Posted onOctober 13, 2025|Comments Off on Energy Com. Info Sessions on Coming Specialized Energy Code – 10/22
From the Medfield Energy Committee –
Medfield Energy Committee Educates the Public about the Specialized Building Code
The Medfield Energy Committee will hold two public forums on Wednesday, October 22nd to discuss a new building energy code known as the Specialized Code. Medfield residents will likely be asked to vote on adoption of the Specialized Code at Town Meeting in 2026, and MEC is continuing to educate the public on this topic. Fifty-five other towns in Massachusetts have already chosen to adopt this code.
The Specialized Code requires new construction, only, to be built to increased energy efficiency standards. It is very important to note that the Specialized Code DOES NOT affect any existing homes, renovations/additions to homes, or historic homes. Under the Specialized Code, new buildings can comply by being built all-electric (meaning no oil, gas, or propane fuel is used anywhere in the home). If a new building’s design includes the use of some fossil fuels for heating, cooking, etc., this is still allowable under the Specialized Code, but the code requires that such buildings be pre-wired for future electrification, and to have on-site solar generation.
The Medfield Energy Committee supports adoption of the Specialized Code, given that it is an opportunity to ensure that new buildings in town are built to the best available energy efficiency standards. Additionally, enhanced state funding is available to towns that have adopted the Specialized Code and fulfilled other requirements, as part of the Climate Leaders Program, the next tier of the Green Communities program. Medfield has already received $666,000 in funding under the state’s Green Communities program, and would be eligible for continued and enhanced funding opportunities as a Climate Leaders community. These grants have allowed Medfield to install energy efficient upgrades in municipal buildings and schools when equipment needed replacing, leading to energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.
The forums on October 22nd will be held via Zoom, and will offer two separate sessions. Session 1, beginning at 5:00 p.m., will be geared towards construction professionals, and will include technical information and time for feedback. Session 2 will begin at 7:00 p.m. and is intended for the general public. The Zoom links for these sessions can be found at the MEC website: https://www.town.medfield.net/2308/Specialized-Code
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Posted onApril 17, 2025|Comments Off on MFi YL Grants Open to End of April
MFi Youth Leadership Program Now Accepting Grant Applications
The Medfield Foundation Youth Leadership Program is now accepting applications for its 2025 Grant Program. Up to $1,000 in funding will be awarded, which may be awarded in full or divided among multiple recipients. Applicants are welcome to learn more about the grant process and to submit a grant request at https://forms.gle/y9Yy9svXdJAFdsEw7 by April 30th.
Just as the Medfield Foundation has its Legacy Fund endowment and its Pitch It! Grant Program, the MFi youth leaders team raised $1,000 in the fall of 2024 to award in its own process. The Youth Leadership Grant Program is our call for any and all ideas that will enrich the lives of those who call Medfield home. The youth leaders will review the applications, ask questions, interview the applicants, conduct site visits, and make final presentations to their youth leader teammates before voting on and selecting the winner(s). Funding decisions will be communicated to winners by May 30th.
Founded in 2014 by the Medfield Foundation Inc. (MFi), the MFi Youth Leadership program empowers high school students with a sense of philanthropy and volunteerism to take action in their community. From an early age, the town’s youngest residents have opportunities to make a difference in their community. Those opportunities continue to grow as children come of age in our town. The Medfield Foundation is responsible for many local fundraising initiatives. As part of its commitment to community involvement, MFi created this program where high school students could take that philanthropic spirit, run with it and gain leadership experience in the process. Our youth leaders support one of the Medfield Foundation’s largest signature events, The MFi Angel Run, in the fall. It provides a perfect opportunity to get involved and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to plan and manage a fundraising event. Then the winter/spring programming focuses on the grant process, including how to solicit proposals and how to review and award grants.
The 2024 Grant Recipients of the Medfield Foundation’s Legacy Fund celebrated with midyear reports at the Zullo Gallery on Thursday night, December 5th. 2024 Legacy Fund Grants were awarded to the Peak House Heritage Center for a Traveling Trunk exhibit, Medfield TV for Podcast Equipment and the Dwight Derby House for their East Parlor Project, honoring one of its extraordinary residents, Mary Derby.
