Medfield News

Announcement from Chris McCue -

Blog: GoodWorksMedfield  (http://goodworksmedfield.blogspot.com)
1st Post: A home for Medfield nonprofit news

Link: http://goodworksmedfield.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-home-for-medfield-nonprofit-news.html

So here’s what it’s about:  a blog specifically for helping our Medfield non-profit and grassroots groups get the word out about all of their “Good Works”. Our community newspapers & Patch do a super job, but I thought having one online location for just local, non-profit news & events would be very helpful and supplement efforts by our well-established media outlets.

I’d love it if you could help me spread the word around town about the blog – especially among our various community groups. In the next day or two, I’ll be compiling an e-mail list of my own local contacts, but given your positions in town, and/or relationships to many of our beloved Medfield nonprofits, I thought I’d start with you first.

All feedback & suggestions on the blog are welcome too!  I do plan on setting up a Gmail account specifically for the blog so that people can send me info. That’s next on my list.

Thanks,

Chris

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Medfield Energy Committee

April 23, 2013

AGENDA

7:30 pm in Town Hall, Chenery Room

I.  Accept minutes of last meeting – March 26, 2013

II. Update on MEC/Medfield Green Energy Series 2013

            Last talk was on 4/7 –EMFs and Human Health

III. Other Events

            Participation in Medfield Green Day at Town Center/Library – 5/4

            Town Meeting –  4/29

IV. PV Feasibility at WWTP site

            Any follow-up done after 2/25-site visit and presentations

V.  Progress on updating Town Energy Use and Reductions since 2008. 

            See MEC letter in annual town reports, updated school numbers, GCA documents

VI. Other Business

            Potential Future Activities –

                        GCA designation for 2014

                        Provide support to Capital Planning & Building Committee activities –                                              DPW garage; Police/Fire Station; Hospital Hill site

