Category: news

We had at least 50 people from Medway and neighboring towns at the July 17 protest at Choate Park.  Thanks to Mendy for organizing!

Some MDTC members as well as neighboring towns joined the recent protest against ICE in Milford. 2 days before his high school graduation, a Milford student was kidnapped by ICE. He has been released. Read the WBUR story from June 5. It’s unclear what will happen to him next.

Thank you to everyone who attended the May 2025 lengthy Town Meeting.  We defeated Article 29 (requiring ID’s at Town Meetings) – this affront to Democracy was voted down.  Thank you to MDTC members and others who spoke against the article, and to Geoff Foster, Executive Director of Common Cause, MA who partnered with us on providing great information and talking points. 

Download the Vote No on Article 29 Flyer for more information (pdf).

Why Not Article 29?

• Article 29 is a solution in search of a problem – Eligible registered voters now receive a clicker to vote at Town Meetings, which has strengthened election integrity while maintaining accessibility for voters
  It is said that Article 29 would prevent the confusion that occurred during the close fire truck vote. However, even if we had been required to show ID at the door, non-voters would still have been present because you don’t have to be a voter to be in the room. The clickers have solved that complication without jeopardizing registered voters’ right to participate.
• Article 29 might REDUCE Town Meeting participation – Not everyone has an easily accessible ID or other document to prove their residency. That shouldn’t disqualify them if state law already allows them to vote in a town election without one. Why have more restrictive standards for Town Meeting than we have for town or state elections?
• Article 29 could be illegal under state law – Massachusetts General Law (M.G.L.) Chapter 39, Section 18 says that “the moderator shall receive the vote of any person whose name is on the voting list or who presents a proper certificate from the registrars of voters.” This new by-law could run afoul of state law, and could result in costly and time-consuming litigation for the town as state law doesn’t require any additional proof of eligibility beyond being on the voter roll. State law does not require ID to be on the voter roll.
• Nationwide, voter ID laws have been used as a form of voter suppression – Voter ID laws are often used to make voting harder. Voter IDs can be used to target eligible voters who are less likely to have IDs. In reality, this means these laws suppress the vote from elderly, disabled, low-income and voters of color.
• Voting is not like driving a car or buying alcohol – You may hear the argument that a person has to have an ID to drive a car or buy alcohol—so why can’t we require ID to vote? To be fair: driving a car and buying alcohol are privileges. Voting is a fundamental right.
• The ID’s suggested are don’t add up – Library cards have no address.  Utility bills and contracts are typcially in one person’s name, which would disenfranchise other residents that live at the same address. Credit or debit statements are frankly no one’s business and do not have an address.  Student IDs are more likely to have a college address.

Letter to Medway from Geoff Foster of Common Cause MA

Good evening Medway Voters,

While I am the Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts – a people-powered organization working towards public policy that strengthens voting and elections, I’m also a proud native of Medway having lived the first 20 years of my life on Ellis Street.

I was concerned when I learned about Article 29 on tonight’s warrant and would strongly encourage you all to vote No on this proposal.

Installing new rules that could make engagement harder for some is a step in the wrong direction for all. Requiring IDs to participate in Town Meeting, like Voter ID laws in other states, can create additional barriers to participation which could lead to disenfranchising the elderly, people with disabilities, and communities of color. 

Furthermore, if passed tonight, Article 29 will face a legal review by the Attorney General’s office and could be considered illegal under state law. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 39, Section 18 says that “the moderator shall receive the vote of any person whose name is on the voting list or who presents a proper certificate from the registrars of voters.” 

This could result in costly and time-consuming litigation for the town as state law doesn’t require any additional proof of eligibility beyond being on the voter roll. It’s also important to note that state law does not require ID to be on the voter roll to vote in local elections and similar efforts to pass this policy at the statewide level fail to gain traction.

