The Marshfield Advisory Board convened at the Police Emergency Operations Center to finalize recommendations for the upcoming Special Town Meeting, tackling a dense warrant that included million-dollar labor contracts and the third attempt to pass MBTA Communities zoning. A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to Article 2, a hard-fought contract ratification for Local 2568 firefighters that had been expired since June 2023. Vin explained the urgency of the matter, noting that firefighters’ wages had been frozen for over two years, which Chief Lasselva identified as a significant detriment to the morale of the station. Town Accountant Sean clarified the financial impact, stating, The 780,000 has to come from free cash. That’s the retro component, while an additional $300,000 will be required for the current fiscal year to cover new educational and specialty pay multipliers. Motion Made by Vin to recommend Article 2 to Town Meeting. Vote Passed 7-0

The board also revisited the contentious MBTA Communities zoning articles, which have previously been rejected twice by voters. Despite an ongoing legal appeal by the town, Chairman Scott emphasized the risk of the state appointing a special master to dictate local zoning if the town remains non-compliant by January 2026. I do believe this is the hardest place in this town to make it happen, Scott said of the proposed overlay district near the Quirk property, suggesting that the site's lack of infrastructure makes development nearly impossible. Vin added that the legal landscape has shifted since the last vote, observing, We thought we could win the battle and we lost the battle. Paul highlighted the financial stakes, warning that the amount of money we will be reimbursed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is incumbent on us moving forward. Motion Made by Scott to recommend Articles 13, 14, and 15 to Town Meeting. Vote Passed 7-0

Financial discussions extended to capital requests and land acquisitions. Article 7, a $7.8 million roof replacement for Martinson Elementary, received support after Scott shared a professional estimate showing the budget was realistic despite soft costs. I think it’s more than enough to cover the cost, Scott remarked. The board also scrutinized several land purchases, including Article 8 and 9 for open space and wildlife protection. Donna expressed appreciation for the town's commitment to conservation, stating, We're very lucky that we can have space like that in this town. Motion Made by Scott to recommend Article 8 to Town Meeting. Vote Passed 7-0 and Motion Made by Scott to recommend Article 9 to Town Meeting. Vote Passed 7-0

Veteran services and municipal bylaws also saw action. Article 27, which adopts provisions of the Heroes Act to increase tax exemptions for disabled veterans, was estimated to cost the town $164,000. Jan spoke in favor of the benefit, noting, I think most people agree everything we can do for our veterans and heritage is a good thing for the town. Brian agreed, adding, Obviously it’s a good benefit for the veterans in that class. However, the board was less receptive to several citizen petitions. Article 35, a request for mandatory road grading, was deemed legally problematic due to funding issues. Chris voiced concerns over a separate petition regarding seaweed removal costs that surfaced late, noting, I have no problem if they would have called on Tuesday after Labor Day... but here we are several weeks later. Motion Made by Scott to not recommend Article 35 to Town Meeting. Vote Passed 7-0

The session concluded after the board reviewed zoning table cleanups and park usage restrictions. Regarding Article 28 on stormwater runoff, Paul noted his support for tightening the rules based on his professional background, saying, I’m in favor only because of my experience... being trained a long time ago. However, the board ultimately voted not to recommend the article as written due to concerns over subjective enforcement. After completing the warrant review, Scott thanked the members for their thoughtful participation. The meeting was adjourned at the conclusion of the agenda.