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The meeting shifted focus from routine business to an intense examination of municipal project management when board members questioned the status of the Lage property, a parcel acquired nearly a decade ago intended to serve as a parking area across from the Herring Run. Despite previous administrative assurances that the project would be posted for public bid by June 17, Town Manager Bill Chenard acknowledged that no such action had occurred. Similar delays were discussed for the public boat ramp upgrades at Oldham Pond and Furnace Pond.

When pressed for a concrete timeline, Chenard cited an overwhelming fiscal workload, including legally mandated year-end closing procedures, bond counsel correspondence, and Department of Revenue audit preparations. He asserted that his short-staffed office had to prioritize compliance items carrying financial penalties over infrastructure projects.

“There is a huge workload... In all good faith to this community, I cannot prioritize those. There is no penalty for us for not doing those. There is huge penalties if we don’t do the other tasks [34:31].” — William Chenard, Town Manager

Board members rejected the reasoning, noting that the infrastructure initiatives had languished for years. Members suggested that Chenard’s difficulty with delegating administrative duties, such as formatting and publishing bid packages, created a bottleneck. To establish administrative accountability, the board directed Chenard to submit his schedule and the workloads of his office staff for oversight review.

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The primary focus of the June 16 session centered on the first reading of the 2026–2027 student handbooks across all three academic levels. While the elementary and middle school handbook adjustments focused largely on standard administrative alignments—such as formalizing a 3.5-hour requirement to be marked present for a full school day and minor structural updates—the high school handbook introduced comprehensive changes to student conduct and daily routines.

Under the newly proposed high school guidelines, students must surrender their cell phones to a classroom caddy upon entry. While passing time in hallways and lunch periods remain exempt, the restriction explicitly extends to study halls. Committee Member Susan Bollinger voiced concerns over the all-or-nothing nature of the classroom restriction, advocating for leniency during unassigned study periods to allow students a mental break or a direct line to parents. However, Superintendent Erin Obey and other committee members emphasized the necessity of minimizing administrative grey areas, citing that consistent expectations prevent structural friction and safeguard state-mandated “time on learning” metrics.

“The idea of a study hall is to allow you additional time to work on your schoolwork. On your cell phone is not considered time on learning, so the way it was proposed was that this would be the same expectation when you enter all classrooms at Pembroke High School.” — Superintendent Erin Obey

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Town Manager William Chenard initiated the evening’s primary discussion by outlining the financial necessity behind the user fee spike. Because Pembroke operates its waste disposal services through a self-sustaining enterprise fund, all expenditures relating to trash, recycling, and the local recycling center must be entirely covered by user fees rather than the general tax levy.

Chenard reported that Pembroke’s local tipping fees jump drastically—from a standard $12 per ton up to $90 per ton—whenever a recycling load is deemed contaminated. This widespread contamination, combined with a 4% rise in contractual hauling fees and an additional 2.5% hike in certain tipping costs, prompted a thorough revenue analysis by the Treasurer-Collector, confirming that a $40 annual increase was mandatory to remain solvent.

“When you go from $12 a ton to $90 a ton for recycling because it’s contaminated, that’s a significant impact... It’s a best practice to raise them to be in line with the contractual obligations that we have.” [15:23] — Town Manager William Chenard

Despite the rate increase, the Select Board emphasized that Pembroke remains an anomaly on the South Shore by continuing to offer premium waste amenities within its flat annual fee. Chenard detailed that Pembroke is the only surrounding municipality that still includes complimentary curbside pickup for bulky items like couches and chairs. They noted that neighboring communities either enforce “pay-as-you-throw” programs or charge isolated multi-hundred-dollar fees for transfer station access. If residents were forced to transition to private waste haulers, the baseline cost would climb to roughly $629 annually without covering bulky items, hazardous waste days, or yard waste disposal.

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The meeting opened with a standard call to order and announcement section, including condolences sent out for long-time resident and VFW fixture Dan Sullivan, who passed away at the age of 97.

The board then shifted immediately to its annual board reorganization. Nominations for the position of chair brought forward two candidates: newly elected Steve Ciciotti and returning member John Brown. A roll-call vote on Ciciotti failed to achieve a majority, drawing “yes” votes from Tracy Marino and Ciciotti himself, while Brown, Dan Trabucco and Sean Keegan voted “no”. A subsequent roll call for John Brown secured the position, gaining support from Brown, Trabucco, and Keegan. Leadership changes continued as Sean Keegan was unanimously voted in as vice chair, and Tracy Marino took over as clerk after Trabucco declined a nomination for the role.

