Sen. Timilty Remains ‘Actively Engaged’ in Medfield State Hospital Cleanup

Senator James Timilty said he was satisfied with the Senate adopting Amendment GOV 135 into the proposed state budget last Thursday, calling it the “first step” in the process to get the Medfield State Hospital site cleaned up properly.

Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole) continues to stand by the Medfield community he represents during the town’s quest for complete remediation of the Medfield State Hospital property and complete removal of hazardous waste on the site. Last Thursday, the State Senate debated two amendments, GOV 134 and 135, that Sen. Timilty proposed to be included in the FY13 state budget regarding cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital property. The Senate adopted a revised version of GOV 135, which requires DCAM to report its cleanup plan for the state hospital site to legislature. If adopted into the final budget recommendation, legislature will check DCAM's plan to ensure it is based on a standard of unrestricted use for the hospital property, fully …

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Jeremie Smith

2:55 pm on Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Thanks Pete. Yes, the amendment itself is still in the early process of being included in the final FY13 budget and I agree with both of your points: It would seem legislature would be disappointed if DCAM does not opt for a complete remediation of the site but it also remains possible that legislature will not act against DCAM's plan. Time will tell and we will continue reporting as the process …   more ›

Senator Timilty Takes Medfield State Hospital Issue to Governor

Senator James Timilty, who represents Medfield as part of Norfolk County, recently sent a letter to Governor Deval Patrick outlining his concerns regarding DCAM’s current plan for partial cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital site.

Editor’s note: Senator Timilty’s letter to Governor Deval Patrick was submitted to Medfield Patch by Medfield resident Bill Massaro. A PDF file of the hard copy of the letter can be viewed in the photo gallery below. Senator James Timilty continues to stand in Medfield’s corner regarding the environmental cleanup of the former Medfield State Hospital property and has now involved Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on the matter. Timilty, who represents Medfield as part of Norfolk County, has been outspoken in his objections to the Division of Capital Asset Management’s proposal for only partial cleanup of 75,000 tons of hazardous waste located on the former Medfield State Hospital property. At the town’s March 22 Public Involvement …

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Things You Need to Know About the Cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital

Here’s a closer look at six things you need to know about the environmental cleanup needed at the Medfield State Hospital and what is being proposed by DCAM versus what the town wants.

Nearly everyone in Medfield has heard about the issue the town faces regarding the cleanup needed at the Medfield State Hospital property. For many, it is common knowledge that hazardous materials have been found in a section of the property called the Construction and Demolition (C&D) area and in and alongside the Charles River. The ongoing issue has been the disagreement between the town and the state's Division of Capital Asset Management on the extent of cleanup necessary at the site. The town wants those toxic materials removed to the “maximum extent feasible,” as stated by the Medfield Board of Selectmen in a letter to the state’s Division of Capital Asset Management. Residents have voiced at various public meetings their desire – …

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Letter to the Editor

Letter: Selectman's Behavior 'Casts Doubt' on Ability to Represent Town in Mediation

Medfield resident Jessica Benson writes in to voice her concern over Board of Selectmen chair Ann Thompson's "behavior" at Tuesday's meeting after Thompson repeatedly tried to end public discussion on the Medfield State Hospital and move on in the agenda.

To the editor,   The article, "Mediation of State Hospital Cleanup a Hot Topic at Tuesday's Selectmen Meeting," does not mention that Ann Thompson, after hearing formal reports on the state hospital cleanup, tried to limit the public’s ability to voice concerns about what was presented and ask questions, and only allowed discussion when Pete Peterson stepped in to let people talk and discuss their concerns about the upcoming mediation. When you have leaders in your town that refuse to listen to their constituents' concerns at a public meeting, then I think, with all due respect to Mike Sullivan, it is difficult to have FAITH in their leadership. At one point, Ann questioned my stake in this by asking me how long have I lived in town …

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Mediation of State Hospital Cleanup a Hot Topic at Tuesday’s Selectmen Meeting

A group of 13 residents raised questions and concerns regarding the town’s intent to enter mediation with DCAM over the cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital property at Tuesday’s meeting.

Questions and concerns with the town’s intent to enter mediation with the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) over the cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital property sparked an over hour-long discussion between residents and town officials at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. Medfield’s mediation team, chosen by the Medfield Board of Selectmen to represent the town at the table with DCAM are the following individuals, according to Medfield selectman Osler “Pete” Peterson’s blog: “What we’ve done is we’ve appointed people we believe will represent the town well in this process and that’s what gives me confidence, knowing there are people in the room that are going to equip themselves very appropriately and very well,” Peterson …

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Public Meeting with DCAM Tonight to Discuss Cleanup of Medfield State Hospital Site

Thursday's PIP meeting on the Medfield State Hospital will be held on the second floor of Town Hall, beginning at 7 p.m.

Three weeks after roughly 100 people attended a Public Involvement Plan meeting with the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) to voice their concerns and frustrations with the proposed cleanup of the Medfield State Hospital property, the town and DCAM will meet again tonight to discuss how the state agency plans to clean the site up. "I wanted to thank everyone for coming to the meeting on March 22," said John Thompson, chairman of the town's State Hospital Environmental Review Committee (SHERC). "I thought that was an excellent turnout. I think there was over 100 people here and I thought it was nice to hear people in town voice their opinions about the state hospital." Thursday's public meeting with DCAM will be held in the …

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State Hospital Cleanup: With Remediation on Hold, Medfield Awaits DCAM's Next Move

Medfield officials expect to issue a comment letter to DCAM later this month addressing remediation work in the Charles River and the C&D area of the Medfield State Hospital. The town will await DCAM’s response to those comments and modifications to its c

James O’Brien of the Boston Globe reported on Oct. 30 the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) has put its remediation work along the section of the Charles River that runs near the former Medfield State Hospital property on hold after withdrawing its permit application to the Army Corps of Engineers on Oct. 24. DCAM’s permit application, according to O’Brien’s article, “Medfield: Site Cleanup on Hold,” called for a capping of oil-contaminated soil on the property. O’Brien writes: “The reason, according to the statement, is planners want more time to explore alternative ways to deal with the oil in the riverbed. … Work will not restart until new plans are presented and agreed upon.” State officials, according to the article, are …

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Medfield, DCAM Remain at Odds Over State Hospital Cleanup

State Hospital Environmental Review Committee (SHERC) representative, John Thompson, delivered the committee's report to Selectmen at the Sept. 6 meeting.

“If hazardous waste is dumped over your water supply, is it better to take it out or leave it there ... and monitor it?” That’s the question, posed by SHERC (State Hospital Environmental Review Committee) representative, John Thompson, in a report delivered to the Board of Selectmen, at its Sept. 6 meeting.  The answer to that question finds the state and town of Medfield at odds regarding the clean-up efforts at the site of the former Medfield State Hospital. Both the town and SHERC  favor the removal of the waste, while the state has formulated plans to “cap” the waste material and implement a monitoring system, which is less costly than the removal process.  “Simply saying that it costs too much without a thorough investigation, ” …

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PatchCast: Board Resigns, Site Cleanup, Football and Tax Free Weekend

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