Presenters:

• Select Board Chair Jim MacDonald
• Town Manager Leon Goodwin

The Town Manager’s office consists of the Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Assistant to Administration, Management Analyst, Director of Procurement and Grants, and Director of Communication. Together, we work together to carry out the policy objectives set by the Select Board, the Town’s chief executive board. We also interact daily with many of the Town’s other boards and committees, ensuring that the Town’s many efforts and initiatives are aligned and supported. In addition to this policy work, our office is responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of all Town departments (excluding the Schools), including procurement, administering the Town’s personnel system, and preparing and implementing the annual budget. Currently, we are busy negotiating with all eight (8) of the Town’s collective bargaining units (unions) and preparing the FY2025 budget. Because the budget process will unfold at public meetings and hearings over the next couple of months culminating with approval by Town Meeting, I am not going to go into detail on that topic. However, I do think it is important to highlight some of our other accomplishments and initiatives:

Key Accomplishments:

• Completion of the Public Safety Building – This year, we achieved a monumental milestone with the completion of the new Public Safety Building. This state-of-the-art facility now houses our police, fire, and dispatch departments, providing them with the modern infrastructure necessary to serve our community effectively and efficiently. This project not only represents a significant investment in our town’s safety but also demonstrates our commitment to supporting our first responders.
• Implementation of OpenGov Online Permitting – We successfully launched the OpenGov online permitting system, which represents a significant leap forward in streamlining our permit process and improving accessibility for our residents and businesses. This system enhances transparency, reduces processing times, and makes it easier for the community to engage with municipal services. We are near completion of its expansion across all other departments, further solidifying our commitment to operational excellence and customer service.
• Completion on the Long-Range Financial Forecast, Benchmarking Study and Financial Policies – This year, we applied for and received a grant to enable us to complete a comprehensive Long-Range Financial Forecast, which will be instrumental in guiding our fiscal planning and ensuring the long-term financial health of our town. In conjunction with this, we conducted a benchmarking study (also grant funded) and updated our financial policies to reflect best practices, which will enhance our financial management and stewardship of public resources.
• Municipal Fleet Modernization – This year we made significant progress in modernizing our municipal fleet, adding two new electric vehicles (EVs), replacing two aging, inefficient, and unreliable trucks with hybrids, and installing EV charging stations on Town property. All of this was accomplished with significant support from grants, reducing the cost of these much-needed improvements to our taxpayers. This initiative not only reduces our carbon footprint, but it also reduces our operating costs now and in the future.
• Town Green Project – Working closely with the Town Green Working Group and Select Board, we completed the community engagement and design phase of the Town Green Project. This initiative has fostered a sense of community and pride, and the forthcoming green space will serve as a central gathering place for socialization and events, simultaneously fostering connections among residents while driving economic development in a key area of Town.
• Strategic Planning of ARPA Funds – In collaboration with Town departments and the Select Board, we have strategically planned the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address critical needs and invest in our community’s future. These efforts ensure that we are maximizing the impact of these funds to benefit our town and its residents.
• Increased Grant Funding – Through diligent effort and strategic planning, we have increased both the quantity and amount of grant funds received. This achievement not only supplements our core budget but also enables us to undertake additional projects and initiatives without burdening taxpayers. The total grant funds received in calendar 2023 exceeded $1.5 million dollars.
• Diversity Assessment with UMass Boston – Continuing our partnership with UMass Boston, we have made strides in assessing diversity and equity within town government. This important work lays the groundwork for creating a more inclusive and equitable community, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

FY24 Select Board Goals Update:

Focus Area 1: Improve Communication and Increase Transparency

• Implement Dashboard technology for Town services
  • The Town launched OpenGov online permitting for the Building Department in August 2023 and will expand to all other Town departments in FY24.
• Move to digital agendas for Town boards and committees
  • We implemented Peak Agenda (Granicus) software for the Select Board and will expand to other departments in FY24. The next board to go live will be the Planning Board.
• Increase accessible information about Town departments, services, and processes.
  • We held our first ever Town Hall open house in January 2024.

Focus Area 2: Support Modern Governance, Enhance Intragovernmental Relations, and Foster a Culture of Excellence

• Develop policies and procedures to recruit a diverse Town workforce
  • In collaboration with the UMass Collins Center, we have been working on a workforce diversity study that will result in policy recommendations as well creation of a dynamic dashboard that will provide key diversity data related to the Town's workforce.

Focus Area 3: Maintain and Improve Financial Health and Stability of Community

• Develop a strategy to control the cost of solid waste management
  • Working with the MassDEP, we have begun the process of applying for a technical assistance grant that will help the Town study options, including pay-as-you-throw, to control the cost of solid waste starting in FY26.
• Mitigate tax increases for Dedham residents
  • We are in the process of conducting a comprehensive review of all fees and charges assessed by Town departments. The goal is to bring the fees up to current market rates and to cover the cost of providing the related service.

Focus Area 4: Continue to Improve Community Facilities, Resources, and Amenities

• Create a plan for the former Transfer Station
  • Worked with the Select Board to form the Transfer Station Working Group. Applied for and received a MassDevelopment Grant to assist with the study of the site and to garner community input into the preferred reuse of the site. A final report is expected in FY24.
• Address Town-wide Transportation Issue
  • Working with the Transportation Safety Working Group, we applied for and received a Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant (SS4A) for $207,841.44 that will be used to develop a Local Roads Safety Plan (LRSP).

Presenters:

• Paul Munchbach, Town Clerk
• Lauren Goldberg, Town Counsel - KP Law

Elections and Voting

• Total number of registered voters: 20,470 (as of 3/15/2024)
• Lat Day to register to vote in Town Election: April 3, 2024
  • Options to register include by mail, in-person at Town Hall, RMV, and State online system)
• Upcoming Important Election dates
  • Annual Town Elections: Saturday, April 13, 2024
  • Last day to request a Mail in Ballot: Monday, April 8, 2024
  • State Primary: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
  • Presidential Election:  Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Census

•  Dedham Population: 25,364 (as of that last federal census)
• The local census was mailed the first week in January 2024, please return as soon as possible.
• Dog licensing will also be available until March 31st, please provide a copy of updated rabies certificate.

Town Meeting

• Spring Town Meeting: Monday, May 20, 2024 in DHS Auditorium
• Mini Town Meeting (Warrant Review Meeting): Monday, May 13, 2024 in DMS Auditorium
• Fall Town Meeting: November 2024 in DHS Auditorium (Date to be announced)

Vital Statistics

Calendar Year to Date:

• Marriage Licenses:
  • 2023: 100
  • 2022: 113
  • 2021: 90
• Birth Certificates:
  • 2023: 297
  • 2022: 298
  • 2021: 283
• Death Certificates:
  • 2023: 357
  • 2022: 369
  • 2021: 372

Goals of Town Clerk’s Office for coming year(s)

• Online payments for fees and Licensing
• Digitizing our historical records
• Updating election software and technology
• Continue to offer software training for the Town Clerks full-time staff and Election Officials
• Open meeting law and ethics compliance for elected and appointed officials

Contact Information:

Town Clerk's Office: 781-751-9200

Presenter:

Jessica Porter, Planning Board Vice Chair

About the Planning Board:

The Planning Board is comprised of 5 elected Board members: Chair Michael Podolski, Vice-chair Jessica Porter, Clerk Jay O’Brien, and members John Bethoney and Jim McGrail.  The Board has the authority to appoint an Associate Member who may vote on Special Permits in the absence of Board Members, a position which is filled by Drew Pepoli. The Board is supported by the Planning, Zoning & Natural Resources Department.

Recent Planning Projects:

At the last Town Summit our Chair Michael Podolski took us on a tour of Dedham, detailing some of the projects that were in the process of development. This summary focuses on more of the “big picture” planning that the Planning Board oversees and participates in.

Dedham’s Charter gives the Planning Board responsibilities beyond those required by Massachusetts General Laws, namely the duty to study and plan for the resources, possibilities and needs of the town, both generally and through a comprehensive “Master Plan.”

In 2019, the Board appointed a Master Plan Steering committee, made up of 17 residents including representatives from the Planning Board, Select Board, School Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Conservation Commission, which worked for two years to engage the public, town staff, and planning experts in the creation of the Designing Dedham Master Plan. 

The Planning Board then spent an additional two years reviewing every chapter and data point, and just last month voted to approve the body of the plan. In the coming months the Board will finalize the implementation chapters and form an Implementation Committee, to ensure the Master Plan is a living document and planning tool rather than just a report sitting on a shelf.  The Board anticipates providing a more detailed report on the Designing Dedham 2035 Master Plan at Spring 2024 Town Meeting. 

