BoS agenda for 10/1

Tuesday October 1, 2013 @ 7:00 PM
AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

7:00 PM Senator Timilty and Representative Garlick
Discussion regarding state budget and local aid, repeal of software tax, regulartoryproblems (i.e. double utility poles, withholding $IOO,OOOM of Chapter 90 Funds (highway)\\

7:45 PM SWAP Area at Transfer Station, Nancy Irwin

Discuss increase to number of volunteers, feasibility of a temporary shelter

ACTION
Vote to sign October 21,2013 Special Town Election Warrant
Vote to award Joint Salt Bid to Eastern Minerals

Review Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles

LICENSES & PERMITS
Kelly McDermott, MFi Angel Run Co-Director requests permission to post signs promoting 8th annual Angel Run being held December 8, 2013. Requests signs in place three weeks prior to event

Medfield Public Library requests permission to set up a temporary Storywalk along the path leading to the Library, October 4 through November 1, 2013

PENDING
Fall Conference for Selectmen, Saturday October 5 at Tri-County

October 11 selectman hours (not 10/4)

I have a work conflict with the first Friday in October selectman office hours, so I will instead hold my selectman office hours at The Center from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on October 11.

Medfield Cultural District wins $500

From Town Planner, Sarah Raposa –

Congratulations Medfield Cultural District and thank you to all you voted to help our Town secure the $500 prize! Kudos to the members of the listening party: Austin “Buck” Buchanan, Mare Parker-O’Toole, Jean Mineo, Kirsten D’Abate, Aditi Thatte, David Temple, Cheryl O’Malley, Richard DeSorgher, Lucille Fisher, and Rob Gregg.

Also, a sincere thanks to Jean Mineo for her dedication to and implementation of the Visions and Voices project.

Thanks all,

Sarah

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MEDFIELD MATTERS – VISIONS & VOICES: POCKET PARK PROJECT WINS NATIONAL COMMUNITYMATTERS SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITIES CONTEST

Medfield Cultural District Awarded $500 to Make Medfield More Successful

MEDFIELD, MA – Medfield Matters – Visions & Voices: Pocket Park wins $500 in the CommunityMatters Successful Communities Contest.

CommunityMatters asked people to come together, listen to their free conference call on the Secrets to Successful Communities with Ed McMahon of the Urban Land Institute, then decide on one completely achievable action for making their community more successful.  To sweeten the deal, the Orton Family Foundation sponsored the contest by offering $500 to four communities that came up with an idea or strategy for success.  The Orton Family Foundation works to build vibrant, enduring communities in the Northeast and Rocky Mountain West.

Medfield Matters – Visions & Voices: Pocket Park was chosen from among 16 entrants in the competition for the unique way that it is helping to address community challenges and build a more vibrant future.   Selected by online public voting, the four winning entries are:

–          Middlesboro, Kentucky (pop. 10,334): Discover Downtown Middlesboro plans to use temporary demonstrations to test out pop-up businesses, transform vacant lots, set up public seating in high traffic areas, and install signs that highlight future improvements. The two-day Better Block-style demonstration project will bring neighbors together to experience and envision the great potential for downtown.

 

–          Silverton, Oregon (pop. 9,222): With a desire to inspire ongoing conversations about real and lasting community change, the Upstream Arts Collective plans to host curated conversations about the art of neighboring. Local community collaborators and neighborhood practitioners will share their stories in a fun and collaborative atmosphere.

 

–          Medfield, Massachusetts (pop. 12,024): Working to create a vibrant downtown, the Medfield Cultural District plans to revitalize an underutilized pocket park with community art. The project will ask community members to write their ideas for the park on a large chalkboard set up downtown. They also plan to do an art installation through the park featuring portraits of residents.

