Marshfield Select Board Deadlocks on Charter Expansion Vote, Killing Measure for Now

MARSHFIELD — May 20, 2026 — Marshfield Select Board deadlocks 1-1 twice, blocking charter expansion and finance director votes. Chair Rick Smith and member Eric Kelly split evenly on both measures at Wednesday's meeting, defeating motions to forward special legislation to the state for a five-member Select Board and a new Finance Director position, each of which had passed at the April town meeting with roughly 94 percent and 80 percent support, respectively. Kelly argued both items belong before a charter review commission, while Smith said he sought to honor the town meeting vote. The board also approved a three-year, $100-per-month lease of the former DAV Hall to the AmVets Association, contingent on Town Counsel Robert Galvin's review of insurance coverage, and granted the Marshfield Boys and Girls Club a 25 percent reduction — roughly $10,000 — on building permit fees for its new $3.5 million Dean Center project. Capital Budget Committee Chair Jack Griffin appeared to warn that Marshfield carries approximately $105 million in bonded debt with annual service costs exceeding $8 million to $10 million, that a five-year capital request list totals $73 million, and that his committee has waited months without a written answer on funding sources for items on the June 15 annual town meeting warrant — a response Smith promised in writing by May 22.