Marshfield Defers Budget Articles to June, Advances Governance Changes to April Town Meeting

MARSHFIELD — April 7, 2026 — Marshfield Select Board and Advisory Board defer all financial budget articles to June while advancing governance and zoning changes to April 27 town meeting. The two boards held a joint public hearing Tuesday to walk the special and annual town meeting warrants, deferring the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, salary articles, and collective bargaining agreements to a June session, with free cash reported at approximately $3.8 million entering town meeting against a reported $7 million deficit. Citizen petitioner Brian Fleming of Jedediah's Path argued for a five-member Select Board, telling the Advisory Board that board members earn $1,000 a year, making the cost of expanding "really cost effective," while Town Counsel Robert Galvin confirmed the Select Board is not obligated to forward the article to the legislature even if town meeting approves it. The Planning Board voted unanimously the prior evening to oppose Article 37, which would repeal the MBTA Communities multifamily overlay district for the fourth time, with Galvin saying repeal requires a two-thirds vote and the Attorney General would likely block it. Among items advancing to the April 27 meeting: formal authorization of revolving funds totaling roughly $1.3 million in annual authorized spending across five town departments, a capital bylaw amendment requiring six-months notice on projects over $1 million, and a proposal to admit Pembroke to the South Shore Regional Vocational School District at an estimated 10 percent cost share.