Hello Medford! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Oktoberfest at the Great American Beer Hall and 17 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call cows dancing in the dark 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Medford Police Chief retiring after nearly thirty years in the department (tuftsdaily.com) — Medford's longtime police chief Jack Buckley will retire Dec. 19, and the city is already searching for his successor under new rules that remove the chief's job from civil service. Local leaders say this change lets Medford recruit more experienced candidates, even from outside the department, while hoping the next chief will mentor younger officers into future leadership.
2. Real property – Encroachment (masslawyersweekly.com) — A recent Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly roundup notes that Medford's Community Development Board denied a special permit for a proposed car wash, a decision that has now been the subject of legal review. While the main article focuses on a Rockport encroachment case, the Medford snippet signals how tightly the city is scrutinizing new development and special permit requests, which could affect future commercial projects around town.
3. Compliance Jobs Report: Sept. 18 (radicalcompliance.com) — Local job seekers should know Tufts University is hiring a privacy program manager based in Medford, with a listed salary range of $108,000 to $162,000. The broader report also tracks major ethics and compliance hires and promotions at companies worldwide, offering a snapshot of career trends in this growing field.
4. The Explainer: Waltham's City Charter is nearly 40 years old. How could it change? (walthamtimes.org) — Medford recently overhauled its city charter, extending the mayor's term to four years and shifting the City Council to mostly ward-based seats, similar to changes in Waltham now under discussion. This explainer walks through how Massachusetts communities can rewrite their local "constitutions," comparing Medford's 1986 and 2025 charters and outlining the Home Rule and special act paths residents might see used again.
5. Federal Transit Administration ends years-long review of MBTA safety oversight - Boston News, Weather, Sports (whdh.com) — State oversight of MBTA safety has been restored after federal regulators concluded a four-year review sparked partly by the 2022 Orange Line train fire over the Mystic River in Medford. Officials say staffing and training improvements at the Department of Public Utilities met federal requirements, but riders should still watch how these changes affect day-to-day safety on the T.
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Ok Medford! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Night Moo-s (Thank you John S. for sending it in!)
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