Following leadership adjustments, the board welcomed Steve Gorman, store director for the incoming Big Y supermarket at 24 Mattakeesett Street. Gorman outlined the timeline for filling the town’s recent supermarket vacancy, stating that the store has successfully hired nearly 100 employees from the area. He detailed a two-tiered opening plan: a “soft opening” scheduled for June 4th to allow staff to familiarize themselves with the building and equipment, followed by a full grand opening celebration on June 18th featuring food trucks and DJs. The board unanimously approved Big Y’s Common Victualler license pending a final health inspection.

“We are soft opening on June 4th... it just kind of lets everybody settle in and be comfortable, and then what we’ll do for June 18th, that’ll be our grand opening celebration.” [11:51] — Steve Gorman, Big Y Store Director

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The Pembroke School Committee gathered at the North Pembroke Elementary School Library to finalize its internal leadership restructuring for the 2026–2027 school year [01:51]. In a series of consecutive roll-call votes, the group transitioned out of its previous year’s dynamic. Sue Bollinger moved to nominate Allison Glennon as the next committee chair, which passed unanimously in a 5–0 roll call vote [03:02].

The mood grew tense during the subsequent vote for vice chair. While Bollinger was ultimately selected for the role, the nomination passed on a narrow 3–2 split vote, with committee members Katrina Delaney and Katrina Scarsciotti both voting against the choice [04:38], [05:53]. Former Chair David Boyle was then elected as the new committee clerk through a unanimous 5–0 consensus after Scarsciotti declined to serve a consecutive term [06:43], [07:43].

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The unofficial results from Saturday’s local election revealed a stark disconnect between the residents who attend town meetings and the general voting public.

Vocational Partnership Blocked

At the May 12 Town Meeting, a definitive majority championed the capital and operating investments required to join South Shore Tech. However, at the polls, the financial anxieties raised by fiscal conservatives during the town meeting debate carried the day across all five precincts.

• SSVT Question 1 (the operating override to fund Pembroke’s assessed share of the district budget) failed brutally, with 1,148 votes in favor and 2,290 opposed.

• SSVT Question 2 (the capital override to fund the town’s portion of the new regional high school building in Hanover) met an identical fate, falling 1,161 to 2,249.

Because Town Manager Bill Chenard previously clarified that the initiative required a clean sweep of four distinct approvals—two at Town Meeting and two at the ballot box—the crushing double-defeat effectively kills Pembroke’s bid to join the district for the foreseeable future. The town will continue to face zero guaranteed slots for incoming ninth-graders seeking vocational education.

“If any of the four votes fails, the entire opportunity fails... then the measure is failed and we’re not going to have the opportunity to go to South Shore Vocational Tech.” — Bill Chenard, Town Manager

SSVT Regional Agreement: Member Town Approval Status

[✅] Abington | [✅] Cohasset | [✅] Hanover | [✅] Hanson | [✅] Marshfield [✅] Norwell | [❌] Rockland | [✅] Scituate | [✅] Whitman

Pembroke Admission Progress [❌]

[✅] Member Town Approvals (6/9 Required) | [❌ ] Operational Override ($2m) | [❌] Debt Exclusion (new SSVT High School)

Select Board and Town Clerk Races

While voters pulled the emergency brake on tax overrides, they opted for familiar leadership on the Selectboard. In a four-way race for two open seats, incumbent Chair Tracy A. Marino led the ticket with 2,055 votes, closely followed by former Selectboard member Steven A. Ciciotti, who captured 1,848 votes. Challengers Tara C. Lenaghan (1,141 votes) and Gordon Perry Christopher (872 votes) fell short.

In the race for Town Clerk, Andraea C. McEttrick Cesarini won an uncontested mandate with 2,501 votes to permanently fill the seat, bringing stability to an office that has relied on temporary and acting clerks since the retirement of Peg Struzek.

Why It Matters

The defeat of the South Shore Tech questions underscores a profound taxpayer fatigue in Pembroke. Despite compelling arguments that the town’s youth are missing out on vital trade options, voters drew a hard line against expanding property tax bills, especially on the heels of major funding campaigns for a new community center and public safety headquarters. For local families hoping to send their children into the trades, the search for alternative educational pathways must now begin anew.

