Posted onJuly 28, 2022|Comments Off on Assistant Town Administrator, Nicholas Milano moves on and up – selected last night by Milton Select Board as their next Town Administrator
Read the Patriot Ledger article about the stiff competition Nick bested to get the job. Medfield has benefited hugely from Nick’s tenure here, and this Select Board members wishes him well in his next work.
Nicholas Milano Selected as the Next Town Administrator
POSTED ON: JULY 28, 2022 – 12:10PM
The Milton Select Board is pleased to announce its unanimous selection of Nicholas Milano to be the next Milton Town Administrator subject to contract negotiations.
Mr. Milano currently serves as Assistant Town Administrator for the Town of Medfield, MA. His prior experience includes service as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Boston Municipal Research Bureau; as Executive Aide to the Mayor of Marlboro, MA; as Project Coordinator for the Massachusetts School Building Authority; and as a Legislative Aide in MA.
Mr. Milano earned his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and holds a Master of Urban Affairs Degree from Boston University. He also earned a Certificate in Local Government Management and Leadership sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and Suffolk University, he was a John William Ward Fellow while a student at Boston Latin School.
Please join in congratulating Mr. Nicholas Milano on his selection as the next Town Administrator.
Comments Off on Assistant Town Administrator, Nicholas Milano moves on and up – selected last night by Milton Select Board as their next Town Administrator
Posted onJuly 28, 2022|Comments Off on Bellforge presents 100 Thousand Poets for Change – 12-3PM on 8/6
From Stacey David, Director of Marketing & Communications, Bellforge Arts Center –
BELLFORGE ARTS CENTER ANNOUNCES 100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE EVENT (Medfield, MA):The Bellforge Arts Center announces “Change to Heal, Heal to Change” on Aug. 6, from noon to 3:00 pm, an afternoon of storytelling and poetry on the ways change affects us: personal change, social change, climate change, change for growth, living in change, awakening through change. This spoken word event is one of the 100 Thousand Poets for Change (100TPC) worldwide events promoting peace, sustainability, and justice and calling for social, political, and environmental change. Award-winning slam poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists will share their commitment to environmental and social justice issues, including: Jackson Gillman, a talented mime, actor, songsmith and storyteller, and the recipient of the Oracle Award at the National Storytelling Network. He has featured at the National Storytelling Festival multiple times, and has been Teller-in-Residence at the International Storytelling Center. Thea Iberall has been called “a shimmering bridge between heart and mind.” An inductee into the International Educators Hall of Fame, she writes stories and poetry that springboard from the personal into emotional truths around climate change, racism, and discrimination. Thea is a member of Northeast Storytellers and is on the leadership team of the Jewish Climate Action Network. Jamele “Harlem 125” Adams is a celebrated and high-energy slam poet whose TEDx Talk on “Race. Love. Freedom.” electrified audiences. He believes that with “love – inclusion – trust” no one will be left out, and our ability to come together amongst different beliefs is limitless. Betsy Johnson, local poet and storyteller, will share poems on journey, transformation, lessons we teach our children, Alzheimer’s, and grounding. Teddy Lytle is a performance artist and poet who co-founded Spectrum Theatre Ensemble, a neurodiverse theatre company. He has produced a number of solo shows focused on destigmatizing mental health and addiction and exploring how people and communities can change for the better. Deana Tavares will share poems about moving through adversity towards healing oneself and the world, weaving in the topic of hope. She is a creatively fluid exhibiting visual artist, published poet, singer/songwriter, and actor. She is an Arts Connect International 2021 Ripple Grant recipient. Change to Heal, Heal to Change is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the summer. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy this outdoor event. People are encouraged to register as well, for event updates, at https://bit.ly/BellforgePoets. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.
# # #
About 100 Thousand Poets for Change: 100 Thousand Poets for Change (100 TPC) has organized over 5,000 poetry, art and music gatherings for the cause of Peace, Justice, and Sustainability across the globe in the last 10 years. Poets have come together year after year to lead and promote poetry readings, without any preconditions or censorship, where participants speak out for causes nearest their hearts. In the process, oppressions, exploitative practices, biases, and abuses of many kinds have been highlighted—whether based on gender, race, class, or religious affiliation, color, territory, language and cultural tradition, or any form of differentiation whatsoever. For more information, visit 100tpc.org.
About the Bellforge Arts Center: The Bellforge Arts Center is a new multi-arts complex being built on the grounds of the former Medfield State Hospital to support artists, expand cultural opportunities, and nurture the creative community. Bellforge currently offers outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events, along with over 200 miles of nature trails and outdoor recreation space. Once fully renovated, the center will also offer visual and performing arts studios, arts education, a 300-seat performance venue, and more.
