Brief Descriptions of Medfield Elected Town Offices....

The following information provided by the Carol Mayer - Town Clerk, Town of Medfield. Town Elections will be held on March 25, 2019. The following elected town office seats will be on the ballot.

• Town Moderator (1 seat) - Appoints the Warrant Committee. Is charged with the responsibility of presiding over and appropriately regulating the proceedings at Town Meeting, including deciding all questions of order and making public declaration of all votes. In Medfield stands for election every year in the annual March town election. "Our Town Meeting is both a forum for stakeholders in the town's affairs to transact the business of the town (i.e., operating and capital budgets, personnel management, zoning by-laws, and strategic warrant articles) - and also a gathering of neighbors participating in an extraordinary exercise of democracy and self-determination."

• Board of Selectmen (1 seat) - Technically and legally the executive heads of the Town of Medfield government, charged with the final operational authority for the town's municipal government. Delegate day to day operation of the town government to the professional staff at the Town House. Meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7pm and more frequently as needed. Need to know a lot about municipal government operation. However, that can be learned and there are no particular background skills or experience required.

• Assessors (1 seat) - Inventory all town property. Maintain accurate records of location and ownership of property. Establish a tax rate after Town Meeting. Bring property to full and fair cash value every three years.

• School Committee (2 seats) - Carries out the mission of the Medfield Public School System. "The Medfield Public School System will create a dynamic and collegial learning environment. Curriculum and instruction will guide students to achieve high standards and to meet the challenge of change. Through school, family, and community partnerships, students will be prepared to become responsible, sensitive, contributing citizens and lifelong learners." "Establishes and reviews educational goals and policies for the schools in the district and makes sure they are consistent with the requirements of the law and statewide goals and standards established by the Board of Education. Participates in the budget process. Hires and evaluates the Superintendent of Schools. Participates in contract negotiations. Provides and encourages resources for professional development of staff. Reviews and provides input to each school Site Council. Advocates for adequate educational funding and for other issues. Approves major adoptions or revisions of curriculum upon recommendation of the superintendent."

• Library Trustee (2 seats) - Responsible for working with other board members to oversee the library, establishing policy and plans, determining the final budget and advocating for the library. Strives, as an independent town board, to provide best possible library service to the residents. Meet monthly, usually the 2nd Tuesday of the month, for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Represent Medfield library patrons, so diversity is our goal; the more viewpoints expressed at trustee meetings, the better our library users are represented.

• Planning Board (1 seat) - Reviews subdivision plans. Maintains the Zoning Bylaw and the Land Subdivision Rules and Regulations. Oversees the development of the subdivision. Abides by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 40A and Chapter 41.

• Park Commissioner (2 seats) - Committed to providing affordable, quality leisure, recreational and educational programs to our community. Tasked with providing operational, budgetary, personnel and strategic oversight for the staff and instructors of the Parks and Recreation Department. The staff consists of three full time employees; the Director, Program Manager and Administrative Assistant. The department hires as many as 50 instructors and other seasonal employees on an annual basis. Tasked with a specific set of responsibilities as follows: Operational - oversee the day to day operations of the department; Landscape and Maintenance - oversee the upkeep of the Department's physical plant including parks and playing fields; Personnel - oversee human resource issues for staff and instructors and interface with Town personnel board; New facility planning - oversee the overall strategy for building a replacement facility, Pfaff Center; Fundraising - oversee all fundraising and publicity activities.

• Trust Fund Commissioner (1 seat) - Under the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Chapter 41, section 45 Medfield has created a board of commissioners of trust funds to manage the funds given or bequeathed to the town. The members shall be elected or appointed by the selectmen.