Medfield State Hospital Mediation Committee to Offer Status Update

On Thursday, Nov. 8, representatives from the town's Medfield State Hospital Mediation Committee and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) will provide an update to the town on the status of their efforts and the progress to date of trying to reach agreement on an adequate and appropriate cleanup for the construction and demolition (C&D) area on the state-owned property. 

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in Chenery Hall at the Town House with a question-and-answer session for the public. 

The mediation committee was formed in April to address issues between the town and state regarding remediation of the property. 

The town is concerned about DCAMM's plan for only partial remediation of the 3.2 acres of hazardous fill in the C&D area alongside (and in) the Charles River at the site of the former Medfield State Hospital.  

The mediation committee's position is that additional cleanup alternatives must be considered because of the proximity of this material to the town's current principal water supply, the potential impact on the aquifer the town may need for future water supply, location within the floodplain of the Charles River, and proximity to any future development at the property.

Residents are urged to attend Thursday's meeting to send a message to the state that the issue is important to the town. There will be at least one additional update meeting as mediation continues but that date has not yet been set.