 

–          Mountain View, Arkansas (pop. 2,748): A county seat characterized by a mix of artisans, professionals, retirees, retail and service occupations, this small town is an established tourist destination. People in Mountain View love to gather and play music of all sorts, and they do so nearly every weekend when the weather is good.  But traditional music is being lost to the prominence of more modern sounds; even the Arkansas Folk Festival is no longer truly “folk.” This group plans to create a music festival that will showcase traditional styles, seeking to protect local heritage and educate people about true old-time music.

Visit http://woobox.com/5omwgq to see the entrants and winners.

About Medfield Matters – Visions & Voices: Pocket Park

Our listening party was inspired by the concepts of engaging citizens to tell the Town what they want for the improvements of a downtown pocket park. “Visions and Voices” will be a community art project to focus attention on this underutilized asset in the heart of downtown between Zebra’s Bistro and Starbucks. Partnering organizations will work to ensure that the enhancements made will be practical and useful for many to enjoy – adding to the aesthetic and vitality of our lovely downtown.

 

About CommunityMatters

CommunityMatters is an interactive exchange for individuals and organizations working to engage citizens and build strong, vibrant communities from the ground up. CommunityMatters fuels a growing network of leaders, thinkers and doers in a variety of disciplines – planning, sustainability, health, democracy, education, economic development, and the arts. CommunityMatters is a project of the Orton Family Foundation, in collaboration with other partners. www.communitymatters.org

 

About The Orton Family Foundation

The Orton Family Foundation believes that empowering people to shape the future of their communities will improve local decision-making, create a shared sense of belonging, and ultimately strengthen the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of each place. Orton helps communities navigate change by offering programs and tools that engage diverse groups of residents in collaborative discussions and decision-making driven by what they love most about their town—its “heart and soul.” www.orton.org

Chocorua, NH house for sale

Graceful 1900's farmhouse on 10 acres!This gracefully aged 1900’s farmhouse sits on over 10 acres of mostly wooded land.  There are 4 bedrooms, 1 3/4 baths, 2 stairways to the 2nd floor, a woodstove in both the living room and the kitchen.  The kitchen is charming and has bead board cabinets.  This house sits way back from the road for complete privacy.  There is more land available to the buyer of this nice property.  Price to sell @ $239,900
www.ldre.com/listings/l0040.html

Grist mill wheel is turning

At the dedication and celebration of the Grist Mill water wheel this afternoon the new water wheel was blessed and turned on.  A board was removed and the small water flow started the water wheel turning at a steady rapid clip.
Plans call for the water wheel to generate electricity.

Lawyer jokes

DRY-CLEANED LAWYER JOKES

The Will
A man went to his lawyer and said, “I would like to make a will but I don’t know exactly how to go about it.”

The lawyer said, “No problem, leave it all to me.”

The man looked somewhat upset and said, “Well, I knew you were going to take the biggest slice, but I would like to leave a little to my children too!”
——————————————————————————–
Objection

A lawyer cross-examined the adversary’s main witness. “You claim to have stopped by Mrs. Edwards’ house just after breakfast. Will you tell the jury what she said?”

“Objection, your honor,” shouted the other lawyer.

There then followed a long argument between lawyers as to whether the question was proper. Finally, after 45 minutes, the judge allowed it.

“So,” the first lawyer continued, “Please answer the question: What did Mrs. Edwards say when you went to her house after breakfast on December 3rd?”

“Nothing,” said the witness. “No one was home.”


Bad Neighbors

A dog ran into a butcher shop and grabbed a roast off the counter. Fortunately, the butcher recognized the dog as belonging to a neighbor of his. The neighbor happened to be a lawyer.

Incensed at the theft, the butcher called up his neighbor and said, “Hey, if your dog stole a roast from my butcher shop, would you be liable for the cost of the meat?”

The lawyer replied, “Of course, how much was the roast?”

“$7.98.” said the butcher.

A few days later the butcher received a check in the mail for $7.98. Attached to it was an invoice that read: Legal Consultation Service: $150


The Compliment

“You seem to have more than the average share of intelligence for a man of your background,” sneered the lawyer at a witness on the stand.