Director of the Gallery, Bill Pope, welcomed everyone to the Zullo, which received a Legacy Fund Grant itself in 2023 for the creation of an innovative Augmented Reality Exhibit. According to Pope, the exhibit is still hosted on the internet and can be seen around town with the app, Hoverlay.
This year’s Legacy Grants have already made a big difference. The excitement was gushing from Wheelock’s 3rd grade teachers about their plans for the Traveling Trunk as a multidiscipline time capsule in their 3rd grade curriculum.
And the energy for the Dwight Derby House has been transformed. Their East Parlor Project will honor Mary Derby, a single mother who ran a bonnet manufacturing business from her home while raising a son destined for greatness.
To paraphrase Rob Babson of the Peak House Heritage Center, he said, “Thanks to the grants from the MFi Legacy Fund, impressive talent has been brought to Medfield and ‘cross pollinated,’ amplifying and raising the quality of our offerings and excitement for our town.”
Stay tuned for news on Legacy Fund’s next “Call for Grant Applications.” To learn more, visit MedfieldFoundation.org.
The MFi’s key fundraiser, the Angel Run 5K / Run / Walk is happening this Sunday, December 8th at 11:30am at the Medfield High School. Come celebrate the season and support a great cause!
The Medfield Foundation is a volunteer run 501-(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation whose mission is to build community by supporting nonprofit initiatives, raising funds for those in need and distributing grants that positively impact Medfield.
The MFi Legacy Fund is a professionally managed, community-supported Endowment Fund empowering residents to make permanent gifts to improve the community and town of Medfield. Through a competitive “Pitch It” process, Medfield based non-profit initiatives or town agencies can apply for grants to benefit the town. To date, almost $100,000 in grants have been given away. Planned gifts to the MFi Legacy Fund are encouraged and will keep the granting going strong.
Posted onNovember 13, 2024|Comments Off on APA awards Medfield its “2024 Community of the Year Award” for our MSH project
November 13, 2024 Sarah Raposa, AICP Planning Director – Town of Mansfield, MA Re: 2024 APA-MA Awards Dear Sarah, Congratulations! The American Planning Association – Massachusetts Chapter (APA-MA) Awards Committee has selected the Town of Medfield to receive the 2024 Community of the Year Award. Thank you for your efforts on this most worthwhile submittal! This award will be formally presented at the APA-MA Annual Awards & Holiday Luncheon on Friday December 13, 2024, from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm at the Publick House, Sturbridge. As part of this award designation, the APA-MA Chapter is providing two complimentary admissions to the award luncheon. Please register individually (use the Awardee/Guest category) by December 4th as this event is always at capacity. Again, congratulations and I look forward to seeing you on December 13th. Sincerely, Alison LeFlore Alison LeFlore, AICP APA-MA President cc: 2024 APA-MA Awards Committee
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This was the Town of Medfield submittal:
Medfield State Hospital (MSH): A Decade of Acquisition, Planning, Disposition, and Redevelopment
● Summary of the project’s or planner’s qualification (one-page maximum). The Town of Medfield has exhibited relentless and exemplary community planning techniques since acquiring the former Medfield State Hospital property from the Commonwealth in 2014, which closed the facility in 2003. With the purchase of MSH, the Town accepted the challenge of re-purposing this scenic, historic National Register-listed former state hospital grounds overlooking the Charles River.
The Town spent four years working on the reuse master plan; an arduous endeavor which is truly paying off! The MSH Strategic Reuse Master Plan was recognized by MA APA (in 2018) and APA STAR (in 2019) because it represented the consensus vision for future land use at the state hospital with an active community core, including the campus chapel and nearby buildings to be converted into an arts and culture center with multi-family residential, senior housing, and commercial uses. The plan calls for preserving public access and open space, preservation of as many of the historic buildings as is feasible, programming and uses that will draw town residents to the site, and limited development of new structures so as not to impact the overall character of the site and the town.
