• Ned Bolus proclamation: Recognized Edmund P. Bolus of 34 Franklin Street on his 100th birthday (July 9); a board member volunteered to deliver it at The Mariner on July 8.
• Lease assignment: Approved amendment assigning the 1 Ridget Road lease from North Shore Medical Center (Salem Hospital) to Mass General Brigham Medical Group, Northeastern Mass Inc.
• Consent agenda: Minutes of May 13 and June 24, 2026; Glover’s Marblehead Regiment Annual Encampment use of Fort Sewall, July 17–19, 2026.
• One-day liquor license: Marblehead Little Theater, 12 School Street, August 1, 2026, 7:00 PM–10:00 PM; alcohol from Bent Water Brewing Company; $50 fee.
• Letter of appreciation: Approved sending a letter to the Marblehead Festival of Arts committee for the 250th anniversary festival.

The town administrator noted the July 4th fireworks were a success, describing it as an enhanced show for the America 250 celebration. He acknowledged fundraising by Alexander Falk and the fireworks committee, which includes the police chief, fire chief, harbormaster, rec and parks director, and DPW staff. He humorously noted his personal track record with fireworks weather and said the storms that night spared Marblehead.

The board attempted to set its next meeting date consistent with the newly adopted second-and-fourth Monday schedule. The health director will be away July 11–27, and at least one board member had conflicts on both candidate Mondays (July 14th). After discussion, the board agreed to skip the mid-July meeting and convene next on Tuesday, July 28th. The board also briefly discussed potential kratom regulation, with the director agreeing to provide a draft regulatory proposal for discussion at a future meeting. Members were asked to review both the 180-page CALM full report and the 43-page leadership council summary before the next meeting.

The health director presented a fowl permit application for 18 Stony Brook Road. The applicant supplied a plot plan, henhouse and run location, feed storage plan (rodent-proof container), and manure management plan. Neighbor notification was completed. The permit covers four chickens with no rooster. A board member asked about bird flu testing protocols; the director confirmed the department coordinates with the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, which would conduct testing and, if necessary, destroy affected flocks. The board voted unanimously to approve the permit.

A board member presented the community health update noting that tick season remains active while mosquito season is beginning. Massachusetts detected its first West Nile virus-positive mosquito of the season the prior week; no human cases were reported. The CDC heat risk dashboard forecast major heat risk for the Marblehead area from July 1st through July 3rd and moderate risk on July 4th–5th. Standard precautions were reviewed including insect repellent use, hydration (at least five ounces every 15–20 minutes during extended outdoor work), and recognition of heat-related illness symptoms.

The board reviewed the results of the CALM (Community Assessment for Local Marblehead) survey, which collected responses from 2,553 residents across 43 questions administered in partnership with UMass Boston. A 180-page full report and a 43-page leadership council summary were described as ready for distribution.

Seven highest priorities identified by UMass Boston: | Priority Area | |—| | Stress | | Parenting | | Caregiving | | Pedestrian and biking safety | | Substance use | | Financial fragility | | Social division |

The 40–50 age group (the “sandwich generation”) was identified as the most stressed demographic. The board discussed focusing on youth mental health and substance use prevention, with one member describing a 21-year model from Trumbull, Connecticut that SAMHSA recognizes as a national model for reducing underage drinking through community engagement and parent-child communication strategies.

The board agreed to post the CALM reports on the relaunched Marblehead Cares website, which the town now controls after a lapsed domain registration was resolved. A September timeline was discussed for a formal public rollout of results. Members acknowledged challenges in reaching younger residents (under 30) through any single communication channel and discussed combining newspaper outreach (72% of CALM respondents cited newspapers as a news source) with social media linking back to the website.

The Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, previously a Board of Health subcommittee that moved to the counseling center, has not met for six to nine months following a staff departure. The board indicated interest in bringing mental health coordination back under its umbrella.

The board agreed to hold regular meetings on the second and fourth Monday of each month, acknowledging that several federal holidays fall on Mondays and will require occasional rescheduling. Members discussed whether to form formal subcommittees governed by open meeting law or to informally organize by interest area. Three informal focus areas emerged: community health reporting, transfer station/waste management, and research, evaluation, community input, and grant-writing.

The chair raised the idea of eventually establishing a 501(c)(3) ‘Friends of Public Health’ nonprofit to supplement the department’s budget, particularly for mental health and counseling services. Members noted the state filing process is relatively straightforward but the IRS federal designation requires more documentation and likely legal assistance, estimated at $4,000–$5,000 in attorney fees. The board agreed to explore pro bono options and review how existing town nonprofits were established.

The chair opened the first meeting of the expanded five-member Board of Health by describing an opportunity to participate in developing an outdoor exercise fitness platform for the town. The program, administered through Blue Cross Blue Shield on behalf of the state, would provide a roughly tennis-court-sized concrete facility with exercise stations. Estimated cost to the town was approximately $250,000, with grant funding anticipated to offset a portion. The board noted a state park grant competition on July 9th as a potential funding avenue. Discussion centered on how the Board of Health could serve as a convener or facilitator rather than an owner or operator of such a facility.

Consent agenda approved (5–0):

• Meeting minutes: April 27, May 4, June 10, and June 17, 2026
• Abbott Hall use July 19, 2026 for American Revolution talk sponsored by National Grand Bank and VFW Chaplain Lyman Rollins Post 2005
• Surplus equipment declaration: Canon imageCLASS MF4770n, HP LaserJet Enterprise M608, HP LaserJet 9040n
• Best Friends Walk on October 4, subject to police, fire, and recreation/parks approval; no permanent markings allowed

MLT parking request approved (5–0): Marblehead Little Theater was granted restriction of three parking spaces directly in front of 12 School Street on July 4, 2026 from noon to 4:00 p.m. for an outdoor terrace event. A larger request was reduced based on traffic and public safety considerations.

Announcements:

• The Marblehead Historical Commission announced a new book, Mapping Marblehead: Five Centuries of Marblehead History, available at Abbott Hall Gift Shop on or shortly after July 4th for a minimum of $10.
• The master plan survey (2037 horizon) is available online.
• Paving is scheduled for Wednesday on Atlantic Avenue and Boobyer Street.

A board member described Flash Vote, a community engagement survey platform currently under a short-term membership agreement with the town. Key features described:

• Surveys sent via SMS text or email to an opt-in resident panel
• Results returned within 48 hours; accuracy within 4–6%
• GIS-based respondent mapping to identify geographic distribution of responses
• Platform sends 3,000 postcards to help build the initial panel
• Target panel size of at least 250 residents
• Brendan Callahan and the presenting board member are working on panel recruitment

Examples cited included communities using it for trash barrel size decisions and park improvement prioritization. The board agreed to invite Flash Vote representatives to present at the next meeting to answer questions about self-selection bias and methodology before broader rollout.

The board confirmed a retreat date of July 24, 2026. Proposed agenda topics included:

• Each member bringing 3–5 concrete, measurable goals for the year
• Categorizing and prioritizing goals, with individual members championing specific items
• Discussing the town administrator search process and defining what the board is looking for in a candidate
• Clarifying the role boundary between the select board and town administrator
• Structuring the planned quarterly joint financial meeting with the school committee and a monthly financial report from the town accountant

Board members emphasized keeping the retreat structured and time-managed.

Board member Greater briefed the board on a proposal by Veterans Agent Roseanne Tromfi to lead an informal volunteer committee for planning the 2027 Memorial Day parade. Priorities include early band booking and broader volunteer recruitment. Greater noted he had already contacted Tromfi and the town administrator. No formal vote was taken; the committee is intended to be unofficial.

The board approved reappointments for all town-appointed positions with terms expiring June 2027, covering over 30 boards, committees, and commissions including harbormaster and assistant harbormasters, finance committee, zoning board of appeals, conservation commission, historical commission, and others.

Planning board associate member held: A new letter of interest was received from an architect. The board voted to open applications through July 17, 2026 and conduct interviews at the July 22 meeting. The planning board itself indicated a desire to have the applicant interviewed.

Departing volunteers recognized: The board approved letters of appreciation for individuals not seeking reappointment, including:

• David Oster (Conservation Commission)
• Alec Goolsby (Finance Committee — noted for extensive service, particularly through the override process)
• Gary Gregory (Harbors and Waters)
• Jennifer Uhl (Cultural Council)
• John Dipoy (Cultural Council)
• Bob Nus (Marblehead Housing Committee)
• Andrew Gallucci (Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee)
• Marian Zuber (Sister City Liaison)
• Gary Hebert (Traffic Safety Advisory Committee)
• Jeff Shribman (Town Council)

New appointment highlighted: Nicholas Gilmore was welcomed as the new Town Accountant, noted for immediate contributions to the office and plans to relocate to Marblehead.

The board also renewed Turner Land fishing premises licenses for five individuals and announced open board and committee vacancies on the town website.

The Select Board approved the First Amendment to the lease between the Town of Marblehead and North Shore Medical Center, Inc. (doing business as Salem Hospital).

Key terms:

• Original seven-year lease extended to 10 years total (three-year extension), within the scope of the original RFP.
• Original annual rent: $360,000 with no escalation.
• Extension terms: 15% increase in year one of the extension (~$54,000 additional, totaling ~$414,000), then 2.5% annual increases.
• Lease now runs through August 13, 2033.
• Final-year rent will exceed $445,000.

Vote: 5–0 in favor. Chair authorized to sign on behalf of the board.

The board approved a proclamation designating June 26–28, 2026 as USS Glover Crew Member Reunion Days in Marblehead, noting the ship was the first U.S. Navy vessel named for Brigadier General John Glover.

The board also approved a proclamation honoring 250 Years of Postal Service Day, with a ceremony scheduled for July 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the post office. One board member volunteered to attend and read the proclamation.

Both votes were 5–0.

Year-End Transfers — $555,631 total Major items included:

• ~$95,000 for finance consulting services related to prior-year cash reconciliation work
• ~$55,000 for IT (wireless upgrades at fire headquarters, server upgrades ~$36,000, Wi-Fi at Mariella ~$5,000, check printer ~$3,000, domain controller upgrades ~$4,000)
• ~$35,000 for HR subscriptions, job advertisements, and HR materials
• ~$33,000 for public buildings gas bills
• ~$15,000 for park facilities heating/gas
• ~$6,350 for planning board legal services and ~$617 for legal notices
• ~$5,050 for Abbott Library materials (transferred from salary line)
• ~$1,305 for veterans flags
• ~$1,222 for police out-of-rank costs
• $67 for finance committee dues and training

Vote: 5–0 in favor, subject to finance committee concurrence.

Reserve Fund Transfer — $287,658 To cover snow and ice overtime deficit from the finance committee reserve fund. Vote: 5–0 in favor.

Open Finance Portal Demonstration Finance Director Benjamin demonstrated the town’s new Tyler Munis-integrated Open Finance public portal, accessible via the Finance Department page on the town website. The portal provides real-time vendor payment data, budget vs. actual comparisons by department, and drill-down capability to individual transaction level. Unlike the legacy ClearGov platform, Open Finance updates live as transactions are entered. Revenue module went live May 1, 2026; excise tax module scheduled for October 2026. Board members suggested adding a direct link to the front page of the town website for easier access.

Tony Roselli and Paul Gargano of Roselli Clark and Associates delivered the second annual audit presentation to the Select Board.

Financial Health

• Reserve ratio (general fund, stabilization, encumbrances combined) is approximately 20%, above the Tier 1 threshold of 15% and well above the state average of 10–11%.
• The town has maintained this level consistently for 10–11 years, earning and maintaining a AAA bond rating.
• Investment income for FY25 was $3.9 million town-wide: approximately $2.3 million in governmental funds and $1.6 million in enterprise funds (nearly $1 million from the light department).

Pension and OPEB

• Pension unfunded liability decreased approximately $4–5 million from the prior year; the fund is now 72.5% funded.
• The pension assessment is increasing approximately 8.6% annually, lower than many comparable communities.
• Projected full funding date is 2036, ahead of the state’s 2040 requirement.
• OPEB unfunded liability stands at approximately $145 million; the town has approximately $7.7 million in OPEB trust assets and the liability has declined $6 million.
• Auditors recommended directing future pension savings (post-full-funding) toward OPEB rather than operating expenses.

Material Weaknesses Two material weaknesses were identified, unchanged from FY24:

1. Cash reconciliations — Monthly reconciliation procedures were not maintained; consultants completed reconciliation about nine months after year-end. Many reconciling items remain as adjusting entries, some from prior years.
2. Receivable reconciliations — Approximately $146,000 difference remains between collector records and the general ledger.

Finance Director Alicia Benjamin noted the town has split the treasurer-collector position into separate treasurer and collector roles, implemented the Tyler Munis financial platform (with the cash reconciliation module going live in 2027), and hired a new town accountant. She expressed confidence the weaknesses would not persist into the FY26 audit.

IT Security Auditors noted no major IT penetrations and commended the town’s annual security training program.

The committee worked through its final batch of policy updates, voting unanimously on each. The policies fell into two groups:

New policies (third reading, final approval):

Revised existing policies:

The superintendent noted that technology policies were reviewed with the district’s technology director (Steven Kwiatek/Stephen) to ensure operational alignment. The bullying prevention policy update was driven in part by a prior DESE program review. The visitors policy prompted the most discussion: the superintendent recommended removing a first paragraph that he felt gave parents broad classroom-access rights without appropriate parameters; the committee agreed unanimously.

The board scheduled its next meeting for June 29 at 7:00 PM. Chair Massaro briefly previewed two upcoming agenda items:

1. CALM project update — to be discussed in full at the next meeting.
2. National Fitness Council grant — Marblehead was identified as a wellness-advocate community (connected to CALM and two years of wellness fairs). The program is backed by Blue Cross Blue Shield and would support construction of an outdoor exercise facility. A CHIP grant ($100,000 for two years of planning, then $375,000 for a building plan) is pending; decisions were expected to be announced collectively sometime in June or July.

Andrew Petty reported that transfer station construction is essentially complete, with gate installation and striping as the remaining items. The board reviewed routine bills including: AT&T internet ($65.98), Fisher Auto Parts ($389.40), uniforms ($12.19), Home Depot supplies ($230.09), Marblehead Light Department electricity ($740.77), Marblehead Water and Sewer ($145.28), legal fees ($43), and Walnut Printing for rollout packets ($16,200).

The meeting opened at 7:07 PM. Director of Public Health Andrew Petty called the meeting to order and conducted a reorganization vote. A motion was made to continue Tom Massaro as chair; the vote was unanimous (4-0).

Subcommittee and liaison reports:

• Communications: Newsletter issued covering override vote, district improvement plan, and school achievements; distribution list slowly growing.
• Wellness: Final meeting of the year completed; plans for next year underway.
• Data/Information: Finalized school security reporting forms (electronic, paper, and QR code formats) for September implementation; improved Aspen discipline reporting processes.
• Safety (external): Ongoing work with union, administrators, Marblehead PD, and area fire departments; SRO collaboration on bus discipline tracking and parent communication.
• Goals subcommittee: Met to review progress on goals; will come together at the retreat.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 p.m. (meeting opened at 9:00 p.m.) by a 5-0 vote.

Policy GBEB (Staff Conduct): A more robust version modeled on other districts was brought forward by the policy subcommittee after being sent back from January. The committee approved it unanimously.

Policy JKAA (Timeout, Seclusion, and Restraint): New DESE regulations take effect in August. MASC-recommended revisions were adopted to bring the district into compliance ahead of the effective date. Approved 5-0.

Policy KCB (Community Involvement in Decision-Making): MASC recommended rescinding as the intent is covered elsewhere in district policies. The committee voted 5-0 to rescind.

Second Readings (no vote; deferred to subsequent meeting): Four new policies on second reading: KDC (community use of digital resources), KDCB (district website and social media), JLCDC (self-administration of medications), and JICK (harassment of students).

The superintendent praised the policy subcommittee for reviewing over 100 policy items in one year, calling it ‘unheard of.’

The assistant superintendent for teaching and learning presented a request initiated by teacher leader Dave Alan Askey and completed as a senior capstone project by student Victoria Yusenko. The student conducted a thorough inventory of high school science materials made obsolete by the new curriculum and reached out to charter schools and Salem schools to donate materials, but no takers were found. The committee voted 5-0 to declare the materials surplus and 5-0 to authorize the administration to dispose of them.

Superintendent Ruopp presented a proposal to name the high school auditorium the ‘Gregory Dana Auditorium’ in recognition of 150 years of outstanding service to Marblehead Performing Arts by the Dana family. Two design options for a bronze plaque (18 by 24 inches) were presented; the committee preferred Option A. Total cost: approximately $29,110 for the plaque plus $150.99 shipping and $285 installation. Donations reportedly covered all but approximately $800 of the cost. The motion was approved 5-0. The superintendent also noted a naming policy update should be a priority for the policy subcommittee next year.

The superintendent’s team presented annual handbook updates across all schools:

District-wide: Staff names, website links, user fees, calendar information, and emergency card (annual information update) language updated.

High school: Updated METCO section language; added bus behavior language; added absence category/attendance chart; added language about electronic devices (including smartwatches and AR glasses) in testing contexts; updated 9:00 a.m. attendance requirement for extracurricular participation.

Middle school (K-8): Updated cell phone/electronics policy to include smartwatches; renamed ‘Just Read’ block to ‘WIN’ (What I Need); updated bell schedule.

Elementary schools: Updated attendance language with direct policy quotations; added student health section language about family-nurse communication; clarified suspension notification requirement for principals to notify superintendent.

The committee approved the handbooks with a minor added sentence on suspension procedures, unanimously.

The chair moved a consent agenda including a schedule of bills totaling $1,456,265.34, draft minutes from May 21, 2026, and revisions to policies ECAB, ECAF, EEAE, IGB, IHANA, IHBH, JB, JFABE, JFABF, JFBB, JH, JHE, JAICB, JAICFA, JAIH, JJ, JJE, JJIB, JL, JLC, JLCA, JLCB, and JLCC. The motion carried 5-0.

The chair took the agenda out of order to accommodate Brown School’s student spotlight. Third-grade student leadership council members described their election process, monthly community meetings, PBIS tracking, gardening project, and growth as public speakers.

Separately, a committee member commended Girl Scout Troop 64458 (16 Village School fifth graders) for earning their bronze award by restoring deteriorating entrance signs at Village School using an artist from Tufts.

The superintendent offered a lighthearted ‘largest fish’ award to Superintendent John Ruopp as a commendation.

The outgoing chair opened reorganization by soliciting nominations. Kate McCaffrey was nominated and elected chair (5-0), Melissa Goulas was elected vice chair (5-0), and Anne Marie was elected secretary (5-0). Subcommittee appointments were deferred to an upcoming retreat.

With no further business, a member moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded and passed 2–0. The meeting was adjourned at 1:24 p.m.

The subcommittee chair opened the June 10th meeting and reviewed progress on the strategic planning goal, which had three objectives: articulating a clear division of responsibilities between the school committee and administration, supporting the superintendent in completing the district improvement plan (DIP), and considering strategic planning frameworks going forward.

Members noted the DIP had been approved, and discussed plans to draft a statement clarifying committee vs. administration responsibilities. One member volunteered to take a first draft. The group agreed the year-long agenda and goal review schedule (currently set every six months, in October and April) should be revisited at the upcoming retreat to avoid overlap with the budget season. Members also raised a question about where the district’s strategic/improvement plan should be posted on the website, noting it was not prominently visible on the school committee page.

The board approved minutes from April 15, May 13, and May 21. Holiday hours were set for Abbot Hall and the Mary Alley Building: for Juneteenth (observed June 19), the buildings will be open Thursday June 18 from 8 AM to 12:30 PM and closed all day Friday; for July 4th, open July 2 from 8 AM to 12:30 PM and closed July 3, with Abbot Hall remaining open for Festival of Arts activity.

The board approved a motion to prepare a proclamation honoring the 60th Marblehead Festival of Arts (July 1). Two HP printers were declared surplus. The board also approved a letter of appreciation for John Kelly, who served on the town’s assessment board for approximately 40 years.

A notice was shared that a water and sewer rate hearing will be held June 30 at 100 Tower Way at 7:00 PM.

The meeting opened with a unanimous vote appointing Moses Grader as vice chair of the Select Board. The town administrator noted the board is the 378th convening of the Select Board in Marblehead’s history and shared that 381 individuals have held the office since 1648. Grader was assigned number 375, noted as the third Moses and second Grader to serve. New member Rosanna Ferrante was designated number 381, the most junior member in Marblehead’s recorded history.

The meeting closed with extended tributes to departing Select Board member Alexa Singer, elected in 2021.

Fellow board member Erin highlighted Singer’s role in establishing Marblehead’s first sustainability coordinator position, the board’s adoption of hybrid meeting technology, formalized financial policies, and the creation of Select Board email addresses for resident access.

In her farewell remarks, Singer reflected on accomplishments including HR centralization, comprehensive roads and sidewalk planning, modernized financial procedures, and the three-year override plan. She thanked town employees, department heads, and former town administrators Jason Silver and John McGinn, as well as current Town Administrator Thatcher, and singled out staff member Kyle as institutional backbone. She urged future board members to listen first, take independent votes, and show respect to all constituents.

Other board members also offered personal tributes. The board then adjourned by unanimous vote.

Grant Letters of Support: The board authorized the chair to sign letters for three applications: (1) underutilized properties program for the Historic Commission attic project, (2) MassWorks infrastructure program for the Five Corners intersection, and (3) MBTA Community Scenic Fund for the rail trail.

Consent Agenda (all approved):

• Annual Harbor Freight parade, July 4th (rain date July 5th), starting and ending at National Bank
• Bell ringing throughout town on July 4th at 7:30–8:00 AM, 12:00–12:30 PM, and 6:00–6:30 PM
• Temporary parking restrictions for Harbor Freight, July 4th
• Fireworks display, July 4th (rain date July 5th)
• Festival of Arts Street Festival, July 3rd, 2026

Denied: Request from Martin Lancun / Art of Museums LLC to use the Spirit of ‘76 image on archival prints was denied because the company is for-profit. The board noted a need to develop a formal policy distinguishing nonprofit from for-profit requests.

At the request of parish council representative Jason Gillan, the board voted to prepare and issue a Select Board citation honoring Monsignor Timothy J. Moran on his golden anniversary of priestly ordination. The citation will be presented at a celebration on June 14th. A board member was informally nominated to read the proclamation at the event.

Board member Dan presented a multi-slide discussion on operational efficiencies and revenue opportunities, organized into three areas:

Procurement / Purchase Services Suggested evaluating which purchased services (e.g., legal services, software, print contracts) should be put out to bid. Cited a school department print contract rebid that saved $20,000. A proposed motion to direct the Town Administrator and Procurement Director Allison Jenkins to evaluate purchase services was tabled in favor of inviting Allison Jenkins to a future meeting for a fuller discussion.

Working Groups / Employee Input Proposed working groups including board members, department heads, employees, and citizens to surface operational inefficiencies. Examples raised included duplicated groundskeeping across departments (cemetery, highway, Board of Health, Rec & Parks) and opportunities to share facilities with the school department.

Revenue Opportunities

• Monetizing Round Top Road long-term commercial parking (currently free)
• Tying beach fees to actual cost of services
• Promoting paid use of town properties such as Abbott Hall
• Betterment fees for private (non-accepted) roads

The Town Administrator cautioned the board to distinguish between its policy-making role and day-to-day operations, noting significant centralization already underway in HR, procurement, finance, and technology. The board agreed to invite the Procurement Director to a future meeting before taking formal action.

The Town Administrator reported five updates:

1. MBTA Catalyst Grant: The town is applying for an $867,000 grant (no match required) for rail trail improvements, now accessible because Marblehead is on the path to MBTA zoning compliance.
2. Community One Stop / MassWorks Grant: A $70,000 application (10% local match) to advance the Five Corners intersection from 50% to final design, with an eye toward expanded pedestrian and outdoor dining space.
3. Senior Tax Relief Program: A session at the Council on Aging drew 67 attendees and covered the state senior circuit breaker and Marblehead’s new means-tested senior exemption program.
4. Picket House Exterior: Final exterior painting is underway; work funded through the building’s own trust fund, with Building Commissioner Steve Cummins leading the effort.
5. Beauport Ambulance CPR Classes: Free community CPR classes scheduled for June 4th at 4:00 PM at Abbott Hall (up to 18 people); Beauport will also train the entire Rec and Park staff at no cost to the town.

The chair announced that a CALM (Community Assessment of Local Mental Health) initiative report meeting is scheduled for the following day at 3:00 p.m. A survey of 2,553 Marblehead residents was completed; focus groups and demographic analysis from state health data were also conducted. A public presentation is expected in mid-June, with five or six community wellness priorities to be identified.

The board voted unanimously to authorize the director to enter a contract with Flat Rock Creative (Peter Shellac, designer) to rebuild the dormant Marblehead Cares website, not to exceed $3,000, funded by existing mental health grant dollars rather than town operating funds.

The board read through vendor payments for the transfer station revolving fund, including:

| Vendor | Purpose | Amount | |—|—|—| | DeLullis Brothers | Transfer station operations | $142,322.28 | | Republic Services | Trash collection | $112,220.77 | | Waste Management | Trash disposal | $45,618.81 | | Haley Ward Inc. | Engineering | $47.50 | | NE Security LLC | Intercom annual service | $13,644.00 | | Marblehead Counseling Center | Psychological counseling | $6,788.12 | | EuTech | Mattress recycling | $6,270.00 | | Madugo LLC | Tire container/shipping container | $5,779.00 | | Partery Gardening | Landfill/wetland maintenance | $3,524.00 | | Pacific Company | Curbside bin repair parts | $7,900.00 | | Health training (AEDs) | AED equipment | $2,950.00 | | Boston Green Fuel Co. | Waste oil recycling | $801.76 | | Bob’s Tire Company | Tire disposal | $619.50 | | A1 Exterminators | Rat control | $875.00 | | RMG Enterprises | TV/monitor recycling | $628.94 | | Dynamic Waste Systems | Shrink wrap disposal | $551.00 | And several smaller items for uniforms, printing, phone, and legal fees.

Board chair introduced Gretchen, coordinator of the Marblehead Transfer Station Swap Shop, who described the shop’s operations and growth. The facility sees 1,300–1,400 cars on Saturdays and has grown its reuse tonnage year over year. Volunteers, many in their 70s and 80s, must unload and reload two shipping containers every operating Saturday, which the director acknowledged is physically demanding.

The director confirmed a promise of a permanent swap shed remains in the plan. Preliminary drawings for a roughly 40×30-foot structure with garage-style roll-out display units exist. Cost estimates for a prefabricated kit structure were noted at approximately $40,000 before labor or electrical work. Options discussed included partnering with Essex Aggie students for construction labor and establishing a Friends of the Swap Shed nonprofit (501(c)(3)) to accept donations. Solar readiness and electrical conduit are already in the ground at the site.

Funding constraints were noted: the town committed at a recent town meeting not to seek additional capital requests for three years, so commercial revenues from the transfer station’s revolving fund are the likely near-term source. A two-year construction timeline was described as the goal.

The superintendent reported that the anti-discrimination committee, which last met March 16, is finalizing a discrimination reporting form for students and staff, drawing on examples from other districts and the district’s existing harassment policy. The form is expected to be completed at the June 4 meeting. For Jewish American Heritage Month, student-led activities include morning announcements by Jewish students, documentary screenings in US History and AP History classes, display of famous Jewish Americans, and contributions to the upcoming Culture Feast. The committee noted an inconsistency in reporting only on Jewish Heritage Month and agreed to address consistent heritage month reporting going forward.

At the request of the PD committee, the school committee voted 4-0 to move a district-wide professional development day from Friday, March 29 to Friday, March 19. Staff noted that a Friday placement allows time for reflection over the weekend without returning to classrooms the next morning, and the later date conflicted with a holiday weekend for some staff.

The committee approved a schedule of bills totaling $1,174,747 and meeting minutes from May 7, 2026, with a correction to the spelling of Jack Attridge’s name on page three of the minutes.

The superintendent reported that DESE made an unannounced visit to Village School to observe MCAS administration protocols and gave highly positive feedback. A $1,000 grant from the Mark Shonwasser Holocaust Educational Foundation was awarded to fund a Holocaust survivor speaker and Anne Frank books for Veterans Middle School. The district received a congratulatory letter from Commissioner Paige Martinez noting Marblehead was one of 55 out of 361 Massachusetts districts to reduce chronic absenteeism by at least five percentage points compared to March 2025 data.