“If I wasn’t under oath, I’d return the compliment,” replied the witness.


New Client

A lawyer opened his own office right after successfully passing the bar exam. Sitting idly at his desk, his secretary announced that a Mr. Baker was there to see him. He told his secretary to show him right in.

Thinking that it was a new client he wanted to make a good impression. As Mr. Baker was entering his office, the lawyer picked up the phone and yelled into it…”Absolutely not! You tell them I will not settle this case for less than five hundred thousand dollars. Don’t bother me again until that amount has been agreed to!”

Slamming the phone down, he greeted Mr. Baker saying, “How do you do Mr. Baker. What can I do to help you?”

Mr. Baker replied, “Hi, I’m from the phone company. I’m here to connect your phone.”


Justice Has Triumphed

A lawyer had a jury trial in a very difficult business case. The client who had attended the trial was out of town when the jury came back with its decision, which was for the lawyer and his client. The lawyer immediately sent a telegram to his client, reading “Justice has triumphed!”

The client wired back, “Appeal at once!”


Suit Settled

A young defense attorney who had taken over his father’s practice rushed home totally elated.

“Dad, listen, you aren’t going to believe this,” he said to his father. “I’ve finally settled that old Whitmore suit.”

“Settled it!!” bellowed his father. “You bumbling idiot! We’ve been living off of that money for over five years now!”


I’m fine

Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company to court.

In court, the trucking company’s fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. “Didn’t you say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine’?” said the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, “Well, I’ll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the…….”

“I didn’t ask for any details,” the lawyer interrupted, “just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, ‘I’m fine!'”

Farmer Joe said, “Well, I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road…”

The lawyer interrupted again and said, “Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question.”

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe’s answer and said to the lawyer, “I’d like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie.”

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, “Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn’t want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans. Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, “Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her – how are you feeling?”


In the Diner

Two lawyers entered the diner and ordered a couple of drinks. They then took sandwiches from their briefcases and began to eat.

Seeing this, the angry owner went over to them and said, “Excuse me, but you cannot eat your own sandwiches in here!”

Shrugging their shoulders the lawyers exchanged sandwiches.


The Hamburger

Prosecutor : What were you doing on July 15th at 9 o’clock in the evening ?
Prisoner : I was eating hamburger.
Prosecutor : What were you doing at 9:30 p.m. ?
Prisoner : I was taking a bicarbonate of soda.
Prosecutor : Do you expect us to believe you ?
Prisoner : You would if you had eaten one of those hamburgers.


The Lawyer and the Federal Housing Authority

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA (Federal Housing Authority) loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer three months to track down.

After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply (actual letter):

“Upon review of your letter adjoining your client’s loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin.”

The lawyer responded as follows (actual letter):

“Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the U. S. from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U. S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the then reigning monarch, Isabella. The good queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles, almost as much as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to fund Columbus’ expedition. Now the Pope, as I’m sure you know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of the world called Louisiana. He, therefore, would be the owner of origin. I hope … you find His original claim to be satisfactory.

Now, may we have our FEDERAL FHA LOAN?”

Special town meeting 10/7

Medfield is having a special town meeting (STM) on 10/7 at 7:30 PM at the MHS gym, to discuss three articles.