Medfield’s dedication to the implementation of the Plan has been demonstrated in the following ways: passage of the enabling zoning bylaws in 2019, an informal request for information process informing the future town solicitation which received two responses; one highlighting the value of good planning while not offering much money and one offering a lot of money for the demolition of the historic buildings. In deliberating the preferred response and ultimately overwhelmingly supporting the master plan-focused response, community leaders and voters signified a dedication to the values they spent years articulating.
The Town and Trinity Financial continue to work as partners through the two-phased permitting process as having certain approvals assisted the developer in securing financing and other funding to move towards the actual purchase of the property and construction (anticipated to begin in 2025).
● Explanation demonstrating how the project or planner meets the awards criteria as detailed above (three-page maximum). The overall goal is to develop a comprehensive and coordinated vision for the sustainable redevelopment and reuse of the Medfield State Hospital. The Strategic Reuse Master Plan for Medfield State Hospital was developed to synthesize Medfield’s aspirations and to create a framework to guide future development. The Town sought to optimize three key priorities:
Maintain and enhance the character and values of the Town of Medfield and its residents, including the site’s scenic and natural features, spaces for passive and active recreation, and the site’s cultural, historic, agricultural and architectural significance.
Address Town housing needs, which may include smaller-footprint housing that is affordable for Medfield residents who are downsizing and would like to stay in Medfield, or any housing that brings more diversity into Medfield’s housing stock, in alignment with the Town’s Housing Production Plan.
Achieve reasonable economic and financial impacts on Medfield residents and Town services, assuring that the master plan is in the Town’s economic best interests.
Once completed and generally accepted, the Town pivoted from a planning committee to the MSH Development Committee (MSHDC or DC) with the sole purpose of disposing of the MSH property. The Committee worked with the former MHSMPC, Select Board, and Planning Board to pass the enabling zoning at a special town meeting in the fall of 2019. Simultaneously, the DC drafted a request for information and worked with the five respondents on evaluating the property for a formal RFP process which informed STM voters on the likelihood of a future viable project. The Town of Medfield released a Request for Proposals for the Medfield State Hospital on April 5, 2021. The Request for Proposals was developed by the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee prior to submission to the Medfield Board of Selectmen. The Town received two proposals, which represented bookends of potential development scenarios. One consisted of demolition and construction of new apartment buildings and the other proposed historic preservation and adherence to the objectives outlined in the master plan. Interviews with both developers were recorded and broadcast via YouTube. The two proposals were evaluated by the Medfield State Hospital Development Committee. On November 2, 2021, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to designate the proposal submitted by Trinity Financial of Boston, MA as the most advantageous proposal. The Board of Selectmen further authorized the MSHDC to negotiate a provisional development agreement with Trinity Financial for its review. On March 22, 20222, the Board of Selectmen voted to name an affiliate of Trinity Financial as the designated developer of the Medfield State Hospital and enter into a Provisional Designation Agreement with Trinity. This designation, which was provisional, kicked off a period of additional due diligence for both parties ahead of a Special Town Meeting in June 2022, when voters considered whether to approve a proposed sale of portions of the hospital campus. During this period of due diligence, Trinity had access to the Medfield State Hospital buildings and grounds for continued evaluation of existing conditions, to conduct environmental assessments and other studies, and to further develop its proposal for the campus. Simultaneously, the MSHDC initiated its next phase of evaluation of the proposal, including an updated analysis of impacts and benefits to the Medfield community. Trinity’s proposal is intended to fund all of the project’s infrastructure costs as part of the construction and according to Trinity’s projections is expected to generate over $700,000 per year in net tax revenues to the Town once it is complete. The special town meeting (STM) on June 21, 2022 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. The Board of Selectmen and Trinity signed the LDA after the meeting and Trinity began preparing for its permitting process.