                        RFP for Solar PPA’s on muni sites

                        Other

VII. Set Date and Agenda for next meeting

Energy
Committee
Meeting
Minutes
March
26,
2013,
7:30
P.M.
Town
Hall
Present:
Marie
Nolan,
Emre
Schveighoffer,
Cynthia
Greene,
Charles
Kellner,
Osler
Peterson,
and
Michael
Sullivan.
Also
present
was
Adam
Graber,
Jeff
Hyman
and
Ryan
McLaughlin.
Chairman
Nolan
called
the
meeting
to
order
at
7:30
P.M.
Greene
moved
to
accept
the
minutes
of
the
February
4,
2013
meeting,
as
amended.
Kellner
seconded
her
motion
and
the
minutes
were
approved,
unanimously.
Committee
members
discussed
the
March
13th
presentation
by
Dan
Ruben
entitled
“Keep
Your
Lifestyle,
Change
Your
Footprint”
sponsored
jointly
by
Medfield
Green
and
the
Medfield
Energy
Committee.
It
was
agreed
that
there
were
many
useful
ideas
in
the
presentation,
although
some
of
the
suggestions,
such
as
lowering
the
temperature
in
the
home
to
58
degrees,
would
be
difficult
to
do.
The
next
presentation
will
be
on
April
7,
2013
at
the
Harmony
Center
and
will
be
entitled
“EMFs
and
Human
Health”.
Nolan
also
advised
that
Medfield.TV
would
be
holding
it’s
annual
“Volunteer
Appreciation
Day
and
Annual
Meeting
at
7:00
p.m.
on
March
27th
at
the
High
School.
The
library
is
sponsoring
an
event
at
the
Gazebo
on
May
4,
9:00
a.m.
–
4
p.m.,
to
inform
residents
about
sustainable
activities
and
services
available
in
Medfield.
Graber
and
Hyman
will
try
to
attend
to
answer
questions
and
inform
residents
about
the
work
of
the
Medfield
Energy
Committee.
Nolan
has
submitted
the
Committee
report
for
inclusion
in
the
Town’s
annual
report.
She
noted
that
she
was
not
able
to
find
a
contact
at
Columbia
Gas
of
Massachusetts
to
find
out
what
the
natural
gas
consumption
was
in
Medfield.
Nolan
led
a
discussion
of
the
well-­‐attended
and
very
informative
program
presented
Saturday
morning,
March
23,
2013
by
Bob
McDonald
at
the
wastewater
treatments
plant.
McDonald
had
arranged
for
three
speakers
to
make
presentations
on
photovoltaic
solar
facilities
and
also
gave
a
tour
of
the
plant
at
the
conclusion
of
the
presentations.
Nolan
had
prepared
notes
on
the
presentation
and
distributed
them
to
MEC
members
earlier.
Presenters
included:
1)
Andy
Bakanowski-­‐Mass
Dept.
of
Resource
Management
(discussed
project
management,
i.e.
installation
and
care
of
units
once
on
line),
2)
Rich
McCarthy-­‐
Innovations
Solutions
Engineering
(discussed
third
party
funding
vs.
town
financing,
what
size
solar
farm
we
could
install
on
WWTP
property)
and
3)
Patricia
Arp-­‐Mass
DEP,
SRF
program
(discussed
state
revolving
funds
for
solar
projects,
RFP
grants
and
project
management).
Various
solar
ownership
and
financing
options
are
available
for
the
town,
including
1)
owning
the
facility
outright,
2)
leasing
land
and/or
3)
rooftop
space
to
developers
who
would
pay
for
the
installation
and
sell
the
energy
generated
to
the
Town,
which
in
turn
would
sell
it
to
the
utility
and
get
a
credit
on
its
energy
bill(s).
And
lastly,
the
Town
could
also
contract
with
a
private
facility
for
purchase
of
electricity,
which
is
generated
at
a
facility
on
privately
owned
land,
which
could
be
located
anywhere
in
the
utility’s
distribution
region.
One
presenter
shared
some
considerations
that
would
have
to
be
assessed
before
selling
solar
generated
power
in
MA.
It
is
considerably
more
complicated
to
sell
electricity
offsite,
instead
of
using
it
onsite.
State
utilities
do
not
appear
to
be
anxious
to
purchase
power
from
small
solar
photovoltaic
facilities
and
can
impose
large
connection
charges.
Before
starting,
a
study
has
to
be
done,
paid
for
by
the
facility
owner
and
the
cost
of
this
study
could
run
from
a
few
thousand
dollars
up
to
many
tens
of
thousands
of
dollars.
Also
the
utilities
could
specify
the
route
the
sold
power
would
take
to
be
fed
into
the
grid
and
the
utilities
sometimes
use
this
as
a
way
to
get
the
generator
to
pay
for
maintenance
upgrades
on
their
distribution
systems.
The
feasibility
of
small-­‐scale
hydro
was
discussed
at
the
WWTP
presentation
as
several
other
MA
communities
have
looked
into
this
as
well
as
the
MWRA.
MEC
will
continue
to
research
whether
this
is
possible
at
the
town’s
WWTP.
There
is
concern
that
the
drop
will
not
be
high
enough
to
produce
enough
power
to
make
such
a
project
economically
feasible.
Schveighoffer
wondered
whether
it
made
sense
to
concentrate
on
the
low-­‐hanging
fruit;
undertaking
small
energy
conservation
projects
that
reduced
our
energy
consumption
rather
than
trying
to
build
generating
capacity.
Nolan
said
that
that
was
what
the
town
has
been
doing
and
as
a
result,
the
town
had
reduced
its
consumption
by
30%
or
so
since
the
MEC
was
formed
in
2008
and
numbers
have
been
tracked.
She
thought
now
would
be
a
good
time
for
the
Town
to
build
some
type
of
energy
generator,
whether
that
is
solar
or
hydro
or
some
other
technology,
given
installation
prices
have
dropped
and
state
incentives
still
exist.
Schveighoffer
asked
if
the
Town
could
provide
information
on
pumping
rates
for
water
and
sewer
facilities,
monthly
energy
consumption
rates
for
buildings,
and
other
information
that
could
be
used
with
the
billing
information
collected
on
NSTAR.
This
information
could
then
be
used
to
evaluate
how
further
energy
reductions
could
best
be
accomplished.
Kellner
said
that
he
could
provide
such
information
on
school
buildings,
as
he
had
been
keeping
track
of
it
for
several
years.
He
will
get
that
information
to
Sullivan
for
circulation
to
the
rest
of
the
Committee.
Graber
and
McLaughlin
volunteered
to
prepare
charts
and/or
graphs,
based
on
the
information
collected,
showing
what
has
happened
to
the
Town’s
energy
usage.
This
information
by
building/use
was
collected
by
the
MEC
a
few
years
ago
but
should
be
updated
to
the
current
year.
An
energy
baseline
inventory
of
municipal
buildings,
vehicles,
street
and
traffic
lights,
with
a
DRAFT
energy
reduction
plan
(20%
over
5
years)
was
collected
and
prepared
previously
by
MEC,
as
it
is
a
criteria
to
be
a
MA
Green
Community.
Nolan
informed
the
Committee
that
Paul
Hurd,
the
Executive
Director
of
the
Housing
Authority
had
resigned
to
accept
a
full-­‐time
position
with
the
Winchester
Housing
Authority.
She
wondered
what
would
happen
with
the
efforts
of
the
Housing
Authority
to
reduce
its
energy
consumption.
Sullivan
will
contact
Housing
Authority
Chairman
Roberta
Lynch
to
get
an
update
on
the
Housing
Authority’s
plans
on
hiring
a
replacement
and
on
proceeding
with
its
energy
conservation
initiatives.
Graber
passed
around
a
paper
from
the
Rocky
Mountain
Research
Institute
on
energy
reduction
strategies
for
members
to
take
a
look
at.
Greene
mentioned
that
the
Institute
makes
its
research
papers
available
on-­‐line
free
of
charge.
The
Committee
discussed
what
the
goals
of
the
committee
should
be
going
forward
and
will
continue
that
discussion
at
the
next
meeting.
The
next
meeting
was
scheduled
for
April
23rd
at
7:30
p.m.
The
Committee
will
ask
the
Selectmen
to
appoint
Graber
and
McLaughlin
to
the
Committee.
Hyman
would
like
more
time
to
consider
whether
he
wished
to
be
appointed.
On
a
motion
by
Kellner,
seconded
by
Schveighoffer,
the
Committee
voted,
unanimously
to
adjourn
the
meeting
at
9:00
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Michael
J.
Sullivan

