Marshfield Leadership in Turmoil: Interim Town Administrator Resigns Amid Budget Override Clash

MARSHFIELD - March 30, 2026 - A brief but explosive Marshfield Select Board meeting revealed a government in crisis on Monday night, following the sudden resignation of Interim Town Administrator Charlie Sumner and Select Board member Trish Simpson. The meeting was dominated by a sharp confrontation between the two remaining members Chair Eric Kelley and Vice Chair Steve Darcy over a proposed $7 million tax override, with Kelley explicitly refusing to allow the measure to move to a town-wide ballot, sparking accusations of “anti-democratic” behavior from both his colleague and the public.

The Full Story

The meeting began on a somber note as Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin addressed the recent departures of both Select Board member Trish Simpson and his colleague, Interim Town Administrator Charlie Sumner. Morin praised Simpson’s intellectual curiosity [00:50] and expressed deep disappointment over Sumner’s resignation, which he attributed to “recent events” and a lack of respect shown to the veteran administrator during the budget process. [01:16] Morin stated he had considered resigning in solidarity but chose to stay to prevent the town from descending into “chaos” ahead of the April 27th Town Meeting. [02:02]