The Planning Board also oversees studies that are focused on specific issues, neighborhoods, or business districts. An example is the Bridge Street Corridor Plan. Several years ago the Board identified that Bridge Street had properties likely to be redeveloped. Board members recognized that the Town lacked a strategy to ensure future development would reflect the goals of the Town and that neighborhood. The Board appointed an eleven-member Advisory Committee to work with a consultant team and the Town to establish development guidelines and zoning recommendations for future growth that fulfills the community’s vision. The Committee anticipates sharing a draft plan with the community for comment and review this Spring.

Upcoming Planning Studies:

Additional planning studies that are in process or about to start include:

• The Wigwam Pond Public Access and Recreation Plan, which was recently finalized and can be found on the town website. It identifies a phased approach to restoring the health of the water body and increasing recreation access around the pond itself.
• A Legacy Boulevard Transportation Plan is underway with the engagement of most commercial property owners in the Legacy Place development, with a goal of improving safety and circulation for people walking, cycling, driving, and taking public transportation.
• District Improvement Financing Plan, which is a tool to encourage positive redevelopment and leverage increased tax revenue to address community priorities. This is the second part of a process that was approved by Town Meeting in 2019 to make improvements along Providence Highway.
• Water Resource Advisory Committee, which was formed by the Select Board in consultation with the Planning Board to examine future water demand, capacity and quality in Dedham and the surrounding region, and make recommendations for future study or action.
• Approaches to increase “Missing Middle” Housing, a study which will start in the Fall thanks to a grant the Town received. 

On-Going Collaboration:

In addition, Planning Board members actively participate in a variety of committees or working groups, such as the Open Space & Recreation Plan Subcommittee, the Active Transportation Working Group, Transportation Advisory Committee, the Building, Planning and Construction Committee, Capital Expenditures Committee, the Traffic Safety Workgroup and the Cannabis Working Group.

Projects Around Town - Answering Your Questions:

That is the big picture, but we also know that folks often have questions about projects they see when they walk, ride and drive around town, so here is a quick description of some of those projects:

• Why did all of those trees come down on Washington Street near Wilson Avenue?  A 16,000 sq. ft. preschool facility by the Gardner School is starting construction with an expected opening date in early 2025.  The $7.5 million project is estimated to provide $195,000 in annual property taxes.
• What’s coming to the 7/11 space in Oakdale Square? Oakdale Advanced Dental has completed the approval process to move their dental practice into the former 7/11 space. As a part of the project they are subdividing the space and will be creating an additional storefront.
• What’s happening at the High Street Condos at the corner of High and Bussey Street?  Over the past year the Board has worked with the condo trustees, residents, and Cass Ave neighbors for the past year to reduce cut through traffic and dumpster issues and improve parking and landscaping at the condominiums.  The recent approval is a significant achievement for the East Dedham community.
• I’ve noticed construction at Ocean State Job Lots. In December, the Board approved new Tesla EV charging stations at Ocean State Job Lot.  The new EV charging stations were a direct result of the Planning Board’s zoning changes, approved by Town Meeting in 2023, to recognize and regulate EV charging stations.  Installing EV charging stations will have a positive economic impact for Dedham. EV owners traveling to nearby attractions or communities often plan their trips based on the availability of charging infrastructure. By accommodating these visitors with well-placed charging stations, the Town can benefit from increased tourism and local spending.
• What’s coming next? The Board expects three significant projects in the coming months – a proposal for redevelopment of the former Moseley’s building and parking lot on Bridge Street, a proposal for a mixed used building, with commercial space and housing on Stergis Way off of Legacy Boulevard, and a proposal for a mixed use building, at the corner of Bussey and Colburn Streets. Once these applications are filed, they will be added to our Active Development Projects  tab on the Planning Board web page. 

Fun Fact: Did you know it is standard practice for the Planning Board to consult with several other departments in the course of reviewing applications? It’s true, the Board benefits from the input of the Police Department, Fire Department, Health Department, Stormwater Agent, Engineering Department, and the Engineering Department.  In addition many projects undergo review by the Design Review Advisory Board. #Themoreyouknow

Closing Statement:

The Planning Board thanks the Select Board for arranging these biannual Townwide Summits.  This is one of many channels the Planning Board and Planning, Zoning & Natural Resources Department use to make sure the public is informed and engaged about planning studies and projects. The Board and Department encourage people to stay up to date by subscribing to email updates, watching our meetings on Dedham Television or in person at Town Hall, and following our Facebook page. We look forward to continued collaboration with all of Dedham. 

Contact Information:

Planning Board: dedhamplanningboard@dedham-ma.gov

Planning & Zoning Department: 781-751-9240

Presenter:

Michelle Persson Reilly, Vice Chair

About the Finance and Warrant Committee (FWC):

The Finance and Warrant Committee makes recommendations on municipal financial matters including the annual budget and financial management policy and planning. Warrant articles to be considered at Annual Town Meetings and Special Town Meetings are first referred to the FWC for public hearing, deliberation, and recommendation to Town Meeting. Each spring, this includes the Town’s operating and capital budgets.

The FWC works closely with the Town Manager’s office and the Finance Department. The FWC also meets jointly with the Capital Expenditures Committee to review capital requests from Town departments prior to the Spring Town Meeting.

The Committee meetings are typically held in the O'Brien Room at Town Hall (unless otherwise noted) and the agendas are posted on the Town website. All meetings are hybrid and the public is invited to attend in person or via zoom. Town Meeting members are encouraged to attend the FWC’s public hearings on warrant articles each spring and fall, including an all-day town budget hearing typically held on a Saturday in March.

The FWC has nine members who are appointed to 3-year terms by the Town Moderator. The Committee includes one member of each precinct, plus two at-large members. 

Members and/or representatives of the FWC are involved in reviewing the town’s financial policies and serving on appointed committees and working groups such as the School Building Rehabilitation Committee (SBRC). 

Spring 2024 Meeting Schedule:

The 2024 Spring Annual Town Meeting Warrant contains eighteen articles, including the articles for the Town’s operating and capital budgets. The FWC will hold several public hearings to review the articles. To date, the FWC has had budget presentations from each Town department, the Blue Hills Vocational School District, and the Dedham Public Schools. Hearings on remaining articles will take place over the next three weeks, followed by deliberations and votes in mid-April. Meeting dates and agendas will be posted on the Town’s website. Public attendance and participation are welcomed.

Recommendations for Town Meeting:

The FWC’s recommendations on each article are published in the warrant book for review and final decision by Town Meeting.

Contact Information:

Finance Department: 781-751-9150

Presenter:

• Conservation Commission Chair Tim Puopolo
• Conservation Agent Meredith Labelle

About the Conservation Commission:

The Conservation Commission is responsible for the protection and management of Dedham’s wetlands and natural resources, largely through the administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (MGL Ch 131 Section 40; 310 CMR 10.00) and the Town of Dedham Wetlands Protection By-law (Chapter 271). These regulations are designed to protect resource areas from activities that may cause disturbance or alteration of wetland areas. Dedham is home to more than 1,200 acres of wetlands, which are crucial habitats for mitigating the effects of flooding, pollution, and climate change. These protected resource areas are also vital to the ecological health of the Town and the region overall.

Conservation Commission Members and Staff:

The Conservation Commission is comprised of 7 Associate Members and 3 Resource Associate Members who serve three-year terms and are appointed by the Select Board. Currently, two of the associate member positions and all three of the resource associate member positions are vacant. We are currently advertising for these vacancies and hope to fill them by Summer of 2024.

The current associate members of the Commission are:

• Tim Puopolo, Chair
• Erik DeAvila, Vice Chair
• Stephanie Radner, Clerk
• Nathan Gauthier
• Leigh Hafrey

Meredith LaBelle is the Town’s Conservation Agent, who began her role in August of 2023.  Her role with the town consists of reviewing applications for work in and near wetlands, drafting permits, and monitoring construction activities to ensure compliance with the Wetlands Protection Act and the Town By-law. In addition, the Conservation Agent provides educational and outreach material on the wetland permitting process for residents and developers. She also works closely with Patrick Hogan, the Town’s Stormwater Manager, to coordinate applications that require both wetlands and stormwater permitting. 

Chris Reardon is the Town’s Environmental Specialist, who began his role in March of 2024. His role with the town involves supporting both the Conservation Agent and Stormwater Manager with administrative activities and public outreach.  He also serves as the municipal liaison to both the Open Space and Recreation Plan Sub-Committee and the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Wetlands Protection Act and By-Law Administration:

Any resident or developer contemplating work within 100 feet of a wetland or within 200 feet of a river or perennial stream is required to file a wetlands permit with the Town of Dedham Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission meets twice a month, and schedules site visits at project locations when needed. In the last six months, the Dedham Conservation Commission issued 9 Orders of Conditions for various projects, including the demolition of the Town Incinerator, the construction of bioretention basins on town-owned property, parking lot improvements at the Costco on Legacy Place Boulevard, a gravel cart path at the Dedham Country and Polo Club, and two residential landscaping and hardscaping projects. In addition, the Dedham Conservation Commission has issued 12 Determinations of Applicability for smaller projects including small residential projects, utilities, and tree work.  The Commission continues to enforce wetland and dumping violations at properties that border wetland areas, issuing notices to correct various violations.