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Official Election Data

Ballot Questions

• SSVT Question 1 (Operating Override): Failed — 1,148 Yes to 2,290 No

• SSVT Question 2 (Capital Debt Exclusion): Failed — 1,161 Yes to 2,249 No

Candidate Race Tally

Select Board (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for Two)

• Tracy A. Marino: 2,055 votes (Elected)

• Steven A. Ciciotti: 1,848 votes (Elected)

• Tara C. Lenaghan: 1,141 votes

• Gordon Perry Christopher: 872 votes

Town Clerk (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Andraea C. McEttrick Cesarini: 2,501 votes (Elected)

Board of Health (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Adam E. Gedutis: 1,801 votes (Elected)

• Judith George: 1,349 votes

School Committee (2 Seats, 3-Year Term — Vote for Two)

• David R. Boyle: 2,282 votes (Elected)

• Allison Glennon: 2,119 votes (Elected)

• J. Paige Graziano (Write-in): 203 votes

Planning Board (2 Seats, 5-Year Term — Vote for Two)

• Carly Rose Levy: 2,188 votes (Elected)

• Stephan K. Roundtree: 1,951 votes (Elected)

Library Trustees (2 Seats, 3-Year Term — Vote for Two)

• Stephanie M. Ciciotti: 1,913 votes (Elected)

• Kathleen Ann Benvie: 1,679 votes (Elected)

• Willamina Zora Panacy: 1,425 votes

Board of Assessors (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Jeffery Leroy Funk: 2,230 votes (Elected)

Constable (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Adam E. Gedutis: 2,385 votes (Elected)

Water Commissioner (1 Seat, 3-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Richard J. Nicholson: 2,294 votes (Elected)

Housing Authority (1 Seat, 5-Year Term — Vote for One)

• Thomas Albert Berry: 2,295 votes (Elected)

Source: Unofficial Town Election Tally Sheets, Town of Pembroke, May 16, 2026.

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The meeting opened with a sense of urgency as Moderator Stephen Dodge announced that attendance had reached 417, far surpassing the quorum of 150. After a moment of silence for residents and town employees who passed away over the last year, the meeting moved quickly into its most contentious business.

The Vocational Education Debate

The centerpiece of the evening was the discussion surrounding Articles 10 and 11, which proposed joining the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District (South Shore Tech). For the past several years, Pembroke students have been largely shut out of vocational options due to state-mandated changes in admission policies that favor member towns.

Article 10 sought $2 million for the town’s assessed share of the district’s operating budget, while Article 11 requested $117,000 for the first-year debt service on a new regional high school facility in Hanover.

Resident and business owner Patrick McMahon delivered a stirring endorsement, sharing how a vocational education changed his life. “Not all kids fit the same mold,” McMahon said, noting he now employs 15 people in town thanks to the skills he learned at South Shore Tech.

“If this doesn’t pass, we are taking an opportunity away from children—an opportunity that they didn’t get a chance to have a say in. We have to be their voice.” [01:50:41] — Rose Cooper, Vocational Graduate

Opponents, however, questioned the financial burden on seniors and those on fixed incomes. Former Select Board member Bill Cullity asked, “When is enough enough?” citing rising gas prices and the cumulative impact of previous overrides for the community center and public safety buildings.

Superintendent of Schools Erin Obey and South Shore Tech Superintendent Tom Hickey clarified that while the initial enrollment for Pembroke would be limited to 10 students during the first year, it would eventually scale up to approximately 84 seats by 2031. Obey also noted that in the interim years, surplus funds from the $2 million request would be used to address “26-year-old infrastructure” in existing Pembroke schools, specifically HVAC systems.

Article 10 passed with a 262-156 vote, and Article 11 secured the necessary two-thirds majority with a 258-128 vote. Both measures remain contingent on a ballot vote scheduled for Saturday, May 16.

SSVT Regional Agreement: Member Town Approval Status

[✅] Abington | [✅] Cohasset | [✅] Hanover | [✅] Hanson | [✅] Marshfield [✅] Norwell | [❌] Rockland | [✅] Scituate | [✅] Whitman

Pembroke Admission Progress

[✅] Member Town Approvals (6/9 Required) | [❓ ] Operational Override ($2m) | [❓ ] Debt Exclusion (new SSVT High School)

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During a brief but action-packed meeting, the Pembroke School Committee tackled significant financial and structural decisions for the district’s future. The meeting kicked off with an annual public hearing on “School Choice,” a state program that allows students from other municipalities to enroll in Pembroke schools for a flat $5,000 tuition rate per student [04:36].

Superintendent Erin Obey recommended against opting into the program for the upcoming school year. She noted that while adding high school students could theoretically offset enrollment declines, the $5,000 tuition often falls significantly short of the actual cost to educate a student [06:06]. Obey also emphasized the long-term obligations of the program.