  1. whether to accept for free the transfer from the state of 5-6 acres at the Medfield State Hospital site on which to locate a new water tower and the existing Medfield State Hospital tubular well fields (located across the railroad tracks, off Colonial Drive).  The water tower land includes and surrounds the old existing water tower, which water tower is too low compared to the other Mt. Nebo water tower and too old to warrant repairing.  This land transfer is part of the mediated resolution of the Medfield State Hospital environmental clean up dispute that was successfully mediated over the past year by a town committee with DCAMM, to a win-win solution.
  2. appropriating monies to plan the new water tower.
  3. whether to exercise the town’s right of first refusal to buy the 30 acre Kenny land that stretches between Phillips and Foundary Streets.  The Kenny land has been paying lower property taxes as Massachusetts General Laws c. 61  forest land, in exchange for which the town gets a right of first refusal when the land comes out of the forest designation, which is now happening.  There is a purchase and sale agreement for $1.4 m. from about 18 months ago and now the buyers have an approved subdivision for 7 house lots.  The owners recently gave the town the required notice, which triggered the town’s 120 days to effect the purchase of the property, if it chooses to do so.  The special town meeting (STM) was already happening to seek to pass the water tower and well fields articles, which are needed to move forward with the required home rule petition legislation in the legislature, so the Kenny land question is fortuitously being included in that special town meeting (STM) as well.

Last day to register to vote at the special town meeting (STM) is 9/27, and last day to register to vote in the election is 10/1.

Both topics are on the agenda for the Board of Selectmen meeting next Tuesday, 9/24/13.

Demo delay on 9 Causeway

From Medfield Historical Commission –

Medfield Historical Commission

Town Hall

Medfield, MA 02052

 

 

 

 

September 18, 2013

 

Mr. John Naff, Building Commissioner

Town Hall

Medfield, MA 02052

 

Dear John:

 

After last night’s hearing and due process, the Medfield Historical Commission is invoking the demolition delay bylaw on a Techbuilt house at 9 Causeway Street owned by Greg Whelan.  The commission finds the house to be a “preferably preserved and historically significant structure.”  Therefore, no demolition permit may be issued for the house, for a period of 18 months, without the commission’s express permission.

 

The house, built about 1958, is one of the few surviving Midcentury Modern houses in Medfield, and it contributes significantly to the small Causeway Lane neighborhood of houses in that general style. Six area residents came to the hearing, and all those who spoke encouraged its preservation.

 

At the hearing, Greg Whelan said he had changed his mind and only wanted to demolish the garage; he’d keep the house and make improvements.  However, the application was to demolish the house, and we adhered to it and invoked the delay.   He said he’d come back with a counter proposal that he hoped we’d view favorably.  There is some chance that the garage was originally a carport (most Techbuilt houses came with carports to keep costs down), but if so, fuzzy or nonexistent records will make it hard to tell when it was enclosed as a garage.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

David F. Temple

 

David F. Temple, Co-Chair

cc: Board of Selectmen

Roche Bros at Downtown Study Committee

Roche Bros presented last night to the Downtown Study Committee and immediately following to the Historic District Commission.

I was quite impressed with the answers that I heard at the Downtown Study Committee to the questions that were posed.  There was a combination of real neighborliness, combined with a realism about making a busy store work in their downtown Main Street storefront location.

The facades will look so good, both front and back.  The building renovations will dress up the downtown substantially.  The living wall is still undergoing consideration for the types of plants, the bright green Main Street color scheme is not finalized, and they were open to my suggestion to somehow include a community notice element along the South Street wall, where banners were hung announcing all manner of town events when Lord’s was there.

The best news for me was how respectful and accommodating the real estate facilities person was in trying to both address all concerns and provide logical solutions – refreshing for a developer.

Kenny land

Interesting meeting at the Kenny land this morning with Robin Kenny and her two potential buyers.  We all walked the land, and it is a beautiful parcel, consisting of fields on either side of a spine of woods that runs North south down the middle, with woods at the edges as well.  The houses are to be built in the woods at those edges.

They made a good case for the town not buying the land:

  • 19+ acres of the 30 acre will be protected regardless, by conservation restrictions and subdivision covenants
  • town residents will have access to the land via a right of way through the middle of the land, over the private road and trail connecting to the town’s adjoining 25 acre scout land that would be built
  • the seven houses are sited in the woods, so the field views will not be distrubed
  • property taxes to the town may well offset any education costs to the town, if the usual average of 1.5 school children per single family house rule holds
  • town saves $1.4 m. if it does not exercise its right of first refusal