Goals of the Conservation Commission:

• The Commission will continue to review and issue permits. Much of this work is done in-house by department staff, but projects with complicated engineering plans sometimes require outside peer review which is funded by the applicant.
• The Commission will expand our outreach to Dedham residents and business owners in an effort to increase the number and diversity of native plantings (trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses and ground covers) to counter the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and the spread of invasive species.
• The Commission will work on compiling online resources and reference guides to assist residents and business owners who may have wetlands on their property. Additionally, the Commission will develop a more robust suggested planting list for wetland restoration projects.
• The Commission will work with the newly appointed Open Space and Recreation Sub-Committee to tackle the recommendations outlined in the 2019 Open Space and Recreation Plan, including increased outreach, clean-up efforts, trail development and maintenance, and more.

Contact Information:

• Meredith LaBelle, Conservation Agent, mlabelle@dedham-ma.gov
• Chris Reardon, Environmental Specialist, creardon@dedham-ma.gov
• Conservation Department: 781-751-9210

 

Presenters:

• Superintendent Nan Murphy
• School Building Rehabilitation Committee Chair John Tocci

Report from the Superintendent:

Leadership and Strategic Direction
As the new leader of Dedham Public Schools this year has been filled with Listening, Learning, and Understanding all things Dedham. My primary focus has been creating as many opportunities as possible to meet members of our community and to provide the space for conversations with stakeholders to gain a comprehensive view of the district's unique strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

Throughout this process I have come to learn there is no shortage of shared strengths and points of pride when community members were asked about the Dedham Public Schools. 

First and foremost, our high quality, committed faculty & staff. Comments often highlighted how our dedicated educators demonstrate passion about their work and are committed to each students’ success.

The strength of the community of Dedham was also emphasized. Mentions of the high level of parent engagement and community support, as well as the town’s continual investment in schools.

As we continue to educate during turbulent times another strength consistently shared by stakeholders focused on how Dedham Public Schools prioritizes the social and emotional health and wellness of students. Comments included praise for our special education programing and the district’s commitment to ensuring all students have strong, supportive & caring learning spaces.

A sense of legacy & tradition was consistently reported recognizing Dedham’s generational connections for staff and student families.

And finally, Dedham Public Schools is viewed to have a positive sense of place - Educators repeatedly shared they were appreciative of their colleagues, teammates and overall work environment.

Areas of feedback shared with me when asked about the district challenges and opportunities: 

The desire to elevate the academic experience and student achievement, the need to address aging school facilities by developing a comprehensive plan for upkeep, repair, and replacement, and finally, addressing student equity and opportunities across the district.

In the remaining months and throughout next year I will work with a group of community stakeholders to develop a 5 year strategic plan for the District. We work to both build on these assets and address identified areas for growth.

Student Learning and Academic Excellence
Dedham’s students continue to flourish as they work, learn, and grow in our schools. Participation rates in advanced placement coursework remain high and the vast majority of DHS graduates remain college bound. 

The District’s focus on curriculum development in Science, Mathematics, and Social Sciences, as well as the and the adoption of new high quality instructional materials, as reflected in our most recent decision to adopt Core Knowledge Language Arts demonstrate the district’s commitment to ensuring that all students have a unified and coherent learning experience as they proceed through the elementary years and into middle school. The alignment and renewal of the PK-8 Health and Wellness, Fine and Performing Arts curriculum are on the horizon and will remain a strategic priority for the district in the months and years ahead.

The District remains committed to ensuring that all students have opportunities to learn and this is reflected in how we use universal screening assessments such as the mCLASS, and the Star Reading and Math to determine the growth and progress of each individual student. We accomplish all of this through a variety of professional learning structures, such as weekly common planning meetings, district and school level data teams and department meetings.

Student athletes continue to demonstrate a high degree of success in the Tri-Valley League and have over 25 varsity sports to choose from. The performing arts program just wrapped up two all star productions, Dedham High School students performed, Mean Girls and James and the Giant Peach was performed by our middle school students.

Facilities
As you are all very well aware, the school department continues to be actively engaging with the community to determine the correct school building project in partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Over the last 20 years Dedham has made significant investments in its school facilities and continues to support teaching and learning by ensuring that the maintenance and renewal of our school buildings remains a high priority.

Dedham has been extremely fortunate in having received state and local funds to replace three school buildings in the last 20 years. Our oldest facility, the Oakdale School, continues to be considered for replacement. The Riverdale School (103 years old) and the Greenlodge School (68 years old) are also being considered as part of the building process. The Oakdale project represents the community's next major investment in its schools and is a key focus for the District in the months ahead.

Report of the SBRC:

Members:

• John Tocci, Chair, Town Moderator Appointment
• Steve Bilafer, Vice Chair, Town Moderator Appointment
• Josh Donati, Member, Select Board 
• Mayanne MacDonald Briggs, Member, School Committee
• Stephen Acosta, Member, School Committee
• John Heffernan, Member, Finance & Warrant Committee
• Phillip Gonzalez, Member, Town Moderator Appointment
• Nancy Baker, Ex-Officio, Assistant Town Manager
• Nan Murphy, Ex-Officio, DPS Superintendent of Schools
• Matthew Haffner, Ex-Officio, Director of Facilities
• Jennifer McGowan, Ex-Officio, Greenlodge School Principal
• Kimberly Hermesch, Ex-Officio, Oakdale School Principal
• Kerri Bryant, Ex-Officio Appointee
• Kaitlyn DeStefano, Ex-Officio Appointee
• Katherine Duceman, Ex-Officio Appointee
• Steve Popper, Ex-Officio Appointee
• Anthony Rodriguez , Ex-Officio Appointee
• Sarah Rosenthal, Ex-Officio Appointee

Oakdale School Project:

In April of 2021 State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the MSBA, and MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy announced that the MSBA Board of Directors voted to invite the Town of Dedham into the MSBA’s funding program, commencing with an “Eligibility Period” for the Oakdale Elementary School. Dedham’s application was one of only fifteen projects accepted by the MSBA from 161 applying municipalities. Dedham successfully completed the MSBA’s “Eligibility Period” requirements and moved into the “Feasibility Study” phase of the MSBA Capital Pipeline. In November of 2021, Town Meeting appropriated up to one million dollars for a feasibility study. The SBRC is charged with guiding school construction or rehabilitation projects in Dedham. The SBRC chose Vertex as our Project Manager after a very competitive process in the spring of 2022 and in November 2022, chose Jonathan Levi Architects as our Project Designer.

The reconstruction process is very much driven by the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The MSBA has been in existence since 2004 and helped fund the construction of the Middle School, the Avery School and the ECEC. The MSBA ranked the condition of every school physical plant in our community and Oakdale was rated as in most need of rehabilitation. The School Department’s long-range capital plan calls for the replacement or reconstruction of the Oakdale School (122 years old), the Riverdale School (104 years old) and the Greenlodge School (71 years old).

The feasibility process is the process by which the School Committee and SBRC — together with the community — develop and evaluate alternative options for addressing the building conditions of the Oakdale school. Our goal was determining the most educationally appropriate and cost effective solution for the community. The MSBA, in 2021, required Dedham to consider three enrollment options:

• A single school replacement for Oakdale, by which the MSBA would fund a school for 235 students. Enrollment at Oakdale is currently over 260. Greenlodge is over 280 and Riverdale is over 180.
• A combined Oakdale-Greenlodge school in which case the MSBA would agree to a structure for 550 students.
• A combined Oakdale-Riverdale school in which case the MSBA would agree to a structure for 450 students.

Between September 2022 and August of 2023, the SBRC engaged the community in some 50 meetings. In addition to duly posting meeting announcements with the Town Clerk, meeting announcements were regularly distributed to all Dedham elected officials, Dedham Town Meeting Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs, through town distribution channels and via eight separate Facebook groups. The meetings included presentations and discussions with each school PTO (including the ECEC and Middle School), meetings held at each elementary school, a walking tour of five potential construction sites, and several community meetings held at Dedham Middle School.

In March of 2023 the SBRC issued a Preliminary Design Plan to the MSBA which provided an analysis of existing conditions, consideration and analysis of various sites and narrowed options. At that time, the prospective building sites were narrowed to Oakdale, Greenlodge, Riverdale, the Capen site (on Sprague Street) and the Striar Property. In June of 2023, the Dedham School Committee unanimously voted to approve the 550 enrollment option which entailed the consolidation of the Greenlodge and Oakdale Elementary Schools. By that time, the construction site options had been narrowed to the Greenlodge, Capen and Oakdale sites. The Greenlodge site was eliminated from consideration soon thereafter. At its June 26 meeting, the SBRC chose the 6.2 acre Oakdale campus over the 4.2 acre Capen campus as the site for the combined school. At the behest of several Greenlodge residents, the SBRC held a meeting in July 2023 to deliberate on possible reconsideration of its vote in favor of the Oakdale campus. The SBRC unanimously rejected any reconsideration.

