Marshfield Grapples with $700K COVID Debt and Proposed Board Expansion as Residents Demand Accountability

MARSHFIELD - April 7, 2026 - In a marathon joint session, Marshfield town officials revealed a staggering $700,000 in unpaid unemployment debt accumulating since the COVID-19 pandemic, while residents advanced a high-stakes petition to expand the Select Board from three to five members. Amidst warnings of “draconian” budget cuts and a potential $875,000 loss in state grants over the controversial MBTA communities law, the meeting highlighted a growing divide between municipal leadership and a frustrated citizenry.

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The meeting began with sharp criticism from resident Patti Epstein, who questioned the Select Board’s transparency and recent budgetary decisions. Epstein pointed to a “three-to-zero” vote that she claimed was later reversed, effectively preventing voters from deciding on certain budgetary options at the ballot [01:27]. She further alleged that the public comment process had been manipulated by “signing people in who weren’t here yet,” causing residents who made the effort to attend to be pushed to the bottom of the list [02:10].