Trouble at the Transfer Station

Town officials say the down economy, and high price of metal, has led to pickers raiding the metal pile at the transfer station.

Town officials say people are stealing discarded items from the metal pile at the transfer station. “We are having some trouble with the metal pile because people are going down there and stealing it because they can get a good rate,” Town Administrator Michael Sullivan told the Board of Selectmen at their last meeting. “Yes, people are picking,” said Ken Feeney, Superintendent of Medfield’s Department of Public Works.   “The metal has been a problem and my guys are doing a pretty good job and staying on top of it.  The area is so clean because that’s what they do:  When someone puts something in there, they go back and grab it and put it in the dumpster so people can’t pick it.”   Feeney said they have talked to people who are picking “…

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Feeney: Town Garage is ‘Falling Apart,’ Needs to be Addressed

The Medfield Building Committee and DPW Superintendent Ken Feeney are targeting the fall for a special town meeting to present a modified version of the town garage that they hope is more appealing to voters.

In dire need of replacement, Medfield’s Department of Public Works town garage is literally falling apart, according to DPW superintendent Ken Feeney. “One door just fell off … the back door,” Feeney said. “Insurance company told us that we should be replacing the two doors in the mechanics bay.” Feeney spoke to 484 voters at last spring’s Annual Town Meeting about the current condition of the 38-year-old building, pointing to its poor physical condition as a driving force for replacement. Feeney told Medfield Patch contributor Theresa Knapp prior to last spring’s town meeting the building was “literally rotting away” and is no longer “a very efficient building at all.”               Feeney told Knapp at the time the roof of the building …

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Thomas Erb

10:22 am on Monday, February 20, 2012

1.1 Million was voted at the 2007 Town Meeting and subsequently approved at a prop 2-1/2 override vote. The 1.1M includes the cost for the design of a new public works building along with the cost of design and construction of a new salt shed.   more ›

Medfield Town Officials Address Residents' Water Billing Complaints

Medfield town officials discussed the complaints the town has been receiving from residents concerned about their water bills.

Medfield Assistant Town Administrator Kristine Trierweiler said the primary reason residents are experiencing high water bills this year is due to an increased water rate. “We had a large rate increase last year,” Trierweiler said. “People were very upset after the last summer reading and I think you’re still seeing an [affect] of that because they are still feeling that from last year as well as a small rate increase this year.” That small rate increase this year was 55 cents, or a $28.23 base charge water use under 10,000 gallons per month, which was approved by the town’s Water and Sewer Board this past June. Medfield Selectmen chair Osler Peterson and selectman Ann Thompson took time at Tuesday’s board meeting to bring up the issue of …

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Question of the Day

Poll: Worried About Medfield's Drinking Water?

Are you concerned the town’s wells continue to test positive for Coliform bacteria?

Earlier this month, The Medfield Water Department issued another notice for Coliform bacteria in the town’s drinking water. The town’s water system, primarily well six, has been in “noncompliance with the drinking water standards for Total Coliform bacteria” from June through October, according to the notice published on the town’s website. “Similar notices were issued for violations occurring in June, July and August,” the statement said. “Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do and what we are doing to correct this situation.” For a better understanding of what Coliform bacteria in the town’s drinking water means and what individuals should do in regards to the …

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Question of the Day

Poll: Medfield's Town Garage

What needs to be done with the DPW’s current proposal for a new town garage to make it more appealing to voters?

Medfield’s Permanent Building Committee met Wednesday, Oct. 12 in Town Hall to discuss future capital projects and the status of the Department of Public Works Town Garage. It is no secret in town the current Town Garage is falling apart and the building needs to be addressed before it “literally falls down” as DPW superintendent Ken Feeney said during April’s Town Meeting. The proposed project for a new garage was presented to Medfield voters at Town Meeting and passed after discussion and debate around the cost and size of the building. At the town’s special election in May, the debt exclusion override for the garage did not pass and Feeney believes it was because the project was rushed into Town Meeting and voters did not know enough …

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Meeting Notes: Medfield Selectmen Discuss Town’s Drinking Water; Election Schedule and State Hospital

The Medfield Board of Selectmen met Tuesday at Town Hall to discuss the following town business.

