MARSHFIELD - November 3 - The Marshfield Select Board voted Monday night to place a debt exclusion question on the January 10, 2026 ballot to fund emergency repairs to the leaking Martinson Elementary School roof, a project carrying a price tag of $3.4 million with nearly half covered by state reimbursement—but board members warned of dire consequences if voters reject the measure.
The Full Story
The vote to schedule the special election came after extensive discussion about the project’s timeline, funding alternatives, and the risks of both approval and rejection. The Massachusetts School Building Authority approved the project on October 29, 2025, at a 49.1 percent reimbursement rate, but the funding is contingent on local approval within 90 days.
“If the override fails, then you’ve got a real overwhelming problem because you’re not going to get the authorization that you need from your community in the timeline that school building assistance, and you’ve got to fall off the list, and they’re going to give this money to some other eligible community,” Interim Town Administrator Charles Sumner told the board. “I really think it would be a really devastating fiscal situation for the town of Marshfield.”
A debt exclusion is a temporary tax increase that lasts only for the duration of the bond payments, unlike a permanent override. According to project documents, the debt exclusion would cost the average Marshfield homeowner—with a property valued at $758,000—approximately $30.35 annually at its peak.
The project has been years in the making, with the roof identified as a critical need. Assistant Superintendent Tom Miller emphasized the urgency of beginning the bidding process immediately, even before the January vote. “We don’t want to wait totally until after January 10th to do anything because we’ll fall back,” Miller said, explaining that contractors book their summer schedules early and delays could significantly increase costs.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has given permission for the district to proceed with bidding before the election, though the town assumes the risk if voters reject the debt exclusion. Miller noted that the bidding process was scheduled to begin January 14, just four days after the proposed election date, making the timeline extremely tight.
Board Chair Eric Kelley expressed concern about the lack of a contingency plan if the debt exclusion fails. “I think there is a possibility this could get shot down,” Kelley said. “The whole thing is that in my opinion, and it’s unfortunate, but I don’t think it’d be a waste of time is that you all should get together and then keep us in the loop. But what’s that contingency plan if it does.”
Kelley suggested that even with voter approval of the debt exclusion, the board should explore whether the project could be funded through the operating budget, potentially avoiding the need to use the full debt exclusion authority. Sumner agreed that the town would have flexibility to make that determination during the upcoming budget process. “If you have enough revenue to support this project using local receipts or free cash or just the levy as it exists today, you don’t have to spend all of your levy authority,” Sumner explained.
Select Board member Steve Darcy framed the vote as fulfilling the will of town meeting, which had already approved the project with the condition of a debt exclusion vote. “Town meeting October 20th voted to move this project forward. So we have the administrative task of picking an election date for the town to vote at the ballot,” Darcy said. He emphasized that the vote was simply setting the date for residents to make the final decision.
Darcy also provided context about the broader fiscal pressures facing Massachusetts municipalities, citing a Massachusetts Municipal Association study showing that real municipal spending has increased only 0.6 percent annually from 2010 to 2022 when adjusted for inflation, while costs have been rising at 3 percent since COVID-19. “It’s not necessarily mismanagement that is causing all these budgetary pressures. It’s just trying to keep up with inflation and the cost at which goods and services are increasing,” he said.
The project architect noted that construction cost inflation runs at approximately 10 percent annually, meaning delays could add substantial costs. The district has already spent approximately $300,000 of a $1 million appropriation on design work, with roughly $450,000 more needed to complete construction documents and bidding.
The special election will cost approximately $16,300 to conduct, plus an additional $9,560 for equipment upgrades needed because current voting equipment is no longer supported by the vendor. These costs will require a reserve fund transfer.
Superintendent Patrick Sullivan and Assistant Superintendent Miller stressed the importance of moving forward with bidding immediately to ensure the work can be completed during summer 2026, when students are not in the building. The roof has been leaking for an extended period, with the project having gone through multiple stages of review and approval.
The capital plan also includes two additional school roofs—at Governor Winslow and Daniel Webster schools—that will need attention in coming years. Those projects are estimated at $1.5 to $1.8 million each. District officials are working on a restoration plan for Daniel Webster that would cost approximately $200,000 to address the worst areas temporarily, buying time to apply for MSBA funding for a full restoration with 50 percent reimbursement.
Sumner noted that he and Town Accountant Meg LeMay will work in the coming weeks to complete a comprehensive fiscal forecast for fiscal year 2027, which will help determine the town’s capacity to fund capital projects. “We’re going to start in earnest working on the town’s financial forecast. We’re late,” Sumner acknowledged, saying he would have preferred to begin the process in late summer.
Kelley emphasized his philosophical concerns about municipal spending, arguing that spending at all levels of local government has gotten out of hand. He criticized previous select boards for not establishing capital reserve funds and urged the current board to implement long-term financial planning. He also called on state legislators to provide more funding to municipalities, noting that the state’s substantial rainy day fund generates significant interest that could be distributed to communities.