Our news partner Channel 5 is reporting that a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing has been killed and police are searching for the second following a wild gunfight in Watertown early this morning.

From Friends of the Dwight-Derby House, Inc. -

Dwight-Derby House Kicks off First Thursdays
Kitchen Concert Series

Medfield, MA–On Thursday, May 2, from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House will be kicking off the summer season with the first of its Kitchen Concert Series featuring Shane Wood and Neil Kruszkowski of the Shane Wood Jazz Trio.

The events, held at the Dwight-Derby House at 7 Frairy Street in Medfield, will be part of “First Thursdays” and will help to raise funds for the next phase of restoration of the house: installation of a working kitchen.

Tickets for this fun and intimate gathering are $25 per person and will be sold at the door. Ticket price includes everything but the kitchen sink: beer and wine tasting provided by Larkin’s Liquors, delicious finger food furnished by The Jeep Grill and superb piano, sax and vocals by the dynamic and talented duo, Shane and Neil, who have been playing jazz gigs for over 20 years.

Join us for good food, good music and a good time.

The Dwight-Derby House will also be open for tours from 4 pm to 7 pm that same day. Come experience colonial history in the heart of Medfield. The house, a National Register of Historic Places property, is a fine example of a mid-century 1700s home resting in a setting that has not been altered much by the ravages of time.

Or simply stop in to pick up unique gifts for the special moms in your life. We carry the best in local and natural products!  Our gifts will help make mom’s day memorable. The gift shoppe will be open from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The Friends of the Dwight-Derby House is a citizen’s group established to support the active use, restoration, maintenance and preservation of this historic property.  Today, it continues to raise funds through grants, individual and corporate donations, and sale of memorabilia. The donation of time, talent and effort by many local volunteers has also contributed to its restoration.