The committee recognized outgoing member Jen Shaffner for multiple terms of service including roles as chair and vice chair. Student representative Will gave his final report, noting NHS induction, Math MCAS week, sports records, and his nine-year tenure in the music program. Village School principal Jonathan Keller joined remotely from Camp Bournedale to provide a live update on the sixth-grade overnight trip, noting approximately 100 students participating in outdoor activities and the evening ‘Sixth Grade Idol’ program.

The committee opened and closed a public hearing on school choice with no public comment. The superintendent explained that Massachusetts districts are deemed school-choice participants unless they affirmatively vote out. His recommendation to decline participation was based on two factors: the state reimbursement of $5,000 per choice student is well below per-pupil expenditure, and districts have no ability to screen applicants for disciplinary history or special needs. The committee voted 4-0 to accept the recommendation.

A board member described plans to meet with the Town Administrator to discuss operational efficiencies, citing three ideas:

1. Bid out services — Using the printing services bid as a model (reportedly saving $20,000 while revealing utilization patterns), the member suggested bidding consolidated legal services, noting most communities do this as standard practice.
2. Cross-departmental working groups — Modeled on private-sector continuous improvement practices, small groups would include elected/appointed officials from the Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee alongside frontline employees who have direct knowledge of processes.
3. Issue-tracking sheet — A shared document maintained by the Town Administrator and staff to prevent items from ‘slipping through the cracks,’ citing the Bouvier Road situation as an example.

The same member also recognized town employees for their work preparing the recent Town Meeting venue at the high school, specifically noting an electrician who worked a 17-hour day running 275 feet of conduit to power the large display screen.

A one-day liquor license was approved unanimously for Marblehead International One Design Fleet Inc. for June 15, 2026 at the King Cooper Mansion, with the standard conditions regarding authorized sourcing and storage. The $50 fee was noted.

Fire department donation: A $5,000 check from the Pequot Tribal Foundation, designated for use at the sole discretion of the Marblehead Fire Department, was accepted unanimously.

Spirit of 76 image request: A request submitted through the Marblehead Historical Commission to reproduce the Spirit of 76 painting in several print sizes on archival paper appeared to originate from a Florida-based organization. The board asked for more information on the requester’s identity and whether it is a non-profit before acting, citing a prior experience with a commercial use request (referenced as ‘the hot dog thing’). The item was tabled.

A proclamation was approved honoring Joan Gullboyes on her retirement as Executive Director of MHTV after 15 years of service, with a retirement event at The Landing on May 20.

Temporary outdoor dining applications from Alia Taverna (261 Washington Street) and The Landing (81 Front Street) were approved for the 2026 season under the same conditions and footprints as prior years. One board member abstained on The Landing approval due to a conflict of interest. The vote was 4–0 with one abstention.

Caleb Sidman described organizing the Marblehead Alliance for Growth, Inclusion, and Connection (MAGIC) with fellow Jewish Student Union officers following an incident on the anniversary of October 7 in which a student painted swastikas in two school bathrooms. The group aims to bring anti-discrimination programming to younger grades, particularly Village School. Sidman is also president of the BBYO New England region.

The board voted unanimously to appoint him with a term expiring June 2026, noting a reappointment process occurs at the end of June.

Finance team recognition: Free cash was certified at approximately $6.1 million, close to estimates. The team also completed the Schedule A state financial report and is wrapping up the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) while continuing to deploy modules of the VUNA financial system, including the recently activated revenue module.

New town accountant: Town accountant Chris Holick departed for the Town of Saugus. Nicholas Gilmore, hired from the City of Amesbury where he served as a financial payroll analyst, will start Monday. He is a graduate of the Commonwealth’s Local Finance Fellowship program.

Marblehead Alerts: The town is replacing its Code Red emergency notification platform, which suffered a cyber attack that disrupted the database. The new system is branded ‘Marblehead Alerts’ and runs on the Regroup platform. Residents and businesses are asked to re-register at the town website even if they were previously enrolled in Code Red.

Senior tax assistance session: The assessor’s office is hosting an information session Thursday, May 21 from 1:00–3:00 PM at the Jacoby Community Center covering the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit and the newly enacted Means Tested Senior Property Tax Exemption, passed as a special act and recently signed by Governor Healey.

The board voted unanimously to approve a $100 sticker refund to Charlotte Moore.

Staff presented a 10-month analytics report on the Bloom mental health navigation platform. Key figures: 108 active users, 26% member engagement rate, 2,737 total platform visits. Approximately 69% of visitors sought free therapy or mental health services. The platform offers four free mental health visits and healthcare navigation assistance. It is funded through opioid settlement funds and is offered to both town and school employees. Bloom is expanding into healthcare navigation services to assist residents in finding appointments and providers.

Staff announced a second Recovery Coach Academy to be held in collaboration with the towns of Salem and Swampscott, running June and July. The program trains community members as recovery coaches to assist other residents. Participation in all sessions is highly advisable but not required. The program is offered at no cost, funded by opioid settlement funds. The program is coordinated with Officers Michelle Simonds and Gina Rabbitt of the Marblehead Police Department.

The associate chair read a bill list including: A-1 Exterminators ($100), Agri-Source grinding and compost removal ($13,600), Black Earth Compost residential food composting ($2,554.88), Bonsai Logic license plate reader ($3,076.30), Bailey Ward engineering ($8,616.42), Marblehead Counseling Center ($2,904.77), Marblehead Light Department ($1,313.83), Marblehead Water and Sewer ($4,051.99), Mayor Tree grinding and compost removal ($27,500), Stericycle sharps collection ($712.75), Wastequip 40-yard container ($10,900, partially grant-funded), Winter Street Architects ($6,358), and WL French Excavation ($4,153.34), among others.

The board reported that a CHIP grant application requesting $100,000 for a two-year youth mental health coalition planning effort remains under review; the state grant office indicated decisions may come in July. The board also noted plans to revive the Marblehead Cares community resource website, previously hosted by the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, making it more user-friendly and comprehensive.

A community needs assessment visiting pediatric and obstetric offices found that clinicians uniformly requested the Board of Health run parenting classes, which the board indicated it would pursue using existing grant funds.

The board chair reported that the CALM (Creating a Healthy Marblehead) initiative survey drew approximately 2,500 respondents, with five focus groups completed. UMass Boston partners are preparing a unified report expected in mid-May; a public presentation is planned for the June 16 board meeting.

The chair also proposed exploring formation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to partner with the Board of Health, which would enable access to grants and donations unavailable to municipal agencies. The proposal was tabled pending the board expanding to five members after the June 9 election. With five members, quorum would be three, allowing two members to confer outside of formal meetings.

Kate Wharton and Lynn Nadeau presented Article 40 as an advisory resolution affirming Marblehead’s commitment to the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, separation of powers, and the rule of law in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. A resident, Walter Haug, proposed an amendment naming President Trump as ‘a clear and true danger’ and calling for his removal from office. Multiple speakers opposed the amendment as inappropriate for town meeting. The amendment failed by show of hands; the main motion passed. The meeting dissolved after Article 40.

• Article 31 – Administrative benefit amendment: Non-union employees receive 3 personal days, accelerated vacation accrual, and $750/year longevity increase; total impact $11,650.
• Article 32 – Mooring fee increase: Periodic increase (fourth since 2018) to sustain Harbor Enterprise Fund; 60% of harbor revenue comes from mooring fees; fund is saving toward seawall repairs along harbor from Parker’s to Tucker’s Wharf.
• Article 33 – Crypto ATM ban: Prohibits cryptocurrency kiosks within Marblehead as a public safety/consumer protection measure; Chief Dennis King noted these kiosks are used in fraud schemes with near-irreversible transactions.
• Articles 34, 37, 38, 39 – Indefinitely postponed (dissolve Public Works Committee, limit employment contracts to one year, restore select board one-year terms, repeal planning/community development dept).
• Article 35 – Amend General Bylaws re: Public Works Committee: Updated mission statement adopted.
• Article 36 – DPW bylaw housekeeping: Reflects three mechanics, stormwater engineering, and director title.

• Article 6 – Unpaid accounts: $60,182.27 from FY2025; approved unanimously.
• Article 7 – Revolving fund caps: $4,272,898 total (Park revolving $2M; commercial waste $1,367,598); approved.
• Article 8 – Equipment purchase: Indefinitely postponed due to fiscal constraints.
• Article 9 – Lease purchase: $510,682 ($274,605 from free cash; $236,077 from waste revolving fund); approved.
• Article 10 – Capital improvements for public buildings: Indefinitely postponed.
• Article 11 – Walls and fences: Standard maintenance article; approved.
• Article 12 – Stormwater construction: $200,000 from general fund (resident noted this is below the $300,000 town meeting had previously approved per year); approved.
• Article 13 – Water/sewer consent articles: $2.4M water construction, $2.1M sewer construction from retained earnings; approved.
• Article 14 – MWRA interest-free loan authority: Up to $3.5M; requires two-thirds vote; approved.

Free cash was certified at $6.1 million for FY2026. The town is using $5 million to reduce the tax rate and balance the budget, plus $360,000 in surplus from the light department, for a total of $5,360,000 applied under Article 22.

High School Roof: General contractor Homer Contracting has been awarded and has begun work. The school committee chose the ‘recover’ option; project is currently on budget.

Mary Alley Roof: Bids expected by Thursday of that week; no further detail available.

Transfer Station: New scale house, truck scale relocation, retaining wall, and paving complete.

DPW Roads (2022 capital): $12,475,000 allocated in 2022 for road and sidewalk improvements; future plan calls for $3M annually over three years. Commercial, West, and Mystic Streets cited as completed ‘Total Streets’ examples.

Home Rule Petitions signed into law:

• Means-tested senior property tax exemption (signed May 29, 2026)
• Board of Health expansion from 3 to 5 members (signed Dec 18, 2025)
• Parking fines during snowstorms (signed Nov 12, 2025)

Retirement Board reported annual COLA meeting: June 10, 2026, 4:00 PM, Mary Alley building.

Charter Committee chair Amy Drinker reported draft charter to be submitted to Select Board in June 2026; memorialized committee member Sean Casey.

The moderator reported approximately 1,200 attendees. Ceremonial opening included a pledge of allegiance led by VFW Commander Ronnie Knight, a land acknowledgement by Diane Gora recognizing the Naumkeag band, and remarks by Joe Whipple on behalf of the Select Board’s Task Force Against Discrimination. The moderator reviewed ground rules including two-minute speaker limits and electronic voting procedures.

Committee member Lucy reported the communications subcommittee sent the April newsletter, which was well received. She also reported that, over April break, four sections of the roof — including the section over the meeting room — were replaced as part of ongoing roof work; the facilities subcommittee will meet the following week.

The facilities subcommittee completed walk-throughs of all five school buildings with Buildings and Grounds directors James and Gilberto. Key findings:

• Four of five building principals attended
• Buildings are generally in good condition; custodians know their buildings well
• The high school, as the oldest building, has the most outstanding items
• Many previously identified issues have already been addressed
• Preventative maintenance on HVAC unit vents, belts, and fans remains a priority discussion item

The committee expressed appreciation for the custodial and maintenance team and noted the departure of Crystal (transportation/facilities coordinator) as a future gap.

The superintendent and CFO reported that state legislators secured fair-share supplemental budget funding for the school district. Confirmed awards include:

• $40,700 for bus camera systems (a top Vets priority)
• $15,720 for high school re-arcs (ARC systems)
• $10,000 for the music program

Additional funding may still be forthcoming that could address the Glover playground and other capital items. The superintendent credited Senator Creighton and Representative Armini/Ramel with advocacy. The committee discussed sending a public thank-you letter to both legislators.

On a motion by Kate, seconded by Henry, the committee voted 5–0 to approve the identified schedules of bills totaling $735,165.42 and the meeting minutes from April 9, 2026.

The student representative (class of 2026) noted the start of the fourth quarter and senior projects, with over 150 seniors engaged in internships and passion projects. He is personally fundraising for the track team through a community track meet. AP tests run May 4–15. The school musical Mamma Mia! opens the following day. Spring sports records reported: baseball 7–4, softball 9–5, boys lacrosse 7–2, boys tennis 6–2 (ranked #1 in Division 3 Massachusetts power rankings), girls tennis 5–3, girls lacrosse 4–5, boys track 4–1, girls track 2–3, and sailing beat St. John’s Prep.

The superintendent opened with a moment of silence for Scott Boy, a long-serving custodian who recently passed away. He then reported that NELMS (New England League of Middle Schools) visited Vets Middle School to evaluate it for a Spotlight School Award, with results expected within a week. He also described the student mock town meeting at the middle school, facilitated by Jack Gatschet, in which students debated the override tiers — tiers one and two passed but tier three narrowly failed. Tree warden Jonathan Hebert and volunteers planted trees along the drive at Village School using private donations to address a heat-island effect from large asphalt areas; a similar planting is planned at the high school.

Two residents presented Article 40, a non-binding resolution affirming the town’s support for the U.S. Constitution as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The article includes a series of whereas clauses and references the pledge of allegiance recited at town meeting. The FinCom chair noted there are no financial implications and the committee did not make a recommendation. The League of Women Voters is distributing 500 copies of the resolution.

The committee re-voted two previously approved articles with minor adjustments. Unpaid balances were revised upward by $36.98 to $60,182.20 to capture a late school bill. The lease article was reduced by approximately $13,000 to $510,682 after adding a school bus lease and removing community vehicles (police fleet lease ended this year). Both votes were unanimous.

The director reported that transfer station construction is complete and the facility is fully operational, with only minor punch-list items (landscaping, striping) remaining. The board discussed scheduling a site tour.

The board reviewed departmental bills including (selected items):

• Republic Services trash collection: $105,107.65
• Waste Management of Massachusetts trash disposal: $98,123.06
• Black Earth Compost (central food composting): $2,554.88
• AgrSource (compost grinding/removal): $24,000
• Marblehead Counseling Center: $5,914.76
• Utech (mattress recycling): $6,360
• Stericycle (sharps collection): $712.75
• Bonsai Logic (license plate reader): $3,780.52

The director also noted plans to purchase two AED defibrillators for the transfer station (one for the scale house, one for the back) at $1,500 each.

Upcoming meetings scheduled: May 12 and May 26 (contingent on need), both at 7:00 PM. The director noted he would speak at town meeting on the trash override article, presenting cost figures only without offering a recommendation.

The subcommittee discussed two outreach tracks:

1. Pre-town-meeting office hours (week of April 28): Members proposed pairing school committee members with the superintendent (John) and CFO (Mike) for one-hour drop-in sessions, possibly at 2:30–3:00 p.m. to catch parents at school dismissal. One member also floated an informal solo session at a local coffee shop. Any session with three or more school committee members would require posting.
2. Post-town-meeting forums: Described as more significant given the outcomes that may follow. Members agreed to place a formal agenda item on the April 30 school committee meeting to authorize and organize broader outreach.
3. Newsletter hosting: Members discussed asking the school website team to host the newsletter content directly on the school committee’s newsletter page to reduce clicks for residents.

Action items: (a) reach out to John and Mike for availability; (b) contact board member Al to add post-town-meeting outreach to the April 30 agenda; (c) finalize newsletter dates and add any confirmed session times before the April 28 send.

The subcommittee scheduled the following facility walkthroughs:

• Thursday, April 17 – High school, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (invites: Michelle, Henry, Jen, Ramon, John)
• Tuesday, April 29 – Veterans Middle School at noon to approximately 2:00 p.m. (Gilberto to lead Brown walkthrough; James Douglas for Village/Vets)
• Wednesday, April 30 (morning) – Possibly Glover
• Friday, April 18 – Brown and Glover, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The Eames Way school (Eve) walkthrough was deferred until after the May 12 facilities meeting when the principal (John) is expected to present his plans for that building.

Roof work is underway at the high school during April vacation week; the subcommittee agreed not to tour the high school roof while live contractor activity is occurring.

The transcript contains no official meeting content. Participants discussed Easter vacation, family members, church attendance, and a son in graduate school. One participant noted they were about to start the recording at approximately the 50-second mark, suggesting the formal meeting had not yet begun when this segment was captured.

The committee approved the following in separate 4–0 votes:

• Consent agenda: schedules of bills totaling $443,690.77; meeting minutes from March 12 and March 27, 2026.
• Athletic equipment surplus: portable basketball nets, field sweepers, and other equipment with total estimated value around $1,100 declared surplus per athletic director Ken’s memo.
• Tommo Tackle donation: rod-and-reel combination valued at $140 plus two gift certificates ($50 and $25) totaling $215 for the Bourne field trip fishing contest.
• Executive session disclosure: publicly stated that the committee determined on March 19, 2026, that executive session minutes from September 12, 2025, and October 10, 2025, remain non-public.
• Calendar adjustments: The June 18 school committee meeting was moved to June 11 to align with the election cycle; the April 16 meeting is proposed to move to April 30, with agreement to revisit given member availability.

Subcommittee updates: the roof subcommittee confirmed work begins over April break at MHS (three sections without HVAC equipment); CPAC met and fielded budget/override questions; the Wellness Advisory Committee discussed new DESE guidance and drafted a measles response protocol.

The superintendent opened with updates including:

• MHS alumni Harry Ki, co-producer of the Broadway show Suffs, worked with the MHS women’s ensemble at Marblehead Little Theater.
• A forthcoming panel on student safety (April 14 at 7 p.m., Mary Allen) featuring the Essex County DA and Chief of Police, related to the “Drive to Stay Alive” program for seniors.
• METCO advocacy day at the State House, with concern about potential state funding reductions; a transportation pilot with Swampscott is underway for Boston-based students.
• The superintendent participated in a department heads panel at the COA.
• Shout-outs to the MPS Technology Department for MCAS transition at Veterans Middle School, to Village School substitute Mary Davies, and to Brown School music teacher Eileen Demor.

The assistant superintendent provided a monthly financial update: the unencumbered balance stands just under $2.1 million, with $1.5 million reserved for out-of-district tuition prepayments. March saw unexpected HVAC, bus, and elevator repair costs. Roof projects at Veterans Middle School and the high school are on track for April break.

Roof subcommittee

Roof project at Veterans Middle School starting up in two weeks; Marblehead High School roof done in three small sections during April vacation. Long-lead HVAC and steel-fabrication items being tracked closely; delivery on schedule. CORI approvals underway for site contractors.

CPAC (Community Preservation Advisory Committee)

Meeting was short on agenda items – most resident questions were about the budget and override. CPAC is recruiting new members and a chair; reach out if interested.

Wellness Advisory Committee

Bulk of the year’s work was revising the wellness policy (already approved). New items discussed: distracted driving (Kate flagged), new DESE guidance items, and a draft measles protocol by school nurse Megan in case of an outbreak. The committee will continue meeting on implementation.

Policy Subcommittee

No formal update.

Two committee meeting dates moved:

• June 18 → June 11 – aligns with the post-election cycle so new membership/sub-committee assignments can be sorted quickly after the June ballot.
• April 16 → April 30 – Jen and Melissa both unavailable on the 16th; the 23rd is school vacation week so the 30th is the next workable Thursday.

Also affirmed: executive session minutes from September 12, 2025 and October 10, 2025 remain under non-disclosure following the March 19, 2026 re-review.

Bills consent approved: bill schedules totaling $443,690.77 plus minutes from March 12 and March 27, 2026.

Athletic Director Ken Cant declared surplus on portable basketball nets, field sweepers, and miscellaneous broken equipment totaling roughly $1,100. Standard end-of-year housekeeping. Approved.

Tommo Tackle at 104 Highland St, Salem donated a rod/reel combination ($140), a $25 gift certificate, and a $50 gift certificate – total $215 – for the Borndale outdoor-education trip. Phys-ed director Steve Vulpi worked with the shop. Thank-you noted to Tommo’s. Approved.

Superintendent’s announcements covered the week’s community work:

• Harry Ki, MHS ‘11 alum and co-producer of the Broadway show Suffs, came to work with the MHS women’s ensemble on the show’s final number, performed at Marblehead Little Theater. Thanks to Colleen for the connection.
• May 4 Town Meeting parking – participants getting VIP parking at 5:00 PM (meeting moves to MHS field house).
• Drive to Stay Alive – Essex County DA’s office programming for senior students and parents on substance abuse, social hosting, and prom-season safety. Presenters: Kathy and Chris Sullivan.
• Joint letter drafted by Chief King, DA Paul Tucker, and the Superintendent on the town’s collective commitment to student safety – to be released shortly. All three will sit on a panel at the April 14 Board of Health meeting at Mary Alley, 7:00 PM.
• MECCO advocacy day at the State House the following Monday. Funding for the program may be reduced; a transportation collaboration with Swampscott is being piloted to absorb any cuts.
• COA panel with all Marblehead department heads hosted by the Select Board – first time the format had been tried, well-received with ~30 community members.

Principal shoutouts: MVMS Tech Department (MCAS testing transition); Mary Davies (Village substitute, decade-plus); Eileen DeMoore (Brown music teacher, second-year live arrival concert program).

Licensing and consent: Eastern Yacht Club pool license renewed (42-44 Foster St); Dolphin Yacht Club local Sunday entertainment license renewed; consent agenda approved (Abbot Hall reservations for the Marblehead School of Music, National Prayer Day, Marblehead Charter School student mock public meeting, Marblehead Harbor Rotary Pops Concert; Marblehead Counseling Second Annual Community Champion Celebration proclamation for May 7). Change order #3 for the Village Street bridge replacement contract approved – $55,000 extension to Dec 31, 2026, funded with Chapter 90 dollars. One-day liquor licenses approved for Coastline Marine (8 Sewall St, May 2) and Steven Decor (4 Quick St, April 25). Student-rep interview for Marblehead Task Force on Discrimination scheduled for May 13 (avoiding school vacation week).

Article 34 (dissolve Public Works Committee) held for further discussion. Committee was created in 1970, before the Town Administrator role existed. Town Administrator Thatcher argued it duplicates the administrative chain and creates governance conflict; Jim defended it citing recent useful coordination on the Reynolds Playground and Brown School Building Committee projects. Board explored whether a redesigned committee chaired by the Town Administrator could preserve the inter-departmental coordination benefit while resolving the conflict. Article 35 (modernize the same committee) was not yet discussed.

Town Administrator update on grant-funded capital projects: Five Corners Improvement Project (public input page open through April 30), Rail Trail design review April 13, Coffin School Reuse Study survey (closes April 13), State Street Landing and Tucker’s Wharf Resiliency CZM grant ($519,193 for 60% design), Marblehead High School Tree Planting cooling-corridor grant ($51,265). Cultural Council appointment of Katherine Zukowski approved (term to June 2029).

Article 33 (Cryptocurrency ATM prohibition): The committee made no recommendation, finding no measurable financial impact to the town. The police chief sponsored the article; a committee member with a law enforcement background expressed strong support citing elder scam risks.

Articles 34 and 35 (Public Works Committee — dissolve vs. modify): The town administrator requested dissolution, arguing the 1970-era committee predates the town administrator role and creates organizational confusion. A public works department head read a statement from committee members supporting preservation and strengthening, citing the Reynolds Field playground as an example of beneficial cross-departmental coordination. The committee made no recommendation on either article, viewing it as a town meeting debate.

Article 36 (DPW housekeeping): No financial implications; no recommendation.

Article 39 (Repeal community development reorganization article): Tabled to April 27 pending a legal opinion on financial implications, as the article references defunding a department that currently has funded positions (town planner, clerk).

Articles 37, 38, 40: Tabled or no recommendation; citizens’ petitioner William Cooper invited to attend the April 27 hearing.

Article 24: No deposit to the general stabilization fund is proposed. Current balance is approximately $1.5 million, representing about 1.4% of the operating budget. The Massachusetts DOR recommends 5–7%; Marblehead’s own financial policy recommends 3–5%. The committee noted the fund was established only about four years ago.

Article 30: The committee recommended adoption of a rescission of $1,627,000 in previously authorized borrowing for the Brown School project. The MSBA audit is complete and the project came in under budget; the remaining borrowing authority is being released rather than reprogrammed.

Article 22 appropriates $5,360,000 to assist the assessors in setting the tax rate: $5,000,000 from free cash and $360,000 from electric light surplus. This is $2 million less than the $7 million appropriated in FY26, reflecting a deliberate policy to reduce operating budget reliance on free cash. Estimated free cash available is approximately $6.0–$6.5 million; after the Article 22 draw, the Article 9 lease-purchase draw, and a $280,000 contractual obligation, an estimated $712,000–$1.2 million remains unappropriated. DOR has not yet certified free cash; the CFO expected to submit the certification by end of that week.

Article 6 covers $60,145.29 in unpaid accounts from fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, to be paid from FY26 funds. The committee noted this figure is lower than in prior years, partly due to a new purchase-order control system implemented to minimize future occurrences.

The Finance Committee chair called the annual warrant article hearing to order. The committee noted that override articles (Articles 28 and 29) and the fire collective bargaining article would not be presented tonight because sponsoring boards have not yet voted on them. A second warrant hearing was set for April 27 at 7:00 PM.

The Finance Committee opened with approval of three prior meeting minutes, then voted to transfer $80,723 from the FY26 reserve fund for audiovisual equipment for town meeting. A vendor on the state contract list will provide equipment for approximately $90,263 total — roughly the same as one-year rental — with Marblehead Public Schools contributing $10,000. The vendor will assist with setup at least in year one.

The chair made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded. A roll-call vote was taken: Sam — yes; Brian — yes; Kareema — yes; Mike — yes. The meeting was declared adjourned at 12:44 p.m. The chair indicated meeting packets and the next meeting notice would be sent out afterward.

Sam asked whether anyone would be inspecting the AC equipment, prompting the project manager to defer to Molly (Raymond Design). Molly confirmed that John Bartki from RDA handles construction management and will be on site roughly weekly. The roofing manufacturer (believed to be Sarnafil) will also conduct a warranty inspection. However, no formal commissioning tests such as vacuum or flood testing are currently in the specifications, though more intensive testing could be added at additional cost to the district.

Kareema asked about water testing for drain performance and whether a flood-style roof test was in the spec. Molly confirmed contractor-performed water testing for drains is included, but deliberate large-scale flood testing is not. A third-party commissioning line item could be added given savings elsewhere in the budget.

Kareema also requested that OAC meeting notes include current status and lead times for long-lead items, noting that previous notes indicated some items had not been released to the contractor due to storage constraints. The project manager agreed to follow up and incorporate this into committee communications.

The group discussed the oversight relationship between the subcommittee, the town’s owner’s project manager (Mike), and consultants Left Field and Raymond Design (RDA). It was noted that Left Field effectively co-manages the project with Mike, each advising the other.

A member (Sam) asked that the subcommittee begin receiving weekly meeting notes, draw requests, and long-lead item schedules directly, rather than only through Mike. The chair (Henry) noted that committee member Ralph has a standing conflict every Thursday at noon, the recurring meeting time, and proposed moving future meetings.

The next meeting was tentatively set for Wednesday, April 29 (the week after April school vacation), to allow time for an update following the vacation-week roof work. The chair committed to sending a calendar invite before Friday the 24th.

A member (Sam) raised that the OAC meeting notes shared so far lacked the formality and specificity typical of projects of this scale. The group discussed adding a three-week look-ahead, flagging critical RFIs and submittals by deadline, and attaching RFI and submittal logs to the minutes produced by the general contractor (Homer Contracting).

The chair (Henry) noted that panel members currently do not have direct access to Procore, the project management platform used by Homer Contracting and Raymond Design. The group agreed that Brian and Kareema — both familiar with Procore — should be given access so they can independently review submittals and equipment tracking logs and flag issues between meetings.

The project manager (Lena) committed to sharing available materials after the meeting and to requesting a more detailed three-week look-ahead from the contractor.

Cemetery Superintendent Kathy presented a budget in which the department head’s salary was cut from approximately $119,957 to $59,978 (half-time on the general fund) and general labor from approximately $124,817 to $66,125—totaling approximately 1.5 FTE cuts from the general fund. The commission proposed funding the difference (~$84,504) from the Sale of Lots fund (current balance ~$234,000). The cemetery expects that fund to grow significantly once a new expansion area (estimated 200+ additional grave spaces) opens; pre-need sales are currently on hold with only ~130 spaces available. However, a Finance Committee member cited state law restricting sale-of-lots funds to cemetery maintenance, improvement, and perpetual care accumulation—not salaries—raising a legal question. The Finance Director indicated a warrant article revision and select board re-vote may be needed. The committee approved the $410,539 budget with the understanding that the funding mechanism requires further legal review. Seasonal help was also being removed from the general fund budget.