At the end of August, 2023 the SBRC submitted a Preferred Schematic Report to the MSBA. This report included a detailed analysis and description of narrowed options, decisions regarding enrollment for the options and Dedham’s preferred solution of a 550 enrollment school situated at the Oakdale campus. Thereafter, the Project Designer turned its attention to the detailed design of the new school. At its October 10 meeting, the SBRC unanimously voted in favor of design D.2. Attachment A. This design was the favored design concept of superintendent Murphy and Greenlodge and Oakdale Principals McGowan and Hermesch. During the fall of 2023, JLA held meetings with over 50 educators and staff members of the Greenlodge and Oakdale Schools to derive insights into design choices. Throughout the fall of 2023, moreover, the SBRC continued to hold public community meetings, including meetings with every school PTO. In an unprecedented step, the SBRC engaged with the Dedham Planning Board, keeping the Planning Board apprised of project developments, traffic study reports and eliciting feedback from Planning Board members. In no other school construction project had the SBRC involved the Planning Board at so early a stage. The SBRC also engaged with the Town Engineer and DPW Director to encourage long-term development of improvements of the streets and sidewalks in the Oakdale area. SBRC also engaged with Dedham’s Active Transportation Working Group, Madison Street Abutters and Parks and Recreation on design aspects of the project.

Between September 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023, the SBRC held or participated in over 75 community meetings regarding the project.

In September of 2023, the Dedham School Department, along with every other public school department in Massachusetts, reported its enrollment figures to the New England School Development Council (“NESDEC”). NESDEC analyzes enrollment trends, population trends and various other data points to create ten-year enrollment projections for every Massachusetts public school. NESDEC issued its new projections, through 2033, in October of 2023. The SBRC noted that the newest NESDEC projections were materially higher than the 2020-21 school year projections on which the MSBA enrollment options for the project were based. The MSBA was also aware of increased school enrollment of migrant children sheltering and living in Dedham. Finally, the SBRC noted that a new, permitted multi-unit construction project would add some fifteen elementary school children to Dedham’s enrollment when construction completes. Based upon the foregoing, the SBRC informally inquired of the MSBA, in November of 2023, whether the MSBA would be inclined to re-visit the original project enrollment options. The MSBA answered in the affirmative but indicated that the District would be required to file a formal request for reconsideration for the MSBA to issue and approve new enrollment options. The SBRC voted to pause the project while such an inquiry was made by the District. The District thereafter submitted a formal request for reconsideration to the MSBA.

On February 28, 2024, the MSBA Board of Directors unanimously approved new enrollment figures for the project as follows:

• A single school replacement for Oakdale, by which the MSBA would fund a school for 360 students (20 classrooms).
• A combined Oakdale-Greenlodge school in which case the MSBA would fund a school for 665 students (40 classrooms).
• A combined Oakdale-Riverdale school in which case the MSBA would agree to a structure for 550 students (25 classrooms).

The School Committee has held, and continues to hold numerous public meetings regarding these options. It also widely distributed a survey accessible to all Dedham residents seeking input on the three options. The School Committee is scheduled to vote on its chosen enrollment option on March 20, 2024.

Once the School Committee approves its enrollment option, the SBRC will re-engage with its project designer on the new design. The School Committee and SBRC will seek additional funding from town meeting to complete the feasibility study in May of 2024. Thereafter, the SBRC will submit a new Preferred Schematic Report to the MSBA which, if approved, shall be followed by the approval and submission of a Schematic Design, which is an advanced design allowing a project budget to be submitted to the MSBA for approval.

The schedule is uncertain but the SBRC is hopeful that the MSBA will approve Schematic Design (and the budget) as early as October 2024. If that approval is obtained, a town-wide vote (simple majority) and town meeting vote (two-thirds) on the project and a debt exclusion must take place within 120 days of that vote. Optimally, such a vote will take place in the fall of 2024. If the town votes to move forward, we expect construction to begin in the summer/fall of 2025 with an anticipated opening date in September of 2027.

Contact Information:

Superintendent Murphy: nmuprhy@dedham.k12.ma.us

SBRC Team: greenlodge-oakdaleproject@dedham.k12.ma.us

Presenter:

Health Director Kylee Sullivan

About the Board of Health:

The Dedham Board of Health is a three-member elected board. Members are elected to 3-year, staggered terms. The Board creates and enforces local, state, and federal regulations to promote and protect the environment and health of the community. There are many permits issued and inspections conducted to ensure compliance with these public health regulations.

Spring Permit Renewals:

As Spring approaches, the following Board of Health permits will be expiring on June 30th and require renewal:

• Pools
• Saunas & Steam Rooms
• Tanning Facilities
• Waste Haulers & Septic Installers
• Domestic Animals (chickens)
  • Any resident keeping chickens on their property must get a permit through the Health Department. Roosters are not allowed in Dedham. Please read through the Board of Health’s Keeping of Domestic Animal Regulations.

Other businesses such as Farmers Market food vendors and recreational camps for children must also apply for permits before beginning seasonal operations.

Other Board of Health Permits:

Information about Board of Health permitting can be found on the Health Department’s website. More information can be found by visiting the Town’s website or by calling the Health Department at (781) 751–9220.

 

Presenter:

Library Director Amber Moroney

Dedham Public Library Updates:

This fiscal year, the Library has offered 470 programs with an attendance of over 11,000. This does not include the addition of our virtual author talk database which has had 1,200 views in the first two months.

Comparing the first eight months of FY24 to those of FY23, there’s been a slight decrease in the number of physical items that have been checked out (-1.5%), but we’ve seen a significant increase in digital circulation (+19%) which includes ebooks, digital audiobooks, and digital videos. Overall circulation has increased by 5%.

We’ve also seen more people come through the Library. Many afternoons, tables in the adult areas are being used by adults working remotely or studying. Compared to last fiscal year, Library visits have increased by 5%.

To help quantify the value the Library provides the community, we applied an average cost to our physical and digital material and programs, $15 for physical items, $10 per digital item and $5 per program attendee. We estimate that so far this fiscal year, the Library has saved patrons approximately $1.6 million with access to physical material, $460,000 with digital material, and $56,000 with programs, totaling $2.1 million dollars in savings to the community.

What this number does not include is the value that people get from visiting the library, whether it's a caregiver with a young child making new connections, seniors reading the newspaper, or someone using the Library to work remotely. For those individuals, the Library is invaluable.

This growth in usage comes despite aging facilities that lack basic accessibility features and modern amenities that patrons and taxpayers regularly request. To better understand the needs of the community, the Board of Library Trustees commissioned the Ivy Group to complete a community needs assessment. This report is the first step in applying for the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program (MPLCP) grant.

Through a survey that received over 575 responses, and four different focus groups--for seniors, teens, town leaders, and young professionals--plus forums for the community and staff, it was widely agreed that the Library's staff and programs are excellent but that the buildings limit modern Library services. Largely due to space limitations, the Dedham Public Library ranks last among comparable communities for print books and the total size of its physical collection. Many users report visiting libraries in other communities for the ample parking, small private rooms for studying and tutoring, and childrens' rooms with generous seating for a variety of ages.

The lack of task-specific areas greatly hinders usage of the Libraries. Adults avoid using the Library because the limited work space is often used for meetings and programs. This is particularly a problem for those who are looking for a work-away-from-home space in the post-pandemic world.

Residents with mobility issues in particular are poorly served by the Library's current facilities. At the Main Library there are multiple levels with no elevators or lifts, and the main level has steps and thresholds between spaces. Staff spaces are also not fully accessible and do not allow staff to complete assignments in an efficient manner.

While the MPLCP grant is substantial, it will not provide the full cost of completing a building modernization plan if awarded the grant. Knowing this, as well as recognizing the other Town projects in the pipeline, the Library Trustees voted to expend $150,000 from the Library's trust funds to complete the planning and design phase of the project so as not to further burden taxpayers. In May, Town Meeting will be asked to allow the Library to move forward with the grant application and the expenditure of the trust funds.

MPLCP award notifications will be announced in October 2024. At that point, if awarded the grant, the Library will begin the planning and design phase when decisions such as whether to renovate an existing building or move forward with a new building, where that building might be located, and if that leads to a consolidation of Library buildings. At this point, none of that has been decided.

Dedham residents and others have shown they value the many services and programs offered by the Library. This is demonstrated not only by being one of the few libraries in the area to continue to increase usage, but also by the 2.1 million dollars the Library has saved taxpayers this fiscal year. The Library is confident that with a modern facility we can serve an even greater number of residents from every neighborhood and every walk of life.

