Marshfield board split on interim administrator

A proposal to appoint a temporary town administrator sparked debate Tuesday, as Select Board members and residents questioned both the candidate and the process behind the move.

The discussion centered on James Kreidler, whom Chair Eric Kelley brought forward for consideration as an interim administrator amid what he described as delays in the ongoing search process. Kelley said the town needed leadership continuity and believed Kreidler’s experience made him a strong candidate.

“I decided to just make the move because it's going to be one of our last final meetings,” Kelley said, adding that Kreidler “stood out the most” among applicants he reviewed. 

He said references suggested Kreidler could help address Marshfield’s current challenges, even as concerns were raised about the candidate’s past experience in other communities. Kreidler previously served as town administrator for the towns of Winchendon and Townsend. Public comment revealed skepticism, including questions about how Kreidler was added to the agenda and whether he had gone through the town’s formal screening process.

“How did this become part of tonight's agenda?” resident Don Gibson asked, while also questioning whether the board had reviewed Kreidler’s past performance. 

Concerns about Kreidler’s prior roles became a focal point of the discussion, with Gibson citing controversies and asking whether officials had spoken with former colleagues or reviewed past evaluations.The town’s pre-screening committee also voiced confusion, saying the move appeared to bypass the process they were appointed to lead. Select Board member Stephen Darcy opposed the proposal outright.

“I can save us a lot of time and just say I'm not on board with this and I think it's an inappropriate usurpation of the citizen search committee process,” Darcy said. 

Kreidler addressed the criticism directly, acknowledging the events referenced by residents but arguing they lacked important context.

“I will acknowledge that every single thing you said is true,” he said, referring to concerns about his past positions. 

He described complex circumstances in previous roles, including financial oversight structures and leadership disputes, and said he took responsibility during difficult periods rather than deflecting blame. Kreidler said those experiences had come at a personal and professional cost but shaped how he approaches municipal leadership.

“My hope was to come in and pitch in and help a little bit,” he said. 

The discussion underscored broader tensions over how Marshfield should proceed with hiring a town administrator, particularly as the formal search process remains underway and questions persist about transparency and timing. For now, the board took no action on appointing an interim administrator.

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