The Marshfield Community Preservation Committee (CPC) weighed over $2 million in potential project funding Wednesday night, headlined by a high school athletic lighting proposal that could nearly double in scope to include youth sports fields. The meeting featured presentations ranging from affordable housing and historic preservation to significant harbor infrastructure improvements, as the committee began its annual review of applications for the upcoming Town Meeting.

Rachel Antonello presented an $800,000 Phase 2 request for lighting, a scoreboard, and a sound system at the Marshfield High School varsity baseball field. Antonello noted that while stadium lights existed before the high school renovation, their restoration is critical for scheduling, explaining that lights allow us to have varsity, JV, and freshman games on the same complex while preventing youth games from being called for darkness. Chair Dennis Keller suggested expanding the project’s scope to include the softball field and additional youth fields, potentially bringing the total request to $1.7 million. This is just preliminary to see if there's appetite to explore a larger project that would benefit soccer, lacrosse, and football, Keller said. Brent Courchene expressed interest in the broader plan but sought more detail on financial efficiencies, stating, I'd like to see what the all-in number looks like with economies of scale. We need to see the savings before considering it. Jack Arouca also voiced support for investigating the expanded lighting for the softball field.

Habitat for Humanity representatives Paris and Joe Susa presented a $250,000 request to build a single-family affordable home on Main Street. Paris explained that site constraints, including a significant slope, require a $50,000 raised septic system and limit the property to one house. We are working with planning on the LIP application to the state to ensure this counts toward Marshfield's affordable housing credit, Paris told the committee. Susa addressed a budget discrepancy in the application, clarifying that the $250,000 request covers a portion of the $587,000 construction cost. Mike Barlas questioned if the home would be reserved for a local resident, to which Paris responded that state rules for single-unit projects require an open pool lottery. Bert O'Donnell inquired about the possibility of adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit, though Paris noted the septic requirements likely preclude it. Carrie Richardson and Cecilia Delgadillo questioned the construction timeline and the visual impact of the mounded septic system respectively.

Harbormaster Mike DiMeo brought forward two major harbor projects: a $490,000 request for Phase 2 of Damon’s Point and a $287,949 proposal for Phase 3 of the Green Harbor Harborwalk. DiMeo noted that Marshfield’s recent compliance with the MBTA Communities Act has reopened doors for state funding, saying, Now that the town is MBTA compliant, I am eligible for state grants again. Resident Steven Stern supported the Damon’s Point plan, noting, I commend the idea of separating the birders and boaters. Fellow resident Kevin Malloy questioned the durability of the new docks against winter ice, while Brad White praised the harbor’s role in emergency safety. Regarding the Harborwalk, resident Mary Murphy questioned the safety of the proposed route away from the water, asking, Why bring people across to oncoming traffic? New committee member Katie Gensheimer asked for clarification on the seasonal use of the proposed docking infrastructure.

The committee also reviewed a $250,000 request from the Friends of Friendship Hall for historic exterior restoration of the 1897 parish house at 83 Old Main Street. Chris Johnson emphasized the building's role as a community hub that hosts 75,000 visits annually for peer recovery and youth groups, stating that 74% of the use is community-based. Addressing potential church and state legal concerns, Stephen Healy noted that the building’s programs are open to the whole community, not just church members. Christopher DeOrsay added that a permanent preservation restriction would ensure the building is maintained regardless of ownership. Vice Chair Kevin Cantwell inquired about the specific nature of youth programs held at the site to ensure they aligned with funding requirements. Member Harry Lanstein participated in the committee's consensus throughout the evening's deliberations.

In addition to project reviews, the committee addressed a long-standing vacancy on another town board. Motion Made by C. Richardson to support B. O'Donnell's application to the Select Board for the CPC seat on the Open Space Committee. Motion Passed 9-0. The committee concluded by welcoming Gensheimer to her first meeting and reviewing past successes at Town Meeting.