The ballot question, approved unanimously by the board, will read: “Shall the town of Marshfield be allowed to be exempt from the provisions of proposition two and a half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to pay for the cost of the roof replacement at the Martinson elementary school, 257 Forest Street, Marshfield, Massachusetts 02050, including all costs incidental or related thereto?”
The specific dollar amount cannot appear on the ballot, but the town can provide informational materials to voters showing the $3.4 million appropriation already approved at the October 20 special town meeting.
Labor Counsel Appointment
In a separate action, the board voted 2-1 to appoint the Russell Dupere Law Firm as the town’s new labor counsel, replacing Mead, Talerman & Costa that had included attorney Kate Feodoroff. The appointment runs through June 30, 2026.
Kelley and Simpson supported appointing Dupere, while Darcy voted for Feodoroff. Both candidates were interviewed during the meeting.
Russell Dupere, whose firm has represented municipalities for 45 years, told the board his practice focuses exclusively on public sector labor law. “We don’t advertise. We don’t do any of that type of stuff. We really just focus on servicing clients,” Dupere said. He noted that approximately 90 percent of his clients operate under retainer agreements with fixed monthly fees.
Dupere emphasized he does not charge for travel time, a practice he said distinguishes his firm from others. “I don’t bill you for travel. I don’t bill for anything except for time I’m actually working for you directly,” he explained. His hourly rate is $250, and he said he travels extensively throughout Massachusetts despite his office being located in Westfield.
Kate Feodoroff, a senior assistant solicitor for the city of Brockton before joining private practice, told the board she values collaborative relationships with employee groups. “When you go into any given situation, whether or not it’s a difficult employee and you’re dealing in termination or tough negotiation, it’s really important to understand what decisions are made and what those consequences will yield,” Feodoroff said.
Mead, Talerman & Costa has been representing Marshfield on an ad hoc basis in recent months, working on complex issues including separation agreements, grievances, and contract negotiations. Darcy cited this experience as a factor in his support, saying it provided a “sample size” of her work. She also proposed the lowest hourly rate among the firms that submitted proposals.
Dupere discussed the challenging economic environment for current labor negotiations, noting that recent Joint Labor Management Committee arbitration awards for police and fire unions have been averaging 12 percent over three years—about 4 percent annually. “The settlements are similar” across the state, he said, but “those JLMC awards are pushing up the ceiling.”
He warned that insurance cost increases are creating severe pressure on municipal budgets. “I have some clients that went up 38 percent” on health insurance, Dupere said, explaining that these rising costs are squeezing wage settlements even as arbitration awards remain high.
The appointment comes as Marshfield prepares for a new round of collective bargaining negotiations, which both attorneys acknowledged would be particularly challenging given current economic conditions.
Treasurer-Collector Vacancy
The board established a search committee to find a replacement for Treasurer-Collector Shaun Strobel, who resigned effective November 5, 2025. The committee will include the town accountant, principal assessor, human services director, and a select board member, with Kelley volunteering to serve.
Sumner outlined an interim staffing plan that includes continuing to use CLA Financial Management Services, which has worked with the town previously. He also requested authority to hire retired treasurer-collectors on a contract basis if needed to handle specific functions at a lower cost than the consulting firm.
Kathleen Maresco, the assistant treasurer-collector, raised concerns about the timing of the search, noting that several critical functions require a treasurer-collector’s signature by law. “We are in the middle of a couple of billing cycles, and in order to commit a billing cycle, there has to be the name of a collector on the bill that goes out,” Maresco told the board.
She also noted that tax takings—the process of placing liens on properties with delinquent taxes—cannot legally be signed by an assistant. “People are coming in to work with their tax titles, and at this point, for our new tax titles, we are ready to go to newspaper. In order to do that, there has to be the name of the person who is the collector of taxes,” she explained.
Sumner acknowledged the concerns but said he and Town Accountant Meg LeMay do not believe an interim appointment is immediately necessary, and the office has time to address the issue. “We have time. We’re going to be working to set the tax rate anyway. We’ve got a little bit of time before that effort is going to happen,” he said.
Kelley directed Sumner to reach out immediately if circumstances change and an emergency select board meeting becomes necessary.
The search committee will review the current job description and potentially make revisions before advertising the position. Sumner said he wants to advertise in professional journals as quickly as possible to attract qualified candidates.
Capital Budget Bylaw Amendments
The board unanimously approved two proposed amendments to the town’s capital budget bylaws that will appear on the spring annual town meeting warrant.
The first amendment, drafted by Town Counsel Bob Galvin based on a proposal from Jack Griffin, would require any capital project exceeding $1 million to be submitted to the capital budget committee and advisory board at least six months before preliminary design work begins. The requirement is designed to bring those boards into the process earlier for major projects.