Assessor Todd presented a three-person department budget that is down 2% year over year. The decrease was driven by a certification year in FY26 that inflated expenses; FY27 returns to a lower baseline with the next certification cycle in FY31. The department uses Eagle View aerial flyover data and the Pushpin integration to identify unpermitted improvements such as pools, decks, and additions, capturing an estimated $30,000 in additional new growth this cycle. Abatement requests dropped from approximately 300 to about 85, reflecting improved database accuracy. Munis integration between the General Ledger, Treasurer, and Assessors offices is under construction. A means-tested senior property tax exemption is progressing through the state legislature and is expected to reach the governor’s desk for FY27.

The chair noted the day’s agenda included Assessors, Recreation & Parks, and Library before noon, with additional departments in the afternoon. The meeting aimed to cover each department head’s budget in order.

The board unanimously reappointed Emily Grande as Inspector of Animals with a term expiring April 30, 2027. The town administrator noted the appointment is driven by the Department of Agriculture calendar rather than the board’s standard cycle.

The board continued a public hearing on a request to remove three trees adjacent to Mary Alley (7 Woodrow Road), the town’s main network hub. Town facilities staff presented new information:

• A certified arborist from Maya Tree assessed the trees and confirmed pine bark beetle infestation on the red pine, branch dieback, and signs of overall decline.
• The tree warden confirmed a Tree Protection Zone of approximately 28–30 feet, encompassing the building foundation and planned ADA ramp excavation to a depth of 3–4 feet.
• Root interference with stormwater drainage was identified as a significant concern; the town’s DPW director (Amy McHugh, remote) clarified that sewer lines are generally not impacted by tree roots unless there is an existing defect, and asked that argument be removed, but confirmed stormwater and fiber-optic concerns were valid.
• The primary fiber-optic loop serving police, fire, and all town communications runs through one of the trees; branches had fallen in recent storms.
• Removal of one tree would expose remaining trees to wind throw.

Replacement trees would be provided under the town’s caliper-based formula (one 2-inch caliper nursery tree per 2 inches of DBH removed), incorporated into the Mary Alley renovation landscape plan with additional replacements elsewhere in town over time.

The board approved the tree removal unanimously (Dan Fox had already left the meeting).

Following the override votes, the chair called a three-to-four-minute recess. Member Dan Fox noted he would not return after the recess and thanked the board.

Town Administrator Kezer announced the next Citizens Police Academy running April 23 through June 11 on Thursday evenings. He then made extended remarks defending CFO Alicia Benjamin against what he characterized as unfair challenges to her numbers and competency made in other public forums, stating she had worked through the night to verify figures. Two board members echoed support for Benjamin.

The board opened the March 25, 2026 meeting with a roll-call vote to elect Alexa Singer as chair, since the presiding officer must be in person while member Dan Fox attended remotely. The vote was unanimous.

The board chair provided updates on several ongoing initiatives:

• KAN Program: Community health focus groups began this week and run through April 7, facilitated by UMass Boston partners. Results will feed into a final public report.
• District Attorney meeting: Scheduled for April 14, focusing on social hosting and underage substance use. Questions may be submitted in advance.
• Town Charter: The charter committee asked the board to review minor language changes, primarily removing the word “department” in favor of language describing the board’s responsibility for waste and public health services. Board members requested a few more days to review before a formal vote.
• Youth Center grant: The board is approximately 90% through a proposal seeking $100,000 over two years to study the feasibility of a youth center in Marblehead. The YMCA (Brian Flynn), Parks and Rec, schools, and potentially the police chief are supporting the application. No town funds would be spent.

The chair opened the meeting by announcing that board colleague Dr. Rizzo had been named Community Clinician of the Year by the Massachusetts Medical Society. The chair noted that being recognized as the best community clinician in a state known for having top physicians is a significant honor.

Henry reported on a community engagement subcommittee discussion in which parents were urged to become advocates especially around special education services, and noted CPAC (the special education parent advisory council) is seeking members and leadership. Their next meeting is April 9. Mike Piping also formally recognized Lisa Manning for maintaining continuity in facilities operations during Todd Bloodgood’s absence, as well as Gberto and James for stepping up significantly. The committee rescheduled its April 2 regular meeting to April 9 due to Holy Thursday and Passover.

The committee fulfilled its legal obligation under the Open Meeting Law to announce publicly its determination regarding executive session minutes reviewed on March 5, 2026. Minutes from eight executive sessions (August 7, August 21, September 18, September 30, October 15, October 30, November 6, and November 20, 2025) were determined to still warrant non-disclosure. A portion of the September 4, 2025 executive session minutes was determined no longer to warrant non-disclosure and will be released.

The chair moved to approve the schedule of bills totaling approximately $976,759 and meeting minutes from March 5 and March 12, 2026. A member raised a discrepancy in how her prior motion directing the superintendent and finance director to validate benefit cost figures was recorded in the March 12 minutes. The motion was amended to approve only the bills and March 5 minutes; the March 12 minutes were tabled for correction. The amended motion passed 4–0.

The student representative reported third quarter is underway, sophomores face English MCAS March 24–25, and upcoming events include an all-bands concert March 24 and all-strings concert March 31. The superintendent commended Mike Piping for stepping up in facilities director Todd Bloodgood’s absence, noted successful kindergarten orientations at Brown and Glover, announced Christine Silva as new assistant athletics director replacing Mark Ty, and described a senior signing day planned for May 28. Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferrer presented highlights from the March 13 professional development day: 44 educator-led sessions across four learning blocks covering AI, phonics, math fluency, engagement strategies, and wellness activities, drawing positive feedback district-wide.

Two additional contracts were approved:

1. Police vehicle lease (Article 7 from 2025 Town Warrant): 36-month lease-to-own for a hybrid Ford Interceptor, total cost $73,724.43, paid in annual installments of $24,574.81. Approved unanimously.

2. Town meeting AV services (Contract 26-54): Agreement with Boston Light and Sound Inc to provide audio-visual equipment for town meeting at the field house. The board noted a 24-hour turnaround had been required last year and that getting AV right this year is a priority. Approved unanimously.

Council on Aging Director Alicia presented the department’s situation:

• The cut eliminates a combined half-time nutrition coordinator / half-time general laborer/custodian position.
• The department budget has declined 36% over 11 years (from 15.5 employees in 2015 to 10, or 7 full-time, after this cut).
• The town funds approximately 75% of salaries and only about 30% of expenses; the Shattuck Memorial Fund and Marblehead Female Humane Society fund the gap (including 4 vehicles and 2 part-time drivers).
• The COA provides 6,100+ rides annually for out-of-town medical appointments.
• Serves an average of 200+ people per day; 150+ in the building at a time.
• The laborer position also functions as backup driver, event setup/breakdown, kitchen maintenance, and park maintenance — raising safety concerns with its elimination.
• The outreach coordinator handled 85 cases last year working with fire, police, and public health.

The Community Development and Planning department was created less than two years ago after the retirement of a single long-tenured planner. The proposed FY27 budget eliminates two of four requested staff positions — the director’s position and the sustainability coordinator — leaving only a town planner (currently vacant) and a departmental clerk.

Director Brendan presented a formal department summary:

• 35 active projects including the Marblehead Rail Trail, Five Corners, two Harbor Resiliency projects, Municipal Boat Yard, State Street Landing, Tucker Wharf, Elm Street, the Comprehensive Master Plan, and the Kaufman School Disposition Plan.
• Combined project budget of $1.8 million with estimated construction cost exceeding $50 million.
• In two years, the department secured $1.9 million in grant awards; combined FY25+FY26 department salaries are outpaced by grants, yielding a net gain of $1.1 million to the town.
• $700,000+ in grant requests already submitted for FY27; if awarded, net gain of ~$302,000.
• An additional ~$4 million in FY27 grant applications anticipated.
• Loss of MBTA 3A compliance (via referendum) resulted in denial of $3.8 million in grant funding.
• The sustainability coordinator role is tied to Green Community designation, which would unlock $150,000 from the state and eligibility for additional energy-efficiency grants.
• On the morning of the meeting, the director secured $100,000 from the Boston MPO for the rail trail.

The town administrator and board members expressed regret at the cuts and committed to advocating for restoration through the override process.

The human resources department budget was reviewed with Tom (HR manager). The only notable cut was $11,000 in recruitment advertising (‘other professional technical’), removed under the assumption that hiring will be minimal without an override. The board noted this line would be restored in the override scenario. The department covers the HR manager, payroll manager, and benefits coordinator — three positions often assumed to be two. The town administrator emphasized the value of having dedicated HR capacity for collective bargaining and compliance.

The public buildings department faces a reduction to potentially zero custodians after one position was cut. Key issues discussed:

• Only two custodians currently serve all town buildings; losing one leaves a single custodian, and the budget scenario may eliminate both.
• Town buildings include approximately 13 properties, including the Old Town House (not ADA compliant, barring public events).
• The custodian role extends well beyond cleaning: snow removal, building security/access, responding to maintenance issues, and enabling public meetings.
• A key-card access system is being explored for Abbot Hall and other buildings to reduce staffing dependency.
• The lower-level conference room renovation at Abbot Hall is funded and planned, including ADA-compliant bathrooms and a separated public-meeting wing.
• Franklin Street Fire Station received new windows, siding on two sides, a new boiler (replacing a 30-year-old unit), and spray-foam roof insulation — all from a ~$130,000 article allocated two years ago with no additional appropriation.
• The board discussed creating a dedicated, recurring maintenance budget rather than relying on periodic capital articles.

The CFO outlined changes to the finance department:

• An assistant town accountant position was added to provide redundancy — the only position in the office previously without a backup.
• New tools deployed include: OpenGov (live budget/expenditure transparency, procurement module, contract and insurance tracking); DebtBook (real-time debt management); and ClearGov (historical data archive).
• The town is running legacy and MUNIS systems in parallel during transition; dual costs expected to fall off next year.
• The treasurer-collector’s office has grown from 3 to 4 staff to address chronic turnover and recording delays.
• Assessor’s office (3 staff) and treasury-collector’s office coordinate closely under the CFO’s oversight.
• The CFO also serves as de facto IT director; one full-time IT staff member supports the entire town-side organization. The CFO identified an IT director as her top unfunded hiring priority.

The select board department budget covers the town administrator, chief financial officer, assistant to the department, and a currently vacant senior clerk position. Historical figures were volatile due to positions (sustainability coordinator, HR) being housed then moved out of the department.

A new ‘civic events’ line item was created to fund and track costs of community events (Juneteenth, Fourth of July, etc.) that previously required ad-hoc transfers from other accounts.

Legal expenses previously distributed across multiple departments (~$163,000 from select board plus amounts from other departments) were consolidated into a single town counsel line for better oversight and transparency.

The subcommittee rescheduled building walkthroughs that had previously been postponed. The walkthroughs are intended to assess facility conditions; members confirmed they would not observe teaching and learning, would not stop in classrooms with students, and would only engage staff informally if staff were willing. Dates confirmed:

Note: April vacation is the week of the 20th, so walkthroughs avoid that period. A member expressed interest in accessing the high school roof; Mike indicated hard hats and vests would be needed. Next subcommittee meetings confirmed for April 14 and May 12 at 10 a.m. The subcommittee also noted that Henry would not be returning next year and encouraged continuity on the subcommittee.

The subcommittee was informed that the facilities director position—vacant for five to seven years—is being prepared for posting. The job description and posting are being reviewed to ensure they accurately reflect current requirements before the position is advertised.

The chair called the meeting to order at approximately 10:01 a.m. with two members present (Jen and Henry); Mike joined shortly after. A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent agenda meeting minutes. The vote passed 2–0 before Mike’s arrival. A note was made that the agenda should include the year on date references to avoid confusion.

Motion to adjourn made by committee member Moses, seconded by Henry. Roll call: Jen, Henry, Melissa, Kate, Al — all in favor. Meeting adjourned 5-0.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund vacancy: Applications due April 3; interviews at the April 8 select board meeting.

Bob Whitewood: The board voted unanimously to send a letter of appreciation to the family of Bob Whitewood, recognizing his extensive volunteer contributions to the town.

Community engagement forum: Board member Alexa Ewing announced a department-head forum scheduled for April 9, 10 AM–12 PM at the Community Center, to be facilitated with assistance from Jamie Block and Lisa Hooper. Department heads will present summaries of their operations, priorities, and challenges, followed by Q&A with residents. The board discussed posting it as a select board meeting to allow member attendance. Town Administrator Kezer will be unavailable due to a prior commitment.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer provided updates on several projects:

• Marblehead Shipyard Resilience Project: Army Corps of Engineers general permit received; now awaiting MassDEP Chapter 91 license and a federal Port Infrastructure Development Program grant decision.
• Brown School EV charging: A $50,000 grant request was denied due to the town’s non-compliance with MBTA Section 3A zoning.
• MBTA 3A: The Planning Board held a public hearing the prior evening.
• Coffman School community engagement: Meeting scheduled for March 18 at Abbott Hall, facilitated by UConn TAB program.
• Five Corners redesign: Moving forward with Apex Engineers; 50% design targeted by October 2026.
• Facilities: Pickett House received 20 new energy-efficient windows; Franklin Street Fire Station received 13 new windows and a new hot water heating system.

A member reported conversations with the town tree warden about two upcoming planting projects: one at the high school parking lot (grant-dependent) and one along the access road at Village School (town funds). The facilities subcommittee was identified as the appropriate body to review maintenance implications. No formal action was taken.

The superintendent noted:

• Staff feedback on the district improvement plan has been collected and integrated; one goal still requires minor revision.
• A narrative explanation will accompany the plan when distributed to parents and caregivers, anticipated later in the week or weekend.
• Individual school improvement plans are beginning to dovetail with the district-wide goals; the plan is intended to be in place for the start of the next school year (September).
• The process is characterized as a deliberate evolution from the prior ‘Plan for Success,’ not a negation of earlier work.

No vote was taken.

Veterans Middle School principal (referred to as Mr. Langi/Levi) introduced the MBMS Engineering Club, organized by volunteer advisor Mr. FM. Students — including Saurin Lorenz, Jaden Stanchfield, Fiona, Bruce Fer, and others — described projects including disassembling and upgrading school desktop computers, 3D printing fishing lures, repairing a broken drone’s gears, learning CAD in Blender software, and designing a school logo keychain in Tinkercad. The students distributed 3D-printed keychains to board members.

Glover School principal Frank Kowski (referred to as Frank Wowski) introduced art teacher Maggie Dobin and students who presented the school’s “community art” program. Students explained two types of art at Glover: grade-level and community art, the latter done school-wide to build connection. This fall’s project involved abstract expressionist clay-on-tile works exploring emotion via color. A visiting parent artisan, Matt Cronin of Northshore Glass School, spent a full day enabling every student (pre-K through grade 3) to contribute a glass piece to a permanent fused-glass lobster installation for the art studio. Over 1,000 glass pieces were contributed.

The student representative (referred to as “Mo”) reported on the drama club’s performance at the Northeastern Massachusetts Drama Fest, upcoming spring musical auditions for Mamma Mia, midquarter report cards going out via Aspen, spring sports starting March 16, and the junior class auction.

The superintendent’s update included shout-outs to drama teacher Ashley Skepington, student services secretaries, Village School instructional assistants, Veterans Middle School advisory door-decorating contest winners (Bill Shaw and Rachel Smallen), Glover School art teacher Maggie Dobin, and Marblehead High School staff who organized and managed a school trip to Morocco and Spain that was extended to include Paris due to a blizzard.

The superintendent opened the meeting by noting the sudden passing of Todd Bloodgood, the district’s facilities director. He described Bloodgood as a dedicated and kind professional who oversaw school facilities and supervised maintenance and custodial staff since 2018. The board observed a moment of silence.

After completing the curbside contract vote, the board noted a member conflict with the March 23 meeting. The chair suggested March 16 (a Monday) as an alternative. The board agreed to resolve the date via email and check the town calendar. The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.

The board moved through approval of four sets of meeting minutes in sequence, each passing unanimously. The chair noted that an October meeting’s minutes may still be outstanding.

Municipal Energy Reduction Plan (voted unanimously): Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey presented the final plan, covering 28 energy-intensive municipal buildings. If fully implemented, projected to reduce municipal energy use by approximately 45%. Adoption is a prerequisite for Marblehead to apply for Green Community designation through the Department of Energy Resources, which would unlock grant funding. A separate vote by MMLD on a renewable energy charge is required before the Green Community application can be submitted; that is not a Select Board decision.

Donations accepted (both unanimous):

• $5,000 from The Mariner to the Council on Aging, designated for the bocce court at VI Park
• $1,000 from Connections Program Inc. (25-year affordable housing nonprofit winding down) to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

Make-A-Wish / Super JJ: Board unanimously declared March 29, 2026 Superhero Day in honor of 4-year-old JJ, who is undergoing treatment for a critical illness and whose wish is a superhero crime-solving scavenger hunt around Marblehead.

Reserve Fund Transfer: Board authorized the town clerk to request $53,460 from the Finance Committee reserve fund for audio/visual equipment upgrades at the Fieldhouse for town meeting (same systems used for school graduation).

Consent agenda approved: Minutes of January 8, February 9, and February 11, 2026; Lynch/Van Loo YMCA Hill to Harbor 5K/10K road race (May 17, 2026); Marblehead Festival of Arts (May 29, 2026); surplus desk chair at Abbott Hall.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Proclamation: Board approved preparation of a proclamation for March 22–April 30, 2026; town has 310 registered motorcycles in 2026.

Contracts approved:

• Contract 26-52: Fire and life safety compliance software with Briar LP (cost borne by inspected businesses)
• License agreement 26-53: Water-based recreational activities at Riverhead Beach with Sub East (vendor pays town)
• Change Order #3: Village Street Bridge replacement with Greenman Peterson Inc., +$55,000 (Chapter 90 funded) for additional pedestrian access ramp alignment design iterations; contract completion extended to March 31, 2026

One-day liquor licenses approved: Torian Presents at Abbott Hall (November 14, 2026); Temple Emanuel (April 30, 2026); Marblehead Festival of Arts at Abbott Hall (May 29, 2026).

The chair proposed, and the committee voted unanimously to approve, holding all FY budget hearings in a single day on Saturday, March 28, rather than the historical practice of three Monday evenings in March. The format allows liaison meetings to be completed beforehand, with the Saturday vote giving approximately one week before the warrant hearing scheduled for the first Monday in April. Committee members Tim (online) and Eric also voted in favor.

Procedural votes:

• Motion to close the budget public hearing and reopen the regular meeting: passed 4 to 1 (Jen voted no, stating the committee was not in a legal position to reopen the meeting given an earlier procedural issue).
• Consent agenda (schedule of bills totaling approximately $1,413,617 and February 5, 2026 meeting minutes): passed 4 in favor, 1 abstention (Jen abstained).

Superintendent updates (brief):

• Next school committee meeting will feature the first ‘school spotlights’ with student voice from Glover and Veterans schools.
• AMP Research Fair scheduled for the following day at the high school, with 16 student researchers presenting college-level investigations.
• Student Max Kane won an international ‘Coming of Age in the Age of AI’ film contest (2,500+ global entries); Georgio Batari was runner-up; Avery Sheridan received honorable mention.
• Professional Development day scheduled for March 13 at the high school, led by teachers for teachers.
• Spain/Morocco trip: students were delayed in Paris due to a storm; tour company absorbed hotel and flight-change costs. One student misplaced their passport; an emergency passport meeting at the U.S. embassy was scheduled; all students expected home the following day.
• METCO Director Katie Johnson was recognized by the METCO Directors Association.

Committee members reported subcommittee activity:

• CPAC: Met to discuss the budget; members asked what the committee was coalescing around — a level-funded or increased budget.
• Communications subcommittee: Published the school committee newsletter; working to expand circulation beyond the district email list.
• Facilities subcommittee: Discussed the MHS roof and Vets middle school roof projects (the latter on hold due to weather); scheduled building walkthroughs.
• Goals subcommittee: Met with Alicia Malin from NASC to discuss the school committee’s role in strategic planning and the District Improvement Plan (DIP). Key takeaways: the committee should articulate direction, the superintendent determines how to get there; a public-facing summary of the DIP would be helpful; a DIP update is planned for a March meeting.

Superintendent Ferrero provided district updates:

• School spotlights featuring student voice will begin at the next meeting, with Glover and Veterans schools presenting.
• AP Research Fair scheduled for February 27 at MHS, featuring 16 student researchers.
• International film contest: Max Kane won an international award in the Coming of Age in the Age of AI competition (2,500+ entries globally); Georgio Batari was runner-up; Avery Sheridan received honorable mention.
• Spain/Morocco trip: Students were stranded in Paris for extra days due to a storm. The tour company absorbed hotel, flight change, and meal costs. One student misplaced a passport; an emergency passport meeting at the US embassy was scheduled for the morning, with all students expected home February 27.
• METCO: Katie Johnson, Marblehead’s METCO director, was recognized by the METCO Directors Association.

The chair called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. on February 26, 2026. Commendations were offered to custodial and maintenance staff for their work clearing schools after a major snowstorm. A Marblehead High School student representative reported on Black History Month morning announcements, the drama club production of The Mender (admission $10), winter sports playoffs, an MHS sophomore competing at the All-States wrestling championship as the first girl from Marblehead to do so, and the upcoming eighth-grade step-up day.

A vacancy on the Marblehead Housing Committee was announced after a recently appointed member (Ramon) submitted a resignation because he was also appointed to the Finance Committee and the two positions are incompatible. The board set an application deadline of March 6 and scheduled interviews for March 11.

A board member noted that the senior property tax exemption legislation is in its third hearing in the State House and advancing.

The meeting closed with board appreciation expressed to DPW, Rec & Parks, and Cemetery staff plowing through ongoing winter storms.

FY27 Revolving Fund Reauthorizations (approved per MGL Ch. 44 §53E½):

Contracts approved:

• 26/40: On-call painting — Capital Contracting Inc.
• 26/41: On-call plumbing — Bought Mechanical Inc.
• 26/44: Generator transfer switch repairs — Sherborne Consolidated
• 26/46: On-call electrical — Patriot Light and Power LLC
• 26/50: Five Corners intersection design — APAC Companies LLC, $150,000 ($135,000 from MassWorks grant, balance from other funding)

Consent agenda included approval of meeting minutes (January 14 and January 26), event permits for Pride Day, AHA Festival of Arts, youth baseball, and community charter school mock hearings, and surplus declaration of 25 chairs at Abbott Hall.

Callahan updated the board on the former Coffin School redevelopment planning process.

Hazardous Materials Investigation (December): A building investigation found asbestos and lead-based paint in both the 1963 annex and the main structure. Costs were broken down:

• Abatement within the main building for renovation: approximately $10,000
• Removal of existing built windows: approximately $25,000–$35,000
• Demolition of the annex building would carry higher costs

UConn TAB Program Partnership: The town engaged the University of Connecticut’s TAB (Technical Assistance to Brownfields) program, funded through the EPA Brownfields program, at no cost to the town. The program will:

1. Facilitate at least one community visioning session (likely in March)
2. Engage a graduate student team to produce a site reuse assessment report with renderings of potential development scenarios
3. Potentially hold a second session in late May/June to present findings

The site qualifies as a brownfield due to interior asbestos and lead paint. The full process is expected to complete by early June. Board members noted interest in broad community outreach, including tax-bill inserts and the new mass notification system.

Financial Transparency Portal: Town Administrator reported that a new Open Finance Transparency Center powered by the Munis financial platform is now live on the town website under the Finance Department. The system provides a near-real-time live link to financial data, replacing the previous weekly-upload process used with ClearGov. ClearGov will be retained temporarily to preserve historical data during the transition.

Mass Notification Replacement: The town is replacing Code Red (now Crisis 24) following a cyber incident that corrupted the town’s database of approximately 8,000 registered users, caused garbled outgoing messages, and left the system partially non-functional through several winter storms. The new vendor, Regroup Mass Notification, was selected at a cost of approximately $6,500 — roughly half the prior $12,000 annual cost. Regroup will manage the data migration. The contract is under the $10,000 threshold requiring board approval. Residents will be asked to re-register and select notification preferences when the new system is deployed.

Blue Light System: The town’s blue-light warning system for winter storms is on order with installation locations identified; deployment is expected within weeks.

The Select Board held a joint meeting with the Cemetery Commission to fill a vacancy. Two applicants were submitted: Sally Sands (present) and Rose McCarthy (absent). Only Sands was interviewed.

Sands described more than 10 years on the Oldham Historic District Commission, experience with fundraising and budget management, and familiarity with the town’s cemeteries. She expressed interest in improving access and communication for families of the bereaved, and noted the commission’s ongoing paving and expansion projects.

Cemetery Commission members spoke favorably of both candidates. During the nomination vote, one commissioner nominated McCarthy; the remaining four members — including the Select Board members — voted for Sands. Sands was appointed and thanked for her willingness to serve.

The meeting was adjourned on a 5-0 vote.

The communication subcommittee reported a budget-focused newsletter will go out Monday to avoid conflicting with school newsletters, with links to the budget book and video presentation. The superintendent provided an update on the Marblehead High School roof project: all HVAC units on back-order or long lead times have been ordered and confirmed for on-site delivery by June. A pre-inspection is planned during February vacation week; minor roof sections without HVAC equipment may be replaced during April vacation week, weather permitting. Summer student programs (weight training, guidance access) will continue with modified building entry as needed. No internal school programs will run in the building during the main construction period.

The committee approved the consent agenda unanimously. Assistant Superintendent Ling explained that National Grid had incorrectly credited town utility payments to the school department’s accounts. The school department is not treating those credits as usable funds, as they are town expenses; the matter is being resolved with National Grid.

The superintendent’s update covered Black History Month programming, noting a junior named Naima was recognized by METCO for a digital Black History Month project. The Battle of the Books at Veterans Middle School was highlighted, with the ‘Shao Cheetos’ team winning. The superintendent also described a Grade 1 MAP data team meeting at Glover led by Emily Perez as an example of collaborative instructional practice.

Staff shout-outs were given by principals at Village, Veterans, Marblehead High School, and Glover, recognizing teachers, instructional assistants, and METCO coordinators. The superintendent concluded by noting that an education magazine had reached out to potentially feature Marblehead Public Schools in a ‘10 Most Influential School Districts in 2026’ edition, citing the district’s academic performance and leadership.

The associate chair for community health provided a public health update:

Respiratory illness: Influenza positivity has declined from the thirties to approximately 18% of respiratory specimens. COVID is tracking at approximately 5% and RSV at approximately 6%. Fifty-two pediatric influenza deaths this season nationally, with 90% in unvaccinated children. The current COVID vaccine is approximately 50% effective against ED/urgent care visits and 80% effective against death in the prior season; full effectiveness may take approximately four weeks.

Measles: 588 confirmed U.S. cases in 2026 to date; largest outbreak in South Carolina. Last year’s total of 2,267 cases was the highest since measles elimination in 1991. Massachusetts has not reported any cases. The board discussed public health response protocols if a case were to appear locally, including notification and on-site vaccination.

Shingles vaccine: New data suggests a 20–32% reduction in dementia risk for recipients of the shingles vaccine, hypothesized to relate to reduction of herpes zoster-related inflammation.

Summer preparedness: The board discussed public health planning for the 2026 World Cup (six matches at Gillette Stadium), America 250 celebrations, tall ships, and Salem’s 400th anniversary, all of which will bring increased international and domestic visitors to the region.

The health director presented a proposal, suggested by a town employee, to allow individuals who work for the Town of Marblehead but live outside town limits to purchase one primary transfer station sticker at the standard resident price. Requirements would include proof of vehicle registration and a pay stub. The board viewed this as a modest recruitment benefit with minimal revenue impact. A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

The health director presented routine bills for board review:

The chair reported ongoing dialogue with the Marblehead Chief of Police regarding social hosting enforcement and coordination with Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office. The DA’s office had produced a video and three-page document on social hosting liability that neither the high school principal nor the superintendent had previously seen; the chair arranged for the Board of Health to be included on future DA mailings related to health topics.

A new Addiction and Recovery series, a biweekly Zoom program co-facilitated by health department staff (Gina) and a Swampscott-based recovery coach (Michelle), launched with approximately 26 participants. Training for facilitators was funded through a BSAS grant. The board endorsed the series and discussed ways to increase community awareness including posting to the town website and calendar.

