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Public Comments and Suggestions (Link: 00:00:00 – 00:04:00)
The Marblehead Select Board meeting, held on Wednesday, May 14th, began with Chair Erin Noonan opening the floor for public comments. Calvert Jordan, a resident of 64 Roosevelt Avenue, voiced his concerns and suggestions regarding the location of future town meetings. Jordan advocated for moving the meetings to the new high school, citing better accessibility, comfort, and safety compared to the old high school. He also expressed concerns about the Coffin School property, urging the board to expedite decisions regarding its future use to avoid it becoming an eyesore. Additionally, Jordan suggested changing the color of police cars for better visibility and raised concerns about town vehicles being taken home by department heads, suggesting a review of policies regarding their use.
Town Administrator Updates (Link: 00:04:00 – 00:13:00)
Thatcher Keezer, the Town Administrator, provided updates following the public comments. Keezer agreed with the suggestion to hold town meetings at the high school field house, noting its flexibility and improved technology setup. He addressed technical issues experienced with voting clickers during the last meeting, explaining that the system had been overloaded but was resolved with a reboot. Keezer also commended the collaboration with other towns, such as Westford and Hamilton, which provided additional clickers to accommodate the large turnout. He concluded by congratulating Chief King on receiving a community leadership award for his efforts in addressing anti-Semitic issues in the community.
Charter Committee Update (Link: 00:13:00 – 00:25:00)
Amy Drinker, Chair of the Town Charter Committee, provided an update on the committee’s progress. Since January, the committee has been reviewing draft A of the charter language, with plans to discuss Article 7.5 on recall in their upcoming meeting. Drinker announced three public forums scheduled for the end of May to gather community feedback on the charter. She emphasized the importance of public participation and awareness, aiming to prevent any surprises at the next town meeting. Drinker also mentioned ongoing collaboration with the Collins Center for technical and legal review of the charter.
Polling Locations and Home Rule Petitions (Link: 00:25:00 – 00:27:00)
The Select Board discussed changes to polling locations for the 2025 annual town election. The board approved moving precincts 1 and 2 to Abbott Hall and precincts 3, 4, 5, and 6 to the Marblehead High School field house, citing accessibility and convenience. Additionally, the board adopted two home rule petitions approved at the May 2025 town meeting. The first petition, Article 28, established a means-tested senior citizens property tax exemption, while the second, Article 44, sought to amend Chapter 37 of the Acts of 2004. Both petitions were approved unanimously by the board members.
Memorial Day Weekend Plans (Link: 00:27:00 – 00:30:00)
During the Marblehead Select Board meeting, an unidentified speaker outlined the schedule for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend activities. The events begin on Friday, May 23rd, with a Veterans Breakfast at 9:00 AM at the Council on Aging, sponsored by the Masons. This is followed by grave flagging at Star of the Sea Cemetery. On Saturday, May 24th, at 9:00 AM, grave flagging will occur at Waterside Cemetery, with participants meeting at the bell tower. Sunday features a VFW Veterans Service at Star of the Sea Cemetery at 1:00 PM. The main events on Monday, May 26th, include a memorial service at Clark’s Landing at 8:00 AM, followed by the Memorial Day parade muster at the old townhouse at 8:30 AM. The parade begins at 9:00 AM, proceeding to Memorial Park for a ceremony, and then continues to Waterside Cemetery. A trolley will be available for rides for elderly veterans. The honorary grand marshal and principal speakers are yet to be determined, but Marine and Select Board member Moses Grader will speak at Memorial Park, and a student essay will be delivered at Waterside Cemetery.
Consent Agenda and Contracts (Link: 00:30:00 – 00:34:00)
The board moved on to discuss and approve several consent agenda items. These included the use of Abbott Hall for events by the Juneteenth Committee and Kearsarge Lodge Number 217, subject to usual rules and fees. The board also reviewed contracts funded through Article 11 from the capital improvements, including a change order for the Purvis System fire station alerting system. The board approved amendments to contracts for the Council on Aging Recreation bocce facility project, Abbott Hall brick building runnels, and awarded contracts for geothermal evaluation and roof design projects. Additionally, the board renewed the annual license agreement with New Era Technology for Office 365G3 GCC.
Municipal Shipyard Resiliency Project (Link: 00:34:00 – 00:37:00)
The board discussed a letter from Logan Casey, the Sustainability Coordinator, regarding the Town’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. The board authorized a letter of support for the application to build the municipal shipyard resiliency project, requesting $11,250,000 in federal funding. The project aims to enhance harbor resiliency, with most design work funded through grants. The board acknowledged the efforts of the community development and planning department in securing state grant acceptance to cover matching funds required for federal grant eligibility.
Temporary Outdoor Dining Applications and Announcements (Link: 00:37:00 – 00:39:00)
The board reviewed and approved temporary outdoor dining applications for The Barrelman and Five Corners Kitchen, subject to receipt of required forms, fees, insurance, and approvals from relevant town authorities. Additionally, an announcement was made regarding an upcoming blood drive organized by Janet Brains at 210 Beacon Street on Thursday, June 5th. The board also acknowledged the efforts of the community development and planning department for their presentations at the town meeting, highlighting the contributions of Brendan and Town Planner Alex in addressing complex issues.
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