“I thought Jack’s looking to have involvement in an earlier, in a different way than what we have in the current framework,” Galvin told the board. He explained that much of the town’s recent capital project challenges stem from not following existing bylaws requiring submission of projects by mid-November for inclusion in the annual budget process.
Griffin, who appeared via Zoom, explained his motivation: “I forwarded it because of the timing of various projects that hit capital budget where we’re forced at the last minute to make a decision where, for instance, the school roof needed to be done and they already had steps ahead where the approval was needed. If we didn’t approve it, then they probably wouldn’t have got the match. And I want to avoid that in the future.”
Galvin crafted the amendment to complement rather than replace existing capital budget procedures. The new section would become Section 95-20 of the town’s bylaws.
The second amendment relates to the capital project fund established in the bylaws but rarely used. Griffin explained that the fund was intended to capture unused appropriations from completed capital projects, creating a reserve for future needs. “What the decision making process is being done at the department level,” Griffin said. “If that money came back and went into this project fund capital budget project fund, it would accumulate. And when that accumulates, you make the decision.”
Sumner suggested the town could also modify the fund to allow proactive contributions from free cash or other revenue sources. “You could say, geez, this is something that we try to finance without a debt exclusion, for example, and you could plan in advance. And when the capital planning committee develops their plan, you could take a look at some of these projects and say, we’re going to start reserving some of our revenues for this project,” he said.
The board directed Sumner to work with Town Accountant LeMay to draft language for creating a capital stabilization fund that would allow the town to save money for future capital projects—a concept Kelley has been advocating.
Classification Hearing
The board conducted its annual classification hearing, voting unanimously to maintain a single tax rate for all property classes rather than shifting tax burden between residential and commercial properties.
Principal Assessor Anne Marie Sinnott presented the options available under state law, explaining that Marshfield’s tax base is 94.12 percent residential with only 5.88 percent commercial, industrial, and personal property. This composition makes tax shifting impractical, as it would provide minimal relief to residential taxpayers while substantially increasing costs for businesses.
Sinnott showed that shifting the maximum allowable amount would save the average residential property owner approximately $288 annually but would increase costs for commercial properties by more than $3,000.
The board also declined to adopt a residential exemption, which would provide tax relief to owner-occupied properties while increasing taxes on second homes and rental properties. Sumner, who has experience with residential exemptions in Cape Cod communities, cautioned that implementing such a program requires extensive preparation.
“In order to adopt this exemption, the assessing department would need at least two to three years of lead time,” Sinnott said. “Processing applications and determining eligibility is a lengthy process. We would need additional staff members and contracted services to implement this option.”
Sumner described how the town of Eastham recently adopted a residential exemption starting at just 3 percent to work out operational issues before potentially increasing it. “Why so small? Why not 30 percent? And the reason they did that is because there’s a lot of legwork to do, and you really have to go through a process to determine what’s a year-round domicile and what’s a seasonal property,” he explained.
Kelley asked whether the board should consider forming a working group to study a residential exemption for possible future implementation. Sumner agreed that approach would be prudent if the board is interested in the concept. “I really think you should form a small working group or a small committee to really study this, take a look at the experience from other towns, and do it in a very methodical, thoughtful process,” he said.
The tax rate will be set at $9.61 per thousand dollars of assessed value once approved by the state Department of Revenue. For fiscal year 2026, the town needs to raise $86.3 million through property taxes after accounting for other revenue sources.
Property Maintenance Issues
Building Commissioner Andrew Stewart received authorization to secure and board up an abandoned property at 655 Ocean Street after a vehicle crashed through the front of the house in June. The property owner, believed to be a 90-year-old man living in Lynn, has not responded to notices and owes more than $28,000 in back taxes.
“We have the fourth amendment. I just can’t just go on to people’s property,” Stewart explained, describing why he needed select board authorization to enter the premises to make it safe.
The building department will work with Facilities Director Fred Russell to hire a contractor, likely ServiceMaster, to board up the structure. The town will place a lien on the property to recover costs and begin a daily fine for code violations.
Stewart outlined a multi-step process that could eventually lead to the town taking ownership of the property if the owner cannot be located. The process includes conducting a survey with the police chief, fire chief, and town engineer to assess whether demolition is necessary.
Town Counsel Bob Galvin noted that recent changes to state law have made tax foreclosure more complicated. “When you complete the sale, you have to do an appraisal and then you have to return the excess equity back to the property owner afterwards,” he explained.
The property is in a flood zone on a barrier beach with nonconforming dimensions, which creates additional legal complications if the structure must be demolished. “We remove a house, the ability to reconstruct if it’s not done within two years is lost forever on that property,” Stewart said.