“When you commit to school choice and to a school choice student you’re committing to them through graduation. So if you open up school choice for kindergarteners and decide two years later to cease with school choice, you’re still guaranteeing that student that originally enrolled an education through 12th grade.” — Superintendent Erin Obey [05:38]

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The meeting opened with a procedural preview from Town Moderator Steve Dodge [04:56], who reviewed the 16-article warrant for the upcoming Town Meeting. Much of the discussion centered on Articles 10 and 11, which concern a $2 million operating override and a debt exclusion for the regional school budget. Dodge and Town Manager Bill Chenard engaged in a complex debate over what happens if the articles pass at the ballot box but fail on the Town Meeting floor—or vice-versa [12:23]. Dodge clarified that if the ballot question passes but the appropriation fails at Town Meeting, the authority exists but the “mechanism” to spend is missing, effectively rendering the outcome moot unless a subsequent meeting is called [15:57].

To manage potential friction, Assistant Town Manager Sabrina Chilcott explained that voters would be issued different colored cards—orange for Article 10 and blue for Article 11—to facilitate potential secret ballots [23:38].

The evening’s most volatile moment occurred during a discussion on the Select Board’s Code of Conduct policy [40:21]. Chair Tracy Marino issued a public apology for recent “inappropriate” interactions between a board member and a school committee member, later identified as Dan Trabucco and Allison Glennon [41:17].

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During a joint session with the Select Board and Advisory Committee, Superintendent Erin Obey detailed the “Maintenance of Effort” (MOE) budget, which aims to sustain current services at next year’s prices. The FY27 request represents a 3.4% increase, driven largely by collective bargaining obligations and rising transportation costs [15:03]. Despite these pressures, the budget is currently balanced thanks to a $644,654 increase in town operating funds and a conservative estimate of $75 per student in Chapter 70 state aid [17:10], [17:36].

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The forum, hosted by WATD and moderated by Christine James, brought together four residents vying for two available seats on the Select Board. With incumbent Richard Flynn opting not to run for re-election, the race guarantees at least one new face on the board. The candidates—incumbent Chair Tracy Marino, former board member Steve Ciciotti, Chris Perry, and Tara Gendreau-Lenaghan—spent an hour addressing the most pressing issues facing the community. [09:22]

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The Tuesday evening meeting opened with a legislative victory lap as State Representatives Kathy LaNatra and Ken Sweezey visited the committee to deliver news of successful funding earmarks for the district. [12:35] The representatives announced they had secured $50,000 for HVAC repairs and replacements, $100,000 for Pembroke schools to assist with capital costs—including potential expenses associated with joining the South Shore Regional Vocational School—and $35,000 for educational programming at the Pembroke Public Library. [14:25]

Despite these wins, Representative Sweezey addressed the “brokenness” of the Chapter 70 state funding formula, which currently provides Pembroke with only $75 per student in minimum aid. [16:52] The committee expressed concern that while the House budget might increase this to $150, it remains far below the inflation-driven needs of the district.

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What began as a methodical review of departmental budgets and warrant articles quickly shifted into a referendum on the conduct of town leadership. The evening’s primary business included the formal ratification of Town Manager Bill Chenard’s three-year employment contract, a move that Select Board member Dan Trabucco described as “leveling” a previously “untenable” salary. Trabucco noted that the subcommittee had engaged in months-long negotiations to ensure the Town Manager’s compensation was comparable to surrounding communities, after “winning” a previous negotiation that had left Chenard underpaid.

However, the tone shifted dramatically during the public comment period when School Committee Vice Chair Allison Glennon took the podium. Glennon presented a detailed timeline and printed packets of email communications to the board, alleging that she had been subjected to “vulgar, aggressive, and intimidating” messages from Trabucco following a routine public records request for the Town Manager’s contract.

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The meeting opened with a somber tribute from Vice Chair John Brown, who announced the passing of Frank Tobin, an 89-year-old veteran and longtime member of the Duxbury Men’s Club. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the Board immediately moved into an executive session to discuss non-union personnel negotiations specifically regarding the Town Manager.

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The meeting opened with a high-stakes informational session focused on Pembroke’s path to joining the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District. Superintendent Erin Obey and South Shore Tech Superintendent Tom Hickey presented the finalized “buy-in” figures for the town, which has been without a dedicated vocational partner since withdrawing from Silver Lake years ago. [03:51]

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The primary focus of Wednesday night’s session was a marathon presentation of departmental budgets by Town Manager Bill Chenard. While most municipal departments saw routine adjustments, the “elephant in the room,” as Chenard described it, was the town’s snow and ice removal account [23:57]. The town currently faces a deficit of nearly $1.1 million for the 2026 fiscal year following a series of devastating winter storms [24:03].

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The meeting opened with a packed public comment period dominated by the ongoing debate over the MIAA’s gender identity policy. Resident Chrissy Nelson presented the committee with research papers and a list of over 50 schools she claimed were “affected” by biological males competing in female categories [05:15]. Nelson argued that the issue was not one of ideology but of protecting the “integrity of girls’ athletics” and scholarship opportunities [03:34].

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