MARBLEHEAD – Wednesday’s Select Board meeting was jam-packed with content.
In Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer’s report, he praised Veterans Agent Roseann “Ro” Trionfi-Mazzuchelli for her consistent and impactful engagement with the community and noted that, due to the decision-making of Town Meeting, “many veteran homeowners have expressed appreciation for the recent increase in the property tax abatement, crediting the assessor and his team.”
He then reminded the Board that Marblehead would be having a “major milestone in its financial operations with the official transition to the MUNIS financial software system set for July 1. This upgrade represents a significant step forward in modernizing the Town’s financial infrastructure, offering enhanced capabilities in accounting, reporting, budgeting and operational efficiency.”
The Board then discussed the Town’s upcoming Fourth of July fireworks celebration. Kezer relayed Marblehead Fireworks Committee Chairman Alexander Falk’s announcements, as he is currently “enjoying himself” in Europe.
“What’s important to note is that the fireworks timing is going back to a previous schedule… in which the illumination will be starting at 8:45 p.m., and the fireworks will shoot off at 9 p.m.,” Kezer said.
He added that although the Town has enough funding for this year’s fireworks show, “we want to encourage this year’s fundraising as well as next year’s because next year’s event is going to be the 250th. The fireworks are going to be bigger. There’s going to be a lot more competition, so I’m sure that the contracts will be more expensive, but we’re looking to do a much bigger event for next year. What we want to do is use this year’s fundraising as well as rolling into next year’s as normal in order to raise the funds to cover the fireworks and the flares for next year.”
Later in the meeting, the Select Board discussed and voted on 192 positions on various boards, committees and commissions that required reappointment. Select Board member Erin Noonan called for holds to be placed on the Finance Committee (FINCOM) and the Harbors & Waters Board.
Noonan asked for a hold on the FINCOM because she had concerns regarding Michael Janko’s return to the Committee. With a motion on the floor for the reappointment of FINCOM member Michael Janko, Noonan aired her concerns.
“I want to say this in the most respectful way with deep appreciation for all our volunteers, and I do think this is a three-year position and a critical role as we go forward with a very difficult budget season this year and the following year,” Noonan said. “I just personally would like to see this seat open up for more candidates.”
She said her concerns centered around Janko being “the sole dissenting vote four times this year” on warrant articles, “which in and of itself I don’t have a problem with at all. It’s just that it doesn’t come with any explanation or outside research or effort to kind of explain that vote.” Noonan also noted that she felt Janko’s dissent came from “an ideological place… that isn’t always in the best financial interests of the Town.”
An example Noonan used was how she was “very surprised” that Janko voted against the Town having a sustainability coordinator position, which has “brought well more funding into the Town than it spends in terms of keeping that position.”
After much debate, Select Board member Jim Zisson asked Chair Dan Fox if the FINCOM chair made a recommendation, to which Fox said “the chair has deferred to us (because) that’s our job: to appoint.” The Board agreed that it was fair to say that FINCOM had mixed opinions on Janko’s reappointment but no official suggestion.
That motion passed 3-2, with Noonan and Select Board member Alexa Singer dissenting, and Janko was reappointed.
The hold for Harbors & Waters was placed for Gary Gregory, who seems to be looking toward retirement as he spends most of his time in Florida nowadays.
“As you all know, Gary’s service has been really extraordinary in the sense that he… basically restructured and rebuilt the enterprise fund during a very difficult period and has been able to maintain that,” Select Board member Moses Grader said. “His service has been long and so valued by so many Select Board members, but he’s been contemplating retirement.”
The Board voted to move Gregory’s position on Harbors & Waters to an alternate position, and Steven Wolf, who was originally listed as an alternate, was appointed to Gregory’s position. This vote was unanimous.