More information about the MPLCP grant and the Community Needs Assessment with quantitative data from the survey can be found here: https://dedhamlibrary.com/building

Contact Information:

• Main Library (43 Church Street): 781-751-9284
• Endicott Library (257 Mt. Vernon Street): 781-751-9178
• Board of Library Trustees: librarytrustees@dedham-ma.gov

Presenter:

Chris Kelly, Chair

Human Rights Commission Updates:

Six years after its founding, the Dedham Human Rights Commission has established a strong portfolio of events and initiatives to celebrate our strong, diverse and welcoming community.

Over the last year, our town faced a powerful test with the arrival of approximately 150 migrant families, arriving here unexpectedly – for us and for them – from tumultuous homelands and following harrowing journeys. Seeking asylum in the United States, they are here in Dedham legally, learning English and awaiting work permits and amnesty hearings. Their children have been welcomed into Dedham Public Schools, where most are thriving. Our churches, non-profit groups, and neighbors have pitched in to help with winter clothing, food and toiletries. One of our HRC members, vice chair Sari Chait, has been part of the organizing group that has managed migrant family needs and we’re thankful for her and for their hard work.

At the same time, we’ve been meeting with leaders of several key social services groups, including the Dedham Food Pantry, the Council on Aging, and the Youth Commission, to determine how we can better serve other residents of our town who are suffering. We hope to have more to announce on this initiative later this year.

We kicked off 2024 with our seventh annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at the Middle School. We were joined by performers from Dedham High School, The Dance Center, and The Dedham Choral Society, and Dedham resident and Washington Post reporter Sarah Childress delivered the keynote address.

We’re currently planning three more of our signature events: our fourth annual LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Raising Celebration at Town Hall on Friday, June 7, our 2^nd annual Juneteenth celebration, and our third annual Cultural Festival and Community Picnic at the Endicott Estate on August 21, 2024.

We continue to produce our monthly series on Dedham TV, I Am Dedham, and late last year, we hosted an educational seminar regarding antisemitism, with a presentation by Robert Leikind, Director of the American Jewish Committee. The event was very successful and we hope to schedule similar forums in the future.

For the past six years we have primarily funded these events through grants from the Dedham Cultural Council and through donations by our town’s many generous shops and restaurants. We’re happy to announce that soon, Dedham residents who would like to offer financial support for our events and initiatives will be able to do so through a donation portal managed by the Town.

Thanks to everyone who has supported and participated in our events. If anyone has thoughts on our programming or suggestions for future initiatives, please email DedhamHRC@gmail.com

Contact Information:

Email the Human Rights Commission at DedhamHRC@gmail.com

Presenter:

Director of Assessing Kevin Doyle

Assessing Department Updates:

My name is Kevin Doyle, and I am the current Director of Assessments and have been a part of the Assessing Office in Dedham for over 10 years now. I was elected to the Board of Assessors back in 2013, where I served for 2 years prior to being hired as the Assistant Director. I worked as the Assistant Director for over 6 years and have been the Director now for almost 3 years.

My current staff consists of two Assessing Specialists, Sue Munchbach, and Colleen McGourty, who are the frontlines of my office and a huge part of the success and reason that the Assessing Office is so well run and has become a well-respected Office by both co-workers and taxpayers and am always receiving high praise for their service. Derek Sergi is our Data Collector, who is often out on the road with my Assistant Director Paul D’Olimpio, who was the previous Data Collector for the past 10 years here in Dedham. Both Derek and Paul can be found often helping taxpayers and lending Sue and Colleen a hand when needed or out on the road doing inspections. I couldn’t ask for more upbeat and fun colleagues who are always willing to step up and go the extra mile for anyone who calls, emails, or comes to our Office.

We have a 3-member Board of Assessors, who oversee the annual valuation of real estate and personal property within Dedham for taxation purposes. The current Board of Assessors consists of the current Chair, Mike Polito, Vice Chair Richard Schoenfeld and George Panagopoulos as Clerk, who is running unopposed in the upcoming election next month for a 3-year term on the Board.

 The Assessing Office does not raise or lower taxes, but rather our primary responsibility is to find the full and fair cash value of your property so that you pay your fair share of taxes. All values are approved every year by the Department of Revenue and are required to have a full valuation and certification done every 5 years. These values are based on the fair market value of your property and are derived by an in-depth review of sales and market analysis each year.

The tax rate is the basis for the Town Budget needed to provide services, such as schools, roads, fire, law enforcement, etc. The tax rates are determined based off the valuations placed on properties to provide the funds to pay for those services.

This year, the Town Budget was just under $149 million, which means that is the amount needed to run the entire Town of Dedham with the current demand and high level of services we provide as a Town. From that estimated $149 million dollar budget, $39 million (roughly 26%) was collected from local receipts and other revenue sources, leaving the remaining 74% or roughly $110 million to be raised through property taxes. This is what is called the property tax levy.

Currently, there are just over 10,000 real estate and personal properties in Dedham, with just under 600 properties being exempt from taxes. Residential values make up roughly 83% of the Town and CIP values (Commercial Industrial and Personal Property) make up the remaining 17%.

One of the biggest misconceptions in town is the amount of commercial and industrial real estate properties in town because most of them are visible and located along route 1. There are only about 280 commercial properties, less than 60 industrial properties and 80 mixed use properties. There are another 780 properties that come from Personal Property.

Of the 9,400 taxable properties, the total valuation of all properties in Dedham is just over $7.4 billion, with residential values comprising over $6.1 billion. Of the $6.1 billion in residential property values, $4.9 billion comes from single family homes. From the total $7.4 billion in valuation, the tax rate is derived from and produces the estimated $110 million dollars known as the tax levy to operate the Town.

The average single family in Dedham this year is just under $740,000, which is over $70,000 more than last year’s assessment of roughly $668,000, almost an 11% increase in value. While the residential tax rate decreased from $12.84 last year to $12.50 this year, the average single family tax bill still saw an increase of over $663, with the average single family tax bill now at $9,244 (in comparison to last year at $8,581).

While these increases have been significantly higher in recent years, the Assessing Office has done a tremendous job explaining to the taxpayers and breaking down the valuation process in laments terms so that the average taxpayer can understand how their properties are being valued, how it is used to calculate their property taxes and how it indirectly relates to the Town Budget and Property Tax Levy. Through the hard work of the Assessor’s Office and providing such high level of communication and customer service, the Assessing Office received about 90 abatement applications this year, which is incredible considering we were receiving more than 200 applications each year when I first joined the Board 10 years ago.

On top of determining the values on all properties in Town, our Office works in conjunction with the Treasurer and Tax Collectors Office in assisting in the production of the quarterly tax bills for the 9,400 properties along with the 25,000 excise tax bills. The Assessing Office also reviews and processes all property tax exemptions, such as veterans, elderly, blind, etc. and processes over 230 exemptions, relieving roughly $420,000 to qualifying taxpayers under state guidelines.

We work hand in hand with both the Veteran’s Office and Council on Aging to oversee the Veterans and Senior Tax Work off programs as well as the Tax Aid Committee and Tax Aid Fund established to provide tax assistance for elderly and disabled Dedham residents to defray the costs of their property taxes. The veterans and senior tax work off programs assisted roughly 15-20 residents and the Tax Aid Fund assisted 28 residents.

The Assessing Office works with the Collector’s Office daily and works closely with the Town Accountant and Finance Director. We also work with the Building Department to stay up to date on building permits and to perform inspections to keep our records up to date and as accurate as possible. We work with the GIS Department to make sure their maps and boundary lines and addresses are up to date for all properties within the Town. We work with several other Departments such as Engineering and Conservation to produce Abutters Lists as requested, DPW to assist with locating addresses and helped provide distribution lists, and the Town Clerks Office to identify and confirm addresses of registered voters.

As you can see, we not only work well with the public, but within our Office, as well as other departments and play an integral part in the running of Town Hall. I am very fortunate to work with such a great group of people, especially within the Assessor’s Office.

Contact Information:

Kevin Doyle:

Phone: 781-751-9131

Email: kdoyle@dedham-ma.gov

Prepared By:

Fire Chief William Spillane

Mission:

The members of the Dedham Fire Department are committed to serving the community by protecting life, property, and the environment. Our mission is to provide the highest level of fire prevention and education, emergency medical and fire services to all those who visit, work and live in the Town of Dedham.