Please Vote NO on Article 29. Election integrity matters, but it is already built into our voter registration process. Adding a new ID burden as a requirement for participation in Town Meetings moves our democracy in the wrong direction. Thank you.

Geoff Foster,
Common Cause Massachusetts

Article 29

Citizens’ Petition) To see if the Town will vote to amend the General By-laws by adding a section: Presentation of Identification Any and all registered voters shall be required to show some form of identification prior to voting at all Town Meetings. Such identification shall preferably contain a photograph but, at the very least, shall be sufficient to verify the full name and address of the voter. Sufficient forms of identification include, but are not limited to, the following: Massachusetts driver’s license, passport, student I.D., utility bill or statement, library card, credit or debit card statement, lease or rental contract, mortgage or other bank statement, property tax bill or statement.”

Resources

• ACLU:  https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/document/aclu_voter_id_fact_sheet_-_final__1_.pdf
• Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Arguments_for_and_against_voter_identification_laws#Opposition_arguments_in_detail
• Indivisible:  https://indivisible.org/resource/voter-id-101-right-vote-shouldnt-come-barriers

FYI: GREGORY THOMAS PEVERILL-CONTI has withdrawn from the race for Library Trustee. It is too late for the ballot to be modified. DO NOT vote for Greg!!

We asked candidates to attend our Candidates Night, and to provide a statement. The candidates who responded are below.

Election Info

• Learn more about the Medway Election
• View the Medway Sample Ballot.

Town Moderator – one 3 year term

Laura Mullen

As your current Town Moderator, I am eager to serve another term. Over the past three years, I have worked with residents, elected officials, and Town Hall staff to make Medway’s Town Meetings accessible, understandable, and welcoming events where attendees know that their voices matter. Free babysitting during meetings, electronic voting outreach and implementation, and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure organized meetings are three of my accomplishments. I have also worked with chairs of the Select Board, Finance Committee, and School Committee to appoint members of the Finance Committee and a member of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School Committee. A less visible role is my membership in the Massachusetts Moderators Association to stay up-to-date on issues affecting Town Meetings.

All Medway residents, including the three generations of my family who live in town, will feel the outcome of votes at Town Meeting. I am invested in doing my very best to ensure that Town Meetings are efficient and transparent. Whether it is a person’s first or fiftieth time at Town Meeting, it is my job to make sure voters understand the process and can participate appropriately. With your vote on May 20, I can make this happen.

Library Trustees – two 3 year terms

FYI: GREGORY THOMAS PEVERILL-CONTI has withdrawn from the race for Library Trustee. It is too late for the ballot to be modified. DO NOT vote for Greg!!

Naomi Price 

I have been a resident in Medway for 38 years and own a house on Holliston St. I am married to Stephen D. Price, retired, and have two grown children, Ben and Hannah Hutt. One of the first things I did after moving to town was to get a library card. My mother was a medical librarian and I have been a lifelong library user. I raised Ben and Hannah here in Medway and brought them to the library as well. During the Pandemic, the library was a lifeline. I don’t know how I would have survived if our wonderful librarians had not found a way to provide contactless book pickup. In my work life, I have spent my career providing information, most recently at Informa Markets – Engineering as a conference director, where I enjoy planning the educational content for our engineering industry events. Now that I am nearing retirement age, I would like to give back to Medway and to the library by serving as a member of the Medway Board of Library Trustees. Politically, I am a Democrat and strongly believe that everyone, regardless of who they are, should have free access to learning, knowledge, entertainment, and factual information unfiltered by censorship. Our library offers exactly that, along with our excellent staff of librarians who can help residents to locate accurate information from reliable sources. I am a long-time member of the Friends of the Library and believe that our library staff, the Library Trustees, and the Friends of the Library would benefit from working more closely together for the betterment of the library’s services as a whole. 

