DCAM letter to Selectmen

Editor's Note: The following appeared in Selectman Osler "Pete" Peterson's blog, Medfield02052, on Sept. 5.

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August 31, 2012

Ann B. Thompson, Chair, Medfield Board of Selectmen
Mark L. Fisher, Member, Medfield Board of Selectmen
Osler L. Peterson, Member Medfield Board of Selectmen
Medfield Town House
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052

Dear Chair Thompson, Selectmen Fisher and Peterson,

I do apologize for the delay in responding to you; however please know that I was delighted to learn from your letter that you have appointed a Committee of local residents to formally join us in our collaborative process of taking a fresh look at the former Medfield State Hospital property. Reuse land planning is a creative dynamic process; we welcome your ideas, those of the new Committee and the Medfield residents at large.

Although I agree that overall the due diligence information you requested in your letter is reasonable and necessary for a potential buyer, the timing of that data gathering is likewise critical. At this time, DCAM continues to work diligently with the Executive Office for Finance and Administration to finalize the Municipal-Commonwealth Sale Partnership Model that would enable the Town of Medfield to purchase the property. We anticipate the final approvals by the end of September at which time we can begin our discussions with you. During these discussions we will be able to respond to your questions regarding the sunk costs and sales terms you referenced in your letter.
(item # 3 and 4)

I believe the outcome of our Sale Partnership Model discussions will, in part, drive the schedule and other decisions necessary to undertake the due diligence work of updating the building surveys you requested (item # I).

With respect to your request for a copy of the Comprehensive Reuse Study referenced in the Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) report ("Medfield State Hospital Market Analysis DRAFT dated April 20, 2012), I want to clearly assure you that DCAM has not undertaken a new reuse study as I believe this is ajoint collaborative project with you. The intent of referencing a reuse study in the JLL report was to indicate that the market analysis is the foundational report for the eventual task of commissioning a market driven comprehensive reuse study. Again, the outcome of our Sales Partnership Model deliberations with you will inform decisions regarding a comprehensive reuse study.

I remain encouraged that through these open lines of communication we will return this property to productive reuse in a manner that is highly satisfactory to the Town of Medfield and the Commonwealth.

As always, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Carole Cornelison
Commissioner