Services:

• Fire Suppression
• Fire Investigation
• Emergency Medical Response
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Fire Prevention
• Fire and Safety Education

Incidents: January 1 – October 1

• Total Incidents – 5,865
• Fire Suppression – 98
• Building Fires – 16
• Emergency Medical and Rescue – 3,953
• Hazardous Materials or Condition –305
• Service Calls and Mutual Aid – 558
• Alarm Activations – 723
• Other Calls for Service - 212

Personnel:

 

• We currently have 4 Firefighter vacancies, due to retirement and transfers
• 4 Firefighter recruits are scheduled to attend the 10-week Metrofire recruit training program hosted by the Boston Fire Department beginning on April 16th
• Firefighter Joseph Goode was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on March 9th

Capital Projects:

 

• Squad 3 / Special Operations Vehicle: Now in service. This vehicle is primarily used when responding to incidents involving hazardous materials and technical rescues. The funding for this project was approved as part of the fire department’s FY23 capital budget request.
• ATV / Squad 5: Now in service. This off-road vehicle will be used to gain access to and transport injured individuals from wooded and hard to reach areas. This unit will also be utilized during large scale community events to provide rapid emergency response within crowed areas. The funding for this project was approved as part of the fire department’s FY23 capital budget request.
• Rescue Boat: Now in service. The funding for this project was approved as part of the fire department’s FY24 capital request.
• Squad 1 / Brush Unit: Currently in the design process with the vendor and we are hoping to have this vehicle within 6 months. The funding for this project was approved as part of the fire department’s FY24 capital request.

Grants:

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded the Dedham Fire Department with two Grants in FY24.

• Emergency Management Planning Grant - $6,500
  • To provide all Firefighters with a particulate blocking fire hood
• Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant - $11,345
  • Specialized equipment for combating electric vehicle fires
  • Personal Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras
  • Cold Water Rescue Suits
  • Firefighter Rescue Ropes

Fire Prevention and Education:

• The Dedham Fire Department and Coastal Ambulance recently held a “Hands Only CPR” training class for the members of our community. The class was well attended, and future programs are being planned. 
• The fire department continues to provide fire and life safety education to all pre- and elementary school age students. Fire department educators engaged with over 1,500 students throughout the town as they visited schools and held an open house during fire prevention week in the month of October. 
• All public and private schools are required to have quarterly fire drills and safety inspections. These drills and inspections are conducted by on-duty fire department companies along with the Captain assigned to the Office of Fire Prevention.
• The Office of Fire Prevention is also responsible for: 
  • Commercial and residential plan review.
  • Commercial and residential inspections.
  • Code enforcement, violations and investigating complaints.
  • Issuing sprinkler, fire alarm and other permits required under 527CMR 1.00.
  • Conducting quarterly inspections of facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health and Department of Public Welfare, including daycare and childcare facilities as required by M.G.L. Ch. 148.
  • Conducting quarterly inspections of hotels and motels as required by M.G.L. Ch. 148.

Training:

• All firefighters receive 100 plus hours of in-service and specialized training throughout the year.
  • Emergency medical services
  • Hazardous materials
  • Emergency vehicle operations
  • Pump operations
  • Aerial and ground ladder operations
  • Vehicle extrication
  • Technical rescue
  •  Health and wellness: physical fitness, nutritional and mental wellness

Future

• Looking forward, the fire department will continue to find ways to maintain and improve upon the level of service that we provide to the citizens of our town. Our staffing levels, equipment and training will continue to be the focus of our success as we cope with demographic changes. Muti-unit residential properties, over-55 communities, day care facilities and mixed-use occupancies are now a part of our community, and we must be able to meet their needs.
• Built in 1898 our East Dedham Fire Station is 126 years old and is an integral part of our East Dedham neighborhood. Many improvements, including structural, life safety, electrical and plumbing have taken place over the years, but it is becoming more evident that this building needs to be replaced. Home to Engine 3 and Reserve Engine 6, this station is responsible for providing timely emergency response within District 3, which includes the East Dedham, Oakdale and Manor sections of town. The most recent study / evaluation of this building was performed in 2009 and at that time the town was presented with several options for replacing or renovating the existing building. It is imperative that the town perform an assessment of the East Dedham Fire Station to better understand its current condition and establish a plan based upon that assessment.  

Contact Information:

Fire Department (Non-Emergency): 781-751-9400

Emergency: 911

Prepared By:

Stanton Lyman, Chair

Activities and Actions by the Historic Districts Commission/Historical Commission:

June 30, 2023 - March 1, 2024

ADDRESS:

• Application For
• Date of Application
• Date of Meeting
• Certificate type / Issue #

53 SCHOOL STREET:

• Re-roofing 6/09/2023
• 6/20/2023
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 336

14 PEARL STREET:

• Chimney stack re-construction
• 6/12/2023
• 6/20/2023
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 337

43 CHURCH STREET: (DEDHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY)

• Step repair at main entry and ADA code handrail installation
• 7/21/23
• 8/02/2023
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 341

59 CHURCH STREET:

• Gutter replacement, storm window removal House re-paint
• 6/18/2023
• 6/20/2023
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 346

200 HIGHLAND STREET:

• Re-painting of existing fence at street
• 11/16/2023
• 11/28/2023
• Application not approved

930 HIGH STREET:

• Remove and replace 27 existing windows
• 1/31/2024
• 2/20/2024
• Application not approved

31 COURT STREET:

• Re-roofing
• 12/12/2023
• 2/20/2024
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 348

108 HIGHLAND STREET:

• Replace wooden steps and rail @ front entry
• 12/13/2023
• 2/20/2024
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 349

195 HIGHLAND STREET:

• Final exterior paint colors and roofing color
• 1/05/2024
• 2/20/2024
• Certificate of Appropriateness # 350

Contact Information:

Town Manager's Office: 781-751-9100

 

Prepared by:

Robert Stanely, Parks and Recreation Director

Parks and Recreation Department Highlights:

The Park and Recreation Department has experienced a remarkable resurgence over the past two years, rebounding strongly from the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. FY23 witnessed a significant surge in both participation and revenue, a trend that shows no sign of abating as we progress through FY24. The department has successfully introduced numerous new programs and witnessed impressive growth in existing ones.

On the Parks front, there has been a notable increase in field usage over the last couple of years. Efforts to identify potential new field spaces and enhance existing ones are ongoing. Notably, at the Dolan Center, a new Kayak rental Kiosk system has been introduced, offering rentals throughout daylight hours from April to October. Additionally, expanded kayak storage space has been added at the location, which has emerged as a vibrant hub for outdoor activities including walking trails, fly fishing, a dog park, softball, kayaking, fishing, gardening, and much more.

Looking ahead, the Park and Recreation department is preparing for a significant move from its current location on Common Street to the Capen School in the Manor. This relocation offers a central location to better serve our customer base and provides ample space, including a full-size gym and dance studio, for our activities. We anticipate launching our Fall programs in this new venue while continuing to operate outdoor activities at the Dolan center.

Furthermore, alongside our upcoming Summer and Fall programs, we are thrilled to maintain our tradition of hosting exceptional community events such as the Flag Day Parade, Dedham Day, Dedham Doggie Day, and more. We invite everyone to join us for this year’s Flag Day Parade, scheduled for Friday, June 14, 2024. 

Contact Information:

• Program questions: Debbie Anderson at danderson@dedham-ma.gov
• Swimming Pool questions: Karen O'Connell at koconnell@dedham-ma.gov
• Field Permits: Renee Johnson  at rjohnson@dedham-ma.gov
• Field Maintenance and Lighting: Bob Stanley at: rstanley@dedham-ma.gov

Prepared By:

Police Chief Michael J. d'Entremont

Mission:

The mission of the Dedham Police Department is to protect and serve the citizens of Dedham through collaboration, preventative programs and the judicious enforcement of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the by-laws of the Town of Dedham.

Services:

The Police Department provides services to the community in the form of:

Uniformed Patrol: The uniformed officers who patrol the community and respond to calls for service;

Traffic Enforcement:  Officers who primarily focus on traffic enforcement efforts throughout the community;

Investigations:  Plain clothes officers with specialized training to respond to serious crime scenes and conduct protracted investigations;

School and Community Resource Programs:  Uniformed officers with specialized training who focused on working with youths in the community, schools and senior citizens.  Two School Resource Officers are trained as handlers for our Community Resource Dog, Ruby.  Ruby is trained as a comfort dog and in tracking.  She is a 4-year-old English Cream Golden Retriever trained by Golden Opportunities of Independence.

Animal Control:  One uniformed civilian with specialized training in managing issues related to domestic animals and wildlife. 

Court Prosecution and Diversion:  Works in conjunction with the court system and District Attorney’s office representing the Department in all matters related to criminal charges, protection orders and civil traffic issues submitted by department members.

Administrative Services:  A variety of administrative services and support for Department operations including management, licensing, training, property and evidence, information technology, police details, public records and more.  

Parking Enforcement:  This position provides parking enforcement townwide with a focus on Dedham Square.

Domestic Violence:  The department is fortunate to have the services of a Domestic Violence Advocate made available to us through a Violence Against Women Act grant by Domestic Violence Ended (DOVE).  Abby Belyea works with members of the community and Department members on domestic violence issues one day a week and is available as needed.

