OPINION: Former Selectwoman, Other Seniors Share Concerns

Opinion...

Former Selectwoman, Retired Dale Staff & others share concerns. Medfield seniors worried about negative impact on residents and town overall. This letter was recently shared with hundreds of Medfield senior citizens.

As seniors, and long-time active and engaged residents of Medfield, we are writing to share our concerns with the proposed $82-million, two-grade elementary school on Elm Street behind the existing Wheelock site.

While we believe education is always a wise investment, the placement of the school and these negative impacts on residents and town overall cannot be ignored:

· The estimated tax impact of this project for an average-valued $690,000 home is between $852 and $1,030 annually. It could be felt as early as mid-year 2022.

· At $82 million for a grade 4-5 school, it is estimated to be one of the most expensive elementary schools of its kind in the history of the Commonwealth.

· The cost does not factor in re-use or abandonment of Dale Street School, nor does it include long-term, expensive items such as maintenance, new sidewalks, multiple traffic lights, or road and bridge work.

· Building another school on Elm causes loss of open space, potential damage to archaeological assets, risk of water contamination to shallow aquifers and town wells, and increased traffic and emissions.

Your two “No” votes on this misguided project gets us closer to reassessing the location, project cost, and revitalization of Dale Street School – for a new school.

We urge you to attend Special Town Meeting at 12 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7 at Medfield High School. This should not be a prolonged meeting since the school project is the only issue coming forth for the first vote.

A second Ballot Election vote related to Proposition 2 ½ override is also needed on Monday, Nov. 15 at The Center anytime between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.

As lead supporters of this letter, we are pleased to be joined by many others.

Best,
Caroline Standley, Elm Street (Lead Signer) and Ann Thompson, Turtle Brook Way (Lead Signer)

Rob Aigler, Elm Street
Bob Allison, Green Street
Katherine Belmont, Frairy Street
Barbara Cronin, Prentiss Place
Eileen DeSorgher, Summer Street
June M Doucette-Burr, Summer Street
Georganne Iverson-Gerlach, Spring Street
Rob Gregg, South Street
Nancy Kelly Lavin, High Street
Gary Lia, Elm Street
Martha Moon, Frairy Street
Bill Pope, Crane Place