Board members discussed the challenges of parental engagement by police, the stigma around addiction in affluent communities, and the need to rebuild the Marblehead Cares website as a navigation resource.

Board member Moses acknowledged the DPW crew’s snow removal effort and announced three retirements:

• Bob Titus — DPW, 31 years of service
• Peter James — Rec & Park, 39 years of service
• Dana Lamu — department not specified in transcript

The board voted unanimously to send congratulatory letters to all three. Board member Aaron also encouraged residents to be patient with sidewalk conditions, noting that Marblehead’s tree roots and narrow sidewalk widths make plowing equipment-intensive, and that the storm ranked as the eighth largest snowfall in Boston history.

The board voted unanimously to extend the lease for the Marblehead Counseling Center (Hobbs House) at 66 Equip for an additional five years, February 15, 2026 through February 14, 2031, at an annual rent of $7,488. The board noted the tenant receives a reduced rate in recognition of the mental health services it provides. The chair was authorized to execute the lease on behalf of the board.

Board member Aaron presented findings on Polco (a community engagement platform partnered with the National Research Center) as a potential tool for Marblehead. Key features described:

• Sends surveys to 3,500 randomly selected households, open for six weeks
• Combines paper mail (postcard + paper survey) and online response
• Results cross-referenced against census demographic data to validate representativeness
• Benchmarks against 500+ municipalities nationwide, customizable by population size, median income, and region
• Covers 10 livability facets (parks & rec, safety, education, mobility, open space, arts & culture, health & wellness, economy, natural environment, and others)
• Produces a ~30-page report with demographic breakdowns and a quality-vs-importance gap analysis
• Allows custom questions (e.g., resident appetite for tax increases vs. service cuts)
• National average response rate ~13%; Dedham achieved ~17% (~460 respondents) at 95% confidence, ~4–5% margin of error

Towns cited as having used Polco: Needham, Dedham, Franklin, Brookline, Shrewsbury, Cambridge, North Andover. Dedham used a community compact grant and the Collins Center at UMass alongside the survey to model budget reduction scenarios.

Aaron noted a competing service, Flash Vote, which is less expensive but lacks the national benchmarking and longitudinal trend analysis. A follow-up call with Flash Vote was scheduled for Friday at 1 PM.

The board consensus was to research further; no member opposed moving forward with additional due diligence. Aaron and at least one other member planned to join the Friday call.

The board read a proclamation for the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, noting an event hosted by the Task Force Against Discrimination on January 30 at noon in the Select Board meeting room.

The board then voted unanimously to issue a proclamation recognizing Nikolai Minos (‘Nico’), who is relocating to Florida. The proclamation cited his community presence, infectious positivity, and dedication to extreme cycling and fitness. A community event organized by Dave Aldrich (‘the bagel guy’) was scheduled for Saturday at The Beacon with bagels, coffee, and cider.

A committee member reported that the district executed a new NRGE national natural gas contract after an opportunity arose. The current contract was at $8.54 per dekatherm; the new contract is at approximately $7.10 per dekatherm on approximately 34,000 dekatherms per year of consumption, yielding an estimated $49,000 annual savings. The contract runs from April for approximately three years. Members noted the natural gas line had been underfunded in prior budgets, so the full savings may not be immediately realized in the operating budget.

The student representative update (read in absentia by the chair) noted the annual senior show, junior seminar week, DECA District 6 conference placements, and winter sports records.

The superintendent opened her update by noting the town’s directive to develop a level-funded budget for FY27, warning of staff reductions, higher class sizes, and thinner resources. She reported attending PTO and school advisory council meetings to communicate the financial picture. She announced:

• Marblehead Veterans Middle School will receive Harriet Tubman and John Lewis portraits from the Marblehead Racial Justice Team on January 23.
• MHS was named to the 2025 AP Honor Roll at the Platinum level; 85% of seniors took at least one AP exam, 77% scored a 3 or higher, and 37% took five or more exams.
• DECA members placed 1st through 4th in multiple categories and qualified for the state conference in March.
• A speech and debate club member placed 1st in dramatic interpretation at Newton South.
• The district improvement plan (DIP) update process is underway.
• Brown Elementary designated January as Kindness and Justice Month.
• Community events noted: MLK community breakfast January 19 at Old North Church; Abbott Hall Holocaust Remembrance Day January 20; antisemitism webinar for principals January 22 (Lappin Foundation).

The chair read into the record a tribute to Robert Sanford, a Holocaust survivor who visited Marblehead schools on multiple occasions following antisemitic incidents to share his testimony with students. His daughter, identified as an English teacher at Marblehead Veterans Middle School, was also recognized. A moment of silence was observed.

Cemetery Commissioner Jerry Tucker resigned after moving out of Marblehead. The board noted this is approximately the third appointment to the three-member commission in recent years. Applications will be accepted through February 6, 2026, with interviews scheduled for February 11 in coordination with remaining commission members.

The Marblehead Ballot Question Committee (identified as the “Yes” committee) donated $5,809.04 in remaining funds to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The board voted unanimously to accept the donation and to send a letter of gratitude to the committee.

Susan Woods, an artist and 25-year Marblehead resident active in the Marblehead Arts Association and Arts Festival, was appointed to the Cultural Council. She previously worked alongside scientists in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry for approximately 10 years. The board approved her appointment unanimously; the term expires June 2028.

Ramon Garcia, a current Housing Committee member who moved to Marblehead three years ago, was interviewed for an unexpired Finance Committee term. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Salem State with concentrations in accounting, information management systems, and business analytics, and has worked at Ernst & Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Catalent (a subsidiary of Novo Holdings). The board approved his appointment unanimously; the term expires June 2028.

Superintendent of Buildings Steve Cummings reported the following completed or near-complete projects:

The administrator highlighted a shift toward proactive infrastructure replacement before end-of-life failure.

Town Administrator Patrick reported two technology updates:

• OpenGov procurement module: All bidding and vendor responses will now be handled through an online portal managed by Chief Procurement Officer Allison Jenkins, improving record-keeping and compliance.
• Permitting data for assessors: The existing OpenGov permitting platform now gives the assessing office access to permit data, allowing staff to flag permits with potential new-growth revenue.

The board discussed a two-page statement drafted by town counsel regarding the transfer station landfill closure settlement. The director noted that town counsel was cautious in its language to avoid jeopardizing the approximately $1.2 million settlement. Board members noted that none of them were on the board at the time and characterized the statement as legally conservative. The board agreed to make the statement available publicly alongside a link to the approximately 170-slide recorded presentation by the director, along with a brief social media post. The director noted no further answers would likely be forthcoming given the settlement’s finality.

The director reviewed a list of bills including payments to vendors such as Republic Services ($69,204), Waste Management ($64,656), Hayward Inc. for transfer station engineering ($18,367), Winter Street Architects ($22,482), and others covering operations, composting, and health services. The board discussed plans for the annual Wellness Fair on February 28, a Saturday, to run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the recreation center (shortened from four hours to three based on prior feedback). Outreach, raffle prizes, and vendor participation including gyms, yoga studios, counseling services, and blood pressure monitoring were discussed.

The board received a summary of checkbox responses to the 42-question community wellness survey conducted through UMass Boston. Approximately 1,600 responses were received, representing about 15% of the adult population (ages 18+), exceeding UMass Boston’s expected 10% return rate. The survey covered eight dimensions of wellness: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, environmental, occupational, spiritual, and financial.

Key findings discussed included:

• High concern about bicycle/pedestrian safety, possibly amplified by e-bikes
• Depression and anxiety concerns notably elevated in the 40–49 age group
• Youth and adolescent mental health, substance use (alcohol and cannabis), and bullying ranked highly
• Over 50% expressed moderate or high concern about stress and work-life balance
• More than 50% reported providing care for a disabled or frail family member in the past five years
• Low response rate from ages 18–29 (approximately 2% of that group); higher participation from 70–79 age group

Next steps include: identifying five focus areas for deeper analysis, conducting UMass Boston-facilitated focus groups from January through March, and developing measurable strategic goals. The board noted that many services residents expressed need for already exist but are not well publicized, pointing to a navigation/information gap.

The chair, serving on the Town Charter Committee, proposed adding language to Section 6.3 of draft B to explicitly describe the Board of Health’s dual executive and legislative authority under Massachusetts Chapter 111, including the power to promulgate health regulations and issue emergency orders without prior hearings. A board member raised a question about the definition of “reasonable” in the proposed language. The board agreed to hold the proposal until the next meeting pending clarification from town counsel and the charter committee. The board also noted a prior vote to remove the transfer station from the list of entities the board oversees, retaining only the health and waste departments.

The chair reported receiving a letter from Representative Jenny Armini confirming that legislation expanding the Marblehead Board of Health from three to five members was signed — by the House on the 15th and by the Senate on the 18th. The expansion is expected to become effective following the June town election (anticipated June 9). The chair noted optimism about having additional perspectives on the board and acknowledged ongoing work to rebuild public confidence in public health.

The board confirmed a meeting the following Wednesday and voted unanimously to adjourn.

A board member recognized Hannah Friday, granddaughter of COA employee Dave Dragon, who will graduate from Parris Island after sustaining an injury in week 10 of 13 and choosing to remain and restart boot camp from week zero. Another member noted the successful Christmas tree burning event run by the fire department, with curbside tree pickup continuing through approximately January 16.

The board approved a $99,130 contract with Rafael Construction to expand Waterside Cemetery, including removal of granite, trees, and stumps to create additional burial sites. Funding was appropriated at the prior Town Meeting under Articles 42 and 43. The cemetery commission voted to approve the project on December 18.

The subcommittee moved to approve draft minutes from the October 17, October 30, and December 1, 2025 budget subcommittee meetings (November 17 minutes had previously been approved). Member Klucas noted two minor formatting issues — missing YouTube links at the top of the October 17 and October 30 minutes — and the assistant business manager agreed to add those before posting.

On a roll-call vote, both members voted in favor. The subcommittee agreed to shoot for January 29 in the afternoon for a joint meeting with FinCom liaison to review the draft recommended budget before the February 5 full school committee presentation. The chair committed to contacting FinCom liaison Alec to confirm availability. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.

The School Committee budget subcommittee was called to order at 11:03 a.m. on January 5, 2026. Members present included Melissa Klucas (remote) and Jen Shaner. Administration staff present included Superintendent John Robu, Assistant Superintendent Mike Piferling, and other district staff. No public comment was offered in-person or online.

Committee member Jen Johnson reported on a meeting earlier in the week with Select Board member Dan Fox, Police Chief King, community members, and District Attorney Paul Tucker. The discussion focused on a potential community-wide initiative on juvenile justice, restorative justice, and youth health decisions. The DA’s office offered resources including a spring pre-graduation program for parents and students that had previously been offered in Marblehead but ended after COVID.

The committee also voted 4–0 to appoint Al and Kate to the goals subcommittee, following up on interest expressed at the prior meeting when Melissa was absent.

Business Manager Mike presented results of a competitive procurement for 29 copiers (24 black-and-white, 5 color) district-wide. Current spend is approximately $129,000/year (lease plus service/supplies).

Three vendors responded: Ricoh (incumbent), Konica Minolta through UBO (dealer), and Canon.

• On a 48-month term, Ricoh and Konica Minolta were within ~$600/year of each other on total cost of ownership.
• Konica Minolta machines are 5 pages/minute faster per unit and offered true cost-per-copy (toner shipped on demand, billed in arrears), eliminating the need to purchase and store toner.
• Both Ricoh and Konica Minolta included PaperCut print-management software (requires ID badge to release jobs, reduces waste, tracks volumes); Canon did not.
• Estimated annual savings vs. current spend: ~$22,000/year (~$88,000 over 48 months).

A 48-month lease requires Select Board approval under Mass. General Law (a standing town meeting article permits the Select Board to authorize multi-year contracts). The committee voted 4–0 to endorse the vendor selection, with the next step being Select Board approval.

Committee member Jen Johnson raised a question about the Marblehead High School student newspaper, the Headlight, which has an informal exclusive arrangement with Marblehead Current for print publication. Two other local outlets—Marblehead Weekly News (print and digital) and Marblehead Independent (digital)—have expressed interest in also publishing student work.

The superintendent indicated the arrangement arose from a conversation several years ago and that students value the hard-copy print component and existing internship/nonprofit partnership. Committee members agreed the decision properly rests with the student editors and their adviser, Mr. Higgins, rather than the committee. The administration agreed to facilitate a conversation with the students about whether additional publishing opportunities are of interest.

Mark Strout, the current chair of the Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District committee, was reappointed for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2026, on the recommendation of the superintendent and Town Moderator Jack Ridge. The vote was 4–0.

Committee members noted a recent shift from application-based to lottery admissions at Essex Tech and expressed interest in having Strout present an update on enrollment capacity and demand. The superintendent noted discussions about expanding vocational and technical pathways within the Marblehead district, including marine tech, CNA certification, and childcare certification, and mentioned potential grant funding for such programs.

Five new MASC policies received a third reading and were approved individually:

• ECAV (building/grounds access) — 4–0
• EFDA (meal modifications for disabilities/restrictions) — 4–0
• EFE (civil rights complaint for nutrition programs) — 4–0
• EHAA (technology security) — 4–0
• EHV (data and records retention, including electronic communications of public officials) — 4–0

IKFE (competency determination, replacing MCAS graduation requirement) was approved 3–1; one member objected to defining competency as a passing grade and stated the definition would be revisited at the policy subcommittee level.

Two policy updates reflecting Massachusetts universal free school meals were also approved:

• EFC (free and reduced-price food services) — 4–0
• EFD (meal charge policy) — 4–0

A motion to approve the consent agenda was amended to exclude the December 4 meeting minutes after a committee member identified several issues: a statement about budget document release, attribution of a point of order, and incomplete recording of a motion and amended motion on the competency determination policy. The bills totaling $814,799.87 were approved 4–0. The minutes were held for correction and will return at the next meeting.

Student representative Wil was absent; his update was read by a committee member. It covered the high school winter concert, yearbook sales, senior spirit days, and current sports records across basketball, swimming, hockey, wrestling, track, skiing, and gymnastics.

Superintendent John Roil offered condolences regarding tragedies in Australia and Brown University, noted extra custodial cleaning during cold and flu season, and gave holiday shoutouts to music educators across Village, Veterans, Brown, Glover, and Marblehead High School, as well as school counselors and support staff.

The board declared all contents of the Coffin School building, plus three vehicles in the parking lot, as surplus property no longer needed for municipal purposes, to be disposed of via online auction (GovDeals.com) beginning January 26, per the town’s procurement policy.

The board also announced the annual Christmas tree burning: trees will be collected curbside December 26–January 16, with the community burning event at Riverhead Beach on January 6 at 6:00 PM. Trees must have all lights, ornaments, and stands removed and must not be in plastic bags. Holiday wreaths, roping, and garland are not accepted curbside.

The board also set a January 9 deadline for corporate counsel letters of interest, with appointments at the January 14 meeting. A letter of condolence and appreciation was approved for the family of Sean Casey, a member of the Charter Committee who recently passed away.

Consent agenda: Abbott Hall Festival of Arts Puzzle Fundraiser (January 10, 2026) and Abbott Hall Valentine’s Dance (February 14, 2026) approved subject to standard rules and certificate of insurance. Minutes of November 19, November 25, and December 2, 2025 were held.

Contracts approved:

• Contract 26-28: On-call fencing repairs and installation — Premier Fence LLC — $42,485
• Contract 26-30: Replace siding on right side of fire station (Franklin Street) — Unicorn Inc. — $35,300 (funded from Article 11, 2022 town meeting)
• Contract 26-36: Towing services for snow emergencies — Esco Services LLC — zero-bid on-call contract

Coffin School — Mass Housing Partnership Community Assistance Program: Director of Community Planning and Development Brendan Callahan requested a letter to obtain free technical assistance for community engagement, conceptual site planning, zoning analysis, and eventual RFP drafting for the Coffin School property. The scope is not restricted to housing; the organization will evaluate all disposition options. Assistance could begin after January 1.

Village Street Bridge (Project #612947) — Boston Regional MPO / TIP: The town is reapplying for placement on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for construction funding (80% federal / 20% state). The 25% design phase is complete; MassDOT comments were expected imminently. The town has invested approximately $340,000 in design to meet TIP eligibility requirements. Construction estimated at approximately $4.7 million; programmed for FY31 if approved. MBTA 3A compliance adds 5 scoring points to the application. The structure is being designed as a culvert replacement (not a traditional bridge) with one lane of traffic maintained during construction.

On request from COA Director Lisa Hooper, the board approved the annual adjustment to income eligibility guidelines for the 2026 Senior Tax Work-Off Program, consistent with federal poverty-level chart updates. Vote was unanimous.

Two applicants were interviewed for three vacancies on the Disabilities Commission. Julie Matus, a former attorney and current assistant coordinator of student success at North Shore Community College with a background in disability studies and universal design, was appointed to a term expiring June 2028. Amy Maloff, a designer and marketing professional who donated the harbor Hoyer lift access sign, was appointed to a term expiring 2027. Both votes were unanimous. Appointees were directed to be sworn in with the town clerk before their first meeting.

The Town Administrator reported that the Mary Alley (Mary Ellen Booth) roof replacement is substantially complete with only a rooftop door on order for January delivery. The community center roof protective coating and snow guards are 100% complete. The Hobbs House rear deck (secondary egress for the Marblehead Counseling Center) was fully replaced; bids for window replacement were received. Fire alarm systems at the fire headquarters, community center, old town house, and DPW facility were inspected and brought to code. Next steps at Mary Alley include an HVAC replacement bid, elevator work, ADA-compliant bathrooms, and a lower-level conference room buildout. Funding came from facilities and capital accounts, with prior ARPA money used for earlier Hobbs House work.

Michael Hall, Energy Programs Manager for MMLD, presented a three-phase grid fortification project. Phase 1 (~$318,593) involves replacing wooden poles on the Salem line with galvanized steel; approximately one-third funded by MMLD and two-thirds by grant funding secured with assistance from Beacon Climate. Phase 2 (~$1.6 million, same funding split) would underground 1,800 feet of SubT transmission lines along the public utility right-of-way adjacent to the Marblehead rail trail. Phase 3 would underground the remaining ~3,900 feet connecting to the Village 13 substation.

Timeline: Phase 1 50% complete by August 2026, final completion October 2026; Phase 2 50% complete November 2026–April 2027, final completion June 2027. The board noted that the right-of-way is owned by the electric light and water department and the town holds a pedestrian easement. No rate increase is anticipated. No vote was required; the presentation was a community engagement courtesy.

The chair called the December 10 meeting to order and announced it was being recorded. Several minutes were spent resolving an audio issue with a participant named Thatcher joining remotely before the meeting could proceed.

During public comment, a board member raised the status of expanding to a five-member board; the chair confirmed that remains on track. The board discussed pallet and wreath disposal logistics from the Wreaths Across America event (approximately 2,700 wreaths). The director noted he is away December 22 through the new year. The board agreed to meet next on the second Tuesday of January 2026. The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.

Minutes from the October 27th meeting were approved. The health director reported that the community wellness survey closed in mid-November with 2,547 respondents. UMass Boston noted Marblehead participants wrote unusually detailed open-ended responses. The 60–70 age cohort had the highest response rate; the 18–30 cohort was lowest, partly because college-aged residents list a Marblehead address but are not locally present. A preliminary report is expected before year-end; a fuller breakdown by age decile (including an 80+ category) is planned for early 2026.

Facilities subcommittee: A survey on early education demand received 75 responses; most were supportive, with a small minority strongly opposed. Respondents most strongly expressed interest in extended-day childcare (approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) rather than a traditional half-day preschool. A more concrete proposal will be developed before a further survey is conducted. The Veterans Middle School roof is also being assessed.

METCO liaison: The annual METCO opportunity ball fundraiser is scheduled for March 24. The committee member also planned to attend the METCO conference the following day.

Communications subcommittee: A school committee newsletter will be sent on the second Friday of each month using an existing district email account. The first issue will feature a budget roadmap; upcoming enrollment data may be a future topic.

Due to conflicts for both the chair and the superintendent, the committee agreed to move the January 8 meeting to January 15 and the January 22 meeting to January 29. The town’s deadline for municipal warrant article submissions was confirmed as noon on Friday, January 30, making the January 29 meeting the appropriate venue for any warrant article votes.

The committee voted 4-0 to establish an ad hoc subcommittee for the Elevating Educator Voices goal (researching how other school committees use non-voting members) and then 4-0 to consolidate that subcommittee with work on the Strategic Planning goal (developing a proposed long-term planning framework for spring 2026). At least one member expressed interest in serving. Membership appointment was deferred until the full five-member committee is present.

The following new MASC-recommended policies completed a second reading before the full committee: ECAB (Access to Buildings and Grounds), EFBA (School Food and Nutrition Meal Modifications), EFE (Civil Rights Complaint Policy for Child Nutrition Programs), EHAA (District Security Relating to Technology), and EHB (Data and Records Retention). No vote was taken at the second reading; a third reading and vote are expected at a future meeting.

The committee voted 4-0 to approve policy EEAA, retitled ‘Walkers and Riders,’ incorporating MASC-recommended language refinements. Policy EEAG, governing student transportation in private vehicles — which includes a background check requirement for non-student adult passengers — was initially tabled pending a question from an absent member, then brought back and approved 4-0 after discussion about operational implications.

MVMS instructional assistant and dance teacher Denning Jennings presented a proposal for a memorial bench honoring MVMS student Savannah Gael, who recently died. Friends’ tributes were read aloud. The bench is to be placed between two trees near the original entrance of MVMS. The project was fully funded through donations from Glover, Brown, Village, MVMS, MHS communities and an anonymous donor. The inscription will read ‘Donated by the Marblehead community, in loving memory of Savannah Gael.’ Approved 4-0.

The consent agenda included a schedule of bills totaling $403,727.82 (lower than usual because no town warrant was issued the prior week), minutes from the November 20, 2025 meeting, and updates to policies EEB, EBB, EBC, EEA, and EEAE. The committee noted the EEAE changes applied only to the MASC-recommended portion of the policy, leaving Marblehead-specific language intact. Approved 4-0.

The superintendent noted that Governor Healey’s office released a preliminary graduation framework following the elimination of 10th-grade MCAS as a diploma requirement. Key proposed elements include end-of-course assessments, MyCap career plans, capstone projects or portfolios, financial literacy, and seals of distinction. A final framework is expected in June 2026; no immediate action is required by districts.

New METCO president Dr. Candace Sumner visited Marblehead High School and met with students, staff, and community members. The superintendent described the visit as highly positive.

The anti-discrimination committee discussed Holocaust remembrance planning, the Commission on Combating Antisemitism report, and reporting mechanisms. Students formed the MAGIC Coalition (Marblehead Alliance for Growth, Inclusion and Connection) to lead peer discussions on discrimination. The superintendent also met separately with approximately 16–17 students of color who expressed a desire to be heard and to create a positive message to replace a removed banner.

The superintendent’s shout-outs recognized counselors, permanent substitutes, nurses, secretaries, and literacy support staff at MVMS, Village, Glover, and MHS, as well as the Abbot Public Library director for collaborating with third-grade classes on the Caldecott Award selection process.

The MHS student representative reported that the football team beat Swampscott on the final drive of the Thanksgiving Day game. Winter sports began their first week of practice. Multiple acapella groups — including the eighth-grade Lum Tones from MVMS — performed at the Sing Free concert. The representative also noted that MHS had switched back to its previous schedule, beginning at 7:55 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m.

Following the classification votes, a board member noted a response had been sent regarding comments made about town employees and leaders, expressing the board’s commitment to deliberative process and collaboration. The board then voted unanimously to adjourn.

Assessor John Kelly and Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie presented the FY2026 tax classification options to the Select Board. Key points from the presentation:

Valuation Overview

• Total taxable assessed valuation for FY2026 is approximately $9.4 billion, up from roughly $7 billion in FY2022.
• Residential property comprises approximately 95% of total taxable valuation; commercial, industrial, and personal property make up roughly 4%.
• FY2026 values are based on calendar year 2024 sales, which were described as vigorous.
• The median single-family assessed value now exceeds $1 million.

Proposed Tax Rate

• Projected rate: approximately $8.60 per thousand — the lowest board members could recall.
• The rate decrease is attributed to rising property values and the rolling off of approximately $28 million in high school debt.
• Despite the lower rate, average tax bills are projected to rise modestly (approximately $70–$80 for the average single-family home on a current-factors basis) because assessed values have increased.
• The levy is capped at 2.5% growth plus new growth under Proposition 2½.

New Growth

• New growth for FY2026 is approximately $287,000 in additional tax levy (approximately $83,000 commercial + approximately $204,000 residential), representing roughly $30 million in new assessed value.

Assessors’ Recommendations (all adopted unanimously)

Assessor Operations Update Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie noted the town recently completed a five-year state certification/revaluation. He described increased outreach efforts — making proposed values publicly available on the town website, holding an open-door policy for homeowners, and conducting approximately 500 property inspections in the past year. The office also noted it is working to catch up on the state mandate requiring each property to be inspected at least once every 10 years. Patriot Properties assists with building permit tracking and cost methodology.

The chair called the December 2 meeting to order, confirmed the meeting was being recorded, and noted no public comment had been submitted. The board moved directly to the tax classification hearing, welcoming Assessor John Kelly and Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie.

Minutes from the November 17 meeting and two prior meetings still pending approval at the start of this meeting. Earlier meeting minutes have not yet been completed by Asst Supt Pfifferling.

Motion by Melissa Clucas, seconded by Jennifer Schaeffner, to approve the November 17 meeting minutes. Passed 2-0.

Two other meeting minutes pending: not voted at this meeting.

No public comment at close. Meeting adjourned at 3:56 PM.

Following completion of the sole agenda item, board members wished the public happy holidays. A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and approved unanimously.

The board opened the meeting and immediately moved to appoint a chair pro tem. Moses Rader was nominated and approved unanimously.

Following public comment, the board voted unanimously to adjourn. The next Board of Health meeting was noted as December 9.

A board member (identified contextually as having medical/public health expertise) presented three public health updates:

CDC vaccine-autism language The CDC website was updated to state that the claim “vaccines do not cause autism” is “not evidence-based.” The presenter noted no new scientific data supported this change; it reflected the viewpoint of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Millions of children in observational studies worldwide have shown no increased autism risk from MMR vaccination. The presenter recommended the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians as alternative trusted sources. The board discussed posting a statement by Massachusetts DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein to the town website.

Flu vaccine mismatch (H3N2 subtype K) Canadian researchers published early influenza surveillance data showing the dominant circulating flu strain this season is H3N2 subtype K, which is not included in the current vaccine. H3N2 strains generally cause more severe illness than H1N1 subtypes, but subtype K does not appear more virulent than other H3N2 variants. Despite the mismatch, vaccination is still strongly recommended as historical data from prior mismatch seasons shows significant reduction in hospitalizations and death. The presenter noted that mRNA-based flu vaccine technology could address mismatch problems in future seasons but that federal funding for such research has been withdrawn.

H5N5 avian flu (Washington state) A fatal case of H5N5 (bird flu) was reported in Washington state in a person with extensive backyard poultry and wild bird exposure. Risk to the general public remains low as there is no confirmed human-to-human transmission.

The chair opened the Board of Health meeting and the board voted unanimously to approve minutes from two prior meetings with no corrections or additions.

The policy subcommittee received a first draft of the attendance determination policy from the superintendent and assistant superintendent; a second draft is expected after Thanksgiving. Work on the naming policy is also underway. Several policy revisions and new policies are expected before the committee in December.

The wellness subcommittee held its second meeting, gathering input for the required triennial policy revision. A revised draft will be brought back at the next meeting before going to the broader committee. Safety committee meetings with union/administrators are planned for December 11, with a community presentation expected in spring. The town-level safety committee will meet quarterly, with the next session anticipated in January.

The communications subcommittee sought approval to purchase a Smore basic plan ($99/year) to send community newsletters. Discussion revealed the district may already have a Smore account from prior years. Committee members expressed concern that individual members should not control or manage a separate contact database; any list must be administered through the district.

Options discussed included:

• Using an existing or new district-linked Smore account
• Creating a school committee subcommittee email address that ties to the account
• Allowing community members to opt in via a link on the district website
• Having the district newsletter include a sign-up link for school committee updates

The Crow plan ($179/year) was noted as the lowest tier that includes translation services. No vote was taken; the subcommittee was directed to meet with the technology director (Steven) to identify the right approach.

