Marshfield Presses State on MBTA Zoning, Budget Penalties

In a tense and wide-ranging discussion at Monday’s Select Board meeting, local officials pressed state lawmakers on the MBTA Communities Act and its financial repercussions, highlighting growing frustration over the state’s stance on zoning compliance and municipal funding.

State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) and Representative Ken Sweezey (R-Marshfield) faced pointed questions from Select Board members about what many in Marshfield see as overreach by the state in enforcing controversial housing mandates. At the center of the debate was the town’s refusal to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, which requires municipalities to allow multi-family housing as-of-right in certain areas.

State Lawmakers Acknowledge Local Concerns but Urge Compliance

Senator O’Connor and Rep. Sweezey emphasized that they oppose the punitive measures the state is taking against non-compliant towns like Marshfield, but they acknowledged the reality that Governor Maura Healey’s administration has drawn a hard line.

“The administration is very dug in on MBTA communities,” O’Connor admitted. “If towns don’t come into compliance, the state is going to take money away. That’s the reality we’re dealing with.”

O’Connor noted that nearly 40 municipalities remain out of compliance, including Marshfield, which rejected a zoning proposal twice at Town Meeting. The consequence? The town has already been flagged by the state as at risk of losing grant funding.

Rep. Sweezey, who recently took office, described the penalties as “a blunt force tool” and pledged to work on legislation that would exempt communities without direct MBTA service. “It doesn’t make sense to impose transit-oriented development on a town without a train station,” he argued.

Select Board Members Fire Back

Select Board Member Eric Kelly was the most vocal critic of the state’s enforcement tactics, calling the penalties “tyrannical.”

“The state is withholding our money—the money our taxpayers paid into the system—just because we refuse to rubber-stamp a zoning change that our residents don’t want,” Kelly said. “I think that’s unconstitutional. We need to take this to the Supreme Court if we have to.”

Board Chair Lynne Fidler took a more measured approach but was equally skeptical of the state’s threats. “We need to be realistic,” she said. “If we continue refusing to comply, we need to fully understand what we stand to lose in state funding.”

Select Board Member Stephen Darcy asked the lawmakers whether they believed their proposed legislation to exempt “adjacent communities” like Marshfield had a realistic chance of passing. O’Connor admitted that the odds are “not great” given the current leadership in the State House.

“The legislature is tightly controlled,” O’Connor said. “We will push for exemptions, but the reality is that the administration has been very aggressive on this.”

Funding for Public Safety and Schools Also at Risk?

Beyond the zoning debate, Select Board members also grilled the legislators on how state funding is allocated for local services. The town’s FY26 budget is being squeezed by rising school costs, increasing pension obligations, and the looming financial impact of the new South Shore Vocational Technical High School building project.

One of the most immediate concerns is the potential loss of state grants for public safety. O’Connor revealed that the administration initially withheld funding for a fire services grant due to Marshfield’s non-compliance with the MBTA zoning law, though public backlash led to the funds being restored.

“They tested the waters,” O’Connor said. “They tried to withhold a fire safety grant to send a message. We were able to reverse it, but they’re making it clear that more penalties are coming.”

Rep. Sweezey echoed this concern, warning that the state could next target the “SAFE” grant, which funds local fire education programs in schools.

“The state is putting essential services on the chopping block just to make a point,” Sweezey said. “That’s not how government should work.”

What’s Next for Marshfield?

With the July 2025 deadline for compliance looming, the Select Board will soon have to make a decision: stand firm and risk losing crucial funding, or attempt another zoning proposal.

For now, the lawmakers urged residents to participate in the upcoming public comment period on the MBTA Communities Act, which runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 21.

“We need as many voices as possible telling the administration that this is the wrong approach,” Sweezey said.

Fidler agreed, urging residents to stay informed and engaged.

“We need to be strategic,” she said. “This isn’t just a zoning issue anymore—it’s about the financial health of our town.”

The Select Board plans to revisit the MBTA zoning issue at a future meeting to weigh its options.