Search Committee Division Surfaces as Marshfield Moves Forward with Town Administrator Finalists
MARSHFIELD - November 25 - Internal disagreements over Marshfield’s town administrator search process erupted into public view November 25, as Search Committee members raised concerns about transparency and candidate vetting while the Select Board confirmed it will interview two finalists December 2.
The Full Story
The joint meeting between the Select Board and the seven-member Town Administrator Search Committee revealed a fundamental split over the hiring process that will fill one of Marshfield’s most important positions. Search Committee Clerk Jaci Mason and member Steve Lynch questioned the transparency and structure of the search, while Chair Andy Wening and Vice Chair Dennis Kelleher defended the committee’s work as thorough and legally compliant.
“I am disappointed that the public will not have an opportunity to meet the candidates or ask them questions,” Mason told the Select Board. “Seeing how a potential town administrator interacts with residents is extremely important. If many of us had seen how our former longtime TA spoke to the public, I’m sure he wouldn’t have been hired.”
Mason detailed restrictions the UMASS Boston Collins Center, the consultants hired to guide the search, placed on the committee’s work. Members could not research candidates beyond submitted materials, could submit only one potential interview question each, and had no input on advertising strategy. She noted candidates advanced by majority vote, not unanimously, and questioned whether the applicant pool was artificially limited.
“For these reasons, I strongly urge the Select Board not to rely solely on the search committee’s recommendations,” Mason said. “We were not permitted to properly screen, research, advertise, or meaningfully shape this process.”
Lynch echoed Mason’s concerns about research limitations and suggested a smaller five-member committee would have eased scheduling without changing outcomes. He affirmed voting for the most qualified candidates from the available pool, but added, “Personally, my opinion is we should have done it on our own. We didn’t need to hire anyone else to do it.”
Vice Chair Kelleher offered a sharply contrasting view. “Our committee did our job based on the guiding light of the TA profile that you presented to us and the mission you provided,” Kelleher said. “The dissent you’ve heard in the last two speakers is not consistent with the majority of the TA committee, and we’re very satisfied with the process.”
Wening provided an extensive timeline of the committee’s work: organization September 22, question development September 30, application review October 14, and candidate interviews November 4 and 6. He emphasized that confidentiality was maintained throughout and all meetings complied with open meeting law. “Much of the work we did is invisible because the nature of that work requires confidentiality,” Wening explained.
Phil Lemnios of the Collins Center defended the process as consistent with searches in over 100 communities. He explained the committee’s role was screening applicants for Select Board consideration, not selecting the town administrator. Lemnios addressed concerns about candidate pool size by dismissing comparisons to Norton’s recent search that drew 108 applicants. “There’s something wrong with a process that gives you 108 applicants, because that’s so far beyond the norm,” he said, noting Norton still interviewed only four finalists.
Lemnios also explained legal constraints. Interview questions must be developed in public meetings, meaning candidates could potentially watch and prepare answers in advance. “That’s something that, because it’s a public position, and the work of developing the questions are being done by a publicly appointed committee, there is no work around,” he said.
Procedural questions dominated much of the meeting. Select Board Chair Eric Kelley initially pressed Wening about why the committee hadn’t scheduled another meeting to approve final minutes. Town Counsel Bob Galvin clarified that the committee’s work continues until the Select Board makes a hiring decision. “The search committee’s process isn’t done until you’ve made a decision on a new candidate,” Galvin explained.
Lemnios added that executive session minutes require two-step approval: reviewing content in executive session, then voting separately to release them publicly. Minutes also need review for redactions protecting candidate confidentiality. “Typically, executive session minutes are not released until the matter in which the purpose of the executive session has completely concluded,” he said.
Tension emerged between Kelley and committee members at times. When Kelley suggested the committee was “stalling the process,” Select Board member Steve Darcy responded, “I think the only thing that’s stalling the process is this meeting.” Kelley later acknowledged Mason requested the meeting to air her concerns.
Select Board member Trish Simpson thanked the committee and emphasized the value of transparency. “I actually appreciate hearing what everybody had to say, because I think, once again, we go back to transparency,” Simpson said. “I think the residents deserve to hear that there were differing of opinions.”
Simpson also cautioned against rushing despite the extended timeline. “I don’t want to be rushed into this. I don’t want to just pick any candidate,” she stated. “We’ve been very, very fortunate to have two really good people come in and serve this community in the interim position.”
Darcy defended hiring outside expertise, noting the magnitude of the decision. “When you take into account the annual town budget over the course of three years, this is a $300 million decision,” he said. He also highlighted the committee’s political and professional diversity as an asset, noting five of seven members were selected by unanimous Select Board votes.
The board confirmed finalist interviews December 2 at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, despite the compressed Thanksgiving week timeline. The December 2 agenda identifies the finalists as Carl E. Geffken and Leilani Dalpe, though their names were not disclosed November 25 as they had not yet authorized public release.
Interim Town Administrator Charlie Sumner explained he would work with the Collins Center to finalize materials for the board. Department heads and union leaders will meet with finalists December 2 afternoon, before formal Select Board interviews, providing summary feedback to board members.
Kelley expressed concern about the tight timeline but agreed to proceed when Darcy and Simpson confirmed support for December 2. “I’m a little concerned with December 2nd, especially with the holiday,” Kelley said, noting the work ahead reviewing profiles and preparing questions.
Wening clarified he did not authorize posting of a subsequent search committee meeting, stating he would reschedule if needed after the town administrator is hired to avoid delaying the process.
In other business, Sumner updated the board on the Plymouth pump station project, recognizing Kathleen Maresco and Ken Ryan for assistance with Clean Water Trust funding. The $9.1 million project secured $6.7 million borrowing at 2% interest with approximately $430,000 in loan forgiveness.
Why It Matters
The town administrator oversees day-to-day operations of a municipal government with an annual budget exceeding $100 million. Internal disagreements within the search committee about transparency, public access, and candidate vetting highlight ongoing tensions in Marshfield following the departure of the town’s former long-time administrator. While the process advances with December 2 finalist interviews, concerns raised by Mason and Lynch about limited public input and vetting restrictions may continue generating resident discussion about whether the search was conducted appropriately. The compressed holiday week timeline will require intensive board preparation before interviews.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Search Committee motion to adjourn. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:08:07)
Motion: Select Board motion to adjourn. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:08:20)
Public Comment
Jaci Mason, Search Committee Clerk, raised concerns about process limitations including inability to research candidates, limited input on interview questions, small candidate pool, lack of public access to finalists, and $14,000 cost of Collins Center services. She urged independent Select Board research on candidates and recommended future searches begin with citizen committees before engaging outside consultants.
Steve Lynch, Search Committee member, affirmed the committee brought forward the most qualified candidates from the available pool but suggested future searches could use smaller five-member committees. He indicated the committee could have conducted the search without outside assistance.
Dennis Kelleher, Search Committee Vice Chair, defended the committee’s work and stated the majority of members were satisfied with the process.
Andy Wening, Search Committee Chair, provided extensive overview of the committee’s work, timeline, and adherence to confidentiality and open meeting law requirements.
Phil Lemnios, Collins Center associate, explained legal requirements for executive session minutes, confidentiality protections for candidates, and defended the search process as consistent with over 100 successful community searches.
What’s Next
The Select Board will interview town administrator finalists Carl E. Geffken and Leilani Dalpe December 2, 2025, at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Department heads and union leaders will meet with candidates that afternoon and provide feedback. The Search Committee remains active until the Select Board makes a final hiring decision, then will meet to approve and potentially release executive session minutes with appropriate redactions.