Committee member Melissa presented a refined draft of a school committee goal on elevating educator voices. The goal proposes working with the superintendent to hold productive educator sessions, appointing an ad hoc subcommittee to research how other districts incorporate non-voting representatives or increase educator participation at meetings, and reporting back to the committee by the end of the school year.

Discussion focused on whether union leadership would typically serve as non-voting representatives (generally not recommended) and the exploratory nature of the goal. One committee member abstained. Motion passed 3-0 with one abstention.

The superintendent presented a revised set of goals incorporating committee feedback from a November 3rd workshop and a November 6th meeting discussion. The superintendent described the goals as 18-month targets and noted the committee can revisit progress and adjust as needed. Motion to approve passed 4-0.

The committee voted 4-0 to accept a $2,500 donation from the Marblehead Female Humane Society directed to the Marblehead METCO Donation Fund.

The chair called for a motion to approve the schedule of bills totaling $835,535.81 and meeting minutes from November 6, 2025. A committee member flagged that the minutes referenced a Bell school process under subcommittee updates. The motion passed 4-0.

The superintendent reported that high school students prefer to discuss substance use in small groups within regular classes rather than large assemblies. Programming spans grades 4–12 and includes featured speakers, focus groups, curricular lessons, data collection, and diversion counseling.

The superintendent also shared staff recognitions from principals across all schools, including Village School counselors, a Brown School teacher who expanded a food drive, Veterans Middle School English staff who led an Alice Hoffman assembly, and a Glover School nurse and custodian. The superintendent closed with Thanksgiving wishes.

Board members made several closing announcements:

• Veterans Day ceremony: Former Select Board member Harry Christensen (deceased) was posthumously awarded the Medal of Fidelity, which recognizes continued service after military service. He had previously received the Silver Star and Purple Heart approximately 60 years ago.

• Capital improvement planning: A board member proposed putting a capital improvement planning discussion with Facilities Director Steve Cummings on a future agenda, to catalog building needs over the next 5–10 years. The Town Administrator noted the capital planning committee is being reinstituted and focuses on projects above approximately $1 million. Smaller items come through the annual budget process. The board agreed to defer to a December or January agenda item rather than rush the conversation.

• School staff audit: A board member noted the school department is conducting a staffing audit in anticipation of budget pressures and the potential override. The board agreed to monitor but not get ahead of the Finance Committee’s process.

Town Administrator Keer summarized the Coffin School reuse process to date:

Expressions of Interest (internal, from town departments):

• Municipal Light Department
• Cemetery
• Recreation and Parks
• Housing Authority
• Community Development

Responses to Request for Information (external):

• Cemetery (submitted twice)
• Harbor Light Homes (local nonprofit, proposing a 40-unit affordable housing project)
• Housing Authority of Marblehead

A second public meeting is planned for December, with board members suggesting it be held in a larger venue (e.g., Brown School) and in a more facilitated format (sticky notes, ranked idea lists) to capture a broader range of reuse ideas beyond housing. Board members noted the first meeting was dominated by neighbors focused on open space and housing but lacked more varied or creative proposals.

Community Development Director Brenda Callahan is also contracting for a hazardous building material investigation ($5,950) to obtain preliminary abatement and demolition cost estimates (the Bell School demolition and abatement cost approximately $1.4 million five years ago as a reference point).

The board appointed two shellfish constables. Felix Ler, described as a lifelong Marblehead resident, avid fisherman, and assistant harbormaster, was appointed first. Jennifer Duffy, a 30-year Marblehead resident with a background in Great Lakes fishing, was appointed second. Both are required to be sworn in by the town clerk. A third applicant, Eric Bur, did not respond to multiple contact attempts and was not considered.

Logan Casey, the town’s sustainability coordinator, presented the draft Municipal Energy Reduction Plan developed with Power Options (a nonprofit consultant) using approximately $9,500 in ARPA funds.

What the plan is:

• Required by the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) for municipalities applying to become a Green Community.
• Covers 25 town buildings, 28 water/sewer station facilities, and 175 municipal vehicles.
• Baseline energy data drawn from FY2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) via Massachusetts Energy Insight software.
• The plan’s recommended actions would achieve up to 45% annual energy reduction, well above the required 20% over five years.
• Buildings account for the majority of energy use; schools are the largest users by square footage.

Near-term strategies (1–3 years, payback ≤2 years):

• Optimizing heating set points and HVAC scheduling
• Converting to LED lighting and installing motion sensors
• Reducing plug loads with more efficient appliances

Long-term strategies:

• Electrification (heat pumps, e.g., Mary Alley building)
• Deep energy retrofits and insulation improvements
• Rooftop solar on school buildings
• Building strategies projected to save ~25% of annual energy use

Vehicle strategy:

• Aligns with the zero-emissions vehicle procurement policy already adopted.
• Target of ~6 light-duty zero-emissions vehicles per year; by 2030 approximately 1-in-4 fleet vehicles would be all-electric.
• Vehicle electrification alone projected to save ~20% of energy use.

Green Communities grant funding:

• Designation grant: $150,000–$175,000 upon acceptance.
• Competitive grant: $250,000 per round (twice annually); up to $500,000 for full electrification projects.
• 3A complication: DOER confirmed Marblehead would be accepted as a Green Community but would not receive grant funds until achieving MBTA 3A compliance. Marblehead is described as a “test case” as no other community has been in this exact situation.

Light Commission role:

• Because Marblehead has a municipal light plant, the Light Commission must adopt a renewable energy charge (estimated at approximately $5–$6 per year for an average household) as a condition of Green Communities eligibility.
• The Light Commission has expressed concern about imposing the charge before grant benefits can be received.

Board discussion:

• Board members agreed to defer the vote to adopt the plan to the next meeting.
• One member proposed a “grant triage” analysis: cataloging denied grants, pending applications, and projected future grants affected by 3A noncompliance, with an estimated tax impact per median household.
• Board members noted that the energy reduction planning has value independent of the grants, supporting the town’s net-zero-by-2040 goal.
• One member noted sensitivity about the Select Board directing the Light Commission on rate-setting decisions; agreed a letter of support (not a rate directive) would be appropriate language.
• Applications are accepted twice yearly, at end of June and end of December.
• A board member suggested putting capital improvement planning with facilities director Steve Cummings on a future agenda.

Bob Beck, a longtime MHTV board member, appeared to recruit applicants for the Select Board’s designated seat on the MHTV board, which has been vacant for approximately two years. He noted:

• MHTV has operated as an independent nonprofit since 2009 and has a seven-member board.
• Executive Director Joan Gallaway is retiring after many years and a national award-winning tenure.
• The studio is currently inoperable due to rain damage through the roof, suspending live broadcasting of select board meetings; repairs are expected within about a month.
• A new executive director search is in progress.
• The school department also has an unfilled representative seat.

Interested residents can contact MHTV directly. The board meets approximately once a month.

Town Administrator Thatcher Keer reported three items:

1. Town Planner resignation: Alex Heitler submitted his resignation effective December 12, 2025, to pursue opportunities in Australia with his partner. The position will be posted, though a board member noted the town should be cautious about filling vacancies given revenue uncertainty.

2. Employee of the Month program: The town launched a new employee recognition program. The first recipient is Amanda Elli (payroll and benefits), nominated by Victoria in the assessor’s office. The winner receives a day off; the nominator receives a half day.

3. MBTA 3A impact on Council on Aging vans: The Community Transit Grant program, which provides an 80% state match for COA shuttle vans, is now unavailable to Marblehead due to 3A noncompliance. The COA provided more than 5,100 rides to over 200 residents using these vans last year. The town received approximately $45,000 from this grant. Of four vans, one (received 2015) is likely next in line for replacement. A board member expressed frustration, stating the town had been warned this would happen.

The communications subcommittee reviewed a draft monthly newsletter intended to keep the Marblehead community informed about School Committee activities. The draft included quick links (school calendar, YouTube channel, meeting minutes), roles and responsibilities, subcommittee charter summaries, and upcoming dates.

Distribution channels discussed included:

• The district’s existing mailing list (via the superintendent)
• Local newspapers
• Social media accounts (Facebook, community groups such as “All Marblehead”)
• PTO newsletters

Members noted that the school committee’s existing Facebook account has approximately four followers and would need to be built up over time. They also identified a gap in reaching community members without children currently enrolled in schools.

On the question of whether the subcommittee needs full committee approval to send the newsletter, a MASC advisor confirmed that because the subcommittee is tasked with external and internal communications, formal sign-off is not required for factual, non-opinion content.

The subcommittee discussed using S’more (a newsletter platform already used by the district) at $99/year. Members agreed to bring a budget request to the next full School Committee meeting and to ask about being added to the district’s existing S’more account.

Vote 1: Motion to pass the monthly newsletter content to John for distribution on the district list — passes 2–0.

Vote 2: Motion to adjourn — passes 2–0. Meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

A community member (co-submitter with Henry Christensen) read a letter requesting that the unnamed Marblehead High School auditorium be officially named the Gregory Dana Center for the Performing Arts.

Key points from the letter:

• Greg Dana served Marblehead public schools for 51 years, including as a performing arts teacher and tech director for MEG festival submissions and spring musicals.
• He remained active post-retirement serving as tech director through the current fall.
• He is a lifetime member of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild.
• The letter was submitted on behalf of alumni, colleagues, and community members.

Committee response:

• Members found the request well-written and the recognition deserving.
• The chair indicated the committee wants to gather community input before voting, likely at the next meeting or the one after.
• A committee member suggested also having a separate conversation about formalizing a policy for naming spaces (the existing policy is titled for ‘new’ facilities but arguably applies here), to avoid conflating policy development with this specific request.
• No vote was taken; the matter is continued for further community input.

The chair called for a motion to approve the consent agenda, which included identified schedules of bills totaling $500,243.96 and the minutes of the October 30, 2025 meeting. Motion made by Kate, seconded by Melissa. Vote: 4-0 in favor.

The subcommittee agreed to meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. (with the December meeting moved to Tuesday, December 2 at 8:30 a.m. to accommodate schedule conflicts). Confirmed dates: January 6, February 3, March 3, April 14, May 12, and June 9. The chair noted ad-hoc meetings could be called as needed, particularly around the roof situation and feasibility study results. Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:14 p.m.

The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. on November 3, 2025. The first item was finalizing the superintendent evaluation that had been mostly completed at the prior meeting. A member (Melissa) noted a concern about the storytelling/communications goal — specifically that the superintendent had not yet established a baseline survey or measurement system. After brief discussion the committee concluded the evaluation was ready for a vote.

A motion was made by Jen and seconded by Melissa. The motion to approve the evaluation of Superintendent John Rabadu passed 5 to 0. A member noted for the record that the evaluation covered the period ending October 2025.

Community resources

Counselor Caitlin LeBaron created a community resources document shared with families:

• Food pantries: Marblehead Food Pantry, Salem Pantry, Public Market, Marblehead Free Pantry, Family Table Sinai
• Additional resources: Making Ends Meet, Marblehead Female Humane Society, Marblehead Counseling Center
• PTA and PCO food drives recognized

Postponed

Step-three grievance discussion postponed, rescheduled for a later date.

Executive session

Motion by Schmeckpeper, second by Gwazda: enter executive session pursuant to Chapter 38, Section 21A3 Purpose 3 to discuss litigation between Marblehead School Committee and Marblehead Teachers Association (MUP2511555), as open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position. No intent to return to open session.

Passed 5-0. Meeting adjourned in executive session.

Commendations

• Mary Maxfield (Brown School principal) commended for bringing Lynn Lyons to district. Thanks to Friends of Marblehead Public Schools and PTOs/PCOs for funding. Parent presentation received positive feedback.
• SRO Sean Sweeney commended for professional work and communication keeping students and staff safe throughout the year.

Student rep update

• Quarter one ends the following Thursday
• Fall sports playoffs begin next week; football’s final regular-season game next day at home vs. Danvers; Powderpuff practicing four times weekly at Getchell’s
• Seniors working toward Nov 1 admission deadlines; school counseling recognized

District announcements

• Parent-teacher conferences Nov 5 and Nov 12; professional development Nov 10; Veterans Day Nov 11
• NHS inducted 17 new members: Catherine Andriano, Tessa Andriano, Finn Bowen, Elon Rucker, Tessa Francis, Sasha Ganeser, Emil Gil Duran, Brian Lynn Golden, Avery Prune, Joy Mishulem, Jack Molinari, Ashley Mortensen, Isabel Mortensen, Chloe Rowland, Haley Schmidt, Thomas Spencer, Luna Valandri
• Lynn Lyons returning in January for part two on anxiety management
• Laura Backosh provided mindfulness through Rotary-funded program
• SNAP benefits impact messaging distributed; resources from counselor Caitlin LeBaron
• Digital backpack resource created for website and newsletters
• “Wait Until 8th” cell-phone guidance added for parents

The district contracts with All About Town for AI-drafted minutes from video recordings with timestamps. The system enables clickable timestamps linking to video segments for public transparency.

Known limitations

• Voice recognition misses votes and motion details
• AI-generated minutes do not clearly state motions, often summarizing them generically
• Different subcommittees use various systems – committee member suggested standardizing

Cost and improvements

• $60 per school meeting; better than free alternatives
• Henry Gwazda contacted Joel from All About Town for formatting improvements
• AI tool output must always be reviewed by humans – never simply accepted without human review

Procedural reminders

Committee members and clerk should clearly state and write down motions during meetings, per Robert’s Rules. Roll-call votes should be used for accuracy. Motions should be clear and concise, “not long and bogged down.”

The secretarial position filled in June discussed these responsibilities and needs resources for support. Henry Gwazda responsible for determining minutes-preparation methods.

Facilities

Henry Gwazda appointed Chair of Facilities Subcommittee, 5-0.

Roofing

Timeline:

• Nov 13 – bids due
• Nov 14 – subcommittee meets to vote on recommendations
• Nov 20 – full School Committee vote on contractor; then Select Board approval
• Decision point: liquid-applied roofing vs membrane replacement, based on bid analysis
• HVAC equipment delivery safe for July 1 if contracts signed by January 1

Communications

Identified need for independent communication tools separate from the district’s Smore system (which only reaches enrolled families, not the broader community).

• Exploring vendors like MailChimp for an opt-in community email list
• Quarterly newsletters proposed
• Existing unused Facebook / Instagram pages to be utilized

Other subcommittee work

• Policy subcommittee: November meeting set for MASC revisions and meeting with administrators John (Robidoux) and Julia (Ferreira) on competency determination policy
• Wellness advisory: began reviewing district wellness policy
• Liaisons: Charter school collaboration discussions (quarterly meetings, school tours, resource sharing); Marblehead 2037 master plan held first meeting; Safety committee met with principals, fire chief, police chief, SRO, and charter school reps

Policy rescissions (5-0 each)

• CHCA E – Approval of handbooks and directives
• CL – Administrative reports

Policy revisions (5-0 each)

The DJE threshold change is substantive – it doubles the dollar value at which more formal procurement procedures are triggered. The JEB change affects the cohort of kindergarten-eligible children (some children who would have made the cohort under the prior rule will be a year later).

All five revisions and both rescissions moved by Kate Schmeckpeper, seconded by Williams or Clucas. Passed 5-0 each.

A committee member filed an open-meeting-law violation complaint online with state officials on behalf of the committee, explaining what happened and previous committee votes.

Corrective action adopted 5-0 (motion by Schaeffner, second by Clucas):

• All School Committee members must take mandatory open-meeting-law training since September 30 or attest that they have already taken such training
• All members shall agree to refrain from violating open meeting law in the future

Votes in favor: Schaeffner, Schmeckpeper, Clucas, Gwazda, Williams.

The specific violation is not described in the minutes; the corrective-action text was the focus of the vote.

The session opens with extended audio and screen-sharing technical issues related to a live-stream conflict. Members sort out muting and connectivity before settling on a plan to work through the state evaluation form, skipping sections that require focus indicators the committee had not previously assigned.

The chair noted the board was not prepared for an executive session due to incomplete materials. No additional public comments were offered. The board voted to adjourn.

The board chair presented details of a Request for Applications from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s Office of Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention. The $3 million total grant pool is expected to fund approximately 15 awards across three tiers. Tier A (design and development) carries awards of $100,000–$150,000 and is the appropriate tier for Marblehead, which the chair described as being at an early stage of program development.

The chair acknowledged competitive headwinds: roughly 300 organizations attended the state’s webinar, and the RFA gives preference to populations facing behavioral-health disparities and multilingual communities — characteristics that do not strongly favor Marblehead. Despite this, the board agreed to proceed, with the chair volunteering to draft the proposal. The conceptual focus would be promoting early intervention for youth and young adults, potentially including a ‘nano’ or ‘micro’ public mental health education program modeled on a mini-med school format.

The board discussed scheduling additional Zoom open meetings to review drafts, targeting November 6 and around midday on November 12, with the regular November Board of Health meeting moved to November 10 due to the Veterans Day holiday. The proposal deadline is 3:00 PM on Monday, November 17.

The board chair described the history of the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, which was established during the pandemic to address community stress and stigma. Following the task force’s suggestion to affiliate with the Marblehead Counseling Center — an active face-to-face service provider — the board had previously endorsed the transition. The new entity, Marblehead Cares, has held two meetings. The board voted unanimously to discontinue the task force listing on the town website, with discussion of redirecting web traffic to the Marblehead Counseling Center site until a dedicated Marblehead Cares site is restored.

The board chair reported that the community health survey conducted in partnership with UMass Boston had received just over 1,500 responses. While this matched initial projections, it fell short of the goal needed for statistically significant comparisons across all age cohorts — particularly for the 18–30 and 30–40 age groups. A push to reach 2,000–3,000 responses is underway through newspaper ads, a rolling billboard at the Halloween football game, postcard distribution at a local bank drive-through, and table cards at restaurants. The survey window will remain open through the week of November 11.

Members reviewed the shared policy-tracking spreadsheet and identified potential gaps between MASC newsletter recommendations and policies currently listed in the district’s manual. One member noted several policies referenced in MASC newsletters (e.g., JBB – Educational Equity) do not appear in the district’s current policy list. Members agreed to reconcile these gaps and add missing policies to a “new policies” tab.

The subcommittee voted 2-0 to adjourn at 9:19 a.m. and plans to cover policy sections E, F, and G at the November 20th meeting, with the additional superintendent meeting to be scheduled for sometime in the following week or two.

The subcommittee worked through a slate of MASC-recommended policy revisions in the C and D series:

Consent agenda items (approved for full school committee consent vote): | Policy | Change | |——–|——–| | CA – Administration Goals | Language made less passive | | CB – School Superintendent | Pronouns updated; “Mayor” changed to “Select Board” | | CBI – Evaluation of the Superintendent | Centering on goals for evaluation | | CCB – Line and Staff Relations | Title change; “system” changed to “district” | | CHCA – Approval of Handbooks | Changed approval timing to spring; deleted statutory description while retaining requirements |

Individual vote items (approved to go as separate school committee votes): | Policy | Change | |——–|——–| | CHCA- | Rescind as unnecessary (items are already required by state law) | | CL | Rescind administrative reports policy | | DJ – Purchasing | Adopt MASC model as written; superintendent recommended | | DJA – Purchasing Authority | Update to “cost centers” language; add 3-year contract-duration limit | | DJ – Procurement Requirements | Revise bid threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 per 2022 statutory change; align language with MASC model |

On the procurement threshold, members confirmed the district conducts all of its own purchasing through a certified procurement officer, making it eligible under the 2022 change to raise the formal bid threshold to $100,000. Members noted a potential gap if the certified officer position were ever vacant, but agreed the policy need not address that scenario explicitly.

The subcommittee approved the September 30th meeting minutes on a 2-0 roll-call vote. One member noted she prefers a meeting-minutes format that includes hyperlinked timestamps tied to each agenda item, citing transparency benefits. The members agreed to raise the broader question of minutes consistency at a future full school committee meeting.

The chair called the policy subcommittee meeting of October 23rd to order at 8:31 a.m. after resolving a live-streaming technical issue. No members of the public were in attendance, so the public comment period was skipped.

Old Townhouse sign: The board approved a 15-by-7-inch sign under the Crabtree apple tree at the Old Townhouse main entrance recognizing the Old Marblehead Improvement Association’s voluntary restoration work (including stone repairs and brick walkway replacement). Voted unanimously.

Shellfish season: Per Chapter 130 §40A, the Devereux and Tuckers Beach shell-fishing flats are classified conditionally approved and open from October 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026.

Vacancies announced:

• Shellfish Constable: 2 vacancies, 3 letters of interest received; application deadline November 7, interviews November 19
• Disability Commission: 3 vacancies; application deadline December 5, interviews December 12

Next meetings: November 19 (regular meeting); December 10 (regular meeting, including Disability Commission interviews — corrected from an initially stated December 12 date which fell on a Friday).

Consent Agenda (approved unanimously): Minutes of October 1 and October 9, 2025; Abbott Hall Festival of Arts/Artisans Holiday Marketplace, December 5–7, 2025.

Contracts approved:

Reynolds Field design notes: Rec and Parks Commission unanimously selected CHA over one other firm because CHA has an in-house division dedicated to municipal sports fields, whereas the competing firm was assembling an outside team. The contract covers three tasks (stakeholder coordination, topographic/wetland surveys, and a phased options menu). Only the initial ~$69,000 requisition was being submitted; the board approved the full contract with phased expenditure. Additional Lars Anderson funds for construction phases will require a future Select Board vote.

The board approved a reorganization of the Green Marblehead Committee membership, replacing the town planner designee with the Community Development and Planning Director (Brenda Kelly) to reflect the creation of that director-level position. The change was described as simply swapping who holds the designated seat. Voted unanimously.

The Select Board addressed its overdue response to the Town Charter Committee’s questionnaire. Discussion focused on two articles:

Article 4, Section 4.1:

• Paragraph 11 language referencing “matters which town meeting has authorized or directed the select board to act” was flagged as potentially inconsistent with state law opinions that town meeting cannot direct select board actions; board asked the charter committee to review.
• A suggestion was made to add language explicitly noting the Select Board’s authority to award and execute contracts on behalf of the town.
• A suggestion was made to note the Select Board as the town’s sole legal decision-making authority for litigation and legal strategy.
• A suggestion was made to recognize the Select Board as head of town government for ceremonial purposes.

Article 4, Section 4.2:

• Paragraph 3 language prohibiting the town administrator from engaging in other business was flagged as potentially problematic for National Guard or military reserve commitments.
• Paragraph 9 language restricting TA involvement with the school system was flagged; the TA had served as chief bargaining agent for the school committee under Chapter 150E, and the language should not prohibit the school committee from appointing the TA as their bargaining agent.
• Adding procurement responsibility to the TA’s listed duties was suggested.
• Clarification on interim/acting TA procedures during vacancies or extended absences was suggested.
• Language tying committee appointments and chairmanships to bylaws rather than the charter was suggested to preserve flexibility.

The board voted unanimously to authorize the chair to respond to the questionnaire.

Suzanne Cruel was the sole applicant for the Council on Aging vacancy. She noted over 50 years of Marblehead residency, extensive finance and nonprofit board experience, and involvement with the COA board and Friends of the Council on Aging since 2012. The board voted unanimously to appoint her with a term expiring June 2028.

The board interviewed three candidates for one alternate member vacancy on the Harbors and Waters Board:

• Matthew Burke: 14-year resident, former commercial captain, currently Director of Transportation at DSG Logistics; highlighted logistics, budgeting, and on-the-water experience at West Shore
• Andy Garnets, 8 Partly Street: commercial construction estimator/project manager handling $10M–$150M projects; active member of Marblehead Anglers Club; emphasized budgeting and project management experience
• John Lucas: Marblehead native, Virginia Tech computer engineer, works on fast-attack submarines at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; highlighted systems engineering, maritime engineering background, and project management

Board members noted all three candidates were highly qualified and encouraged the two not selected to continue volunteering. The vote was 3–2 for Burke (Sisson, Degrader/Singer voting Burke; Fox and one other voting Garnets). Burke will need to be sworn in at the Town Clerk’s office before attending his first meeting.

Building Commissioner Steve presented Nelson Gagnan for appointment as on-call plumbing inspector, noting the current inspector is undergoing knee replacement surgery and that having a backup inspector is a legal requirement. Gagnan has prior experience working with the Building Commissioner in Salem and serves as backup plumbing inspector in several other towns. The board voted unanimously to appoint him with a term expiring June 2026.

The Town Administrator reported two restored state earmarks: $50,000 for repairs and irrigation at Waterside Cemetery, and $35,000 for updated firearms training for the police department, secured through Representative Jenny and Senator Creighton.

On the grant front, the town applied for multiple grants through the One Stop and Coastal Zone Management program totaling approximately $2,816,493. Following the referendum vote that took the town out of MBTA 3A compliance, the town was deemed ineligible for all of those grants. Staff indicated they intend to continue applying and will let state agencies determine eligibility on a grant-by-grant basis.

The Village Street Bridge project is at 25% design, with the next step being 75% design funded through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (TIP process). It remains unclear whether 3A non-compliance will affect the project’s position in the TIP conveyor belt.

The Council on Aging roof project and Mary Alley building roof project are both underway, funded by previously approved debt exclusions; the Mary Alley project is expected to take approximately four weeks.

The Coffin School reuse process was outlined: internal department input has been collected (park and rec dog park, electric light battery storage, housing authority housing, and cemetery expansion were among requests), a neighbor meeting was held, a Request for Information has been issued to potential developers, and a broader public meeting is planned for the first or second week of November. Recommendations are expected to be presented to the Select Board around the end of the calendar year or early new year, at which point an RFP would be issued.

Per policy BDE, the chair nominated subcommittee chairs subject to committee approval. Three votes were taken:

• Budget subcommittee: Jen nominated and approved 4-0
• Policy subcommittee: Kate nominated and approved 4-0
• Communications subcommittee: Henry nominated in absentia and approved 4-0, contingent on his agreement upon return

The facilities subcommittee chair was deferred until Henry’s next attendance. No committee members wished to chair multiple subcommittees.

Superintendent Rodu presented progress toward his three evaluation goals set in October of the prior year:

Goal 1 – Professional Practice (staffing patterns): Progress described as moderate. The goal was acknowledged as broad and difficult to track. The superintendent said planned PTO/PCO surveys did not happen due to survey fatigue and administrative demands. Budget-season analysis of classroom-level staffing patterns is planned for the coming months. A committee member noted disappointment that more progress had not been made given the approaching difficult budget season, and called for a zero-based budget approach.

Goal 2 – District Improvement Plan: The superintendent reported the updated District Improvement Plan (also called strategic plan) is well underway, encompassing six overarching goal areas: curriculum/instruction/evaluation; teacher quality and professional development; human resource management; student support programs and services; leadership/governance/communication; and financial/asset management effectiveness. Each area contains benchmarks, objectives, improvement strategies, and persons responsible. Input has been gathered from the full leadership team; staff and community input is planned next. The superintendent aims to bring a proposed final copy to the committee in January, with approval targeted for March or April before the start of FY27.

Goal 3 – Student Learning (student voice): Significant progress reported. Principals embraced the goal and are finding age-appropriate ways to gather student feedback. Learning walks allowed cross-school sharing of student-voice practices. A committee member suggested more formal student self-governance structures at the high school level.

The committee discussed the evaluation process going forward: individual end-of-cycle assessments to be completed by committee members before the next meeting (October 30 or November 6), then compiled together in open session as a composite evaluation with a public vote. New goals will be set after the evaluation is complete.

A committee member explained the proclamation had been discussed in April when a local citizen requested it for October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The committee had previously declined but reconsidered. The proclamation was read into the record citing national statistics that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men experience domestic violence in their lifetime and naming support organizations including HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change), the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the local YMCA crisis center. The committee approved the proclamation with a unanimous vote; a corrected copy without typos will be brought for signing at the next meeting.

The committee acted on four policy items:

A second reading of a middle school pathway exploration policy was also discussed; the policy codifies existing practice of allowing vocational schools to share information with eighth-grade students, consistent with state mandate. The committee noted a longstanding partnership with Essex Tech.

The student representative reported all fall athletic teams are at winning records: football 5-0, volleyball 11-2, field hockey, boys soccer 8-3, girls soccer, girls cross country 7-0 (undefeated), boys cross country 4-3. Upcoming events include PSATs on October 22nd and a powderpuff game against Swampscott on November 22nd. MHS performing arts is hosting ‘Rock the Arts Night’ on November 6th.