PROJECT TITLE: MEDFIELD DPW GARAGE
MEDFIELD POLICE/FIRE & MASTERPLAN
PERMANENT BUILDING COMMITTEE MEETING
Meeting Date: April 18th, 2013
7:30am
Medfield Town Hall, 2nd floor
NEW MEDFIELD DPW GARAGE
1. ZBA update
2. DPW Procurement and Schedule
3. Rebates
4. Project Budget update
5. Open Day/Informational Session
6. Other DPW Business
MEDFIELD POLICE/FIRE & MASTERPLAN
1. Program
2. Design Review
Police/Fire
Dale St North St Masterplan
3. Other Police/Fire Business
GENERAL BUSINESS
1. Approve previous minutes
2. Review bills
3. Next Meeting

WALTHAM – The Celtics may be sitting 12 games behind the Knicks with two games left in the regular season, and may have lost the season series to New York. But don’t try to convince the team that has played in three NBA Finals in the past six seasons that it is embarking on any type of monumental-upset campaign when it opens up playoff action at Madison Square Garden next Saturday against a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff series in 13 years.

Discussions topics sent by the Board of Selectmen to the state representatives in advance of our meeting with them this next Tuesday -

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AT MEDFIELD SELECTMEN’S MEETING

State budget and local aid:

Early release of state aid so that town officials will know how much state aid they have to work with well in advance of town meeting and can better plan budget allocations.

Should state aid be tied to certain percentages of taxes, such as sales and income taxes, as suggested by Mass Municipal Assoc., so that revenue from state will grow with state revenue base.

Any predictions on state cherry sheet aid for fy14?

Will state cover cost of primary and final election for Senate race to replace Senator Kerry?

Medfield State Hospital site:

                Environmental clean-up cost and implementation of DCAM mediation recommendations

Site disposition

Role of Medfield in process;

Will Medfield be allowed to purchase site and determine future use?

Will Medfield be given approval of the proposed use if the site is to be sold to a private developer?

Who will bear the cost of the building environmental clean-up costs (lead paint, asbestos, bird guano, building demolition, hazardous waste removal, etc)?

Can we get a determination from Mass Historic Commission as to which buildings can be taken down and which must be saved in light of the obvious, long-standing neglect?

What will be the disposition of the historic Harding/Bishop homestead at the entrance to the former hospital site?

Should the state pay for the rehabilitation of the two WWI Honor Squares at the hospital site?

How can the help with the urgent need for replacement of the state hospital water tower?

What will be the future of the former state hospital well? Can land be transferred to Medfield.

Will the proposed  recreational use of the sledding hill site become a reality?

Is new legislation required to amend or replace the existing legislation governing the disposition of the former state hospital site?

Public Health Issues

What can be done to control the spread of Lyme’s disease and how can the state assist Medfield and other towns with its efforts to conttro the deer population?  Loosen up bow hunting regulations, allow bow hunting within 150 feet of a residence and permit bow hunting at former state hospital site?

How can the state assist Medfield with its efforts to control the exploding beaver population, which is creating flooding and septic system problems and destroying trees?  Longer hunting and trapping season; more flexibility in methods of trapping?

Regulatory Problems

What is the status of the double utility pole legislation?    Should the Dept of Energy develop a separate street lighting rate for LED lighting fixtures?  Why should town pay for street lights when lights are out of service?

Are the cities and towns being over regulated?

Elevator inspection fees increased from $100/year to $400/year.

New annual boiler inspection fee of $50/boiler (State doesn’t inspect)

Yearly fee for water use (about $4,000)

Water withdrawal permits with numerous regulations

Inspection of DPW, and Park & Recreation facilities for environmental compliance

Seismic code requirement for public buildings

Dept of Education audits, MCAS testing, bullying & harassment regulations, teacher evaluation regulations

Ice cream truck investigations

Jail cell inspections

Agent for federal regulatory requirements, storm water management, clean water act

Annual property revaluation with excessive paperwork requirements and changing standards.

Pension and Retiree Health Insurance

                Unfunded liabilities for both

Lack of uniformity in payment, benefit and age requirements; smacks of favoritism.

How can the state work to avoid municipal and authority bankruptcies (technically receiverships, as municipal bankruptcy is not permitted).