Medfield Superintendent of Public Works, Ken Feeney, discussed Medfield’s drinking water with the Board of Selectmen at the request of selectman Ann Thompson to put to rest rumors that had been circulating regarding the town’s drinking water. “We had detections of coliform bacteria in well six [in July] and when that came up we had to inform people,” Feeney said. “Unfortunately, well six supplies most of the water for the town and we think we got some of the coliform bacteria through the system and we had to chase it for awhile.” Feeney said the wells have been completely clean as of two weeks ago and more testing will be performed on the wells Wednesday. Feeney said the town has also been flushing hydrants as part of the process of …

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Feeney: Medfield DPW Prepped for Hurricane Irene

Medfield public safety departments are ready to act in "the event of emergency conditions" as warranted by Hurricane Irene.

The Medfield Department of Public Works, police and fire departments are ready to act in the event of emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Irene, according to a statement on the town website.  DPW Superintendent Ken Feeney said the department is ready and that they've followed typical protocol when preparing for a potential hurricane.  "It’s pretty routine for us, we’ve done this before," Feeney said. "We’ll make sure the chainsaws and everything is tuned up and ready." Feeney said the DPW will check the water wells to make sure generators are working in case power is lost and that propane tanks are full. "[We will do] the same with the sewer stations but they have natural gas so that's a little bit better," Feeney said. If the …

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Medfield Water and Sewer Rates Increase in 2011

2011 Base rate for water use under 10,000 gallons was set at $28.23 and sewer rate is $80.02.

Medfield’s 2011 water rate increased by 55 cents and its sewer rate increased by $1.02 after the town’s Water and Sewer Board approved the figures after a public hearing in June. The 2011 base charge for water use under 10,000 gallons per month is $28.23, up from $27.68 in 2010. Users using less than 35,000 gallons will pay an additional $.249 per 1,000 gallons – up from $2.40 a year ago. Those who use between 35,001 and 70,000 gallons will pay an added $3.96, an increase from $3.81 in 2010 and those using over 70,000 gallons will pay $5.62 per 1,000 gallons in addition to the base rate, which is up from $5.35. Sewer rates have seen an increase as well, according to the Town of Medfield’s website. The base charge for sewer usage has been …

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Summer is a Little Cooler in Medfield Thanks to Medfield Resident

Medfield resident Chip Lennon noticed the water bubbler in front of Town Hall wasn't working and vowed to have it reactivated.

The water bubbler in front of Town Hall is working again in large part due to the tenacity of Medfield resident Chip Lennon. “During my routine walk I noticed the growth of plants and realized [the water bubbler] was no longer in working condition,” said Lennon, 55 who has lived in town since 1968. “I think it's been broken and it wasn't a priority for the DPW … I walked in and asked to have it looked at and within three working days it was fixed and up and running.” Having been in town for more than four decades, Lennon remembers when the bubbler was working.  “It was so nice to get a drink on a hot day or to sit on it and watch as the wedding goers unfolded out of the original St. Edward’s Church,” he said of the church that is no longer…

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DPW: Road Work Around Town to Wrap Up This Week

Medfield Department of Public Works Superintendent Ken Feeney said the majority of the road work around town should conclude by week's end.

Several Medfield roads are currently under construction as the town's Department of Public Works improves drainage systems and a gas company replaces a gas main.  Medfield DPW Superintendent Ken Feeney said the town is improving drainage on Harding and West Streets as well as a section of Frairy Street.  "We are running some drainage down on the intersection of Harding and West Street," Feeney said. "We are just picking up a puddle down there on that corner that really contributes to ruining the road. That gutter along [the side of the road] doesn’t drain out and it gets under and causes some severe cracking along the edge of the road." Feeney said he expected the work on Harding and West Streets to be completed Wednesday and move on to …

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