Superintendent Rodu opened with a statement that there is no place for hate in Marblehead schools or community, urging students to report discrimination to trusted adults. He noted the health and wellness committee is scheduled to meet October 23rd to begin reviewing the triennial wellness policy. The anti-discrimination committee was meeting the following day. Principals are slated to present MCAS data at the next school committee meeting. The Board of Health has partnered with UMass on a townwide survey for residents 18 and older, running through mid-November. Staff shout-outs were given for transportation coordinators Lisa Manning and Todd Bloodgood, Glover School secretary Don Whittier (16+ years), Village School administrative assistant Maryann McKee, seventh-grade math teachers who organized the Project Venture trip, and AP coordinator Susan Chatford who processed 837 AP exam orders. MHS counselor Kaitlin Fields partnered with Southern New Hampshire University to create a dual-enrollment honors anatomy and physiology course worth four college credits.

A board member provided a public health overview of influenza in advance of the upcoming season. Key data points from last season (classified as severe):

• 47 million U.S. illnesses
• 610,000 hospitalizations (1.8–2.8× higher than the prior 15-year average)
• 38,000–43,000 deaths (preliminary)
• 288 pediatric deaths — the highest since tracking began in 2004; approximately 80–89% of those children had not been vaccinated

Three vaccine types were described: inactivated/killed (standard and high-dose for ages 65+), recombinant (suitable for immunocompromised patients and those with severe egg allergies), and live attenuated nasal spray (ages 2–49, now available for home delivery and self-administration for the first time). Vaccine effectiveness last season ranged from 32–60% in children and 36–54% in adults against medically attended illness, with 78% protection against hospitalization in children. The CDC recommends vaccination for everyone six months and older. September through October is the recommended timing window.

The director presented draft signage language for the Riverhead boat ramp clarifying that it is not a monitored bathing beach. Members discussed whether citing the state’s minimum standards for bathing beaches was confusing given Riverhead’s non-beach status, and agreed to refine the wording. The item was tabled to the October 27 meeting.

The board also briefly discussed the end of the beach bacterial monitoring season. The state funds sampling through approximately Labor Day; samples beyond that cost roughly $300 each. The director noted water temperatures in late September were around 61–66°F and that extending sampling one additional week into mid-September is possible but would require a budget increase.

The director announced that the town has purchased access to the Bloom app for all approximately 20,000 Marblehead residents and roughly 1,200 town employees. Residents can access the app via a QR code flyer at no cost. Services include 24/7 crisis support, therapy and mental health navigation, substance use and recovery coaching, grief support, parent coaching, elder care consulting, and fitness and nutrition resources. Each resident receives four free telehealth therapy or mental health support sessions; upon completion, the app assists with finding ongoing care. The QR code will be posted to the town website.

A board member presented a framework for public mental health as a population-based (non-clinical) approach involving three pillars: preventing mental illness, minimizing its consequences when it occurs, and promoting wellness and resilience. The presenter noted that mental health conditions peak before age 50 — earlier than cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and oncological conditions — and argued this makes early investment especially high-value.

The board also reviewed two recent columns they co-authored, including one on autism spectrum disorder and acetaminophen. A large Swedish sibling-controlled study covering 2.5 million children over 20 years, and a smaller Japanese replication study, both found that after controlling for genetic factors, acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with increased autism risk. A board member noted that mental health conditions collectively cause more lost healthy-life-days than diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer combined.

The board discussed forming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (tentatively called ‘Friends of Public Health’ or similar) as a vehicle for grant-writing to fund public mental health initiatives long-term.

The board chair reported on a leadership meeting held earlier that day to coordinate outreach for the UMass Boston-administered community wellness survey. As of the meeting, approximately 1,400 responses had been received. The chair noted this was the first UMass Boston survey to include respondents as young as age 18, and that the 18–30 age cohort was responding at well below average compared to the other 80 municipalities UMass Boston has surveyed. The 30–39 cohort was also below average. The target response goal is roughly comparable to participation at the peak of the MBTA 3A town meeting discussions.

Members briefly discussed the question of subcommittee chair appointment — noting some ambiguity about whether the full committee chair appoints subcommittee chairs or whether the subcommittee does so itself — and agreed to confirm the process at the following evening’s full committee meeting. One member nominated themselves, received a second, and the vote passed. The group also set a regular cadence of monthly meetings on the Tuesday before the first school committee business meeting, while reserving the option to call a focused single-agenda meeting if a time-sensitive decision (such as selecting an email vendor) arises. The meeting adjourned at 4:24 p.m.

Members agreed that email and possibly social media (Instagram preferred over Facebook to limit two-way engagement) should be the primary tools to develop. Key discussion points included:

• Email platform: Explore vendors such as Mailchimp; estimated cost $10–$15/month or potentially free at low send volume (~60 emails/year). Using a vendor would reduce burden on district administrative staff.
• Distribution list: The committee has no independent list. Members plan to partner with PTOs, local papers, and social accounts such as “All Marblehead” to recruit sign-ups, and to announce the newsletter at regular school committee meetings.
• Instant recap emails: Members want to resume post-meeting summary emails highlighting three top headlines with links to the full recording and eventually the minutes. A Monday release (following Thursday evening meetings) was proposed to allow chair review over the weekend without putting reviewers on call Friday.
• Surveys: A fall and spring community survey was discussed to gather input beyond current school parents and to measure progress.
• Approval workflow: Recap emails would be reviewed by the committee chair and the superintendent before distribution.

The two members opened by reviewing what communication channels the school committee currently uses. They identified the district website, a district-managed email list (which excludes community members without current school-age children), and social media accounts with very few followers. They noted no formal inventory existed and proposed documenting each tool’s owner and publication frequency to identify gaps and duplication.

“I believe I received one email from the school committee a year ago maybe.”

The board appointed Emily DeGrande as Animal Inspector with a term expiring April 30, 2026. The position became vacant when the previous inspector departed and carries a $2,400 annual stipend with approximately 20–24 callouts per year. The role focuses on public health obligations — primarily quarantine reporting and documentation to the state — rather than general animal control.

DeGrande described her background in animal rescue, including work with a domestic rabbit rescue organization and experience transporting various animals. Staff noted that DeGrande was selected after a posting and interviews for her combination of animal care experience and demonstrated capacity for the paperwork and reporting aspects of the role. The board directed staff to ensure she is trained before her first quarantine callout.

The board approved a revision to the previously approved date for the Veterans Town Hall at Abbott Hall, moving it to November 10, 2025, subject to the usual rules, regulations, and fees. The board also approved the minutes of the September 24, 2025 meeting.

The chair called for a motion to adjourn. Members Mark, Kareema, Mike Pifferling, Brian Sarafin, Ralph, and the chair all voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at 12:59 PM.

The subcommittee set its next meeting for October 23, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom. C- and D-series policies will be reviewed at that session using the same MASC-comparison approach. Members also discussed migrating district policies to a more accessible, hyperlinked format on the website, and agreed to follow up with the district’s webmaster (Stephen) about options.

The subcommittee walked through a series of B-category school committee governance policies, all carrying MASC-recommended revisions. Key policies and changes:

The BEH (Public Comment) and BHE (Electronic Messaging) policies were flagged for stand-alone discussion rather than consent agenda. All others were approved for the consent agenda. The full package passed 2–0.

Superintendent John (last name not stated in transcript) submitted a draft policy titled Middle School Pathway Exploration (file IH-AIII-A) the morning of the meeting. DESE requires districts that participate in a regional technical program to adopt such a policy describing how middle school students are informed about CTE and other secondary pathways, including the district’s relationship with Northshore Tech.

Members noted several open questions for the superintendent:

• Whether the district currently offers dual-enrollment programs (a prior Salem State partnership was eliminated around COVID).
• Whether North Shore Tech conducts application interviews.
• The meaning of ‘career pathways program at Marblehead High Schools’ referenced in the draft.

The subcommittee voted 2–0 to recommend the policy to the full school committee. Members discussed a three-reading timeline: first reading at the October 15 school committee meeting, second reading October 30, and a potential vote in November to meet the DESE deadline.

Members reviewed the district’s AC Non-Discrimination and Harassment policy (last revised 9/7/22) against MASC’s recommended model. Notable differences included the district’s inclusion of immigration status and the consolidation of several MASC sub-policies into one document. MASC’s updated model also adds categories such as active military/veteran status, marital status, and familial status, and retitles the policy to include retaliation language.

Because the policies diverge substantially, the subcommittee agreed the district’s current version—and MASC’s recommended changes—should be sent to district counsel (Valerio Dominello) for a legal review and recommendation. The special commission on antisemitism had also flagged this policy for district attention. No vote was taken; the matter was placed on the to-do list for the school year.

The chair moved to approve minutes from the August 28, 2025 meeting; the motion passed 2–0 with no changes noted. The subcommittee then voted 2–0 to open a public comment period that was not on the agenda, but no attendees came forward, and the period was closed.

The chair noted that the Board of Health was listed as one of only two of 68 town committees and boards that expressed support for Draft B of the charter revision. The proposal has had three readings at the House level and at least one at the Senate level. However, due to the legislative calendar and an upcoming election cycle, full passage and return to town meeting may not occur until 2028.

The chair reported that 16,739 postcards were mailed the morning of the meeting, one for each resident over 18 in Marblehead. The survey, developed with UMass Boston under IRB approval, aims to document health and wellness status to inform Board of Health strategic planning.

Key outreach plans discussed:

• Social media pushes coordinated in waves with different community members
• Placements at the senior center, Marblehead Y, and JCC
• A banner to be installed at Marblehead Electric Light
• Eighth-page newspaper ads near the survey close date
• A planned email blast and eventual Code Red notification

The survey is expected to run approximately three weeks. The board noted that the largest age cohort in the mailing is 18–29, which is expected to be the most challenging group to engage. Data will be anonymous, stored on a password-protected platform, and only aggregated results will be reported publicly. A preliminary review by the UMass Boston researcher identified that Marblehead seniors (60+) have higher-than-state-average rates of falls, cataracts, osteoporosis, and arthritis.

The Board of Health convened at 7:33 PM on September 29. The chair called for a motion to approve minutes from July 10, July 22, and August 13. The motion passed unanimously.

Procurement approvals: | Contract | Vendor | Amount | Funding | |—|—|—|—| | Mary Alley Community Center roof replacement (Contract 26-04) | MDM Engineering | $839,000 | Article 11, Town Meeting 2022 | | Hammond Nature Center Timber Stairs Repair (Contract 26-005) | Northeast Trail Works LLP | $19,000 | Shaddock Fund / Rec revolving fund |

The roof contract came in approximately $360,000 below the $1.2 million estimate. Seven to eight bids were received; MDM was the lowest qualified bidder.

Consent agenda approved:

• Minutes of September 10, 2025
• Private drain connection license, 155 Jersey Street (Frisoni)
• Abbott Hall use for MHS/VMS Art Show, May 7–29, 2026
• MHS Annual Booster Drive, October 5, 2025
• Congressman Seth Moulton Veterans Town Hall, Abbott Hall, November 11, 2025
• Festival of Arts First Look Party (Abbott Hall or Old Townhouse), October 17, 2025
• Chamber of Commerce Trick or Treat, October 30, 2025 (street closures 4–5:30 PM)

Liquor license (polled vote): One-day beer and wine license for Festival of Arts, October 17, 2025, Old Townhouse or Abbott Hall, 5–7 PM — approved unanimously.

The Taxation Aid Committee, which administers a voluntary tax-bill checkoff fund for residents in need, was reconstituted with two new resident appointments alongside ex officio members (Board of Assessors chair and Treasurer-Collector). The Town Administrator noted that most taxpayers pay through mortgage escrow and never see the checkoff on their bills, causing the fund balance to decline over time; the committee is expected to launch a public awareness campaign.

Appointments: | Name | Committee | Term Expires | |—|—|—| | Meredith Rearden | Taxation Aid Committee | June 2026 | | Phyllis Smith | Taxation Aid Committee | June 2026 | | Andy Gillis | Council on Aging | June 2028 |

Gillis is executive director of the Mariner in Marblehead and has worked in senior housing and healthcare since 1993.

Charter Committee Chair Amy Drinker, Vice Chair Rosanna Ante, and drafter Sean Casey briefed the board. Key points:

• The committee is gathering feedback from entities named in the charter via a questionnaire.
• A final draft will be submitted to the Select Board in January 2026, after review by Town Counsel and the Collins Center.
• The Select Board will hold a public hearing before the warrant closes, then town meeting 2026 votes on the charter.
• After town meeting passage, the charter goes through a state legislative process (estimated 12–18 months), then returns for a town-wide ballot vote—potentially 2027 or 2028.
• Board members noted that the state legislature may make changes; if those changes are unacceptable, the charter could be rejected at the town-wide vote.

Key updates from the Town Administrator:

• Fiber network: Approximately $500,000 in ARPA funds were used to upgrade the municipal fiber network to a redundant loop configuration. Cutover is scheduled for Sunday, September 28.
• Elevators/lifts: Abbott Hall elevator is nearly back in service pending state inspection. The Old Townhouse hydraulic lift is described as failing beyond its useful life, overheating under frequent use. Future elections and events may be relocated. A capital improvement plan to address historic building elevators is being developed.
• Ambulance service (Boport): In its first month (starting August 15), Boport responded to 97 calls with an average response time of 7.5 minutes and no resident complaints. The service is temporarily co-located at fire headquarters before moving to 8 Sewell Street.
• Village Street Bridge: The project reached 25% design, a key threshold in the Metropolitan Planning Organization federal/state funding process. The bridge is nearly 100 years old and critical for public safety. Staff noted that 3A non-compliance creates uncertainty about whether the project remains on the funding conveyor belt.

Guazda noted no substantive votes were scheduled for the inaugural meeting. He indicated the next meeting (tentatively October 8 or 9) will focus on pros and cons of the restore vs. recover roofing options. A roll-call vote on adjournment was taken among voting members:

The meeting adjourned at 12:37 PM.

The inaugural meeting of the Marblehead School Committee’s roof subcommittee convened. Chair Henry Guazda (School Committee) noted he lacks a construction background and sees his role as facilitating the process. Members introduced include:

Mark Leeman was noted as an additional member absent from the first meeting.

After filling subcommittee seats — Jen and Melissa to budget, Melissa to communications, Kate as health and wellness liaison, Al Williams as town master planning liaison — the committee voted 4–1 on a motion to limit membership of the facilities, budget, policy, and communications subcommittees to elected school committee members voted onto those committees since July 2, 2025, explicitly excluding members of the public.

One member dissented, noting the facilities subcommittee has historically included community members with subject-matter expertise (citing past members Jeff St. George and Jeremy Poer) and that this practice has been beneficial. The majority view, as articulated by another member, was that high-level standing subcommittees should be composed of elected members, with task-specific advisory groups formed separately when outside expertise is needed.

The Glover School PTO donated $50,000 for new playground equipment, described as a climbing structure with ropes. The equipment was installed over the summer and has been in use. Motion passed 5–0.

A cash donation of $4,952.63 from the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools will fund Great Books Foundation training and supplies. Volunteers from the Council on Aging will work with second and third graders twice a week during the advisory block, focusing on high-quality literature and inquiry-based discussion. Motion passed 5–0.

Kate presented the year-long agenda developed from examples at other districts and a prior Marblehead planning calendar. Members discussed adding December warrant articles, a May town meeting entry, a preliminary Q4 FY26 report in June, and a vote on budget transfers before fiscal year end. The roof project contract approval is planned for the first November meeting, with a subcommittee recommendation on roof type (liquid-applied vs. new membrane) to accompany the contract vote. Motion passed 5–0.

The consent agenda included: a schedule of bills totaling $508,281.03; school committee meeting minutes of September 4, 2025 (approved with corrections for pagination, adjournment time, and a spelling fix); 19 MASC-recommended policy updates with minor language changes; school committee operating protocols; and the superintendent’s annual appointment to the North Shore Education Consortium Board. Motion passed 5–0.

The superintendent presented an update on the anti-discrimination committee, which held its first meeting of the year on September 18. All members from the prior year returned. The committee identified three priority areas from the state’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism recommendations: anti-bias education for all staff, Jewish American Heritage Month programming, and trauma-informed counseling support for Jewish students.

Planned deliverables include a presentation by Dr. Mi Bar-Halper to the administrative team, development of anonymous student reporting mechanisms (including QR codes), and a review of the anti-discrimination policy to add antisemitism-specific language. The superintendent is also working with Dr. Darice Arm-Jackson on a district equity audit. Committee members asked for deliverables with specific dates and suggested the full committee present to the school committee mid-year.

On a motion by the CFO, the committee voted 4–0 (one member briefly absent) to declare eight audiometers surplus. The items will be listed on the state surplus registry and may be sold or sent to an electronics recycler.

The superintendent welcomed Melissa Lucas and reported that open houses and PTO/PCO meetings are underway with strong attendance. Alice evacuation drills are being conducted at each building. The district is participating in an MGH substance use and mental health survey on October 9. A Board of Health needs assessment called CAHM (Creating a Healthier Marblehead), developed with UMass Boston, was noted. The superintendent shared a staff email reminding employees to be mindful of political and social commentary. Several staff members were recognized by name for exemplary work, including Zach Dixie (Village), Christine Chenowski, Mike Giardi, Danielle Moser (MHS), instructional coaches, Jay Budda (Vets), Tawny Callahan, and team chairs.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a welcome to new school committee member Melissa Lucas. Student representative Will provided an update on fall sports: boys soccer (5–2), girls soccer (4–0–2), volleyball (5–1), field hockey (3–2–1), and football (2–0). The marching band has begun practicing. Senior college application seminars and a financial aid night on October 28 were noted.

A board member raised concern about the Lynn Way Multimodal Corridor Project, a $20 million grant-funded initiative to improve the bus, pedestrian, and bicycle experience on the Lynn Way (a state highway). A key element is proposed removal of a travel lane on each side to create a dedicated bus lane, which the member noted could create significant backlog for commuters from Marblehead and neighboring towns. An in-person information session is scheduled at Abbott Library the following Wednesday from 12:30–2 PM. The member proposed reaching out to the Swampscott and Nahant select boards to coordinate advocacy on behalf of commuters, with board support. Staff noted they had already contacted State Representative Jenny’s office and posted the project flyer to the town website.

The board approved a one-month, $0-cost demo lease of a Demara EES electric mini bus from Demara Bus USA LLC, subject to town counsel review. The vehicle will be used by the Council on Aging as a direct replacement for existing gas-powered mini buses. Key specifications: approximately 130-mile battery range, capacity of 10–15 passengers, and a low-floor design for wheelchair and mobility-impaired users. The bus will charge at the Mary Alley charger. A public showcase event is planned for early October.

The Town Administrator presented a draft Cannabis Social Equity Policy required under Chapter 180 of the Acts of 2022, which mandates municipalities establish a process giving advantages to social equity applicants (owners from disproportionately impacted communities), as well as women-owned and veteran-owned businesses. Marblehead has two host community agreements expiring in November 2026 and April 2027. At least one of those two agreements must qualify under the social equity criteria; if neither does when renewal comes up, the town must hold a six-month open application period for qualifying applicants before considering others. Staff indicated the recently transferred Seven Sisters license may qualify. No vote was taken; the policy will return at a future meeting.

The Select Board unanimously adopted the Town of Marblehead Zero Emissions Vehicles First Procurement Policy. Key features highlighted during discussion:

• Applies primarily to light-duty vehicles; emergency vehicles and heavy equipment are explicitly excluded
• Includes a feasibility clause so the town is not locked into purchases that are functionally or financially inappropriate
• Supports the town’s Net Zero by 2040 roadmap adopted in 2023
• Constitutes one of the required steps toward applying for Green Community designation from the state (as discussed in public comment)

The policy was reviewed by department heads and the CFO before presentation. Staff noted the Town of Concord used a similar policy as a model.

Town Planner Brendan reported the Coffin School reuse project is proceeding on schedule. Key upcoming steps:

• September 26: Deadline for municipal department expressions of interest
• Late September: Letter to direct abutters; in-person/hybrid abutters meeting
• ~Early October: First public meeting following the abutters meeting
• ~30-day window: Request for Information (RFI) to potential outside developers and nonprofits posted to the town website
• ~November: Second public meeting; select board expected to begin deciding direction
• ~January (aspirational): Potential issuance of a formal RFP

Board members discussed the importance of broad community engagement and a structured criteria-based process, drawing lessons from the Gary School reuse process. At least one Select Board member expressed interest in attending the abutters meeting.

Steve McClure, artist and operator of the Willie Shaker Gallery, was appointed to the Cultural Council (term to June 2028). Duncan Facie was reappointed as a full member of the Old and Historic Districts Commission (term to June 2026), correcting an administrative oversight from June. Michael Hall, who holds a master’s in Historic Preservation from the University of Edinburgh and helped establish a historic district commission in Augusta, Maine, was appointed OHDC alternate member (term to June 2026).

The Fire Chief explained that the clock tower bell is struck hourly by a brass hammer at the same spot and has never been rotated, creating risk of metal fatigue and cracking after approximately 140 years of use. A local steeplejack/welder with relevant experience had been lubricating the retaining nut for several months in preparation. The board unanimously approved granting permission to rotate the bell.

The Town Administrator highlighted recent professional development: Treasurer/Collector Kami Elli passed the Massachusetts Collectors and Treasurers Association Collector Exam on her first attempt, earning full certification. Assistant Assessor Victoria Boca-rate completed the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers Annual Summer School in assessing procedures. The police department was also notified of its re-accreditation (on a roughly three-year cycle), with a formal recognition ceremony planned for October.

The chair called the joint Select Board–School Committee meeting to order and explained procedures: four applicants would be interviewed individually in alphabetical order, deliberation would follow, and a majority of five votes from the combined eight-member panel (one member recused) would be required for appointment.

A board member reported that at the end of the most recent budget season, the Finance Committee had been prepared to endorse increasing the town’s contribution to the Marblehead Counseling Center from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, but budget pressures forced it back to $60,000. The counseling center has indicated readiness to restore the higher figure.

The board discussed pursuing a town meeting article to provide sustained, multi-year funding rather than annual appropriations. The director noted that a meeting with counseling center director Sharon is scheduled for Thursday to get a specific financial figure for the backlog reduction request.

The board also discussed the potential for in-school counseling at Marblehead schools, noting that most neighboring towns have this model. The director confirmed Peabody uses in-school counseling and that it significantly reduces after-school waitlist pressure. A board member volunteered to represent the Board of Health on Superintendent Jen Schaffner’s multi-board working group on youth substance use.

Vaccination update: The associate chair for community health reported connecting with Megan Calkin, lead nurse for Marblehead Public Schools. MMR vaccination rates for the 2024 school year were: Glover – 100%, Village – 100%, Vet’s (Veterans) – 98%, High School – 100%. Recent gaps in reported data were attributed to a website usability error rather than a data collection problem. No student exclusions for vaccination non-compliance have been required under the current nursing team.

Riverhead Beach signage: Park and Rec proposed signage language for Riverhead Beach noting it is not a designated swimming beach and water is not tested under Massachusetts DPH Bathing Beach regulations. The board found portions of the proposed language (particularly ‘calm protected waters’) unclear or promotional and directed the director to consult state bathing beach program staff for approved alternative language. A formal vote was deferred; beach season ends at the end of the week so timing pressure is low.

The board chair, who has served on the 9-member town charter committee since its inception, described the project as a clarification and documentation effort rather than a change vehicle. Draft B is available on the Marblehead website (searchable as ‘Marblehead Charter Draft B’). The Board of Health section runs approximately 8–9 pages, covering composition, powers, duties, appointing authority, and policy roles.

Key process steps noted:

• Feedback on draft B due by October 6
• Draft C to follow
• Final charter must be approved by town meeting, then the state legislature, then ratified again
• Earliest anticipated timeline: April 2027 town meeting

Board members noted the draft currently lists five members for the Board of Health and indicated they would review the section carefully.

The board chair described what he called a new ‘information curator’ role for the Board of Health in an era of widespread misinformation. Three initiatives were outlined:

1. Newspaper columns: Both local papers (the Current and the Weekly News) have agreed to publish Board of Health articles on public health topics. Articles will differ between the two papers. Supporting references will be posted on the Board of Health website.

2. ‘Creating a Healthier Marblehead’ survey: On September 29, approximately 16,000 postcards will be mailed to all Marblehead residents over age 18 inviting participation in a 42-question online health assessment survey. UMass Boston is the survey partner and will provide multi-level analysis. The survey is planned to run for three weeks in October, with focus groups following in early 2026 and a public forum summarizing findings in mid-2026.

3. Marblehead Mental Health Task Force: Formerly a subdivision of the Board of Health, this group is now independent and will serve as a bridge between the Board of Health and the Marblehead Counseling Center, with Dr. Labone as chair.

Additionally, two small best-practice grants are supporting a project with Salem State professor Abeta examining child and maternal health in the community.

The chair called for a motion to adjourn. Henry moved, a second was provided, and the committee voted 4-0 (Henry, Ben, Mike, Todd all in favor) to adjourn at 2:34 pm.

The committee discussed the central administration building at Mary Alley, noting it is borderline sufficient — it meets most needs but lacks adequate space for HR functions (interviews, performance conversations) and large leadership meetings with all principals and directors. A town HVAC renovation is planned as a two-phase project (roof and HVAC), with the town going out to bid for an OPM.

The committee agreed to:

1. Meet approximately monthly (rather than ad hoc), preferably Tuesday–Thursday mornings
2. Conduct building walkthroughs of all school properties with principals and head custodians present, modeled on a prior exercise the facilities director conducted with Todd
3. Develop a tally/checklist tool for the walkthroughs
4. Have the superintendent (John) brief the committee at the next meeting on the Eve School usage agreement with the town archives

The committee chair agreed to send out a proposed meeting calendar and walkthrough schedule.

High school fieldhouse: Needs cleaning, painting, and potentially a new rubber floor. Athletic director has requested banner replacement (likely a boosters expense). May require a designer for acoustic board repairs. The committee noted capital funding requests need to be prioritized soon.

Glover School boulders: Large boulders (~2 feet wide) scattered across the playground area present safety concerns. Origin appears to be construction blasting debris left by contractor. The committee discussed whether a landscaping company might remove them in exchange for the stone. A committee member suggested they could be declared surplus and sold.

Eve School / Early Education Feasibility Study: The committee confirmed this was explicitly included in last year’s approved budget. A committee member stated they voted for it and the superintendent confirmed the funding existed, but its current whereabouts are unclear. The superintendent’s office agreed to follow up with the business office. The committee expressed they do not want to defer this another year. The feasibility study would examine programmatic needs and likely location (Eve School being the probable site, currently used by the town for document storage). Left Field offered to help frame the proposal scope, though the programmatic piece (heavily weighted toward special education) may require a different consultant.

Brown School community access: The building was designed with cut-off gates at strategic points so conference rooms and the library could be opened to the public evenings and weekends while keeping classroom wings secured. The gates exist but the administrative piece was never implemented when the building opened. The committee discussed potentially promoting this during planned building walkthroughs and noted that Brown is heavily used Monday–Friday until 6 pm and by youth sports in the evenings.

Veterans Middle School future projects:

• D-wing roof replacement starting the following week (small project, two classrooms temporarily relocated)
• Expansion joints throughout the building have tile cracking issues that may be a capital project
• Sound panels for the band room requested
• Gym floor sanding and refinishing (full strip and refinish, not annual buff) has been requested for approximately 5–6 years and keeps getting deferred; committee expressed commitment to not defer again
• Interior door between Magic Hat Shop and school building (safety/security) to be completed within weeks
• Interior door between gymnasium and stairwell leading to Magic Hat area also planned
• Fire door installation at the high school awaiting one final connection; a prior vendor was terminated and a new one completed most of the work
• Boiler replacement at the high school: funding approved at town meeting approximately two years ago but no contractor is returning calls; committee member suggested the Roof/HVAC Advisory Committee members may have contacts
• Air filter replacement goal is 4x/year (up from once/year when the effort began) but manpower challenges prevent consistent achievement
• Kitchen exhaust fans (replacement units on site) and grease trap replacement planned for a holiday weekend
• Cafeteria sound system needed
• Cafeteria pavers need to be reset (tripping hazard)
• A sliding gate at the high school rear emergency entrance is being installed, operable by emergency vehicles

The facilities director outlined upcoming project priorities:

Brown School: EV charging stations being installed in partnership with MLDD, which will own and operate the equipment. MLDD currently oversees 10 town charging stations and will go out to RFP (above state purchasing threshold). The school’s electric vehicle got a half-charge in 3.5 hours at $4 using the existing slow charger at Mary Alley; the director requested a high-amperage Level 2 charger at Brown. Shade structure for the playground (a sail-type semi-permanent structure) is under research; a working example exists at a Seaside Park preschool. A ball net (PTO donation) is being installed. Cafeteria shade motors on order.