• LinkedIn profile for Naomi Price
• Facebook Political candidate page for Naomi Price

Seth Kendall

As a long time volunteer and member of the library community, I would be honored to serve on the Library Board of Trustees.  I hold BS and MS degrees in Digital Media, I work as an Animation Director in the entertainment industry, and I have taught animation and digital art classes at colleges for most of my career.  I have been a regular volunteer at the library for years, particularly running the Arduino Coding and Robots workshops, together with my son, as well as the Adult Board Game Nights.  Through these programs, I have formed strong relationships with the library staff and members of the community.  In addition, I have served on the Medway Design Review Committee and am currently a Director at the New England Sci-Tech non-profit makerspace in Natick, where I teach several classes for youth around coding and electronics, as well as create promotional videos, ads, and other marketing materials.  I believe that my experiences and relationships make me a good fit for our unique library here in Medway.  We are truly lucky to have a library with such a fantastic staff and community, great free programs, and a world class makerspace. As an avid maker, artist, and teacher, I have always felt at home here.  I do believe strongly, however, that the board needs new faces and new ideas.  As you may be aware, the library board has, unfortunately, become a source of discord and tension within the library community, and I believe in a fresh approach, centered around collaboration, cooperation, respect, and transparency.  I would like to make fresh efforts to solicit community feedback and involvement, and ensure the library, its staff, and the Friends feel supported and valued for many years to come. Lastly, I plan to work with every tool at my disposal, be it policy making, budgeting, and political advocacy to protect our library, its funds and its patrons from external threats, such as the unprecedented federal budget cuts happening today.  I encourage everyone to vote for fresh faces to the library board this election cycle, such as Naomi Price and myself, to get us back on a productive and cooperative track.

• Facebook campaign page for Seth Kendall

Nutan Mathew 

As a dedicated Library Trustee for the past three years, I have proudly served our community with a clear vision: to ensure our library remains a vibrant, inclusive, and essential resource for all. With a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Library Media Studies, and professional experience as a Library Media Specialist, I bring both academic expertise and real-world insight into the evolving role of public libraries. Within our community, I volunteer at the Medway Village Food Pantry and I have children in Medway Public Schools. I see first-hand that our community is evolving and growing, and the library is a place that should be a hub for new community members. 

In today’s challenging climate, libraries are facing increased pressure—from budgetary constraints to political scrutiny. Now, more than ever, we need experienced leadership that understands these issues deeply and can advocate effectively for our library’s needs. I am well-versed in navigating these complexities and have a strong understanding of fiscal responsibility and strategic planning. 

Over the past three years, I’ve worked to support policies that strengthen our services, expand programming, and promote transparency. I am especially passionate about fostering community engagement, ensuring our library reflects and serves the diverse needs of our patrons. I hope you will help me to continue this important work. 

Experience matters. Passion matters. Knowledge matters. As we look to the future, I am committed to preserving what makes our library a cornerstone of the community while moving forward with innovative ideas and inclusive growth. I would be honored to continue serving and advocating for our library as your trustee for another term.  Let’s keep our library thriving- together.

Please feel free to email me at nutanmathew@gmail.com at any time. I am happy to answer your questions and I thank you for your vote. 

Housing Authority – one 3 year term

Paul Yorkis

I have been a resident of Medway since November 22, 1983. I registered to vote on Monday November 28 and then Town Clerk Fran Donovan asked me to drop off my resume to serve on the Conservation Commission. In early 1984 I was appointed to the Conservation Commission and have served the Town in the following different groups as a member, vice chair, or chair ever since: Planning Board, Economic Development Committee, Design Review Committee, Route 109 Design Committee, Idylbrook Farm Acquisition Committee, Master Planning Committee, Memorial School Building Committee, and Medway Redevelopment Authority.

For the past 34 years I have been a realtor. As a realtor, I have been the president of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. I am one of twelve members of the HUD Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee, a group that advises HUD on policies directly impacting first time home buyers, veterans, and seniors as well has housing counseling agencies and certified housing counselors. As a former builder, I have built affordable housing units with permanent deed restrictions, to remain affordable.