Comments Off on Bellforge presents 100 Thousand Poets for Change – 12-3PM on 8/6
FY2023 we will get $8,384,126, or $267,183 more (a 3.2% increase).
This alert below came this afternoon from the Massachusetts Municipal Association –
Governor Signs FY23 Budget
Supports Key Municipal Aid and School Funding
And Offers Amendment to Important Retiree COLA Language
Please Thank Your Legislators and Ask Them to Accept the Governor’s Amended COLA Language July 28, 2022
Dear Osler L. Peterson,
This morning, Governor Baker signed a $52.7 billion budget, including each of the increases in municipal and school aid accounts for which the MMA has prioritized throughout the process.
The Governor also signed 153 of 194 of the outside sections of the budget and has returned a key section with an amendment for the Legislature’s consideration.
As enacted by the Legislature, Outside Section 134 would allow retirement boards that have accepted Section 103 of Chapter 32 to award a cost-of-living-adjustment of up to 5% to retirees, rather than the current limit of up to 3%.
In response to concerns voiced by the MMA, specifically related to the lack of decision-making authority on a potentially large expense for municipal budgets, the Governor returned this section with amended language (for the full language, see Attachment S, Returned with Amendments, Section 134). The amended language provides that if a local or regional retirement board chooses to adopt this provision, municipalities would have the authority to accept or reject its decision. There is further clarifying language regarding situations that involve a county retirement board with more than one participating municipality. For those regional systems, 2/3rds of the participating municipalities would need to approve the higher COLA. In addition, the Governor’s amended language would provide important clarification that the potential 3-5% increase would apply only on the approved base, not the entire pension. This would eliminate some lack of clarity in the current language. The Governor’s amendments would provide critical municipal oversight for this costly provision.
The provision now returns to the Legislature, which can accept the Governor’s proposed amendment, insist on its original language, or propose different language. If the Legislature insists on its own language, or proposes different language, the provision would return to the Governor, who would have 10 days to sign or veto the provision. With formal legislative sessions ending on July 31, a veto after that date would kill the provision, an outcome that is unlikely, since the Governor is likely to support a 5% COLA for state retirees.
Please contact your legislators and ask them to accept the Governor’s amendments to Section 134 (via Attachment S).
Please also be sure to thank your legislators again for the important and significant increases in key accounts for municipal and school funding, all of which were included in the budget signed by the Governor:
$63 million (5.4%) increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, for a total of $1.23B, which is $31.5 million more than originally proposed Nearly $6B for Chapter 70 School Aid, Including doubling the increase for minimum aid districts from $30 per pupil to $60 per pupil
$440M for Special Education Circuit Breaker, an increase of $67M from FY22
$5.5M for Rural School Aid
$45M for PILOT for state-owned land, a 29% increase from FY22
$20M transfer from FY22 surplus for the Community Preservation Trust Fund
If you have any questions, please contact MMA Legislative Director Dave Koffman at dkoffman@mma.org or MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Jackie Lavender Bird at jlavenderbird@mma.org.
Please Call Your Legislators Today to Thank Them for their Support of Key Local Accounts and Ask Them to Accept the Governor’s Proposed Language Regarding the Retiree COLA Provision
Thank You!!
Massachusetts Municipal Association 3 Center Plaza Suite 610 Boston, MA 02108 (617) 426-7272 | Email Us | View our websiteUnsubscribe from MMA Legislative Alert Emails
Comments Off on Gov signs budget – town looks to get $267K more this year from state
Posted onJuly 24, 2022|Comments Off on Culturefest at Bellforge 10-3, 10/8/22
From Lauren Zembron –
Medfield Together and Bellforge Arts Center Present: CultureFest
(Medfield, MA): In partnership with Bellforge Arts Center, Medfield Together invites you to join us on Oct. 8, 2022 for CultureFest. This FREE family-friendly festival aims to bring our community together in celebration of and learning about the customs, traditions, artwork, music, and food of diverse people within and around our town.
“The incentive for CultureFest was twofold: to celebrate diversity by centering the cultural traditions of an array of people and to learn about multiculturalism in a fun and engaging atmosphere,” says Medfield Together Steering Committee member Lauren Zembron. Everyone is welcome to attend this fun day out that will include performers, kids’ activities, and ethnic food trucks. CultureFest runs from 10 am to 3 pm at Bellforge Arts Center, located at 45 Hospital Road (https://bellforge.org/getting-here/). There is plenty of free parking and visitors are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the festival.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Medfield Together for CultureFest and to provide the opportunity to celebrate so many cultures through art, dance, music and food,” says Jean Mineo, Bellforge Arts Center’s Executive Director.