Village: Hopkins Field fence replacement being re-bid after original vendor’s price increased by approximately $10,000 in May.

Signage: A committee member noted lack of cohesion across school building signs and asked whether a unified signage standard could be developed. The committee member offered to prepare an inventory for discussion during planned walkthroughs. Henry (a member with graphic design experience) offered to assist with a signage proposal.

The facilities director provided a school-by-school summary of summer 2025 work:

Brown School: Wood paneling over the cafeteria stage repaired in-house after the original contractor (Gil Bane) failed to complete closeout. New bottle-filling station installed in cafeteria. New playground structure installed the day after school opened; playground surface resurfaced with red-and-black rubber compound over Labor Day weekend. PTO donated the playground structure.

Glover School: HVAC upgrade and repairs completed (one circuit board still on order). Interior seating area concrete steps painted green (water-based epoxy, second coat planned). Hallway whiteboard paint refreshed on 2 of 3 walls.

Village School: Univvent heater motors/belts serviced; windows with broken seals repaired; Hopkins Field scoreboard replaced (funded by Marblehead National Bank and Marblehead Youth Football, with Marblehead Light providing labor). Classroom moves assisted.

Veterans Middle School: Mini-split HVAC installed in classroom 248 (computer lab above boiler room), main office, and IT office. New carpeting in two classrooms. PACK auditorium seating reupholstered; ceilings and walls painted. Gymnasium padding replaced. Exterior flag painted.

High School: Main entrance doors replaced; main staircase painted; mini-splits installed in cafeteria office and athletic director’s office; drinking fountain on Wing D replaced.

Mary Alley (central administration): Mini-split installation in progress to replace loud window unit.

Custodial staff were praised for above-and-beyond cleaning work using a new top-down methodology across all buildings.

The meeting opens with brief technical difficulties. The chair notes that minutes from 7/24 and 9/5 are tabled and previews the agenda including the MHS roof project update and a summer 2025 projects recap.

• Budget subcommittee: No second member yet; chair plans to begin conversations with the superintendent and finance committee chair. Enrollment is down approximately 170 students year-over-year. Contractual obligations are rising. A fifth school committee seat is expected to be filled within a week or so, potentially adding a member with a financial background.
• Policy subcommittee: Met the prior week, established a full-year meeting schedule with an ambitious workload, and will begin presenting policies at the next meeting.
• Communications subcommittee: Trying to set up meetings; follow-up needed on scheduling.
• Meeting materials: Members discussed the 48-hour advance-posting policy and agreed materials should be provided as early as possible, especially for dense packets. An item removed from a prior agenda was explained as a materials-availability issue, not a policy amendment.
• MASC conference (November): Registration deadline the next day for early-bird pricing; the chair encouraged attendance.

The assistant superintendent explained that following recent curriculum adoptions (new English learner and science curricula approved last year; new K-3 Mystery Science kits), the district has outdated materials to dispose of, including old Holt science textbooks and Units of Study reading kits. The superintendent indicated plans to explore textile recycling options or reach out to other superintendents. The committee approved disposal 4-0.

A committee member proposed sending a brief meeting summary to community members shortly after each meeting, describing it as a technology-assisted recap with a link to the video and highlights. Other members noted school committees have not traditionally sent such emails and suggested posting to the website instead. The committee voted 4-0 to use the summary as a website post after each meeting, with the chair approving before publication.

On a motion and second, the committee approved the August 21, 2025 school committee meeting minutes and bills totaling $990,473.31. Vote: 4-0.

The superintendent reported:

• Staffing: 22 teachers hired to start the year; 6 were internal promotions from IA/TS roles. Three special education teacher vacancies remain open. A new French teacher is starting the following week after an earlier hire withdrew the day before school.
• IAs: Some IA openings remain, partly IEP-driven and partly due to student movements between schools.
• Safety drills: Schools are conducting mandatory fire drills and full ALICE evacuation drills to rally points at the start and end of the year, with at least one lockdown drill in between. An unplanned fire alarm at the high school and a gas-smell evacuation at Village School both went smoothly.
• Substance abuse/counseling: The Marblehead Counseling Center has been instrumental, particularly following a recent unspecified community tragedy. The MGH SURF (substance use and risk-related factors) survey will be administered to high school students in October, with results reported in the spring. The superintendent is revitalizing the wellness committee and reconnected with head nurse Megan Kalpin. The anti-discrimination committee meets September 11.
• Glover playground: Renovation complete; the Glover PTO contributed a generous donation. Some ongoing safety assessments of boulders and drainage continue.
• Student representative Will gave his first update, noting a smooth school start, a new bell schedule causing some adjustment, and fall sports beginning.

Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m. A committee member offered a commendation to all administrators and staff who worked to get schools open, observing that preparation begins in June.

A subcommittee member had prepared a master spreadsheet of all current district policies cross-referenced against MASC policy bulletins going back to at least March 2023. A second member had independently prepared a similar spreadsheet, and members agreed to merge the two. The items were categorized into three groups:

• Minor edits (mostly from the March 2023 bulletin): terminology changes such as “parents” → “parent/guardian” and “children” → “student.” One member agreed to redline the existing policy documents and bring the full set forward for vote, with the recommendation that materials be distributed at least two weeks before the vote.
• Substantive edits: Policies with notable differences from current district language, including BEDH (public comment at school committee meetings), IGB (student services program), JJ (student fundraising — contains a door-to-door solicitation discouragement clause the district currently uses), KBE (relations with parent organizations), and EKAB (access to buildings and grounds). These require superintendent review before action.
• New policies (13 recommended by MASC): Including EF (civil rights complaint for child nutrition programs), EFBA (school food and nutrition meal modifications), visitors to schools, service animals, and others. Several may already have been adopted; the subcommittee noted the website versions may be out of date.

A specific discussion arose around policy ILD (student submission to educational surveys), which implements a federal statute requiring districts to notify parents annually and give them an opportunity to opt out before surveys on certain sensitive topics are administered. Members noted the current handbook version requires prior consent, questioned how operationalization works in practice, and agreed to place this on a future agenda with the superintendent present to explain procedures.

The subcommittee also discussed the need to track review dates on policies (even when no change is made) and the desirability of building a hyperlinked index of the policy manual to improve usability, noting the school IT contact (Stephen) had discussed possible solutions.

Planned meeting schedule: | Date | Focus | |—|—| | September 30 (8:30 a.m.) | Minor edits — introduce/discuss | | ~November 20 (11:00 a.m.) | Substantive edits, sections A & B | | ~December 18 (11:00 a.m.) | Substantive edits, continued | | ~January 22 (11:00 a.m.) | Continued by letter category | | ~January 26 | Continued | | ~March 26 | Continued | | ~May 28 | Final |

The meeting adjourned at 11:54 a.m.

The superintendent reported receipt of a $500 donation from Making Ends Meet Incorporated Foundation to Brown School. The superintendent noted with some humor that the ‘blanket donation’ listed in materials was in fact an unrestricted gift to the school, not a donation of blankets. The motion to accept passed 4–0.

The superintendent explained two annual state conferences: the summer MASS (superintendents) conference and the joint MASC/MASS school committee conference November 12–14. Members interested in attending should notify Lisa Manning; the budget covers all members. An early-bird registration deadline was noted (approximately September 5th). The committee discussed appointing a delegate who would be empowered to vote on the MASC legislative agenda on behalf of the committee — a practice the committee has not previously done.

Kate then presented year-long agenda examples from Lexington, Andover, and Greenfield, noting that Andover posts theirs publicly on the school committee webpage. Members expressed preference for a clear monthly format and agreed the most important step is making the agenda publicly available on the district website. The committee noted they have an internal yearly calendar but it has not been publicized.

Kate reported that Charter Committee Chair Amy Drinker had contacted her and Al requesting school committee feedback on draft B of the town charter. The school committee’s section is Article 6, Section 8. The feedback deadline is Monday, October 6th. The committee agreed to designate Kate to review the section for factual inaccuracies and report back rather than conduct a full-committee review.

Lisa Murray presented the updated bullying intervention and prevention plan, which had been reviewed by district attorney Matt Makavoy. Most changes were grammatical, with updated statutory terminology replacing ‘victim’ with ‘target’ and ‘perpetrator/aggressor’ with ‘aggressor.’ One factual error was identified: the draft stated parents would be notified after investigation conclusion, when policy requires notification for both alleged target and aggressor families prior to the investigation. The chair moved to approve with that correction. The motion passed 4–0.

The chair called for a motion to approve the schedules of bills totaling $918.34, which passed unanimously. The committee then moved separately to approve minutes from August 4th and August 7th. One member noted that the drafts lacked open-meeting-law-required elements such as meeting location and documents used, and offered to work with Henry to add those items before finalizing. Both motions passed unanimously.

The superintendent opened district updates by offering condolences to the family of ‘Savannah’ following a recent tragedy and reported that counselors were positioned at the high school to support students, staff, and community partners when school resumes.

Facilities updates included: the Glover HVAC system installation is complete; playground rubber surface work is slightly behind schedule but partially complete before Wednesday’s school opening; the high school pack walls, ceilings, and seats have been refurbished; a new scoreboard was installed; and floors were refinished across the district. The district also received its first 7D electric van in support of the Green Marblehead initiative. A leadership institute was held that week, with staff returning Monday and students returning Wednesday.

School Committee Vacancy: The board received formal notification from School Committee Chair Al Williams of Brian Ota’s resignation effective July 31. The board opened an application process, with letters of interest and resumes due September 5, 2025, submitted to both the Select Board at Abbott Hall or by email, and to School Committee Chair Williams. A joint interview meeting is scheduled for September 10, 2025.

Consent Agenda approved:

• Old Town House use for Marblehead & Revolution Weekend, September 20–21, 2025
• Dollars for Scholars 10th Annual Run for the Fund 5K, October 5, 2025
• Shanty #1 renewal to Mark Lozier for 2025–2026
• Abbott Hall use for wedding ceremony, August 1, 2026
• Old Town Hall use for Wings Women Discovery presentation, September 5, 2025
• Meeting minutes of July 9, July 15, and July 23, 2025

Surplus equipment declared: one Precision Solar Control (est. value $100 scrap) and one 2017 Ford Explorer from the Police Department.

One-day liquor license approved for Friends of Council on Aging, August 2025, 4:30–6:30 PM at the Jacoby Community Center, 10 Humphrey Street.

Contracts approved:

• MetaSource LLC records digitization project: time extension to June 30, 2026 (no cost increase)
• Ham Electric LLC, Redd’s Pond playground sports lighting: $21,750 (paid from Rec & Parks revolving fund)
• Penalty Floors Inc., police station flooring: $14,234 (paid from Town Meeting 2025 Article 8)

The board approved three motions authorizing the Town Administrator to act on behalf of Marblehead in National Opioid Litigation Consortium settlements:

1. Purdue/Sackler: Vote on the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan including a $6.5 billion Sackler family settlement, to be submitted by September 23, 2025.
2. GISA Release: Execute the Governmental Entity Settlement Agreement quasi-release for the Sackler agreement via DocuSign by September 30, 2025.
3. Nine-defendant settlement: Execute participation forms for agreements with Algen, Amal, AAX, Hikma, Indivior, Mylan, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Zydus, and (if applicable) Sandoz, by October 1, 2025.

The Town Administrator noted Marblehead has already received upward of $330,000 from prior settlements. Settlement funds are restricted to uses including community prevention programs, substance use treatment, recovery housing, naloxone distribution, and public health infrastructure. The town’s strategy is to identify existing community organizations providing these services and fund them rather than delivering services directly.

The board formally adopted its 2025 strategic goals as summarized by a board member following the earlier retreat. The goals are organized into areas including good governance, communication and public engagement, finance and budgeting, capital planning and investment, community quality of life, workforce and human resources, and community development and economic growth.

Discussion centered on how to operationalize the goals, with one member suggesting alignment with the GFOA budget document so departmental budgets reflect the board’s strategic priorities. The Town Administrator described the goals as the top-level direction for the organization, feeding into the next budget cycle. The board voted unanimously to adopt the goals and indicated plans to post them publicly on the town website.

Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey presented two related items: the state Green Communities program and a draft Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) First procurement policy.

Green Communities Program: The program provides designation grants ($150,000–$700,000 at designation) and competitive grants (up to $225,000 per round, offered approximately every six months) for energy efficiency and carbon-reduction projects. About 300 of 351 Massachusetts municipalities participate. Marblehead has already met three of five criteria: as-of-right zoning for renewable energy, permitting within one year, and adoption of the Stretch Building Code.

The two remaining criteria are the ZEV procurement policy and an energy reduction plan (due in October). As a Municipal Light Plant community, Marblehead must also adopt a renewable energy charge of 0.5 mill per kilowatt-hour (approximately $5–$6/year per average household, totaling roughly $50,000 town-wide annually). That decision rests with the Light Board. The application deadline is December 2025; applications can also be submitted every six months.

A board member raised the question of whether MBTA Communities non-compliance would affect grant eligibility. Casey noted the competitive grant program does consider MBTA compliance, and the designation grant is a gray area being investigated with the state Department of Energy Resources.

ZEV First Policy: The draft policy would require that, starting in FY27, any light-duty vehicle purchase (under 8,500 lbs) consider battery-electric options first, then plug-in hybrids, then hybrids, before conventional vehicles. Heavy-duty vehicles, emergency response vehicles, and off-road equipment are exempt. Cost feasibility and operational suitability are built-in escape valves. The town currently has two fully electric vehicles in its approximately 90-vehicle light-duty fleet.

The board asked for time to review the draft policy before a future vote.

The board formally appointed Allison Jenkins as Chief Procurement Officer, a newly dedicated full-time position. Jenkins has approximately 19 years of municipal government experience, including service as a Select Board member in Hamilton, nearly 10 years as Chief Procurement Officer in Reading (where she centralized that function for the first time), and a stint with the City of Everett.

The Town Administrator noted that previously the CPO role was split with the Town Planner position and that centralizing procurement will improve contract quality, free up department heads to focus on core functions, and help manage significant project volume. Jenkins indicated there was already substantial pent-up demand waiting for the new office. Her term expires June 2026.

Council on Aging representatives Marcy Schwam (in person) and Lisa Hooper (remote) presented the board’s June 12 vote to change its operational policy. The COA, currently a seven-member board, requested extending consecutive service from two to three three-year terms (up to approximately nine years) before requiring members to step off and reapply. The rationale was continuity of institutional knowledge, particularly after COVID disrupted normal board timelines. The Select Board noted that most appointed boards do not have term limits, and approved the change unanimously.

The board interviewed two applicants for Conservation Commission vacancies (three vacancies exist: two three-year terms and one two-year term).

Allison Fry is Associate Director at Salem Sound Coast Watch, with experience in habitat restoration, salt marsh work, wetland protection, and coastal resilience grants. She has attended Marblehead Conservation Commission meetings and has presented at other North Shore commissions.

Brandon Collins grew up in Lake George, NY, where his mother was a prominent limnologist. He has worked with the Lake George Association and related freshwater science programs, and moved to Marblehead in 2015. He works in real estate and is familiar with Conservation Commission processes through client interactions.

After interviews, the board voted unanimously to appoint both to three-year terms expiring June 2028.

The Town Administrator provided updates on three property matters:

Cove Lane Access Dispute: A resident is claiming private ownership of Cove Lane on the Neck, which has historically been used by the public for beach access. Town counsel is researching deed records; the town’s current position is that ownership is shared among abutters. No court filings have been made; the dispute remains at the attorney-correspondence stage. Board members expressed strong support for defending public access.

Cliff Street Boatyard Cleanup: The town received a draft permanent solution with no conditions statement from DEP, indicating soil remediation of historical oils and liquids is complete with no restrictions required on property use.

Smith Street Rail Trail Ribbon Cutting: A ribbon cutting ceremony for a showcase section of the Rail Trail is scheduled for August 26 at 4:00 PM. The section serves as a prototype to set dimensions and materials for remaining portions.

The board discussed whether to hold a second August meeting given schedule conflicts in the final week of the month. Members agreed to postpone and set the next regular meeting for the second Tuesday of September, with the large public trash-contract input session planned for the fourth Monday (Wednesday the 24th) of September.

At the opening of the meeting, the chair noted that following Brian Ott’s resignation at the prior meeting, town counsel Thatcher had recommended the committee formally vote to declare the seat vacant before sending a letter to the Select Board. After brief discussion about whether such a vote had been done in the past, the committee moved and voted unanimously (4-0) to declare the seat vacant.

The final session covered school committee roles and responsibilities through scenario exercises:

Personnel authority

• The committee appoints and sets compensation for the superintendent, school business administrator, administrator of special education, legal counsel, school physicians, registered nurses, and supervisor of attendance.
• Assistant superintendents require the superintendent’s recommendation.
• Principals and other administrators are appointed by the superintendent; the committee has no role in those decisions.
• Individual committee members cannot direct staff or administrators; direction flows from the committee as a whole through the superintendent.

Roles and communications

• The chair is the committee’s spokesperson and must convey the committee’s official position (established by vote) even if it differs from the chair’s personal view.
• Individual members may express personal views but must clarify they are not speaking on behalf of the committee.
• Committee members should not contact principals or other non-supervisory staff directly on school business; all communication should follow the chain of command through the superintendent.
• Legal counsel requests should go through the chair to avoid duplication of costs; counsel represents the committee as a whole, not individual members.
• Budget authority: the select board cannot require school committee line-item budget approval; the committee submits to town meeting for bottom-line approval only.

Unfair labor practices

• Direct dealing—going around union leadership to individual employees—is an unfair labor practice.
• Committee members speaking to union employees in their capacity as committee members (even informally) can trigger ULP charges, even without a quorum present.
• School committee members should not promise benefits, threaten consequences, or make statements that could be interpreted as chilling employees’ protected union activity.

Attorney Liz Valerio (referred to as the MASC attorney/field director for legal) presented a multi-hour legal training, working through scenario exercises in teams. Key topics included:

Conflict of Interest (Ch. 268A)

• Covers all public employees and officials; prohibits using public resources for personal purposes or positions for unwarranted privileges.
• Members cannot take official action affecting their own financial interest or that of immediate family (spouse, children, parents, siblings, and spouse’s equivalent relatives).
• Disclosures must be filed in writing with the town clerk; recusal means leaving the room during deliberation and vote.
• Gifts of substantial value ($50 or more, aggregated) cannot be accepted.
• Rule of necessity: if so many members are disqualified that action is impossible, members may disclose and participate—but only as a last resort confirmed with the State Ethics Commission.
• Always ask the State Ethics Commission before acting (free, available by phone).

Open Meeting Law

• Applies to all deliberations (oral, written, electronic) by a quorum of the committee or any subcommittee.
• A two-member subcommittee’s quorum is two—members cannot communicate privately about subcommittee business.
• Serial communications (A tells B who tells C) violate the law even without a simultaneous quorum.
• Social media posts on matters within the committee’s jurisdiction may constitute deliberation; emoji reactions (thumbs up, hearts) have been found to count.
• Texting or emailing during a meeting is visible to the public and may be subject to public records requests.
• Meetings must be posted 48 hours in advance (excluding weekends and holidays) with a specific agenda, location, and—if virtual—a link.
• Agenda items cannot generally be added within 48 hours unless an unanticipated emergency arises.
• Public comment is not required at every meeting unless policy mandates it; limit total time and enforce individual time limits (typically 3 minutes) consistently.
• One-way informational emails to all members (distributing packet materials) are permissible if members are instructed not to reply-all.

Executive Session

• Must convene in open session first; a roll-call vote is required, stating the purpose and whether the committee will return to open session.
• Purpose 1 (personnel reputation/discipline), Purpose 2 (collective bargaining strategy), Purpose 3 (litigation strategy), and Purpose 7 (reviewing executive session minutes) are the most commonly used.
• Individual discussed in executive session must receive 48-hour written notice and has the right to be present, have a representative, speak, and record.
• Executive session minutes must be kept separately; reviewed periodically under Purpose 7 and redacted before release when appropriate.

Public Records

• Individual committee members do not respond to public records requests—direct requesters to the district’s Records Access Officer.
• Minutes must be provided within 10 calendar days of a request (not 10 business days).
• Use only district email for school committee business; personal accounts are still subject to public records law if the content relates to committee jurisdiction.

After the break, the MASC director turned to operating protocols:

• Operating protocols were last adopted in June; the facilitator recommended the full committee vote to adopt and sign them annually, preferably at the first fall meeting, to give the document more accountability weight.
• If a member violates protocols, the chair’s role is to have a private conversation; some districts use censure but only if they have a policy for it.
• Members with concerns about another member’s conduct should bring them to the chair.
• Subcommittee vs. advisory committee: A school-committee subcommittee is bound by open meeting law; a superintendent’s advisory committee (e.g., a school building committee) is more appropriate for broad stakeholder participation, with one or two school-committee members serving as liaisons under quorum.
• The committee voted the prior year to make the roof project a facility subcommittee; the facilitator noted the subcommittee charge should be re-voted annually or when the charge changes.
• Exofficio members (non-elected participants at the table) can be invited; they cannot vote or enter executive session.

After a brief break, the MASC facilitator reviewed the rationale and mechanics of school committee goal-setting:

• Goals keep the committee on track and aligned with the superintendent.
• Without self-set goals, external events (funding cuts, building issues, state mandates) will set the agenda.
• Goals must be Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Rigorous/Realistic, and Timed/Tracked.
• Distinguish between outputs (actions, processes) and outcomes (results, benchmarks).
• The committee’s prior-year format—goal + action steps + checkpoint—was praised as a model for other districts.

The facilitator then walked through next-year goal candidates, confirming: Goal 1 (policy) moves to the subcommittee as a maintenance charge; Goal 2 (communications) continues as a full-committee goal with subcommittee support.

A MASC field director facilitated a structured review of the committee’s three prior-year goals:

Goal 1 – Policy Manual Review: Members discussed whether the goal was fully met and agreed to transition ongoing policy housekeeping to the policy subcommittee as a standing charge rather than a full-committee goal. The MASC director noted an upcoming policy bulletin (expected by end of August) covering competency determination and other updates due to DESE by October/November.

Goal 2 – Enhancing School Committee Communications: The committee reported creating a communications subcommittee, developing a newsletter template, and establishing a process for flagging website updates through the superintendent. Unfinished items include a visible public-comment timer, a public-comment opening statement, a community survey, a public-relations plan, and potential social media use. The MASC director advised extreme caution around social media and open meeting law.

Goal 3 – Budget Process Documentation: Members reported that the budget workshop, public hearing, and committee vote sequence worked well, and the school committee approved its budget before FinCom’s hearing for the first time. The MASC director recommended posting the budget timeline document publicly and conducting a postmortem through the budget subcommittee.

Emerging next-year goals discussed:

• Exploring exofficio/advisory membership (e.g., student representation, union liaisons, CPAC)
• Developing a portrait of a graduate (tied to NEASC accreditation process)
• Improving data availability to the committee (staff accountability report, needs-based budget)
• Relationship repair/rebuilding with teachers and staff
• Social media policy development (with legal-counsel review)
• Email opt-in distribution list for residents without students in the district

With no new business or correspondence, the chair called for a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and the meeting adjourned on a unanimous roll call vote.

A member moved that all school committee subcommittees take three steps during the current year: (1) set a regular meeting schedule and communicate it to the chair by September 1st; (2) create and approve meeting minutes as part of regular business; and (3) provide the full committee with monthly communication updates.

During discussion, a member suggested that verbal updates should suffice for the third item, noting the workload involved. The motion was amended to replace “written update” with “monthly communication update” to avoid implying a lengthy document requirement. One member noted this was not a formal policy but a practice for the year. The amended motion passed 4-0 on roll call.

The committee also noted that the curriculum subcommittee was never formally established, and that the collective bargaining subcommittee typically dissolves once all contracts are signed.

School committee members discussed whether to establish a small advisory committee to gather community input on a major facilities project (a roof project). Supporters argued it would channel community expertise currently being offered ad hoc or only through public comment. Skeptics cautioned that the committee was already deep into the project, that procurement laws constrain outside involvement, and that adding a committee could bifurcate work with the existing facilities subcommittee and double the number of meetings.

Members agreed to defer a final decision to an upcoming Monday meeting that would include NASC representatives and legal counsel, who could offer guidance on how other districts have handled similar governance questions. One member noted she would be willing to join such a committee if formed, and there was general agreement that any advisory body should report directly to the school committee rather than working in parallel with the facilities subcommittee.

The committee reviewed its subcommittee and liaison rosters following Brian Oda’s departure and the need to reconstitute committees for the new year.

Appointments made (all 4-0):

• Henry Basta: communications subcommittee
• Kate: superintendent safety advisory team (meets quarterly)
• Henry Basta: CPAC liaison

Held open:

• Budget subcommittee: one opening; Jen Ferreri indicated willingness to serve; decision deferred pending possible new member
• Marblehead Master Plan committee representative: deferred
• Health and wellness advisory: deferred; superintendent noted the advisory hasn’t met in years and needs to be reconstituted

The committee also discussed the policy distinction between subcommittees (school committee members only) and advisory committees (can include community members and subject matter experts). A member suggested the high school roof project might benefit from an advisory committee structure to allow broader participation. The discussion was not resolved.

Committee member Kate presented a proposed meeting calendar for the fiscal year. Most months follow the standard first and third Thursday schedule. Notable adjustments discussed:

• A third September meeting was proposed for Tuesday, September 30 (because the first Thursday in October falls on Yom Kippur)
• October 16 was moved to Wednesday, October 15 due to a member’s prior commitment
• October 30 retained as a fifth-Thursday placeholder if a meeting is needed
• January meetings shift to the second and fourth Thursdays because January 1 is a Thursday
• February 26 (fourth Thursday) used instead of the third Thursday, which falls during school vacation
• An August 4 meeting was added to the calendar

The committee discussed whether a third September meeting was necessary and agreed to leave it on the calendar as an option, with the ability to cancel if there is insufficient business.

The chair noted that at the prior meeting, the committee approved several policy updates but held one related to student submission to educational surveys and research. The superintendent explained that the version presented at the prior meeting was not the MASC model policy, causing confusion. The MASC version needs to go back to the policy subcommittee for review before being brought to the full committee. Additionally, the committee noted the student handbook language would need to be aligned with whatever policy is ultimately adopted. No vote was taken.

The committee approved a schedule of bills totaling approximately $1,279,691 by unanimous voice vote. The committee then addressed several sets of draft meeting minutes. A discussion arose about whether motions in the draft minutes lacked attribution. The committee voted 3-0 with one abstention to approve the minutes pending corrections to be made by the new secretary. The abstaining member noted he was not present at the meetings in question.

The committee received notice that the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools board unanimously voted to provide $2,500 in school supplies to each school in the district. A motion to accept the donation passed 4-0. The superintendent noted he would work with principals to identify specific supply needs.

The superintendent provided a summer update covering:

• Admin retreat scheduled for August 5–6 for expectation-setting, team building, and SPED training
• New staff orientation on August 22; PD days August 25–26; students return August 27
• Facilities: painting of the Veterans Middle School PAC and foyer complete; reupholstered seats expected back the week of August 18; playground resurfacing and new equipment at Glover underway; HVAC system at Glover being replaced and expanded; mini-splits installed at Veterans and the high school
• First electric transport van received — to be used for special education and individual transportation needs
• New school sign arriving; trees trimmed and lighting updated
• Contingency plan in place if waste management strike continues when school opens
• ESY and summer literacy/math programs concluding

The committee commended Brian Oda for his service as both a school committee member and as a former principal and assistant principal in the district.

The chair announced that this year’s Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award — presented annually to one Marblehead teacher and one Salem teacher — went to Katie Abear of Veterans Middle School, recognized for her dedication and impact on students and colleagues.

A committee member also commended the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools on their 35th anniversary.

At the opening of the meeting, member Brian Oda announced he was vacating his seat effective immediately because he would no longer be a Marblehead resident as of the following day. His rental home had gone through probate and the estate decided to sell it.