I have written successful grant applications that resulted in the creation of Idyllbrook Park, design and engineering funds from the federal and state government and successfully lobbied for the federal funds for the reconstruction of Route 109/Main Street, and acquired funds for two pocket parks, one at Main and Mechanic Street and one at Coffee and Main Street.

The four sites owned and managed by the Authority are critical community assets: the Federal properties include Mahan Circle and Maple Lane while the State aided properties include Kenny Drive and Lovering Heights. The Authority also owns properties at 248 Village Street and 5 Country Lane that are managed by outside vendors. These facilities are home to many long-time residents. The facilities need updating in terms of energy efficiency and continued enhancements to comply with the American With Disabilities Act.

It is my hope and goal, if elected, to use my knowledge and experience to explore public and private funding sources to improve the facilities and perhaps explore the need for additional housing units with the executive director Hayle S. Fetrow and other authority members.

I am ready to serve and share additional ideas and explore how to enhance the services to the residents served by the Medway Housing Authority.

Please feel free to call me, 508-509-7860 or email me, pgyorkis@gmail.com with any questions.

I respectfully ask for your vote on May 20 or by early voting.

Linda Donahue 

My name is Linda Donahue and I am running for my third term as Board Member of the Housing Authority. My husband and I have been residents of Medway for 41 years.

The following are my qualifications:

• 1/83 – 6/86 Secretary – Hopkinton Housing Authority
• 12/88 – 11/96 Administrative Assistant – Hopkinton Housing Authority
• 11/96- 8/97 During the absence of the Executive Director, I was appointed by the Board of Commissioners to handle the daily operation of mixed housing, which consisted of both elderly and family housing.
• 9/97-6/01 – Executive Director – Northbridge Housing Authority
• 6/01-6/14 Executive Director – Hopkinton Housing Authority
• During my time in Hopkinton, I worked in coordination with Mass Housing Partnership to build 12 units of Project Based Section 8 housing for families.

The above public housing experience will help me make a positive contribution to the housing authority.

Planning and Economic Development Board – one 2 year term

Kristen Salera 

Thank you to the Medway Democratic Town Committee for the invitation to speak. I’m truly honored to be considered alongside another strong candidate! 

Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment tonight with the Boy Scouts, where I serve on the committee and stay actively involved in supporting the troop. Scouting has been a meaningful part of our lives, especially as a parent to a child who sees and experiences the world a little differently. It’s a commitment I take seriously, and I appreciate your understanding.

I entered this race because I care deeply about our community. As someone who once relied on subsidized housing as a single mom and worked her way to becoming a small business owner, I know how crucial opportunity, equity, and access are. My journey has fueled a passion for helping others find stability, success, and a true sense of belonging.

With a background in investigative work for the Attorney General’s Office and a strong belief in fairness, I bring a thoughtful and practical approach to problem-solving. I want to ensure Medway continues to be a place where families can grow, businesses can flourish responsibly, and planning reflects the voices of all who live here.

Thank you again for this opportunity and for your thoughtful consideration. I would be honored to earn your vote.

The Select Board has announced that a new plan for Hanlon Field track and football field will be on the May Town meeting warrant. We have not yet seen it.

Medway Democratic Town Committee feels strongly that natural grass is the only way to keep our children and drinking water safe from the toxic chemicals found in artificial turf. The Select Board and Parks Dept has focused on artificial turf in the past as the only working option for Medway.

A Public Forum on the Hanlon Project was held Monday, April 14. It was recorded at Medway Cable (WITHOUT CAPTIONS).

ARTWORK COURTESY of Kari Percival

Charles River Watershed regarding artificial turf

Here are excerpts, but please, read the entire page.

CRWA opposes the installation of artificial turf as contrary to our core mission of promoting the health of the Charles River and its watershed. Given the increasing prevalence of synthetic turf usage in watershed communities, CRWA wishes to articulate its position on artificial turf and provide resources for those interested in learning more.  