The Department has maintained an agreement with Riverside Community Care to work in collaboration with a Master Level Clinician (“Riverside Clinician”) to provide on-site clinical support to serve the community as part of Riverside Community Care’s Law Enforcement Clinical Support Program.  Our clinician works 20 hours each week with our personnel and members of the community.  Examples of the duties of the Clinician include:

1. Provide flexible mobile or station-based intervention, counseling, assessment, triage, referral and education to the community as requested by the police department.
2. Meet with the family members of a struggling minor in the community at an agreed upon location, which may include school, home or the library. \
3. Assist with referrals for mental health treatment and support services.
4. Respond with law enforcement to calls requiring mental health support.
5. Outreach with community members to provide guidance in the development of safety plans.   
6. Provide crisis evaluation and assistance to community members seeking substance abuse treatment.
7. Complete data related tasks.

The Law Enforcement Clinician Support position has been vacant since July 1, 2023.  We have been and remain working to find a new clinician.

School Resource Officer Meghan Jenkins and Officer Brian Crump were recognized with a commendation for Excellence in CIT, presented to them by the Brookline Police CIT-TTAC Team during February of 2023.

Business Manager Karen Camerano was presented with a Special Recognition Award from the Massachusetts Association of Women in Law Enforcement based on her on-going above and beyond contributions to the Department.

Personnel Changes:

• Officer Jonathan Dillon resigned from the Department effective October 2, 2023.
• James McDonough, long time custodian at the Police Department, retired effective November 4, 2023.
• Officer Georgios Emmanouilidis resigned from the Department effective November 11, 2023.
• Sgt. Timothy Chaffee retired effective January 13, 2024.
• Declan Downey began a police academy to be trained as a police officer on December 04, 2023.
• Marco Pisano began a police academy to be trained as a police officer on February 26, 2024.
• Liam McDonnell began a police academy to be trained as a police officer on February 26, 2024.
• Detective Steven Feeley was promoted to Sergeant effective February 11, 2024.
• Juvenile Officer Richard Cawley was promoted to Sergeant effective February 12, 2024.

Community Engagement:

Building relationships and trust between community members and police officers is a foundation for effective policing and community safety.  Non-enforcement interactions help to develop relationships and build trust.  Each shift, officers are directed to spend some time on foot patrol to increase their approachability and interactions with community members.  While not all inclusive, the Department took part in the following specific community engagement events since the last summit during October of 2023:

• Citizens Police Academy, fall 2023
• Dedham Middle School Connections Program Police Station tour, October 23
• Coffee with a Cop at Dick’s Sporting Goods, October 26
• DEA National Drug Take Back Day, October 28
• Trunk or Treat, October 28
• Chief Weir uniform dedication, November 5
• Buddies vs. Badges basketball game, November 13
• Youth Peer Leadership Conference, November 22
• Scam presentation at the Linden, November 29
• Dedham Square Holiday Stroll, December 1
• Internet Safe Exchange Zone established in Public Safety Building parking lot, December 5
• Pink patch sale donation of $1,510 to Dana Farber, December 5
• Menorah Lighting and Parade, December 12
• Holiday coffee and muffins at O’ Neil Drive and Doggett Circle, December 19 and 20
• Annual School and Community Resource Program donation of hams and chickens to the Dedham Food pantry; December 23
• Retired Men’s Club tour of Police Station, January 24
• Project Lifesaver marketing launched, January 26
• Operation RailSafe visibility campaign, February 16
• Annual winter break Dedham Middle School ski and snowboard trip to Gunstock Mountain, February 21
• Autism Awareness Dedham Police Patch magnet offer for sale to benefit the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation, March 1.
• Child car seat installations, year-round.
• Monthly delivery off-loading assistance at the Food Pantry.

Calendar Year 2023 Statistics:

7,843 Motor Vehicle Infractions Cited

• The top 10 infractions represent 89% of violations cited.
• 7,147 instances of officers setting up at a location to conduct traffic enforcement.

Criminal charges sought:  519

Parking Enforcement Data – Calendar Year 2023:

• Parking tickets issued: 984
• Fines Issued: $83,500
• Handicap Parking violations: 604
• Tickets Paid: 483
• Fines Collected: $35,595

Re-Accreditation:

October 2023:  The Department was awarded a certificate of re-accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

• Reassessment took place during July 2023.
• Updated edition of standards implemented, and new building updates incorporated.
• Accreditation Team:  Deputy Chief Munchbach, Deputy Chief Buckley (retired), Lt. Nedder, Sgt. Chaffee, Karen Camerano, Officer McIsaac, Det. Feeley and Officer Kozak.

What does Accreditation mean (per MPAC website):

• Requires agencies to commit their policies and procedures in writing to a comprehensive and uniform set of directives
• Provides a professional-related norm for an agency to judge its performance.
• Promotes accountability among agency personnel.
• Provides a means of independent evaluation of agency operations for quality assurance.
• Enhances the agency’s reputation and promotes staff and public confidence in the agency.
• Improves the delivery of law enforcement services to communities. 

The men and women of the Police Department show up to collaborate with and serve the community day in and day out to provide public safety services under circumstances which are increasingly complex and challenging.  The dedication and professionalism of all personnel is truly remarkable and appreciated.

Contact Information:

Police (Non-Emergency): 781-751-9300

Emergency: 911

Prepared By:

Rana Mana-Doerfer, Director of Procurement and Grants

About the Procurement Department:

Mission: The primary goal of the Procurement Department is to provide assistance and oversight with the process of procuring quality goods and services in a fair, competitive and transparent manner, by using objective standards for the selection of contractors and vendors, through fair, impartial and uniform bidding, contract development and awarding processes.

A Recap:

1. The procurement department has issued 39 solicitations in various formats (IFB, RFQ, & RFPs) since October of 2022.
2. In Fiscal Year 2024 The procurement department issued over 950 purchase orders totaling $12,207,000 for the purchases of goods and services such as vehicle repairs, fuel, tools and supplies, solid waste disposal, pest control, goose control, engineering services, professional architectural services, and facilities repair services (painting, carpentry, etc..)
3. The procurement department is also the administrative arm for grants. The department assists managers and support staff with applying for and managing grants post award. In FY24 the Town has received grants totaling $1,300,754. Some of these grants are one-time upfront payments, and others are reimbursement-based grants. We are grateful to have been the recipients of a $500,000 Land & Water Conservation Fund grant for the Town Green, and we were awarded $608,134 from the EOEE for the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant Program which allowed us to continue phase 2 of the Neponset River Watershed Regional Climate Resilience Collaborative and Flood Model.
4. The procurement department conducted multiple trainings for the utilization of the State’s purchasing platform Commbuys to increase awareness of chapter 30B compliant agreements to help reduce the administrative lift and burden of purchasing within the confines of c30B.
5. Some departmental goals for late FY24 and FY25 is to 1. Publish the Town’s first procurement manual, which will contain and house procurement policies, purchasing procedures, procurement related financial policies. 2. Conduct an in-depth chapter 30B training for all staff who are involved in purchasing. 3. Increase grant applications in FY25 by building a grants calendar and implementing a grants management software, which will help us anticipate grants and track our progress. We will utilize the data for either awarded or rejected applications to build a repository of historical information to fall back on for future applications.

Contact Information:

Rana Mana-Doerfer:

• (781) 751-9105
• rmanadoerfer@dedham-ma.gov

 

Prepared By:

Emily Walton, Sustainability Advisory Committee Member

About the Sustainability Advisory Committee:

The Sustainability Advisory Committee advises the Select Board, municipal departments and committees, and residents on strategies for advancing our local commitment to sound environmental practices both today and for our town’s future. These practices help Dedham address the impact of pollution and climate change and include education initiatives, environmentally sensitive building and planning, and renewable energy choices by residential, commercial and municipal properties.

Sustainability Advisory Committee Members and Staff:

The Sustainability Advisory Committee has 9 members who are appointed to 3-year terms. The 9 members consist of 8 at-large positions appointed by the Select Board and 1 Select Board representative.

Andrew Belden (term expiring 2022)
Michael De Winter (term expiring 2024)
Josh Donati, Select Board Representative (term expiring 2023)
Leigh Hafrey (term expiring 2025)
Deb Harrison (term expiring 2024)
Chuck Kabat (term expiring 2023)
Emily Walton (term expiring 2023)
David Ward (term expiring 2023)
Alana Weiss (term expiring 2023)

The Sustainability Advisory Committee has benefited from the support of Meredith LaBelle, the town’s Conservation Agent, over the past seven months, and looks forward to working with Chris Reardon, the town’s Environmental Specialist, as our new municipal liaison moving forward.

Goals of the Sustainability Advisory Committee:

The Sustainability Advisory Committee’s focus in the coming year is to move the Town of Dedham Climate Action Plan forward through both direct action as well as outreach and communication regarding the plans action items in the following areas: Buildings & Energy, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Transportation and Land Use, Solid Waste Resources, and Public Health & Safety.