● Representation: ✔ Puts MSH on the tax rolls for the first time o Trinity estimate is ~$700,000 annually (net) o Town will recover more than the $4.5 million spent to date o No cash outlay by the Town/taxpayers ✔ Resolves environmental and physical condition of buildings at no cost to Town – and removes liability ✔ Adds housing consistent with Town objectives o Puts Town over 40B threshold for foreseeable future ✔ Leaves open space open and in Town control ✔ Complementary with proposed Cultural Arts Center o Contributions toward construction and programming o Lend development expertise ✔ Generally consistent with 2018 Master Plan o Specifically attempting to meet Town’s stated goals ✔ Intended to comply with zoning adopted by Special Town Meeting in 2019 by more than 2/3 vote. o Campus setting o Historic preservation; building design and massing o Infrastructure o Landscaping and improved streetscape
● How has the nominee promoted the cause and advanced the merits of planning? Nothing exemplifies the merits of planning more than a near-unanimous approval of approximately 700 voters at an open town meeting. Back in 2014, as Medfield’s residents contemplated the question of whether they wanted to acquire the Medfield State Hospital property from the state, the rallying cry in favor of the town buying the property was that the purchase would allow the town to “control its own destiny.”
As evidenced by the MSH Master Planning Committee spending four years soliciting opinions, ideas, and feedback from town residents on what they would like to see the town do with the state hospital property; the results of that comprehensive effort were documented in the award-winning Medfield State Hospital Strategic Reuse Master Plan. At the 2019 Special Town Meeting, the town confirmed its support for the master plan by voting to adopt special zoning requirements to ensure that redevelopment would be consistent with the intentions of the master plan. The town established the MSH Development Committee to move forward with the process of redevelopment per the approved zoning requirements. The committee spent its first year vetting the hospital master plan and zoning requirements with the real estate development community to confirm that they reflected what Medfield’s residents wanted and presented an economically viable opportunity for real estate developers. The result of that investigation confirmed that there was an economically viable opportunity from the development community’s perspective.
With that affirmation in hand. The Development Committee spent two years (with welcome financial help and general advice from the state through Mass Development) putting together a responsibly structured, disciplined, and open process for identifying potential qualified developers; soliciting and evaluating developer proposals; and negotiating a contract with the selected developer, Trinity Acquisitions LLC, to carry out a redevelopment project on the property. Throughout this process, Medfield’s residents have had continuing opportunities to review progress and provide feedback. While it is impossible to give everybody everything they want, town residents recognize the efforts the MSH Development Committee, along with the MSH Master Planning Committee that preceded it, have made to satisfy as many people in town as possible during this process. These committees have done their best to enable the town of Medfield to “control its own destiny.”
Medfield State Hospital has been an integral factor defining the identity and character of Medfield since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Medfield’s caring town culture largely resulted from the town’s awareness of, and involvement with, the residents of the state hospital over the years it was operating. But that alone doesn’t account for the full significance of the state hospital to the town. Medfield’s agricultural roots can be found at the state hospital, along with its connections to the arts. The redevelopment of the hospital campus, proposed by Trinity, offers the opportunity to maintain connections with all of that by updating those purposes to reflect the needs and uses of Medfield today. Trinity’s proposed project enables us to repurpose the historic resource for new uses that link to past uses. The destiny chosen for Medfield reflects the preferences expressed over the several years since acquiring the hospital property from the state.
● Document support of the project, plan or planner through materials related to public outreach or letter(s) of recommendation. The public participation and engagement undertaken in the development of the MSH Strategic Reuse Master Plan involved all members of the Medfield community – town government activists, high school students, fiscal hawks, preservationists, cultural advocates, recreation and sports advocates, senior citizens, new residents and old-timers, and residents from all geographic areas of Medfield. The public participation in the MSH Strategic Reuse Master Plan was significantly more robust than most state hospital reuse initiatives.
Thousands of people were involved, using a wide range of engagement formats, from social media, its website, surveys, walking tours, meetings, community workshops, open houses, and participation in the annual Medfield Day events. During the three-and-a-half-year planning period, the MSHMPC hosted an informational website (www.mshvision.net, subsequently migrated to the Town’s website), the primary information portal for all things Medfield State Hospital.