Artificial turf is known to contain potentially harmful compounds.³ Existing studies demonstrate that the use of artificial turf substantially contributes to the release of microplastics, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), and organic contaminants into nearby waterbodies.⁴ These pollutants are perilous to the natural aquatic environment, can bioaccumulate, and severely threaten the health of fish.

Given the impacts of artificial turf installation, CRWA recommends that it not be used as part of municipal or private projects. Federal and state law has yet to fully regulate the use of artificial turf, and litigation over its ill effects has been inconclusive and sparse, though there are municipal and state efforts to limit its use in Massachusetts. As of March 2024, three bills before the Massachusetts state legislature relate to artificial turf (S.2057, H.3948, S.524). Boston has pledged not to use artificial turf on municipal properties, and state Community Preservation Act program funds may not be used for artificial turf. As the conversation around artificial turf usage advances, CRWA strongly advocates for legislation and policy that reduces artificial turf’s ability to negatively impact the Commonwealth and its waters.

PROTECT OUR WATERSHEDS, ACT TODAY

TOGETHER,WE CAN CREATE A RESILIENT FUTURE
We need your support for the prohibition of state and municipal contracts for artificial turf and the ban of tire-derived materials in playing fields and playgrounds. These materials contribute to microplastic pollution and release harmful chemicals, including PFAS and 6PPD-quinone, which contaminate our waterways and pose substantial risks to our watersheds—the very lifeblood of our ecosystems, drinking water sources—and aquatic ecosystems. The potential for widespread exposure to these toxic chemicals necessitates immediate legislative action to safeguard public health and the environment. By implementing these bans, we prioritize the well-being of our communities and the preservation of our natural resources, thereby mitigating future costly remediation efforts. We urge you
to consider the long-term consequences and support this critical legislation.

WATERSHEDS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OPPOSE PLASTIC GRASS

• Mystic River Watershed
• Charles River Watershed

Areas of Concern:

• Water contamination The leaching of PFAS, 6PPD-Q and other harmful chemicals from artificial turf into waterways is a major concern for all watersheds.
• Microplastic pollution also poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems and our drinking water supply.
• Stormwater runoff Artificial turf & pour-in-place playgrounds create an impervious surface, increasing stormwater runoff and contributing to flooding and pollution.
• Heat Island effect Artificial turf & playground surfaces significantly increase surface temperatures, exacerbating heat islands, adversely impacting public health, especially in Environmental Justice communities and heated water run-off impacting aquatic life.

*In the 193rd session, Residents from more than 35 Massachusetts communities demonstrated strong support for the Legislation to ban artificial turf, including Agawam, Amherst, Andover, Arlington, Belmont, Boston, Boxford, Brighton, Concord, Florence, Foxborough, Groveland, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Malden, Medford, Medway, Milton, Montague, Nantucket, Newton, North Andover, Oak Bluffs (Martha’s Vineyard), Pelham, Sharon, Shutesbury, Somerville, Stoneham, Topsfield, Watertown, Wayland, West Boxford, and West Newton. This widespread backing underscores the critical need to pass this Legislation in the 194 session.

2024 Town Meeting Vote

In 2024, the community voted against the replacing of Hanlon Field with artificial turf. Here are some facts about artificial turf:

• Bullet Points against artificial turf, May 2024 (pdf)
• Supporting references for the bullet points (pdf)

February 9, 2025

Larry Ellsworth stepped down after many years of serving as our Chair. He has done a great job of steering the Committee, and his leadership will be missed. Luckily he will continue to be an active member!

Moving forward, Larry stressed that he hopes more members of the community will get involved in the Committee. There was some speculation that the upcoming administration inspire more activity.

We held elections. David Tarkowski, who was treasurer, was unanimously voted in as our new chair. Katie Peters was unanimously voted in as our new treasurer. Congratulations to both!

