Days

Medfield Clean Up Day Flyer 2019

Volunteers Needed! Take pride in your community and help clean up litter in your neighborhoods, parks, schools, and public buildings. Bring a Team! Ask your friends and co-workers! This is a great community service opportunity!  A few days prior to the event you can visit the Town Hall at 459 Main Street for your Medfield Clean Up Day Recycled Trash Bags as well as litter locations where we need your help!

For more information and a list of locations please call the DPW Office at 508 906-3003.

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Posted in DPW, Entertainment, Green, Volunteers

Medfield man indicted

Posted on April 12, 2019 | Comments Off on Medfield man indicted

Department of Justice Press Release 

***************************************************************
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Massachusetts and Louisiana Men Charged in Business Email Compromise Scheme

BOSTON – A Medfield man and Louisiana man were charged today in federal court in Boston in connection with an international business email compromise scheme that defrauded companies of almost $900,000.

Paul M. Iwuanyanwu, 39, of Medfield, and Larry Brown Jr., 37, of Lafayette, La., were indicted for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Iwuanyanwu was also charged with one count of money laundering.

Iwuanyanwu and Brown allegedly worked with others to breach the email systems of companies and install unauthorized computer programs that diverted company emails to accounts controlled by Iwuanyanwu and Brown’s co-conspirators. As a result, all emails sent by or to the companies were first routed through the email accounts where co-conspirators could view the messages. Co-conspirators also had the ability to send and respond to emails as if they were representatives of the companies.

It is alleged that Iwuanyanwu, Brown, and others, used this unauthorized access to companies’ email accounts to cause the companies to redirect almost $900,000 in payments intended for legitimate business operations to bank accounts controlled by Iwuanyanwu and Brown.

The charge of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss. The charge of money laundering charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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