After setback, Select Board renews town administrator search

MARSHFIELD — Since April 2025, the town has cycled through two interim administrators. Beginning Jan. 21, both will serve simultaneously—the same two administrators who have alternated in the role over the past eight months.  At the same time, the Select Board will renew its efforts to find a permanent town administrator by voting on the creation of a new candidate screening committee.

Current Interim Town Administrator Charles Sumner’s contract expires January 20, and he returns to the job February 19. He will continue to work remotely and in a reduced capacity between those dates developing the FY27 budget proposal and the warrant for the annual Town Meeting.

To make up for Sumner’s reduced role, former interim town administrator Peter Morin will also work part-time until February 19. Morin took the position after former Town Administrator Michael Maresco left in April, and Sumner replaced Morin in November.

Sumner and Morin both have new contracts for that time period that the Select Board approved in a meeting January 12. They will be paid $100 per hour, and Sumner is authorized to work 10 to 15 hours per week remotely.

In discussing a new way forward, Sumner suggested assembling a committee that will screen candidates for a three-year contract as town administrator. The Board declined to hire someone from the first round of candidates in December after conducting interviews with two finalists.

After some debate on the size and makeup of the committee—the Board considered including one of their members or another town’s administrator as members—Darcy moved to hold a vote on the creation of a five-member committee of Marshfield citizens selected by Sumner and Morin, who would both serve on the committee as non-voting members.

Darcy said Sumner and Morin could offer valuable expertise to the committee, and Select Board Member Patricia Simpson was ready to vote in favor. Select Board Member Eric Kelley had expressed his opposition to empowering Sumner and Morin to appoint the committee instead of retaining that power for the Select Board.

Resident Joe Pecevich interjected after Darcy’s motion, noting that Sumner and Morin are not Marshfield residents and arguing that they should not have the power to appoint citizens to the screening committee.

“I don't know why the Select Board would be giving up the power to control this screening process,” Pecevich said. “Why in the world would it be turned over to people that are not residents of the town without a long-term stake?”

The Board allowed this interruption, and instead of resuming the vote that Darcy began, postponed it to the next meeting.

The Board also plans to advertise a salary range for town administrator of $190 to $210 per hour, though Darcy and Sumner pitched the idea of raising the maximum pay to $230 to attract higher-quality candidates.

“It costs a lot more than $10,000 to hire the wrong person,” Sumner said. “The cost relative to operational issues will pale in comparison to a few dollars.”

Select Board Members Eric Kelley and Patricia Simpson advocated for keeping the salary range as it is, citing budgetary concerns.

“We’re in a financial mess right now,” Kelley said. “I don't even think it should be as much as what it is right now.”

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