The Medway town election went smoothly, thanks to the efforts of the Town Clerk, Stefany Ohannesian.

 We had some special guests come by, including Senate President Karen Spilka and Rep. Jeff Roy, plus several members of Pipefitters Local 537 who carried signs supporting Jeff. And there were several spirited conversations with Select Board member Dennis Crowley and others. 

Thanks to Larry and Carol for setting it all up, staying there ALL day and taking the booth down.

Also helping out were MDTC members Mark Lannigan, Mendy Tarkowski, Carol Ellsworth, Kathleen Yorkis, Paul Yorkis, Sue Rorke, Jen Pavlov, David Blackwell and Phil Fougere who gave very generously of their time and enthusiasm to make the event special. Well done!

It was also gratifying that Democrats swept the ballot in Medway. Turnout was a near-record 76% (8398 ballots cast out of 11067 voters in town)! Kamala Harris took 59% of the town’s vote for President, Elizabeth Warren took 53% for US Senate, Jim McGovern took 66% for US Representative, Jeff Roy took 62% for State Representative in precincts 2-4, and Tamisha Civil took 55% for Governor’s Council. A number of other races featured Democrats with no opponents. All in all, a good day for us here in town.

One hesitates to say we’ll be in survival mode from now on, but, maybe.

Election Results

Unofficial Medway results as of 8:30 p.m., November 5

Here are Medway results posted on the Town of Medway website.

Position	Candidate	Precinct 1	Precinct 2	Precinct 3	Precinct 4	Total
Pres / VP	Harris / Walz	1146	1314	1275	1216	4951
Pres / VP	Trump / Vance	714	803	814	815	3146
State Senate	Karen Spilka	1406	1581	1550	1495
State Rep	Jeff Roy		1269	1252	1203
State Rep	Chuck Bailey		777	787	755
Governor's Council	Tamisha Civil	968	1135	1107	1040
Governor's Council	Francis Crimmins	815	876	878	869
Senator	Elizabeth Warren	998	1161	1134	1093
Senator	John Deaton	896	985	983	960
Congress	Jim McGovern	1153	1367	1290	1276
Congress	Cornelius Shea	626	663	718	638
Ballot Question 1	Yes	1349	1426	1498	1343
Ballot Question 1	No	481	633	561	619
Ballot Question 2	Yes	1063	1216	1260	1195
Ballot Question 2	No	849	926	872	860
Ballot Question 3	Yes	834	1021	988	897
Ballot Question 3	No	1021	1047	1099	1090
Ballot Question 4	Yes	740	898	895	733
Ballot Question 4	No	1142	1208	1212	1265
Ballot Question 5	Yes	501	616	543	516
Ballot Question 5	No	1390	1511	1574	1515

There are five (5!) Ballot Questions on the November 5 ballot. MDTC held a forum with speakers for and against each question to help you understand them better.

The “action” begins at around the 20 minute mark.

The question descriptions below may be paraphrased. PLEASE read your booklet!

• Question 1: Proposed law would specify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature
  • In favor: former State Rep Jamie Belsito
  • Against: former State Auditor Suzanne Bump
• Question 2: The proposed law would eliminate the requirement that students pass the MCAS in order to graduate.
  • In favor: John Rappaport
  • Against: Will Austin, Boston Schools Fund
• Question 3: The proposed law would provide Transportation Network Drivers with the right to form unions
  • In favor: Joel Rivera, Pablo Ruiz, Patrick Cruzi – Yes on 3
  • No one
• Question 4: The proposed law would allow persons 21 and older to grow, possess and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances
  • In favor: Brennan Spencer, Yes on 4
  • Against: Chris Keohan
• Question 5: The proposed law would gradually increase the minimun hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker over the next 5 years.
  • In favor: James Wu, One Fair Wage
  • Against: Chris Keohan