In the final significant vote before the meeting was adjourned to a second night, Article 7 passed to authorize $7,466,864 for a full roof replacement at the Martinson Elementary School. PATRICK SULLIVAN, Superintendent of Marshfield Public Schools, explained that the current roof is 27 years old and failing. The project has been accepted into the MSBA’s accelerated repair program, which will provide a 49.31% reimbursement, leaving the town’s estimated cost at $3.76 million.

The project sparked technical debate between members of the Capital Budget Committee and the school’s architects. Jack Griffin and Ed Dubo argued that an EPDM (black rubber) roof would be more durable and energy-efficient for the New England climate than the proposed TPO (white plastic) roof. However, school officials and the project architect noted that current building codes require the roof to be "solar ready," and that the TPO system with welded seams was preferred to prevent the seam failures seen in the current EPDM roof. The project will now go to the ballot for a debt exclusion vote, with an estimated tax impact of $22.76 per year for the average home.

Motion: The select board moves that the town vote to appropriate the sum of $7,851,680 (amended to $7,466,864 in the presentation) for the purpose of paying for the cost of roof replacement at the Martinson Elementary School... provided that any appropriation here shall be subject to and contingent upon an affirmative vote... to exempt the amounts required for the payment of interest and principle.

Vote: Passed by 2/3 Majority