July 4, 2026 — time to celebrate the 250th birthday of our country. July 1 starts a new fiscal year for the town of Marblehead. I have seven questions and, in some cases, answers.
Birthday dress up or down?
The question is (TQI): Did the Select Board (SB) give any thought to ensure our historic town of Marblehead would look absolutely beautiful for the 250th birthday of our country? Not only for tourists from around the world but for our own self pride?
Maybe next time. We are on the brink of looking like a third-world country. There is major street construction on two of three routes into the heart of Marblehead — Atlantic and Pleasant. The third being West Shore which finished just in time. Washington between Five Corners and Bank Square is an absolute bone-shattering rumble road as it passes by iconic Abbot Hall with Willard’s famous Spirit of ‘76 painting and a major Festival of Arts exhibit hall. Maybe the SB wanted to preserve the historic feel of a horse and buggy way to the harbor? Fort Sewall prominently features its perennial growth of annual weeds. Orne Street construction blocks a primary path to Gas House Beach, Fountain Park, Little Harbor and Gerry and Crowinshield islands. With Gerry Street construction the police now have a valid excuse for why they can’t timely address those underage drinking parties. At least our Transfer Station looks beautiful — a new pit, a pristine white corrugated steel building with raised 6-inch lettering “Marblehead Transfer Station,” freshly surfaced pavement, flashing yellow caution lights, red and green traffic lights. Even the road up the hill to the transfer bins is great in sharp contrast to the road up the hill to Abbot Hall.
And now we have been invaded by 4-foot Martians.
Have the Martians landed?
TQI: Don’t you think the new four-foot-high trash carts are really Martians?
The husband and wife pairs have infiltrated every residence in town including short-term rentals. Their names are numbers. I can’t figure out how they copulate though. Immaculate conception? The Virgin Mary blue ones must be female; the Joseph black ones, male. The rumor is that starting July 1 they will congregate in groups in different parts of town on specific days, totally blocking streets and sidewalks. The novel “Martians Go Home!” by Fredric Brown famously features an invasion of arrogant, four-foot-tall, annoying little people who lack ray guns and instead harass humanity with telepathy and gossip. So be careful what you put in your trash because everyone will know about your diseases, drinking habits, dietary preferences and more.
Post-election expertise — up or down?
TQI: Did our elected executive boards, the SB and School Committee (SC), get better in terms of relevant expertise after the June 9 elections? I am not talking about passion or devotion to the town which all candidates must have by merely running for office.
The SC continues its rise from being a DEI (dysfunctional, enfeebled and incompetent) organization. Melissa Clucas, appointed in September 2025 to temporarily replace the toxic Brian Otta, was elected for a three-year term. Over the last eight years she has served as CFO for two business software platform companies with revenue and employee numbers similar to the SC budget. She has been instrumental in helping develop and serve as a spokesperson for the FY27 budget that recognizes a declining student population. Ann-Marie Jordan brings a valuable perspective of an experienced educator. With decades of experience spanning pre-school, special ed and health ed, including substance abuse curriculum development and training.
Regarding the SB, Rossana Ferrante will be our second lawyer on the board, joining the reelected Erin Noonan. Noonan is a trial and appellate attorney representing children and families in juvenile court. Ferrante, in contrast, has practical business experience in terms of for-profit telecommunications infrastructure development projects. Ferrante also has significant town government exposure — Rec & Parks chair, Charter Committee and Planning Board.
The overrides — a get out of jail free card for the SB and SC?
TQI: With the passage of $17.3 million in total overrides did we just give the SB and SC a get out of jail free card?
They have stated that they will spend the override money wisely and provide quarterly reporting. That is necessary but insufficient. Will they relentlessly pursue opportunities for increasing revenue and reducing costs? Given the significant number of home renovations since the pandemic, I just don’t believe our new growth numbers should be so low. How about a detailed new growth audit going back at least six years if not more. There are still additional meals and room taxes on the table. Is there revenue in licensing short-term rentals?
Are there operational efficiencies to be realized in town departments? Tackling the ever-increasing costs, potentially bankrupting costs, associated with our antiquated employee benefit contributions and pension eligibility policies should be high on the list. As well as the high variability in special ed out-of-district tuition payments where the amount is dependent upon whether you have a lawyer and how good your lawyer is.
FY26 goal assessment and FY27 goals?
TQI – Will the SB and SC provide a public assessment of their performance relative to their 2026 goals before formulating 2027 goals? What will their FY27 goals be?
In several columns, I have been highly critical of the inability of both the SB and SC to set goals. From my Aug. 27, 2025 column: “If you don’t know where you are going, any path will take you there.”
It reads: “What’s missing is focus — a laser focus on a very small set of high priority Strategic Initiatives (SI) that address our most critical issues. Each SI must have an Action Plan (AP) with an owner, an outline of the actions or steps that the plan will pursue and a schedule. Progress reports should be published quarterly.”
Kezer retirement?
TQI: If Washington Street is not repaired before Dec. 31 will a donkey cart be needed to carry retiring Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer down the rutted, washedout hill from his Abbot Hall mayoral office before he heads off in the early sunset to home in Amesbury?
