MARSHFIELD - February 9, 2026 - The Marshfield Select Board voted 2-1 to significantly increase the maximum salary for its next Town Administrator to $225,000, a move intended to attract high-caliber talent in a competitive municipal market. The decision headlined a marathon meeting that also saw heated resident opposition to a proposed wireless facility at Bluefish Cove and the approval of a “brain science” opioid prevention pilot program for elementary students.
The Full Story
Searching for a Leader: The $225,000 Question
The most critical debate of the evening centered on the town’s ongoing search for a permanent Town Administrator. Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin presented a draft advertisement for the position, leading to a sharp division over the appropriate salary range.
Vice Chair Steve Darcy pushed for a higher cap, arguing that Marshfield’s current offering was failing to attract experienced candidates from neighboring towns. “We have towns around us that have smaller populations where they’re currently paying a town administrator or a town manager more than what the top end of our current salary range is,” Darcy noted, warning that “if you pick the wrong candidate, it’s going to cost you more than $10,000.” [01:16:45], [01:17:13]
Board Member Trish Simpson agreed, emphasizing the need for an administrator with enough “acumen” to lead the town through a complex “crossroads.” [01:21:05] However, Chair Eric Kelley voiced strong hesitation, citing the town’s tight financial situation and the “out of control” nature of regional municipal salaries. [01:24:06] Despite Kelley’s concerns about the precedent of escalating pay, the board ultimately voted 2-1 to set the maximum salary at $225,000. [01:26:00]
The board also amended the job description to require Mass. certification as a procurement officer within a reasonable timeframe and directed that all applications be sent directly to the Select Board office to ensure transparency among the three members. [01:15:40], [01:16:02]
Wireless Friction: “Bluefish Cove is Not for Sale”
A public hearing regarding Centerline Communications/Verizon’s application for three small cell wireless facilities turned contentious when residents of the Bluefish Cove area spoke out against a proposed installation at 5 Water Street.
Sean Conway, representing Verizon, explained that the nodes—which are roughly 3 feet tall and mounted on existing utility poles—are designed to fill “dead zones” and improve network capacity in high-traffic areas like the beaches. [33:23], [34:38] While the board approved two locations on Ocean Street without incident, the Water Street proposal was met with fierce resistance. [01:06:25]
Resident Debra Leary argued the equipment would obstruct water views and expressed concern over the area’s susceptibility to lightning strikes. “That pole gets struck by lightning at least once a year... you add your tower and your equipment on that, that could be devastating,” Leary warned. [44:12], [44:40] Another resident, Ed Bigelow, presented a 1965 easement for the property, questioning whether the original agreement for electrical transmission covered modern wireless technology. [52:42]
The board voted 2-1 (Kelley dissenting) to approve the two Ocean Street sites but continued the hearing for the Water Street location to February 23 to allow Verizon to investigate alternative placements. [01:06:25]
Brain Science and Prevention: Drug Story Theater
The board unanimously approved a $20,000 matching grant from the town’s opioid abatement funds to support Drug Story Theater’s new “Big Place in a Small Space” pilot program. The curriculum targets students in grades K-5, using brain science to teach children how substances affect neurological development. [03:05], [16:32]
Dr. Joseph Shrand explained the program’s unique approach, which uses youth in recovery to perform and teach. [05:20] “Whenever an audience member is listening to our kids and gives them that round of applause... that sense of being valued massively increases oxytocin... the audience becomes a treatment for our kids,” Shrand told the board. The program will be piloted in Marshfield’s five elementary schools with the support of Superintendent Pat Sullivan. [07:26]
Policy Updates and Project Fees
In other business, the board voted to waive approximately six figures in building permit fees for the $7 million Martinson School roof project. [01:31:16] Interim Administrator Morin noted that because the town is both the applicant and the payer, charging the fees would effectively mean “taking money out of the left pocket and putting it in the right,” while increasing the amount of debt the town would need to borrow and repay with interest. [01:29:50]
The board also discussed a proposed policy to require all government boards and committees to record their meetings via Zoom. While supporting the goal of transparency, members expressed concerns about the technical proficiency of volunteer chairs and the $7,500 annual cost for individual Zoom accounts. [01:35:44], [01:42:54] A compromise was suggested where smaller committees might provide quarterly updates directly to the Select Board in lieu of recording every brief session. [01:48:11]
Why It Matters
The decision to hike the Town Administrator’s salary cap reflects a broader trend of “salary creep” in municipal government, which directly impacts the local tax burden but is often seen as necessary to secure competent leadership. Meanwhile, the wireless hearing highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure modernization and the preservation of coastal community aesthetics.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Vote to approve maximum salary of $225,000 for the Town Administrator position.
Vote: 2-1 (Kelley dissenting) ([01:26:00])
Motion: Approve two small wireless facilities at 175 Ocean St. and 1190 Ocean St.
Vote: 2-1 (Kelley dissenting) ([01:06:25])
Motion: Approve $20,000 matching grant for Drug Story Theater from opioid funds.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:16:32])
Motion: Waive building fees for Martinson School roof project.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:31:16])
Public Comment
Residents voiced strong opposition to the 5 Water Street wireless pole, citing property values, health concerns, and aesthetics. Resident Kathy Sullivan also urged the board not to “cheap out” on the Town Administrator salary, citing the town’s “difficult reputation.” [01:32:00]
What’s Next
Continued Hearing: The Verizon/Centerline application for 5 Water Street will resume on February 23, 2026.
TA Search: The finalized job advertisement will be posted to begin recruitment.
No Kings Demonstration: A demonstration is approved for March 28 at Dandelion Park.
Source Video: Government - Marshfield Community Media