Excessive early retirements increasing unfunded liabilities; tie retirement age to social security retirement age for all public employees.

Taxation and Spending Policies

What is the likelihood of passage of the governor’s $1.9 billion tax and spending plan? Is it an attempt to create a graduated tax system by reducing the sales tax and increasing the income tax? User fees cover less than a third of the costs of the MBTA, yet those who don’t have T service available are asked to share an ever increasing share of the T’s costs.

Why are education costs increasing so much when school enrollments statewide are falling and have been falling for some years.

Is anything being done to control Special Education costs, particularly the costs of out-of district placements?

A recent publication of state pensions indicated that the highest pensions are being paid to higher education system retirees. Higher education costs are escalating, putting post-high school education out of the reach of many individuals. Should something be done to control pension costs and/or pension benefits in the higher education system. Perhaps a cap on pensions or a cap on the tax exempt portion of pensions should be considered.

This from the Building Committee -

The Town of Medfield Permanent Building Committee (MPBC)  invites you to attend a Public Hearing regarding the  proposed Public Works Facility for use by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The intent of this meeting is to furnish residents with information that will be helpful when this matter comes to a vote during the April 29th Town Meeting and at the  April 30th debt exclusion vote. It is also  an opportunity to have your concerns heard and your questions answered.

The Public Works Facility  was  approved at the 2011  Town Meeting and  failed at the debt exclusion vote. Addressing the town’s concerns about the cost of the facility – the PBC  has  reduced the scope by; deleting  two  bays, reducing  the office space by 20%, and decreasing  the size of the heating system and generator. The current DPW facility was built 40 years  ago in 1973.  Since then the town population has increased 39%, the total number of roads has increased 33%, the number of households has increased 66%, the size of our sewer system has increased 1020%  and our water system 113%,  and the number of DPW workers has increased from 9 to 19.

The new DPW facility will increase the life and reduce the fuel consumption of the towns DPW equipment, meet current environmental  regulations, protect the health and safety of the DPW workers and protect our  aquifer of which we all depend on for our drinking water.

We strongly encourage you to come to this meeting and learn more about the plans for this important asset to our town on:

The PBC also maintains a website  http://www.medfieldpbc.org  where additional information can be found or you can email  any questions you might have to  info@medfieldpbc.org

Meeting date

Saturday April 13, 2013 at 10:00am at the DPW

55 North Meadows Road (RT 27)

Please send this email around

Thanks.

Thomas D. Erb

Electric Time Company, Inc.

Tuessday April 16, 2013 @ 7:00 PM
AGENDA (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Executive Session to discuss Medfield State Hospital Mediation

7 :20 PM Senator Timilty, Representative Garlick, Representative Winslow
Discuss financial, Medfield State Hospital and other matters

8:00 PM Russ Hallisey, MEMO
Discuss Summer Concert series, Medfield Day

ACTION
Town Administrator Sullivan recommends the Selectmen vote the proposed Active Employee HMO and PPO plan 1.72% increase
Resignation letter received from Karl Lord, Medfield’s Representative to the Iri-County Teclmical School.  Mr. Lord has served for approximately 20 years

PENDING
Vote tree City guidelines
Assignment of warrant article

Our family’s favorite breakfast place in Medfield, From Scratch,  has started doing dinners.  It is now open until 8 PM on Wednesdays to Saturdays.  Kristen and Deb just gave me the news that the food is great – the Chicken Alfredo reportedly allowed one to taste each of its elements, and was completely finished.  It is great to have a new family dinner option in town.

WALTHAM – Kevin Garnett appeared refreshed and eager to get back out on the court with his teammates for the first time in more two weeks before Saturday morning’s workout at the Celtics training facility. While he wouldn’t commit to playing Sunday night vs. Washington, Garnett said the time off has helped alleviate his foot/ankle pain, as well as “heal up other things that’s been nagging.”

BOSTON – When Kevin Garnett was prescribed two weeks rest to get the inflammation in his left ankle under control for the playoffs, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the silver lining in the situation was that the team may just find something in one of his replacements that will also help it in the postseason. It looks like the Celtics may have just found something in journeyman forward Shavlik Randolph.