Comments Off on Culturefest at Bellforge 10-3, 10/8/22
Summer Sounds will offer not only a great line up of hip hop and reggae artists, but also a variety of food options from Ribpublic BBQ, and a full bar featuring Patrón Tequila, all at the site of the new Bellforge Arts Center on the former Medfield State Hospital campus. Free tickets and more information, including musical clips from each of the artists, can be found online at https://bit.ly/SummerSoundsJuly. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the outdoor concert.
The Summer Sounds Festival will be returning on Aug 27 with a concert featuring Valleyheart, The Q-Tip Bandits, 5ever, and more. Summer Sounds is one of many free concerts, festivals, and events organized by Bellforge for the summer. For more information about the Bellforge Arts Center, including a schedule of upcoming programs and events, please visit www.bellforge.org.
# # #
The Bellforge Arts Center is a new multi-arts complex being built on the grounds of the former Medfield State Hospital to support artists, expand cultural opportunities, and nurture the creative community. Bellforge currently offers outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events, along with over 200 miles of nature trails and outdoor recreation space. Once fully renovated, the center will also offer visual and performing arts studios, arts education, a 300-seat performance venue, and more.
Comments Off on Summer Sounds at Bellforge – 12-7 on 7/30
Posted onJuly 20, 2022|Comments Off on Medfield cooling centers
From Chief Carrico, also the Director of Medfield Emergency Management –
From: William Carrico Date: Wed, Jul 20, 2022 at 10:14 AM Subject: Medfield Emergency Management – Cooling Centers To: Kristine Trierweiler
During the heatwave that will last thru the weekend, the following locations will be made available as cooling centers. Residents using these centers will be responsible for bringing their own food, water, and electronic devices/chargers. No transportation will be provided.
Town of Medfield Cooling Centers
Mass 211 will provide information on available cooling center locations for residents.
Posted onJuly 18, 2022|Comments Off on MMA on state budget – more for Medfield
Email today from the Massachusetts Municipal Association –
LEGISLATURE SET TO APPROVE $52.7B FY23 BUDGET, WITH MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL & SCHOOL AID
• LEGISLATURE’S BUDGET INCREASES UNRESTRICTED GENERAL GOVERNMENT AID BY $63M (5.4%) – A WIN FOR CITIES AND TOWNS! • INCREASES CHAPTER 70 BY $485.2M ABOVE FY22, FUNDING THE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY ACT ON ITS ORIGINAL (PRE-COVID) SCHEDULE • DOUBLES NEW FUNDING TO MINIMUM AID DISTRICTS TO $60 PER STUDENT • INCREASES CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS BY $89.2M • INCLUDES $441M TO FUND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER • ADDS $10M TO PILOT, BRINGING THE PROGRAM TO $45M • INCLUDES $5.5M FOR RURAL SCHOOL AID • INCLUDES $82.1M FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION • ADDS $20M TO STATE’S COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT MATCH
Last night, Sunday, July 17, the fiscal 2023 state budget conference committee released H. 5050, the House-Senate compromise budget bill. The House and Senate have scheduled formal sessions for Monday, July 18, and both chambers are expected to pass the measure at that time. The Governor will then have 10 days to approve the spending appropriations and proposed law changes, veto, or return any items with amendments. That will give lawmakers several days to consider overriding any vetoes before formal sessions end on July 31.
Following months of state tax collections exceeding expectations, the $52.7 billion fiscal year 2023 state budget plan reflects an agreement between Senate and House leaders to increase tax collection estimates for fiscal year 2023 by $2.66 billion, with $1.9 billion available for the general budget after statutorily required transfers. As a result, all key local aid accounts received the higher funding levels in areas where the Senate and House needed to resolve differences.
In a major win for cities and towns, the Legislature’s budget bill increases Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) by $63 million (5.4%), a major priority pushed by MMA throughout the budget deliberations. This will double the municipal aid increase originally proposed by the Governor in January. In addition, the budget would also significantly increase Chapter 70 school aid over fiscal year 2022, bringing the total to nearly $6 billion. The budget includes a $67 million increase for Special Education Circuit Breaker, an additional $89 million for Charter School Mitigation payments, and an increase of $10 million for Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes for state-owned land (PILOT).
You can find the Chapter 70 and UGGA amounts for your community in Section 3 of H. 5050, beginning on page 302 of the downloadable PDF (see the link below this line).
Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) In a major win for local government, the conference committee report includes $1.23 billion for Unrestricted General Government Aid (line item 1233-2350 and section 3), an increase of $63 million, or 5.4%, over the fiscal 2022 level of funding, which is double the $31.5 million increase originally proposed by the Governor in January. Increasing UGGA has been a key MMA priority throughout the process. With property taxes tightly capped by Proposition 2½, cities and towns rely on state revenue sharing to provide municipal and school services, ensure safe streets and neighborhoods, and maintain vital infrastructure. These services are fundamental to our state’s economic recovery, success and competitiveness. Unrestricted General Government Aid is the revenue sharing program that cities and towns receive to fund essential municipal services.
Chapter 70 The Legislature’s budget would fund Chapter 70 aid at nearly $6 billion, representing a commitment to fund the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) according to the original intended schedule, a solid achievement given the initial disruption caused by COVID’s economic disruption. In addition to keeping the commitment to fund the SOA, the Legislature recognized the challenges facing 135 “minimum aid” districts that would have received only a $30 per student increase over the previous year under the budget filed by the Governor in January. MMA applauds the Legislature for doubling the minimum aid increase to $60 per student.
Special Education Circuit Breaker H. 5050 provides $441 million for Special Education Circuit Breaker (7061-0012), which reimburses school districts for the high cost of educating students with disabilities. This amount reflects an increase of $67 million over the current fiscal year. The Student Opportunity Act expanded the circuit breaker by including out-of-district transportation, to be phased in over three years. The fiscal 2023 budget reflects years two and three of the schedule in the Student Opportunity Act, achieving full funding one year ahead of schedule.
Charter School Mitigation Payments To address charter school mitigation payments, H. 5050 includes $243 million for charter school mitigation payments (7061-9010), which represents an increase of $89.2 million over the current fiscal year. This funds the state’s statutory obligation for charter school mitigation payments as outlined in the Student Opportunity Act, pushing the state to phase in the plan by fiscal 2023, a full year ahead of schedule.
School Transportation The Legislature’s budget level funds regional school transportation at $82.1 million, representing a reimbursement rate of 85% of DESE’s estimated costs for FY23. H. 5050 fully funds the McKinney-Vento account for transportation of homeless students at $22.9 million, and level funds out-of-district vocational transportation at $250,000.
PILOT Funding Recognizing the importance of Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land, H. 5050 increases the line item to $45 million (a $10 million increase over fiscal year 2022). This has been a key priority for many years. Low PILOT funding has created a significant hardship for smaller communities with large amounts of state-owned property, and this 29% increase is very welcome news, and will provide an important boost.
Rural School Aid Rural School Aid (7061-9813) is funded at $5.5 million in H. 5050, providing rural school assistance to eligible towns and regional school districts. These grants will help schools facing the challenge of declining enrollment to identify ways to form regional school districts or regionalize certain school services to create efficiencies.
Outside Section – Retiree COLA Provision Section 134 of the budget would allow retirement boards that have accepted Section 103 of Chapter 32 to award a cost-of-living-adjustment of up to 5% to retirees, rather than the current limit of up to 3%. While MMA appreciates the concern driving this provision, we opposed this section due to the potential negative impact on unfunded pension liabilities. Most communities in the state participate in regional pension systems, and do not have direct decision-making authority regarding adoption of a higher COLA. Adoption of a higher COLA, even if limited to one year, would permanently increase the pension obligations for all participating communities, requiring increased annual appropriations to fund the cost. We encourage local officials to contact their retirement boards to discuss the financial implications of adopting a higher COLA for fiscal 2023.
Outside Section – Community Preservation Act Section 174 of H. 5050 directs the comptroller to transfer $20 million of the fiscal year 2022 budget surplus to the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund. This provision would increase the state’s match from an estimated 35% to 43%, approximately the same state match percentage as fiscal year 2022. The number of CPA communities has reached 187, and this budget item will benefit cities and towns that have adopted higher local property taxes to address environmental and housing challenges.
THE LEGISLATURE’S BUDGET IS GOOD NEWS FOR CITIES AND TOWNS Please call your Representatives and Senators and thank them for the important and much-appreciated municipal and school investments that are included in the Legislature’s budget bill. This has been a tumultuous time for state and municipal finances, and the Legislature is advancing a spending plan that invests in communities, which is much appreciated.
If you have any questions or need additional information on any municipal aid priority, please contact MMA Senior Legislative Analyst Jackie Lavender Bird at 617-426-7272 ext. 123 or jlavenderbird@mma.org.
Massachusetts Municipal Association 3 Center Plaza Suite 610 Boston, MA 02108 (617) 426-7272 | Email Us | View our website
Unsubscribe from MMA Legislative Alert Emails
Comments Off on MMA on state budget – more for Medfield
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.
Medfield02052's Blog 