The chair then called for a motion to appoint Henry Basta as committee secretary. Basta reported he had called the state ethics office and was told there was no conflict-of-interest issue, provided he recuses himself when discussions touch on his own compensation as a part-time substitute or when his own evaluation is at issue. The motion passed 3-1.

The committee wrapped up by:

• Reviewing the FY25 completed projects list and the ongoing FY26 projects list (a single running spreadsheet with strikethroughs for completed items)
• Confirming the superintendent would forward the 2021 EBI capital assessment spreadsheets to committee members Sarah and Jen for review
• Discussing pre-qualification committee formation: per state law, the committee requires two district-side representatives plus the OPM (Left Field) and architect (Raymond Design); the superintendent suggested tapping community volunteers Ralph Wallace, Jeremy Polander, and/or Mike Veli given their construction management expertise
• Agreeing the next Capital Facilities Committee meeting should be held the week after the first full week of school (approximately the week of September 8)
• Noting that the committee chair has not yet been formally established; this is on the agenda for the July 31 School Committee meeting
• The meeting was adjourned

Marblehead Forever

Motion to prepare a proclamation in honor of the 2025 Marblehead Forever Award. All in favor.

Letters of interest received

• Matthew Burke – Harbors & Waters Board
• Steve McClure – Cultural Council
• Andrew Gillis – Council on Aging

The Board will receive letters of interest for the Harbors & Waters Board, Council on Aging, and Cultural Council with a deadline of August 29, 2025. Interviews to be scheduled for a future meeting.

Marine Corps letter

Mr. Grader proposed sending a letter to the Marine Corps Delegation thanking them for their visit and expressing the Town’s support for the August 21 anniversary event. Motion made and seconded to have the Town Administrator send the letter. All in favor.

Adjourned at 7:50 PM.

The Community Development and Planning Department, along with the Planning Board, requested a Select Board representative to serve on the Comprehensive Master Plan Advisory Committee.

The Chair asked who might be interested. Both Mrs. Noonan and Mr. Zisson expressed interest. Motion made and seconded to appoint James R. Zisson. All in favor.

Two minutes-approval motions.

• Minutes of May 28, 2025 – approved with 4 in favor; Mr. Zisson voted present
• Minutes of June 25, 2025 – approved unanimously

Mr. Zisson’s vote of “present” rather than “in favor” on May 28 is not explained in the meeting record – possibly an absence on the meeting date or a procedural objection not captured in the minutes.

Town Administrator update with two items.

Elm Street Park

During construction, a 7-foot-deep cistern from 1858, built of granite blocks, was discovered on the site. After obtaining additional funding from the Board, the team integrated the granite blocks into the park design as steps and seating. Remaining granite blocks taken by public works for future use.

Project funding: partially through ARPA and neighborhood fundraising, with each phase dependent on securing further funding.

Marine Corps 250th Anniversary

As part of Marine Week in Boston (250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps), a potential event scheduled for Marblehead at Fort Sewall on August 21, 2025.

The event:

• Expected to draw regional attendance
• Includes a ceremony, silent drill, and cake cutting
• Approximately 3 hours total
• Main Marine Week activities start in Boston August 20
• Marblehead’s event recognizes the town’s historical connection to the Marine Corps

The Town Administrator will coordinate with department heads and bring more details and potential parking restrictions to the Board at a future meeting.

The chair proposed formalizing two associate chair (vice chair) roles discussed informally the prior year: one focused on community health and one focused on waste/environmental issues. The motion passed unanimously. The chair noted an earlier attempt to write to the Attorney General seeking a waiver from open meeting law requirements for clinical discussions was declined politely by an assistant AG.

Bills read into the record (selected items): | Vendor | Purpose | Amount | |—|—|—| | Bonsai Logic | (unspecified) | $24,902.50 | | Republic Services | Curbside collection (pre-strike) | ~$69,596 | | Marblehead Counseling Center | Counseling | $9,464.48 | | Haley Ward (engineering) | Transfer station | $2,534 | | Agri-Source | Grinding | $12,940 | | Black Earth Compost | Residential food composting | $1,649.73 | | United Construction | Non-highway vehicle repair | $8,010.96 | | East Coast Compactor | Compactor repair | $1,070.75 |

Beach water testing:

• Grace Oliver’s Beach is closed pending a passing sample; retest scheduled for the next day with possible reopening Saturday.
• Crocker Park returned a high result; retest authorized; beach may remain open depending on outcome.
• Riverhead Beach is not a public bathing beach under state regulations and is not tested by the department.
• A $240 payment to Atlantic Vet was for rabies testing (animal control, paid by BOH).

Community health survey: A mid-August target was set for fielding a 40–45 question survey, with a steering group meeting regularly with UMass Boston.

Town charter committee: The chair reported that the committee (which has met 24 times) has completed Version A of the charter and will begin reviewing Version B at its August meeting. The board is represented in Chapter 8 or 6. The committee’s approach is to codify existing practices rather than change them.

Master Plan Advisory Group: A new town-wide advisory group led by the Planning Board is examining redundancies and potential consolidation across departments. The board unanimously appointed Tom (senior BOH member) to represent the Board of Health. The director noted the transfer station’s specialized, year-round operations offer little opportunity for cross-departmental consolidation.

Menstrual equity program: The chair noted a request to partner with the school committee on a menstrual equity program; a local expert with relevant thesis research will be invited to a future meeting.

Appointments approved:

• Douglas Perry, Constable (civil process), expires June 2026
• John Arfloor, Animal Inspector (temporary), expires June 2026

Minutes: June 11, 2025 approved.

Events:

• Marblehead Rotary 5K, Sunday November 2, 2025, 11:00 AM, Crocker Park; ~150–200 participants; subject to police/fire approval and liability insurance.

Liquor licenses:

• Seven one-day licenses for Annunciation House Complex (Ammas House, 22 Endicott St. and Egypt House, 12 Conant Rd.) for events July 30 through December 25, 2025.
• One one-day license for Marblehead Little Theater, August 2, 2025, 7:00–10:00 PM (Bent Water Brewery).
• Wine and malt beverage package store application from Flora Mattia, 164 Washington Street: board voted to issue public notice seeking all applicants and schedule a public hearing.

Rail Trail Engineering: Amendment No. 2 to contract with Toole Design Group for Swampscott Rail Trail Engineering Design Phase 2 approved at no cost change; reallocates funds from one task to permitting and drainage tasks. Funded through ARPA.

Conservation Commission vacancy: Board directed staff to post a letter-of-interest notification with an August 8 deadline; interviews targeted for August 13.

The committee discussed the August 4 retreat agenda, which will include updates from school attorneys, a MASC workshop covering communication, team building, the role of the chair, and dealing with difficult situations. The superintendent will also provide a brief district update at the first fall meeting rather than at the retreat.

Subcommittee assignments discussed:

• Facilities: Henry and Jen Schaffer (with a community member vacancy to be filled; a Marblehead resident with building-envelope expertise was identified as a potential candidate)
• Policy: Kate and Brian (to be confirmed at retreat)
• Budget: Jen Schaffer continuing (with one other)
• Remaining assignments deferred to the August 4 retreat

The next regular business meeting was set for July 31 (the committee decided against July 17, as several members are at a conference that week, and July 24, due to a PhD class conflict). Liaison assignments were also deferred to the retreat. The committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:11 p.m.

The committee voted 4-1 to approve student handbooks for all levels (elementary, middle school, high school, and athletic). Jen Schaffer voted no, citing the high school attendance policy which allows up to 4 absences per quarter regardless of excuse status. She noted this is close to the state’s chronic absenteeism definition of 18 absences and expressed concern that students come to school sick to avoid losing absences. A clarifying chart was added to the high school handbook to delineate consequences for excused vs. unexcused absences.

The superintendent noted most peer districts follow similar DESE guidance and acknowledged the tension between rigor and student health. The committee also noted the district’s AI Steering Committee work this year led to the addition of academic integrity expectations to elementary handbooks for the first time, aligned with existing middle and high school language.

Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferrer presented four technology-related policy updates needed to align with student handbooks:

• IL (Student Submission to Educational Surveys and Research) — Held: Jen Schaffer raised concern that the MASC-recommended version requires affirmative opt-in while the presented version uses passive/opt-out consent. Julia Ferrer explained the district prefers opt-out to maximize participation in surveys like the YRBS. The committee agreed to hold IL for further review and legal/MASC consultation.
• JNDB (Student Acceptable Use Policy) — Approved 5-0
• JNDB-E (Parent/Guardian Consent Form) — Approved 5-0
• JNDB-R (Student Email and Internet Posting Guidelines) — Approved 5-0

A motion to approve the schedule of bills totaling approximately $1,249,383 was made, seconded, and passed unanimously (5-0). The committee then voted to accept a donation from a long-time neighbor of Brown School (Vincent Tentido, as read by the superintendent) consisting of six dwarf Alberta spruce trees, bushes, and green plastic fence wrap for the basketball court fence adjacent to the school.

Superintendent noted it was his one year and one day anniversary and expressed pride in the district’s progress. He outlined an extensive list of summer facility projects:

• Brown School: Bottle-filling station, EV charging station, cafeteria/gymnasium shade repairs, stage wood trim repair
• Glover: LG roof system replacement (work begun), mini-split cooling in cafeteria/kitchen, playground surface renewal, new climbing equipment (with PTO fundraising)
• Village: Window recaulking, scoreboard replacement
• Vets Middle School: Two mini-split systems in computer lab, pack seating reupholstery and repainting, D-wing roof and air unit replacement, gym padding replacement, door installation between Magic Hat and school space
• High School: Mini-splits in food service and ADS offices, main entrance door replacement, new clock system, auditorium door, boiler replacement, cafeteria exhaust fan and speaker upgrade, main staircase painting, fire doors, grease trap, emergency gate
• WRO (Central Office): Conference room mini-split

Financially, FY25 is not yet closed. Prepaid tuitions came in just over $1 million (up from ~$900,000 in FY24). The district also purchased 17 AEDs to replace end-of-life units.

The superintendent recognized retiring staff including Lisa Andrews (Glover, since 2014), Kathleen Bishop (Brown, since 2004), Leonard Kaplan (High School, since 2012), Allison Karuchi (Brown, since 2013), Rebecca Hastings (Brown, since 1999), Emry Jordan (Brown, since 2023), Deb Lawrence (Village, since 2013), Bob Lemieux (Village, since 2002), Linda Mills (Brown, since 2004), Lynn Perez (Vets, since 2010), Lan Strangy (High School, since 2012), Lisa Vid (Village, since 1997), and Kathy Gallagher (WRO, since 2006).

Following Sarah Fox’s public comment that the initial votes lacked formal motions and seconds, Chair Williams led the committee through properly-noticed votes. Al Williams was re-elected chair (Henry, Al, and Kate in favor; Brian and Jen not in favor). Kate Pepper was elected vice chair (Henry, Brian, and Al in favor; Jen not in favor; Kate abstained noting she understood the committee’s will but had process concerns). Henry was retained as secretary. The chair noted Henry would need to consult the state ethics office regarding his role, given his partner’s employment in the district, before serving in executive sessions involving superintendent matters.

Following the annual post-election reorganization, the committee took nominations for chair. One member nominated Jen Schaffer to continue, citing her established relationships with FINCOM, the Select Board, and the superintendent. Another member nominated Al Williams, arguing the election results signaled a desire for change. Williams was elected chair by a 3-2 vote. Kate Pepper was elected vice chair. Henry was elected secretary, though a public commenter later noted procedurally that no formal motions had been made and the votes would need to be redone with proper seconds—which the committee subsequently did after public comment.

The committee also recognized outgoing members Allison Taylor and Sarah Fox for their service, as well as candidate Emily Djoy for running.

Two additional items were approved:

Board of Health Donation Account: Public Health Director Andrew Petty requested establishment of a donation account for FY26 to receive grants and private donations funding the CALM community health assessment. No town appropriation is involved. Approved unanimously.

Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Letter of Support: The grant, administered through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, would fund a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and two demonstration pilots, incorporating the town’s complete streets prioritization plan, bicycle facilities plan, and sidewalk plan. The board authorized the chair to sign a letter of support. Approved unanimously.

The board approved temporary traffic and parking restrictions July 16–20, 2025 to accommodate delivery of five large switchgear sections to the Village 13 substation. A 275-ton crane will arrive July 16; trailers carrying the switchgear — described as wider than the transformer delivered in a prior year — will arrive July 17–18, with July 19–20 providing buffer for potential delays. The equipment must arrive in a specific sequence. Coordination with police and fire was required. Vote was unanimous.

The board approved consent agenda items including:

• Minutes of May 14 and June 16, 2025 (May 14 voted separately; one member abstained as he was not yet on the board at that meeting)
• Temporary street closures and traffic regulations for July 4th parade, fireworks, and Festival of Arts
• License for a private drain connection at 37 Baldwin Road
• Declaration of surplus equipment (Smith air compressor, paver, weight/measuring trailer, Ford F-550 dump body, V-blade plow, Smith salt spreaders, photocopier, survey equipment)
• Lobster and fishing shanty renewals at Turner Land/Front Street Little Harbor for Steve (slip 2), Jeff Flynn (3), John Burns (4), Doug Percy (6), William Brown (8), and Dave Rogers (9)

Following discussions between board members Aaron Nunan and Moses (remote) with current Harbors and Waters Board members, the board restructured the committee appointments. Gary Gregory, who led the board through a restructuring of the enterprise fund over many years, agreed to transition to an alternate position rather than continuing as a full member given increased time in Florida. Steve Wolf was elevated from alternate to full member. The reconstituted board: John Dub, Jay Micho, Rick Ner, Clark Smith, and Steve Wolf as members; Karen Puccio and Gary Gregory as alternates. One alternate vacancy remains to be posted. A board member noted Gregory’s expertise will be particularly valuable as the town considers potential bonding by the Harbors and Waters Enterprise Fund to finance elements of the harbor plan.

The board approved annual reappointments to more than 30 boards, committees, and commissions. Two items were pulled from the bulk motion for separate votes:

Finance Committee — Michael Janko (3-year term): One board member declined to support the reappointment, citing concerns about Janko being the sole dissenting vote on four Finance Committee warrant articles during the year without public explanation, and a vote in support of a citizen petition to defund the sustainability coordinator position (which the petition’s own sponsor subsequently withdrew). Another board member countered that Janko’s fiscally conservative perspective adds value as a contrarian voice and that ideological diversity should be preserved. A third member noted having spoken with Janko that day. The motion passed 3-2 (Singer and Nunan not in favor).

Finance Committee — Timothy Meyer (3-year term): Approved unanimously.

Linda Gifford (Finance Committee clerk): No separate vote taken; acknowledged.

All other reappointments were approved unanimously in bulk. The board also voted to send letters of appreciation to 14 individuals who did not seek reappointment or reached term limits.

Community Development Director Brenda presented the merger of the Fair Housing Committee and the Housing Production Plan Implementation Committee into the new Marblehead Housing Committee. Key structural changes:

• Select board direct membership removed; a liaison relationship retained
• Community development director serves as chair
• Town planner, Task Force Against Discrimination rep, Disabilities Commission rep, and Housing Authority rep are standing members
• Four at-large members with three-year staggered terms; two alternates with one-year terms
• All existing members retained; no one displaced
• The Marblehead Housing Trust (the “bank”) remains a separate entity

Board members Moses (remote) and Aaron both noted prior service on one or both predecessor boards. Vote was unanimous.

Following a resident request coordinated through DPW and Community Development, the board approved installation of a streetlight on utility pole number 5 on Curtis Street. The Marblehead Municipal Light Department provides and installs the hardware; the town pays the ongoing electricity cost. Three households signed in support. Vote was unanimous.

Board of Health member Tom Ro (and newly appointed Dr. Amanda Ko, who was present) presented the “Creating a Healthier Marblehead” (CALM) initiative. Key elements:

Baseline Assessment: The town has contracted with UMass Boston, which has conducted similar health assessments in approximately 80 Massachusetts municipalities including Salem and Swampscott, to develop a health status and wellness profile for Marblehead. Work is expected to begin after Labor Day.

Scope: The assessment will address physical, mental, social, emotional, intellectual, and occupational health, as well as social determinants of health. Substance use was identified as a priority topic. The board also cited a grant from the lieutenant governor’s office to develop a child and maternal health landscape.

Survey Mechanics: A town-wide survey targeting residents 18 and over will be distributed in fall 2025, followed by at least four professionally facilitated focus groups. The goal is a 30–50% response rate (~4,600–7,500 respondents). Delivery methods under consideration include QR codes, paper mail-in, in-person at town hall or the Council on Aging, and newspaper.

Privacy: All data will be de-identified before tabulation.

Funding: The initiative is funded through grants and nonprofit donations; no town tax appropriation is required for the current phase.

Board members suggested promoting the survey’s link to future grant funding as an incentive for participation. The presenters indicated they would return to the board in September before the survey launches.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer summarized several operational updates. Veterans Services Agent Roseanne Triumphe-Elli has been holding community coffee events, presenting at library programs, and receiving positive feedback on the expanded property tax abatements for veterans approved at town meeting.

The Munis financial software system is set to launch July 1, replacing the legacy Soft Right system. Historical data from Soft Right will not be migrated into Munis due to system incompatibility; instead, prior-year records will be preserved as Excel spreadsheets. Alicia Benjamin led the implementation effort.

On June 27, the town is launching a salary survey and classification study with consultant Katie Yee of MGT. The project is expected to conclude in November–December, in time for budget season. The board will be asked to set a policy target for where Marblehead falls on the salary range relative to comparable and competitive communities; the administration’s goal is the 75th percentile, up from a prior benchmark of 50%.

Transfer Station Construction: The project bid is expected to be issued around July 16–17, with a roughly six-week bid period. Construction is targeted for fall 2025. Key operational disruptions will include taking the scale offline and pouring concrete for the compactor pit and tractor-trailer slab simultaneously to minimize downtime.

Five-Member Board: The director reported that state legislation to expand the Board of Health from three to five members is on track. Once passed by the legislature, the expansion would appear on the next annual election ballot. Staggered terms would need to be addressed in consultation with town counsel.

Sticker Sales Update: As of the meeting, the transfer station had sold 4,047 primary stickers, 1,411 secondary permits, and 342 veteran permits, on pace toward the typical annual total of 6,500.

Dog Waste at Transfer Station Entrance: The director noted that individuals walking dogs near the Green Street entrance have not been cleaning up after their animals. A camera is being installed in that area, and fines will be issued for violations.

The board received updates on several community health initiatives:

• Community Health Survey (PRIME project): A signed contract with UMass Boston is in place. Bi-monthly planning meetings will focus on survey mechanics and maximizing response rates. The approximately 45-question survey targets residents 17 and older, with a target completion window ending November 11. The board plans to present the project to the Select Board for an endorsement.
• Mental Health Merger: The Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, Marblehead Cares, and the Marblehead Counseling Center are in the process of merging. The board discussed its future role in town mental health and the concept of “Public Mental Health” for government agencies.
• Landscape Grant / Maternal and Child Health: Outreach visits to Pediatric Associates of Greater Salem (PAGS) and Marblehead Pediatrics identified a gap in parenting classes. PAGS suggested the board offer parenting classes; the Marblehead Counseling Center previously ran such classes and expressed interest in reviving them. A grant opportunity with a very short window was noted.
• Health Literacy: The chair proposed that the board take a more active public-education role, potentially starting meetings early for health-system literacy sessions, writing newspaper columns, and using the board’s email address for community input.

Director of Public Health Andrew Petty opened the reorganization meeting. A motion was made and seconded to elect Thomas Massaro as chair; the vote passed unanimously. The board confirmed its existing meeting schedule (second Tuesday and fourth Monday at 7:30 p.m.) and voted to approve the June 3rd meeting minutes with corrections, including fixing the spelling of a member’s name and adding an attendee.

Board members offered congratulations to Jim Zin on joining the Select Board and to all candidates who ran in the recent election. Members noted the high voter turnout and praised the Marblehead High School polling location as accessible and well-run. The chief was also commended for a firefighter recognition event held the prior Sunday. Members acknowledged all poll workers and election volunteers.

Consent agenda approved:

• Minutes of May 5, 6, and 19, 2025
• Holiday hours for Abbot Hall and Mary Alley Building (June 30–July 4)
• 4th of July Harwell Parade on July 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM (same route as prior year, rain date July 6)
• BNS Fitness Wicked Half Marathon on Sunday, September 21, 2025

Open Meeting Law complaint: A complaint filed by Dan Albert on May 25, 2025 was delegated to Town Counsel for response.

One-day liquor licenses approved:

• Play on Yacht Club, 42 Foster Street — July 2, 2025, 6–10 PM
• Star of the Sea, 85 Atlantic Ave — June 28, 2025, 5–7 PM
• Bubble Bar Boston, 88 Washington Street — July 4, 5, and 6, 2025, 12 noon–5 PM

Resignation: Amy Hirsch’s resignation from the Disabilities Commission was accepted; a letter of appreciation to be sent.

Water and Sewer: The board noted a public rate-setting hearing by the Water and Sewer Commission on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM at 100 Tower Way, Building 11.

The Town Administrator reported three items:

Domain transition: The town will move from marblehead.org to marblehead.gov on June 17, 2025. The .gov domain is managed by the US General Services Administration and is considered more secure and legitimate for government communications. The .org domain will remain active and redirect for an extended period.

Chief Procurement Officer: The town will post for a Chief Procurement Officer, a position previously held part-time by former town planner Becky Kern. Staff members Amy Ew and Alicia Benjamin had been covering procurement duties, which was described as unsustainable. The position will be assigned to the Select Board’s office and funded within the existing budget. A new procurement software module will also be implemented to manage contracts and procurement processes in-house. Board members and a Finance Committee member with Inspector General experience expressed strong support.

Street sweeping plan: Following the elimination of the all-winter parking ban in favor of an on-demand snow ban, the town lost the open window it previously used for street sweeping. Public Works will present a new plan proposing defined spring and fall sweeping windows, with residents encouraged to sign up for Code Red notifications. Street sweeping is required under the town’s stormwater permit.

The meeting opened with nomination of a chair for the upcoming year. Dan Fox was nominated, seconded, and approved unanimously by all five members: Grayer, Nunan, Senior, Zin, and Fox himself.

Committee member Sarah Fox presented a memo requesting that the Catherine R. Martin Organic Garden at Brown School be renamed the Catherine R. Martin and Jeffrey St. George Organic Garden. Fox noted that Jeff St. George, who passed away in January 2025 less than eight months after his wife Katie, was instrumental in building the original garden, wrote the letter of interest that initiated the Gerry Building Project at the MSBA, and served for years on the district’s facilities subcommittee.

A letter of support from Kristen Salby Pratt was read into the record. Fox noted that the artist who originally created the garden’s ceramic sign, Kirsten Von, had been contacted and agreed to produce a new sign; the St. George daughters may participate in creating it. The committee voted 4-0 to approve.

The committee approved its school committee operating protocols (5-0), noting the original 2017 slim version could not be located and that the current version, while longer than desired, reflects significant work.

The following MASC policies were adopted (all 5-0 or 4-0 after member Al Williams departed at approximately 8:24 PM):

• IMG – Animals in School
• IMGA – Service Animals in School
• IHBG – Homeschooling (removes erroneous diploma language)
• CHA/CHC – Development and Dissemination of Procedures
• IHBD – Compensatory Education (cross-reference update)
• IHBF – Home Bound Instruction (14-day cumulative threshold)
• IHBH – Alternative School Programs
• IJ – Instructional Materials (cross-reference update)
• IKAB – Student Progress Report to Parents and Guardians
• IMB – Teaching About Controversial Issues and Controversial Speakers
• IHBG-R – Deleted (superseded by adopted MASC homeschooling policy)

Policies IL (Evaluation of Instructional Programs), IGB (Student Services Program), parent technology consent form, and student email/internet guidelines were deferred to the June 18 meeting for minor revisions.

The superintendent provided a district update covering: a successful student-athlete signing day (25 athletes committing to colleges), the sixth-grade trip to Wellfleet Dale, the Culture Feast, and end-of-year events. He read an extensive list of colleges and universities that graduating seniors will attend, including Stanford, Yale, Cornell, and Northwestern, as well as students entering trade programs and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Outgoing student representative Ella was formally commended by the committee chair. Incoming student representative Will Shank was introduced. The superintendent also noted that committee members Fox and Taylor have school committee elections on Tuesday.

Following public comment and the director’s report, the chair offered brief farewell remarks noting 28 years of service on the Board of Health. The board then voted by roll call to enter executive session pursuant to MGL Chapter 30A §21(a)(2) — strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-union personnel — specifically regarding the health director employment contract. The board stated it would not return to open session.

Roll call: Dr. Zaro — Aye; Mr. McMahon — Aye. Motion passed unanimously.

The board worked through a backlog of approximately two and a half months of meeting minutes. A correction was made to the April 22 minutes: language was amended to read ‘remove funding for assistant waste director from waste salaries and move associated funding into the commercial waste revolving fund’ rather than simply ‘remove the assistant director.’ All minutes were approved unanimously.

The meeting opened with an extended tribute to retiring Board of Health member Helene, who has served since 1997 — nearly three decades. The board chair read a formal statement of gratitude, and former board colleague Joanne delivered a detailed account of Helene’s community contributions, including:

• Co-founding Dollars for Scholars, providing need-based financial aid to Marblehead High School graduates
• Co-founding Making Ends Meet, supporting residents in need
• Founding Friends of Marblehead Public Schools, supporting enrichment programming
• Founding the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination
• Serving nine years on the School Committee
• Volunteering with the Marblehead Counseling Center since the 1970s
• Leading creation of the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force during COVID

Helene also served as a board member since 1997 and previously chaired the board. She thanked attendees and closed the tribute portion by saying she wished to say ‘goodnight, but not goodbye.’

Board member Brett Murray’s final meeting was acknowledged by the full board. Chair Newan highlighted Murray’s contributions including availability, insight, and collaborative spirit. Other members noted his long history in Marblehead (family roots to the 1700s) and collegiality.

Murray thanked Marblehead voters for multiple reelections, praised the direction of the town under Town Administrator Keer’s leadership, and encouraged more residents to run for boards and committees. He thanked his family for supporting his service.

Separately, the chair noted upcoming Town Charter Committee public forums: a Thursday noon-to-one session at the Judy Jacoby Center (Council on Aging) and a Friday 9–10 AM online webinar. A prior evening forum had approximately 25 online attendees and 15 in person. Draft A of the proposed charter is posted on the Charter Committee’s website.

Town Administrator Keer presented a broad update drawn from a recent department head meeting:

Civic Engagement

• Veterans Service Agent held her first independent Memorial Day ceremony; described as successful.
• Citizen Police Academy completed with six graduates committing to volunteer with the police department; interest in a second academy.

Technology Infrastructure

• $89,000 public infrastructure grant received to extend the ARPA-funded municipal fiber loop to the Neck, connecting remaining municipal infrastructure.
• Munis financial software: staff access established, training underway, go-live targeted for July 1.

Electric Vehicle Fleet Transition

• Mass Fleet Advisor technical assistance agreement underway to develop an EV transition plan.
• Green Marblehead Implementation Committee assessing high-speed EV charger locations including the DPW yard.
• Draft employee home charging policy in development for employees authorized to take vehicles home; would cover cost of Level 2 charger installation and reimburse home electricity costs for overnight charging.
• Council on Aging exploring purchase of an electric van.

Assessing Office

• Current abatement season is very light; assistant/lead assessor proactively reviewing and correcting land value database issues that affected certain neighborhoods in prior years.

Environmental / Regulatory

• DCR floodplain permit approved; final revisions underway.
• Gas leaf blower ban in effect from Memorial Day through Labor Day; enforcement approach is education-first.

Ambulance Contract

• Atlantic Ambulance contract expires June 30; town is engaging the marketplace to evaluate options before renewal or replacement.

On advice of town counsel, the board voted to make public six sets of executive session minutes: February 26, 2025; May 15, 2024; May 23, 2024; May 24, 2023; June 28, 2023; and November 2, 2021. The board also voted to continue holding four sets: March 12, 2025; March 26, 2025; November 13, 2023; and November 23, 2020.

Sustainable Coordinator Logan Casey presented eight grant applications for board authorization:

A board member noted that eligibility for several grants — specifically MBTA Community Catalyst Funding, MassWorks, and Complete Streets programs — depends on Marblehead maintaining compliance with MBTA 3A zoning, which remains in abeyance pending a July 8 referendum on a petition to repeal the town meeting vote.