Marshfield Grapples with $7.8 Million School Roof Project Amid MBTA Housing Mandate Standoff
MARSHFIELD - September 23 - The Marshfield Select Board and Advisory Board convened September 23 to review 37 warrant articles for the upcoming special town meeting, with the most contentious discussions centering on a $7.8 million emergency roof replacement at Martinson Elementary School and renewed pressure from the state to comply with MBTA Communities housing requirements.
The Full Story
The joint boards spent nearly five hours dissecting a complex warrant that will require significant draws on the town’s $6.4 million in certified free cash. The Martinson School roof project emerged as the evening’s most expensive and controversial item, requiring a debt exclusion vote and representing what Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Tom Miller called “the worst roof in the whole system.”
Facilities Manager Fred Russell painted a dire picture of the 1963-era roof: “It consistently leaks. The skylights are going back to 1963 vintage. They’re plastic. They’re cracking. I actually shrink-wrapped them with the things you do for boats.” Russell detailed excessive ponding, water infiltration, and mold abatement issues, calling the situation an emergency requiring summer construction timing.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has approved 49.3% state reimbursement for the project, but Capital Budget Committee Chairman Jack Griffin raised procedural concerns about whether the project qualifies as an “emergency” under town bylaws. Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin defended the emergency designation, explaining the tight timeline requirements: “One of the things they’re going to want to know is the town securing funding to match.”
The MBTA Communities Act resurged as a divisive issue, with Town Planner Greg Guimond presenting revised zoning articles after previous rejections. Guimond warned that non-compliance could result in state intervention: “The Attorney General is expected to take enforcement action against the town shortly. This action could well be to allow a court-appointed special master to decide where to locate this zoning district.”
Select Board Chairman Eric Kelley remained defiant, citing former Governor Charlie Baker’s original legislative intent: “I don’t think they have a leg to stand on, to be honest with you... If the state wants to come down and do something, then let’s go. I’m ready for it.” The proposed district would allow minimum 1,158 housing units by right on currently developed commercial land along Route 139.
The meeting’s other major financial requests included nearly $4 million in Community Preservation Committee funding for open space acquisitions and park improvements. The most significant, a $2.4 million purchase of 18.8 acres on Forest Street, would prevent a 10-lot subdivision in an environmentally sensitive area surrounded by protected land.
A $730,000 firefighters’ union contract settlement highlighted ongoing municipal labor negotiations. The three-year retroactive agreement represents what Morin called “a significant drain on free cash” that could have been avoided with more timely negotiations.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Shawn Patterson requested $834,000 for fleet replacement, including two dump trucks and administrative vehicles. The request bypassed the Capital Budget Committee due to scheduling issues, prompting concerns about proper review procedures.
Multiple wetlands mapping articles generated heated debate, with residents questioning changes that would remove some properties from coastal wetland protection zones. Building Commissioner Andrew Stewart defended the updates as necessary for accurate zoning determinations based on current soil surveys rather than 1969 data.
Why It Matters
The warrant’s approval would commit Marshfield to approximately $15 million in spending, requiring careful management of the town’s $6.4 million free cash reserve and multiple debt authorizations. The MBTA housing debate could determine whether residents retain local control over development or face state-imposed zoning changes. The school roof project’s emergency nature forces taxpayers to decide between a significant debt exclusion or potentially losing state matching funds.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Open Select Board meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:46)
Motion: Open Advisory Board meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:51)
Public Comment
Residents expressed strong opposition to MBTA housing requirements and concerns about private road maintenance funding. Several speakers questioned emergency designations for capital projects and challenged wetlands mapping changes affecting specific properties.
What’s Next
The Planning Board continues public hearings on MBTA and wetlands articles on October 6th. The Capital Budget Committee will review DPW vehicle requests before town meeting. Special town meeting is scheduled for October with debt exclusion votes to follow if approved.