Whitman Town Administrator Announces September Retirement After 23 Years

WHITMAN — May 19, 2026 — Whitman Select Board reorganizes under new chair as town administrator announces retirement and a failed debt exclusion creates a looming fiscal crisis. Justin Evans was elected chair of the five-member board at the May 19 reorganization meeting, with Dan Salvucci returning as vice chair and Sean Fitzgerald elected clerk; newly elected members Dawn Baez and Christine Gorman were seated for the first time. Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter, who has served the town for approximately 23 years — 19 as treasurer-collector and more than three as town administrator — announced she will retire September 5 and will assist with hiring her successor over the summer. Carter also reported that the South Shore Vocational Technical High School debt exclusion ballot question failed at Saturday's annual town election by just 93 votes out of 1,347 cast, leaving an estimated $1,093,000 annual debt payment — confirmed by district Treasurer Tom Hickey — potentially inside the levy beginning in fiscal year 2028 if a future vote does not succeed. "It is unreasonable to assume that a debt payment for a large building project can be absorbed within the town's operating budget," Carter told the board. The board passed over a planned vote to increase fiscal year 2027 revolving account expenditure limits — including a proposed recreation department increase from $75,000 to $130,000 — after a resident raised a point of order on the statutory timing, and directed town counsel to clarify the question.