The MSHDC implemented the following suite of public engagement techniques in during the solicitation and disposition process: dedicated webpage containing information on and links to the 6 public forums with presentations; due diligence and peer reviews covering: fiscal impact analysis, Traffic Report, Market Study, Utilities & Infrastructure, Environmental Assessment, Hazardous Materials Report, Regulatory Compliance, and Peregrine Group’s review of financial documentation related to Trinity Financial; 11 MSH Redevelopment Newsletters focusing on The Disposition Process, Selling & Keeping, Historic Preservation, Trinity’s Proposal, MSH Q&A, Due Diligence Reports, Save the Date & More Q&A, Trinity Due Diligence Q&A, Water & Sewer, Traffic, Schools, and Fiscal Impact, A Letter from the Chair of our Board of Selectmen; Planning Board approval process phase I for site plan approval and inclusionary zoning special permit (2023), Planning Board approval process phase II for stormwater permitting, submittal of final site plan documents (landscaping, lighting, master signage, etc), and subdivision of land (anticipated 2024-2025)
● 1-3 photos (.jpg format) representative of the project or plan, with an individual file size of no more than 1 Megabytes.
Posted onOctober 28, 2024|Comments Off on Senator Markey on his endorsement of Josh Tarsky for State Rep.
L-R: Sen. Edward Markey, Josh Tarsky, and Medfield residents Susan Bernstein, Sioban Donovan, Nino LaFrancesca, Joanne LaFrancesca, and Osler Peterson.
Senator Edward Markey Headlined an Event for Josh Tarsky
Yesterday Senator Markey addressed those supporting Democrat Josh Tarsky to replace Denise Garlick as our state representative.
MAJOR POINTS:
Josh will be a FULL TIME state rep. – his opponent would continue his current RE job and work only part-time at the legislature.
Josh is a DEMOCRAT – former long time state rep. Lida Harkins noted that “unenrolled” reps just cannot get as much done.
Josh has the BACKGROUND to best get things done – Army Special Forces veteran, public school principal, attorney, educated at Harvard & Yale.
Sen. Markey said that Massachusetts needs Josh working for us in the legislature.
Josh is endorsed also by the Governor, the Lt. Governor, two U.S. Representatives, and both U.S. Senators.
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From Patti Allen of the Medfield Music Association –
Event: Learn to Swing Dance!
Where: Dale Street Gymnasium
When: Friday, October 18th, 7:00 PM – 9:30PM
Why: Listen to great swing music from the Medfield High School Jazz Band, learn a few new moves, and help provide financial assistance for the upcoming MHS Music dept. Disney World trip!
On Friday, October 18th from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM there will be a “Learn to Swing Dance Night” for adults and students in the Dale Street Gym!!
For one night only…the Dale Street Gymnasium will be transformed and the award-winning Medfield High School Jazz Band will be performing LIVE as your “house band.” It’s sure to be a fun-filled and entertaining evening so spread the word to friends and family! All are welcome (you do not need to be a Medfield resident to attend).
Posted onDecember 17, 2023|Comments Off on I Am Running for Re-election
Re-Pete
I am delighted to share that I am running for re-election to the Select Board in the town election. I continue to feel that what I do helps the town, and I continue to enjoy my work as a Select Board member for the town.
The following is about this town election from the Town Clerk:
The Annual Town Election will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024
Polls will be located at the CENTER at Medfield, 1 Icehouse Road and will be open from 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The last day to register to vote to participate in the Annual Town Election is Friday, March 15th 2024 at 5:00 PM.
The Annual Town Election will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024.
The following positions are open for nomination:
One Selectman for a term of three years
One Town Clerk for a term of three years
One Moderator for a term of one year
One Assessor for a term of three years
One School Committee members for a term of three years
One School Committee member for a term of two years
Two Library Trustees for a term of three years
One Planning Board member for a term of five years
One Park Commissioners for a term of three years
One Housing Authority member for a term of five years
One Trust Fund Commissioner for a term of three years
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.
On Friday, October 18th from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM there will be a “Learn to Swing Dance Night” for adults and students in the Dale Street Gym!!
Buy tickets here: 
$20 for adults
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