Medfield Sends Support to City of Boston

In a unanimous vote at Monday's annual town meeting, the town of Medfield sent its support to the City of Boston in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

  At Monday's annual town meeting, Selectman Richard DeSorgher asked town meeting to consent to the following Resolution that was then sent to the City of Boston and to Medfield police chief and fire chief.  It was unanimously approved. Here is a copy of the Resolution as read by DeSorgher:   Mr. Moderator, in light of the recent events surrounding the Boston Marathon I offer the following resolution:  Resolved that for the past 362 years the town of Medfield and the City of Boston have had a long and intertwined mutual history.  Resolved that the town of Medfield salutes Boston and in light of the recent horrific, senseless and cowardly acts of terror during the Boston Marathon, in which some 27 Medfield runners participated and hundreds …

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Town Meeting Passes Town Garage, Lord's Sign, and More

Town Meeting was held on Monday night from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Editor's Note: Because the town garage passed at Monday's meeting, a special local election will be held today -- Tuesday, April 30, at The Center at Medfield from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- in conjunction with the special state primary election. This year's Town Meeting started at 7:30 p.m. on Monday night and was preceded with entertainment by the award-winning MHS Jazz Band.  Former Selectman Ann Thompson received a standing ovation for her 40 years of volunteer service to the town, retiring Medfield Superintendent of Schools led the Pledge of Allegiance, and MHS senior Bethany Komine sang the National Anthem.  Selectman Richard DeSorgher read a Resolution that will be sent to the City of Boston to show that Medfield stands in unity with the …

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Do We Really Need a New Town Garage?

Voters will be asked to approve a new town garage at Town Meeting and a special election later this month.

  On April 29, Medfield Town Meeting will be asked to approve a plan for a new Public Works Facility. The following day, the town will be asked to approve an override of approximately $11 million to fund the project. This week -- on Saturday, April 13, from to 10 a.m. to noon -- the Permanent Building Committee will hold another public information session at the current town garage, 55 North Meadows Road, to show the public the extreme conditions of the current building. The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the project as taken from the website of the Permanent Building Committee at www.medfieldpbc.org.  1.  Can’t we just salvage the existing DPW building via additions and repairs? What sort of compromises in …

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Selectmen's Agenda Includes Swearing-In of New Town Officials

New town officials elected last week, including Selectman Richard DeSorgher, will be sworn in at tonight's meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

  The Board of Selectmen will meet tonight, April 2, at 7 p.m. at the Town House. The meeting will begin with Town Clerk Carol Mayer swearing in newly-elected town officials who prevailed at last week's annual town election.  The Board of Selectmen will then re-organize and elect a new chairman. The remainder of the agenda includes: Appointments 7:10 p.m. -- Ron Griffin, Veterans' Service Officer, to discuss 2013 warrant article regarding Veterans Work-Off Program 7:20 p.m. -- Nancy Tella, Medfield Garden Club President, to discuss proposed Garden Club projects 7:30 p.m. -- Parks and Recreation to discuss FY14 budget Action Vote to sign April 30, 2013 Warrant for Special Town Election and Warrant for Special State Primary Invitation to …

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New Town Garage Could Cost $11 Million

The Permanent Building Committee outlined to the Board of Selectmen and the Warrant Committee the latest proposal for a new town garage.

  The Permanent Building Committee made a presentation Tuesday night to the Board of Selectmen and Warrant Committee on the proposed new town garage. The cost of the project, which was proposed two years ago and denied by voters, is expected to cost approximately $11 million, and would likely have an average impact of 25 cents per $1,000 valuation over the course of the 20-year debt.  The plan is going out to bid next week so the PBC will have firmer numbers when they hold an additional public forum closer to town meeting.  Approval of the project would require passage at town meeting on April 29 as well as in the voting booth at a special town election the following day, April 30.  Members of the PBC explained that the Department of …

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Selectmen to Discuss New Town Garage and Building Projects

Selectmen will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

  The Board of Selectmen will meet with the Permanent Building Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 26., to discuss the proposed town garage, public safety building, and Dale Street Masterplan.  The meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Chenery Room at the Town House.  There is an article on the spring town meeting warrant to approve plans for the new highway garage.  The public safety building has just started collecting data regarding the current police/fire station and the future possibilities of the building and the site. The Dale Street Masterplan continues to look at the section of Dale Street between North Street and Adams Street, and the town buildings included in that area (including the Pfaff Center), to consider and make recommendations on …

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What Would Get You To Participate in Local Government More?

There's usually low turnout at open town meetings or few candidates for representative ones.

Would you give up a Saturday in March to vote on your town's budget? How about a few nights a week for a month?  Open town meetings statewide typically draw a small percentage of the community's registered voters—a few hundred people at most. And many of them leave before the meeting ends. Representative town meetings usually have few who run for open slots. How can participation be improved? Tell us in the comments.

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GM

8:52 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013

I'm with you on your comments, Andy. Having spent a few years involved with our town's government, I have come away with a strong belief that local government is the best place to ensure that government in general is effective and efficient. The local community is where people understand the true needs of the residents, and where people are in the best position to judge the urgency of the needs …   more ›

Explaining Some Common Medfield Town Meeting Rules and Motions

In preparation for Monday's Annual Town Meeting in Medfield, here's some tips about some of the basic rules and motions.

Medfield's 361st Annual Town Meeting is only a few days away – held Monday, April 30 in the Medfield High School gymnasium – and to help you prepare, we've compiled a list of basic rules and motions commonly found at these meetings. So whether you're an experienced Town Meeting goer or participating in your first one, we're providing you with these basic rules and motions mentioned below to make new participants feel a little more at ease. Town Meeting Rules and Motions Asking a question: If you have a question about the topic under discussion, you need only raise your hand or walk to one of the microphones located in the room and wait to be recognized by Town Moderator Scott McDermott. Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand …

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Meet the Candidates

Medfield Selectman Candidates Weigh in on Town Issues at LWV Event

The Medfield League of Women Voters hosted selectman candidates Osler “Pete” Peterson and Nikolaos “Nick” Athanasiadis to introduce themselves and answer questions from the audience regarding town issues.

Editor’s note: Medfield’s Town Election is Monday, March 26 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Center at Medfield on Ice House Road. Click here to view Medfield Patch's voter's guide. The old saying “democracy is a participatory sport” rang true Wednesday during the Medfield League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Evening event at Town Hall. LWV, a volunteer group in town, hosted a public forum featuring several candidates on this year’s town election ballot, including both candidates running for selectman – the town’s only contested race this year. Medfield resident Nikolaos “Nick” Athanasiadis surprised some with his appearance at the event after he was rumored not to be in attendance Wednesday due to other commitments. Athanasiadis helped his …

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