Colleen shared with me last night this photo she orchestrated yesterday of the Medfield Police Department and the Select Board in Baxter Park after the ceremony –
At the time I was both amused and impressed enough to document the photographer at work taking that photo –
Earlier in the week I had witnessed Colleen having to do even more arranging of her subjects to get all the gold star families into the frame for a photo in a tight space with the new plaque at the Legion. Good photos do not just randomly happen, they require a good photographer being in charge.
I saw that Colleen took many photos recording Medfield’s Memorial Day, and once she processes them they will appear here https://patch.com/massachusetts/medfield
To join through a conference call, dial 929-436-2866 or 312-626-6799 or 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 or 346-248-7799 or 669-900-6833 a. Enter the Webinar ID: 885 3036 6678 b. Enter the password: 637025
Posted onMay 27, 2024|Comments Off on Memorial Day 2024
Medfield’s First Responders
Politicians and 8th grader who recited the Gettysburg Address –
Gettysburg Address and a proud Mom –
Michelle Doucette (in red) who planned and executed on our Memorial Day events this year and Patch Mayor Colleen Sullivan who photographs all our town’s events to make them look so much better (here Colleen is telling the crowd of cats where to move to so her photo will look good) –
Marine color guard –
Thanks to all who made it an excellent Memorial Day in our shared hometown.
Posted onMay 27, 2024|Comments Off on Gold Star Veterans Plaque at Legion
Medfield’s Gold Star Veterans were honored on a plaque unveiled this past week at the Legion, in the Aura building. The families of some of the Medfield gold star veterans are shown below.
The Aura owners, Ed Coolbrith and Bill Lane, who donated the plaque:
Posted onMay 17, 2024|Comments Off on Sgt. Dan Burgess, MPD
Chief Guerette yesterday announced that the Medfield Police Department will be using the Medfield Patch to feature its personnel for residents, and that she wanted to start with the department’s senior sergeant, Sergeant Dan Burgess –
Sergeant Dan Burgess
Sergeant Dan Burgess has been a Police Officer for 31 years. He began his career with the Rockland, Massachusetts Police Department in 1993 where he worked as a Permanent Intermittent Police Officer. He transferred to the Medfield Police Department in July of 1995. While working in Medfield, Dan has held the positions of Patrolman, Detective, Patrol Sergeant and for the past 11 years he has been the “Administrative Sergeant” of the department. You may recognize Sergeant Burgess from interactions with him as the firearms licensing Officer or from a community event, as he assists the Chief in coordinating many of the town events such as road races, holiday events, parades etc.
Sergeant Burgess has enjoyed working with the fine residents of Medfield. He strives to provide a safe and secure community for the residents of Medfield. Sgt. Burgess values a high standard of quality of life stating, “Medfield is a beautiful, quintessential New England town and I’m proud to work here every day”. Sgt. Burgess looks forward to continuing his role as the senior officer, mentor and leader within the department.
On an “off” day, Dan can be found on a hot sunny beach, walking a golf course or landscaping his yard.
Posted onMay 16, 2024|Comments Off on Select Board 5/23/20024
TOWN OF MEDFIELD MEETING NOTICE
Posted in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 30A, §§18-25 This meeting will be held remotely. Members of the public who wish to participate via Zoom may do so by joining by one of the following options:
To join through a conference call, dial 929-436-2866 or 312-626-6799 or 253-215-8782 or 301-715-8592 or 346-248-7799 or 669-900-6833 a. Enter the Webinar ID: 885 3036 6678 b. Enter the password: 637025
Select Board Board or Committee PLACE OF MEETING DAY, DATE, AND TIME Remote meeting on Zoom Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm Agenda (Subject to Change) Open Session Call to Order
Vote to sign the contract with Shady Tree Landscaping for lawn mowing and landscaping services at the COA
Vote to approve $14,752 for Baxter Park Electrical Repairs to be paid for by Norfolk County ARPA allocation
Vote to approve a not to exceed amount of $10,000 for Zoom Webinar and Meeting licenses for town staff to be paid for by Norfolk County ARPA allocation
Roll Call Vote to go into Executive Session To discuss strategy session in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel – Police Chief Michelle Guerette
Posted onMay 16, 2024|Comments Off on MSBC upcoming forums 5/19, 5/29, & 5/30
SBC Forums • Wednesday, May 15th, Dale Street School cafeteria @ 7:00 p.m • Sunday, May 19th Dale Street School cafeteria @ 4:00 p.m. • May 29 at the Town House @ 11:00 a.m • May 31st the Senior Center @ 10:30 a.m
Medfield School Building Committee Letter to the Community
Dear Medfield Community,
May 1, 2024
The Medfield School Building Committee (SBC) is writing to update the community on our work. We want to share a very preliminary estimate of what a future building project may cost. When we use the words “future building project” this means a new building OR an addition/renovation (add/reno) of the Dale Street School. What we actually build will be determined after thoroughly discussing all options and gathering extensive feedback from the community.
Medfield constructed the original Dale Street School during the 1940’s. The building is well past its useful life, and it should either be replaced or subject to an add/reno process.
The reality which we are facing is that the cost of this project is going to be high, and we do not want this to be a shock to the community. We do not know precise figures but we felt providing the community with a financial framework would be prudent. Based on very high level estimates, a new school for 475-500 students will cost between $90-100 million. There are many variables that will ultimately influence the project cost such as interest rates at the time the Town seeks a bond to finance construction, design of the proposed project, the cost of project materials, and the cost of modular units (temporary classrooms for students) if an add/reno option at the current Dale Street location is used. If you assume that the town borrows $93 million at the current projected interest rates, the cost per average household (based on a valuation of $902,000 – (the average home valuation in Medfield) will be approximately $983 per year with Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funding, or $1,341 per year without MSBA funding.
Each year the MSBA selects a number of schools to receive state funds to offset some of the cost of school building projects, and we estimate the amount of state reimbursement for our project’s eligible expenses to be approximately $20-25 million. In 2023, the Town reapplied for MSBA Program funding, but the MSBA did not invite Medfield back into the MSBA Program. The Select Board and School Committee reapplied to the MSBA Program for December 2024. If the Town does not get invited into the MSBA Program funding in December 2024, then Medfield will need to consider doing a building project without the MSBA support, which means funding the entire project.
Some of you may be wondering: Would an add/reno option cost less than new construction? We do not know the answer to that question at this time, The FutureThink company just provided Medfield with an updated enrollment projection which will be very helpful in planning the size and scope of the building project. Please check the SBC website to read their report.
Your engagement as we continue to evaluate options is critical, The SBC is planning to conduct a series of forums with Town residents in the hope of receiving feedback and questions related to cost and other matters.
The focus of our first forums will be on location.
SBC Forums • Wednesday, May 15th, Dale Street School cafeteria @ 7:00 p.m • Sunday, May 19th Dale Street School cafeteria @ 4:00 p.m. • May 29 at the Town House @ 11:00 a.m • May 31st the Senior Center @ 10:30 a.m
MEDFIELD SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE Mike Weber (Co-Chair) Meredith Chamberland (Co-Chair) Michelle Kirkby I.co Brehm William C. Werner Robert Meaney Teresa James Anthony Papantonis Peter Michelson Robert Worth John Messina Carolyn Casey
Comments Off on MSBC upcoming forums 5/19, 5/29, & 5/30
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