Recent Accomplishments/Events:

Over the past six months, the Sustainability Advisory Committee has sought to better understand and support town initiatives related to installation of solar canopies on town-owned properties; encouraging the School Building Rehabilitation Committee to commit to the highest level of energy efficiency standards in the conceptualization of the new elementary building; and supporting rainwater, tree canopy, and other sustainability elements proposed in the Town Green Working Group’s design process.

Additionally, the Sustainability Advisory Committee works alongside the Department of Public Works to support the regular town-wide household recycle days, and this spring the committee is coordinating a drop-and-swap Reuse Event in conjunction with the traditional recycle day, wherein residents can donate certain reusable items that still serve their original purpose, like books, video games, and other items.  This will reduce overall household waste as we can reuse and repurpose items that are still in good working condition.

Finally, the Sustainability Advisory Committee has submitted a warrant article for Spring Town Meeting to adopt a state sponsored Municipal Opt-In Specialized Energy Code (or “Opt-In Code”).  The Opt-In Code would update the current energy code as it relates to new construction.  If adopted, it would ensure that new homes are built with pre-wiring for a possible switch to sustainable electric energy sources in the future, and it would also require some level of solar panels for any homes built to run on fossil fuels.  New large, multi-family construction projects would need to meet “passive house” standards, which would make them more efficient and affordable to operate, requiring very little energy input to heat and cool.  For larger municipal or commercial construction projects, the requirements would largely be the same as the current stretch code, with some additional solar or pre-wiring required as well.  Adopting the Opt-In Code would align with both the Town of Dedham Climate Action Plan’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working toward net zero building standards, as well as the state benchmarks of 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.  It would also protect town residents if they invest in a newly constructed home in Dedham, as it would save them from the inevitability of costly retrofits in the near future.

The Sustainability Advisory Committee has posted resources about the Opt-In Code online at https://www.dedham-ma.gov/government/town-management/sustainability-advisory-committee/opt-in-code-resources and welcomes questions to their email address: Sustainability@dedham-ma.gov.  There is a Community Forum to discuss the details of the Opt-In Specialized Code scheduled for April 24th at Town Hall.

Contact Information:

Chris Reardon, Environmental Specialist
781-751-9210
creardon@dedham-ma.gov

General sustainability inquiries: sustainability@dedham-ma.gov

Prepared By:

Taxation Aid Committee Members Geoff Tegnell and Michael Perna

About the Taxation Aid Committee:

The Taxation Aid Fund was established to provide financial help in paying real estate taxes for elderly and disabled Dedham resident homeowners of limited means. On May 19, 2014 the Annual Town Meeting voted to approve Article 37, thereby accepting Section 3D of Chapter 60 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Chapter 166 of the Acts of 1998 authorizes cities and towns to establish a fund for the purpose of accepting donations for property tax relief for certain seniors and disabled taxpayers. Since 2014 taxpayers have been designated contributions on their quarterly tax bill to this Fund. As of July 2023, the total amount of donations in the Taxation Aid Fund was $22,162.00.

Members:

The Fund is overseen by a five-person committee. Three are volunteer citizens members, Chair Geoff Tegnell, Michael Perna, and Jo-Anne Richard and two are town employees, namely Dedham Treasurer Jason Caravaggio and Board of Assessors member Michael Polito.

Work of the Committee:

This committee began to award Taxation Aid to qualified elderly and/or disabled Dedhamites in the fall of 2022 when 34 applicants qualified to receive awards.  This past fall the TA Committee once again publicized the availability of taxation aid to Dedham homeowners via newspaper articles, the Town website, and brochures disseminated to Dedham churches, government offices, libraries, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Elks, and numerous businesses.  As a result, in December 2023 twenty-nine qualified applicants received awards of $400 each.  Starting in July 2024, Dedham elderly and disabled homeowners may apply for 2025 taxation aid.  Directions to do so may be found on the town website.

Since they are based on both the number of qualifying applicants and available funds, awards will vary in amount from year to year. In order to increase both the amounts awarded and the number of recipients, in the future the Taxation Aid Fund will need additional funding. Donations can be conveniently made on each property tax bill.  Per MA law governing this program, a donation made via the tax bill must be at least $1.  Donations may also be made online, or sent by check payable to the Town of Dedham. Please mail checks to:

Town of Dedham Treasurer/Collector Office
Taxation Aid Committee
450 Washington Street
Dedham, MA 02026

Contact Information:

Taxation Aid Committee: 781-751-9160, TaxAid@dedham-ma.gov 

Prepared By:

Joe Hamilton, Veterans Services Officer

Role of the Veterans Services Office

The Veteran’s office has been engaged in outreach events to inform Veterans and their families of benefits available. A monthly meeting is scheduled for the last Monday of every month at 10am in the Senior Center.” Military Mondays” is open to all Veterans, family, and friends of veterans. The monthly meeting has grown to 20-25 participants each month.  

The Veteran’s Office has been working with the Council on Aging, the Youth Commission, The Health Department, The Brookdale Cemetery, and the Assessor’s office to help provide information and benefits to veterans and their families. Working with Assessing Director Kevin Doyle, The Town of Dedham now participates in a state funded DIC pension program (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) that waives homeowners property tax that are receiving a DIC pension. Dedham currently has 19 homeowners receiving a DIC pension. In past practice a DIC recipient homeowner would receive a $2,000 tax exemption on each year’s property tax. This new program waives the property tax, and the state fully reimburses the town for each DIC homeowner.  

Our state CH115 program has less recipients than last year. This is a trend across the state.  We are working to make more Dedham residents aware of the Chapter 115 program. This program has strict guidelines and financial requirements to be able to participate.  The Veteran’s Office has seen a significant increase in federal claims in the last year. The Veteran’s office has had an increase of over 100 federal VA claims in the last year.  Not just with Dedham residents but also with neighboring towns and cities. West Roxbury, Hyde Park and Roslindale are some of the other communities seeking Veteran Benefits at the Dedham office. I believe this is happening for a few different reasons. One, the Dedham office is more accessible than the Boston offices to some communities. Another is the cost of living and tax increases. Veterans and their families are looking for ways to help with these costs. Lastly, I think word of mouth is a big component. We can only submit ch115 applications to Dedham residents. Federal VA compensation, pension and Health care has no residential restrictions. We try to be present, understanding, informative and trustworthy to every person that walks into the office.  

The Veterans Office coordinates Veterans Day and Memorial Day Ceremonies and events. We will have a religious service on Memorial Day followed by a ceremony at Brookdale Cemetery. Afterwards a brunch will be hosted at one of the Veterans Posts.  

The Council on Aging and the Veterans Office host a luncheon a day or two before Veterans Day. On Veterans Day we have the ZERO-K road race followed by a thank a veteran, town wide lunch in. Proceeds from the road race go to the PFC John Andrew Barnes III Armed Forces Scholarship. This scholarship is managed by the Dedham Combined Veterans Council.   

One of the biggest problems and concerns of Dedham’s veterans is the cost of living. This applies mostly to our senior veterans. We have a growing number of retired veteran homeowners who are having difficulty staying in their home due to rising costs. With the yearly property tax increase, rising cost of utilities, and the rising inflation has left our senior veterans in a difficult situation. Most veterans with a retirement pension and social security are finding their fixed income is not enough to get by. The veteran’s office tries to combat this by getting VA benefits for the veteran that may lead to property tax breaks. Also, we encourage veterans to participate in the veteran tax work off program.  

The Veteran’s Office is open to all of Dedham. Anyone who has any concerns, ideas or thoughts is encouraged to call, email, or come in. Dedham is a strong Veteran community and will only become stronger. 

Contact Information:

Veterans Services Office: 781-751-9267

Prepared By:

Director of Planning, Zoning and Natural Resources Jeremy Rosenberger

About the Zoning Board of Appeals:

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is an essential part of our town’s government, responsible for hearing and deciding on applications for Special Permits and Variances as required by the Town of Dedham Zoning Bylaw. 

The ZBA is made up of five members who serve for five-year terms and two associates who serve for a one-year term. All members are appointed by the Select Board and must include an attorney at law, one civil engineer, one architect, structural or mechanical engineer, or a master builder, or a person with 10 or more years of experience in construction or supervision of construction of buildings. 

The ZBA meets on the third Wednesday of every month, and all activities of the Board are conducted in open meetings, in accordance with Chapter 39 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The ZBA is supported by the Planning, Zoning, and Natural Resources Department, and the goal of the ZBA is to treat all applicants fairly and to render decisions in a timely manner. 

Projects:

The ZBA had a busy year in 2023, with 40 petitions for variances and special permits considered over 12 meetings. Notable cases included:

 

 

The Board's thorough review of these cases demonstrates their commitment to upholding zoning bylaws while supporting the community's growth and development.

In January and February, the Board reviewed five commercial applications and three residential applications. March will consist of all residential applications, three for Accessory Dwelling Units and one to demolish one single family home and construct two single family homes in its place.

Contact Information:

Planning, Zoning and Natural Resources Department: 781-751-9240