Budget, Staffing Changes Approved at Marshfield Town Meeting

MARSHFIELD — Budget priorities, staffing additions, and accountability took center stage at Marshfield’s 2025 Annual Town Meeting, where residents debated the creation of a procurement officer position, approved a full-time mental health clinician for the police department, and questioned both transparency around reserve fund usage and a $60 million school budget.

Article 2 sparked the most debate during the Special Town Meeting, which updated the town’s personnel bylaws. While most changes — including cost-of-living adjustments and seasonal pay increases — passed with little comment, residents spent over an hour weighing whether Marshfield needed a full-time procurement officer to manage contracts and purchasing.

“This is a complex job. It’s not just signing contracts,” said Acting Town Administrator Peter Morin. “It saves money in the long run.”

Skeptics challenged the new role’s necessity and $90,000–$102,000 salary range, questioning whether current staff or a future town administrator could absorb those duties.

A motion to remove the position entirely failed by a show of hands.

A new full-time mental health clinician at the Marshfield Police Department received broad support. The position, initially funded by a grant, will now be sustained with the help of opioid settlement funds.

“This addresses the challenges of mental health-related public safety calls through trained experts,” said Advisory Board member Ryan Smith. “It ensures the safety and wellbeing of our residents.”

Police Chief Phil Tavares clarified that the role would not replace existing positions, prompting an amendment to retain intermittent police officers in the bylaws. That amendment passed unanimously.

Article 6 of the Special Town Meeting, which allocated nearly $3.8 million in one-time expenses from free cash, also drew questions — particularly around the $900,000 set aside for the town's reserve fund.

One resident asked why that amount was necessary late in the fiscal year.

“Some of these expenses can't be anticipated,” said Town Accountant Sean Strobel. “The budget is a best guess.”

Residents also asked for more transparency in reserve fund usage, seeking clearer public explanation of department shortfalls, including election costs and fuel expenses.

Other questioned items included $21,000 for Uncle Bud Skate Park, where residents asked about ongoing maintenance. Town officials responded that upkeep was handled by a public-private partnership and the Department of Public Works.

The town’s $60 million school budget passed after a lengthy discussion, including a failed motion to reduce it by $500,000. Critics cited declining enrollment and projected costs related to increased vocational school attendance.

Superintendent Patrick Sullivan and school officials noted that the budget included the elimination of 10 full-time equivalent positions through attrition and did not reflect long-term funding concerns about special education and mandated services.

“Our expectations have actually increased as far as how we need to service our students,” said Assistant Superintendent Ellen Martin. “Whether it’s a mandate or not, we still need to do those services for our kids.”

In a personal moment, a Marshfield High senior rose to speak about the school system’s impact.

“These people have given me the resources to do whatever I want to do — to pursue my dreams,” he said.

Marshfield will move forward with implementing the approved budget, including onboarding a procurement officer and integrating the mental health clinician as a permanent role in public safety. Questions raised about reserve fund usage, special education costs, and future vocational school funding are likely to shape upcoming budget discussions and public meetings. As the town prepares for another election cycle and continues its search for a permanent town administrator, residents can expect continued scrutiny on spending, staffing, and transparency from both elected officials and the community.

About the South Shore Times

The South Shore Times is an independent, locally-owned digital news platform, free to readers, that covers communities south of Boston. Our articles are written by South Shore residents, not AI.

For more Marshfield news, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.