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: 812 5008 9206 b. Enter the password: 808096 The packet with meeting materials for this meeting is available at this link: https://www.town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/6304/BOS-Meeting-Packet-July-12-2022
This is from the METROPOLITAN AREA PLANNING COUNCIL’s (MAPC) monthly newsletter that came today, and contains great information on accessory dwelling units (ADU). I think ADU’s make sense for Medfield as a way to both create the small housing units that are missing from our current housing stock, while also likely reducing our property taxes.
It would require a zoning change, but if implemented, it would add a lot of wealth to current home owners by effectively creating a new buildable lot on their existing property next to their home, all at little cost to the town because the owner builds the ADU. If the ADU’s are limited to a small enough size, they will not likely be suitable for families, so will mainly be occupied by single individuals or couples. However, ADU’s would increase density, so the town would need to decide whether it wants the increased density that the ADU’s would cause.
The ADU’s would be built by each property owner, so no cost there for the town to have the ADU’s appear. The town would just need to open the door to the ADU’s by changing our existing zoning.
Evergreen / Longmeadow area: work is scheduled to begin on July 5 and July 6, streets included are: Evergreen Way, Kamark Drive, Longmeadow Road, Spring Valley Road, Stonybrook Road, Surrey Run and Woodfall Road.
North Street from Janes Ave to Pine Street: work is scheduled to begin the week of July 11 and take approximately two weeks, weather permitting. Traffic delays are anticipated and we encourage drivers to seek alternate routes.
West Street from North Meadows Road to the Millis Town Line: work is scheduled to begin the week of July 11. Traffic delays are anticipated and we encourage drivers to seek alternate routes.
Posted onJune 30, 2022|Comments Off on Peak House – transformed
First the emailed newsletter from the Peak House Heritage Society, and below that photos from the Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund board self-guided tour this week. The Peak House Heritage Society was the recipient of a Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund grant this year. Lots more improvements are reportedly in the works per Rob Gregg. –
A Quick Peek at Our June Feature
Announcing Our 2022 Visitor Season – the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of July, August, September and OctoberDelivering New Self-Guided Displays Featuring Intriguing Artifacts, Interactive Exhibits, Authentic Colonial Gardens
Paid admission is by tickets available only through our website. You first choose a date for your visit and then select a time slot from the six available on those Saturdays.Covid-related restrictions limit six (6) visitors at a time for a suggested visit duration of thirty (30) minutes. You are welcome to tour the outdoor gardens for as long as you wish.
Winner Announced May’s contest question: This plant found in our kitchen garden was a most important dye plant both in England and the Colonies. Its leaves produced an intense blue-colored dye but it also developed a most disgusting aroma during processing. Its pigment was frequently found on the faces of warriors. What is the name of this plant?
Answer: Woad
Congratulations to our May winners who became Peak Performers:
Sandy Frigon Katherine Munz Jeanette Ruyle
After the contest’s duration of six months during which there 18 winners, a grand prize winner’s name was selected to receive a $50 gift certificate from Brothers Marketplace. Seen below is Jeanette Ruyle receiving her prize from PHHC Director Rob Babson. Congratulations to Jeanette and every Peak Performer!
The Piggery Becomes a Colonial Vegetable Garden
With special thanks to our neighbors to the east, Matt and Emily Seminerio, and their willingness to share their corner land which was a piggery at their historic Morse homestead, a colonial vegetable garden will take shape over the summer and fall.
To further extend the Seminerio’s offer, foundation stones from the former Clark Tavern to the west will be used to build the borders of the new beds.
Keep your eyes on this area in the coming months to see a Colonial Vegetable Garden taking shape.
Posted onJune 30, 2022|Comments Off on Native Gardening – from Sustainable Medfield
From Sustainable Medfield, recipient of a Medfield Foundation Legacy Fund grant this year, –
June 8th was another great meeting of the Sustainable Medfield network with 24 people in attendance from 17 different groups! So exciting to see our community come together to discuss their efforts – large and small – and to learn from each other for the benefit of our environment!