Routine Business
The board approved several routine items including:
Acceptance of a $200 donation to the Council on Aging from Arlene Marchant
Declaration of surplus for two police department vehicles—a 2016 Ford pickup and 2017 Dodge van—both requiring major repairs
An annual common victuals license for Banh Mi Express at 11 Snow Road, taking over the former Hannah’s Sweetcakes location
Building permit fee waivers for town projects at 824 Marine Street (Marshfield Housing Authority), 200 Joseph Driveway (Harbor Master building), and 167 Forest Street (Martinson Elementary School)
A proclamation declaring November 2025 as American Indian Heritage Month, with Kelley abstaining from the vote
The board welcomed two new staff members: Michelle Coyle in the select board office and Charles Sumner as interim town administrator. Sumner, who is beginning his fifth day on the job, outlined his immediate priorities including reviewing procurement processes and working with a contract employee to develop standardized procedures for department heads.
He also reported progress on issues related to a solar contract at the landfill with NexGrid and announced that the town received a Seaport Economic Council grant for dredging work on the North River, meaning the $67.5 million appropriated from free cash at fall town meeting will not need to be used.
Why It Matters
The January 10 special election will determine not only whether the Martinson Elementary School roof gets fixed but also whether Marshfield can secure nearly $1.7 million in state reimbursement funding. A rejection would force town officials back to the drawing board on a critical infrastructure project that officials say cannot wait much longer. The outcome will test residents’ willingness to temporarily increase their property taxes for a specific capital project while the town navigates broader budget challenges stemming from rising costs that outpace Proposition 2½ revenue growth limits. The competing pressures of maintaining essential infrastructure, managing employee contract negotiations, and controlling tax increases will define Marshfield’s financial decision-making for years to come.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To accept with gratitude a $200 donation to the Council on Aging from Arlene Marchant. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 0:08:20)
Motion: To declare two police vehicles (2016 Ford pickup, 2017 Dodge van) as surplus property and authorize disposal per MGL Chapter 30B. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 0:10:57)
Motion: To approve town counsel’s proposed policy establishing review process for town meeting warrant articles. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 0:18:24)
Motion: To approve Jack Griffin’s proposed capital budget bylaw amendment as modified by town counsel. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 0:33:45)
Motion: To continue taxing all property classes at the same rate (factor of one) and reject split rate, small business exemption, residential exemption, and open space discount. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 1:09:19)
Motion: To approve common victuals license for Banh Mi Express at 11 Snow Road. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 0:42:38)
Motion: To proclaim November 2025 as American Indian Heritage Month. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-0 (Kelley abstained). (Timestamp: 0:45:57)
Motion: To establish search committee for Treasurer-Collector position including town accountant, human services director, principal assessor, and select board member (Kelley). Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:01:53)
Motion: To approve contract with CLA Financial Management Services on terms negotiated by interim town administrator. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:02:32)
Motion: To authorize interim town administrator to award contract to another financial services person or entity for treasurer-collector support. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:09:44)
Motion: To appoint Russell Dupere Law Firm as labor counsel through June 30, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 2-1 (Darcy opposed). (Timestamp: 1:53:21)
Motion: To approve ballot question for Martinson Elementary School roof debt exclusion and set special election for January 10, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:46:10)
Motion: To authorize building commissioner to secure property at 655 Ocean Street and place lien for costs. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:58:44)
Motion: To approve building permit fee waivers for town projects at 824 Marine Street, 200 Joseph Driveway, and 167 Forest Street. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 3:01:23)
Motion: To approve meeting minutes from October 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-0. (Timestamp: 2:47:16)
Public Comment
Steve Lynch spoke during public comment about the school roof funding, arguing that the town should hold another special town meeting to bond the roof project and pay it back from the general fund rather than seeking a tax override election. He stated the town has sufficient free cash ($5-6 million annually) to fund the project without additional taxes. “Marshfield does not have a revenue problem. What we have is a spending problem,” Lynch said. He argued a special town meeting would be quicker than an election and would avoid overtaxing homeowners. Lynch spoke for approximately two minutes.
What’s Next
The special election on the Martinson Elementary School roof debt exclusion will take place Saturday, January 10, 2026. The school department will immediately begin the bidding process for the project using existing design appropriation funds. The search committee will begin advertising for the Treasurer-Collector position in professional journals. Interim Town Administrator Sumner and Town Accountant LeMay will prepare a fiscal forecast for FY2027 to present to the select board in coming weeks. Town Counsel will draft proposed language for a capital stabilization fund bylaw for consideration at a future meeting. The building commissioner will obtain quotes from ServiceMaster to secure the property at 655 Ocean Street and report back on next steps. Sumner will work with Human Resources Director Kerrigan regarding the playground inspector position and return with a plan at a future meeting.
An earlier version of this story got the vote count wrong. It was 3-0 to call the special election