1) Attached you will find the notes of the meeting; thanks to Pam Gardner. Our next meeting will be Wednesday September 7th at 3:30pm in the Medfield Library.
2) New feature: ACTION OF THE QUARTER. We will choose an Action of the Quarter to build community awareness of a single topic that a Sustainable Medfield networking partner wants to share and promote within the community. Sustainable Medfield will support our partner group by following-up with outreach (articles/facebook posts/activities) that the Medfield community can learn from on this topic. This quarter the action is Native Gardening that was suggested by the Medfield Garden Club.
The Sustainable Medfield Network has 26 partner organizations and we would like to leverage our connection with each of you to get the word out about this action and the resources available on SustainableMedfield.org.
OUR ASK: Can you please share this ACTION with your constituents in a newsletter, at a meeting, and/or on your website (and in any other ways you think of!). We hope to have made this very easy for you to do by creating an image for you to use, see below and attached.
Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas and/or if you have an ACTION you would like to share with our community.
PS – This Thursday Sustainable Medfield is a co-sponsor of the MEMO concert at the gazebo at 6pm. Stop by and pick up a native plant, which is our give-away for the evening….and a perfect tie-in to our Action of the Quarter.
Enjoy your summer, please spread the word about Native Gardening & we look forward to seeing you in September! Megan
Megan B. Sullivan 508-446-7774 (mobile/text)
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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: 812 5008 9206 b. Enter the password: 808096 The packet with meeting materials for this meeting is available at this link: https://www.town.medfield.net/DocumentCenter/View/6281/BOS-Meeting-Packet-June-28-2022
Posted onJune 22, 2022|Comments Off on Trinity passed at STM, almost unanimously
The special town meeting (STM) last night went quickly, and resulted in a virtually unanimous vote to proceed with the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Trinity Financial to build 334 units of rental apartments (25% affordable) in the existing buildings at the former Medfield State Hospital site. Over 800 residents were spread out between the gym, a tent in front of MHS, and a separate air conditioned area for seniors in the MHS library.
The Select Board and Trinity signed the LDA last night. Next Trinity will begin its permitting.
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Posted onJune 21, 2022|Comments Off on Message from the School Committee Special Town Meeting Tonight and School Committee Vote in Support
From the School Committee –
Message from the School Committee Special Town Meeting Tonight and School Committee Vote in Support
Dear Parents, Guardians and other members of our community,
As many of you are aware, there will be a Special Town Meeting scheduled for tonight Tuesday, June 21 at 6 p.m. in theMedfield High School Gymnasium.
The primary issue at hand is a to vote to allow the Board of Selectmen to enter into a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Trinity Financial for a specific parcel of the former Medfield State Hospital land, generally known as the “Core Campus (Article 1).
On June 8, 2022, the School Committee met in open session with representatives of Trinity Financial and the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee (MSHDC). We engaged in a comprehensive conversation about the predicted impact of the proposed development on the District. Over the past week, Trinity, the MSHDC, and Town and District Administration have worked to address the Committee’s concerns both informally and within the terms of the proposed Land Disposition Agreement (LDA).
On June 16, 2022, the School Committee again met in open session and discussed Trinity Financial’s response to the Committee’s concerns. In particular, the Committee noted:
that the sale and consequent redevelopment resolves an open 20 million dollar liability in hazardous material mitigation costs should we continue to own this portion of the property, which would have a significant impact upon the town’s ability to fund a new elementary school project,
Trinity’s responsiveness to the Committee’s concerns regarding space and potential future staff needs.
The Town Moderator, Scott McDermott, has asked that we also distribute this open letter to the community, which includes important details about the anticipated order of the proceedings
The Medfield School Committee
Jessica Reilly, Chair
Leo Brehm, Vice Chair
Timothy Knight, Recording Secretary
Michelle Kirkby, Financial Secretary
Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, Member at Large
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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.
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