Developers’ proposals for the Coffin School property are due Monday, Oct. 19. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said an evaluation committee will review qualifying submissions and recommend one or more projects for Select Board consideration.
Meanwhile, Marblehead residents who responded to a town survey favor smaller homes, affordable housing and green space at the former Coffin School property, according to results presented to the Select Board on Oct. 14.
The town’s first FlashVote survey drew 300 responses, with participants favoring starter homes, age-restricted housing and townhouses. About two-thirds said new development should fit the surrounding neighborhood, while more than half prioritized affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
Respondents overwhelmingly favored preserving green space with walking paths, benches and shaded areas. Playgrounds and community gardens also received support.
Select Board member Erin Noonan said preferences varied by age. Respondents ages 36-50 showed particular interest in townhouses and playgrounds, while those 66 and older favored age-restricted housing.
Select Board member Moses Grader suggested the findings could help establish criteria for evaluating development proposals.
The survey results will be available on the town’s Coffin School reuse webpage at marbleheadma.gov/coffin-school-adaptive-reuse/.
Veterans Day activities planned
Marblehead will mark Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a ceremony at Abbot Hall featuring the dedication of a chair and Missing Man Table honoring service members who are missing or have not returned home, Veterans Agent Roseann Trionfi‑Mazzuchelli said.
The annual veterans breakfast, sponsored by the Masons, will take place Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Council on Aging.
Trionfi‑Mazzuchelli also highlighted a military retiree activity day at Hanscom Air Force Base, where veterans can meet with service providers and learn about VA health care benefits.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars is planning a November fundraiser to collect supplies for the New England Center and Home for Veterans in Boston.
Police detail policies approved
The Select Board unanimously approved two policies allowing qualified retired Marblehead police officers to work paid details and providing higher pay for certain priority assignments.
Under the first policy, retired officers may be appointed as special police officers for traffic and other details, provided they maintain required training and certifications. They will pay for their own uniforms, equipment and training.
“It’s at no cost to the town,” Police Chief Dennis King said.
Retired officers would retain police authority while working details, allowing them to respond to emergencies or public safety incidents.
The second policy allows King or his designee to designate priority details based on traffic, operational or public safety needs. Officers assigned to those details will receive a 20% premium above the regular detail rate, paid by contractors rather than taxpayers.
King said the higher rate could help staff major construction projects, including anticipated gas utility work in Old Town. Contractors may request priority status but cannot make that determination themselves.
Both policies were negotiated as part of the department’s latest union contract and are expected to take effect July 1, 2027.
Flexible schedules approved for town employees
The Select Board unanimously approved a flexible work policy allowing eligible nonunion municipal employees to work alternative schedules, including hybrid and remote arrangements.
Kezer said the policy could improve recruitment and retention while accommodating employees displaced during renovations at the Mary Alley Municipal Building.
The policy permits flexible starting and ending times, compressed schedules and remote work when appropriate.
Department heads will determine eligibility based on job responsibilities, performance and the need to maintain public services. Arrangements will be reviewed after 30 days and annually thereafter, and managers may modify or revoke approvals.
Kezer emphasized that flexible work is not an employee entitlement.
Extending the policy to union employees would require negotiated agreements.
Historic perambulation planned downtown
The Select Board authorized a downtown perambulation — a colonial-era tradition of walking and documenting public ways — before the end of the year.
The practice dates to 1641 in Massachusetts and has been revived in Marblehead after a period when the walks were not conducted regularly.
Town Engineer Maggie Wheeler outlined a route beginning at Abbot Hall and passing through historic streets and alleys, including Lookout Court, Prospect Alley, portions of Front Street, Gingerbread Lane and Knight’s Hill.
Wheeler said a previous downtown perambulation before the COVID-19 pandemic attracted approximately 200 participants.
The walks serve both historical and practical purposes, helping document public ways and preserve awareness of public access.
Kezer will coordinate with town officials and Town Historian Don Doliber to establish a date before Dec. 31.
Other Select Board business
The board also took several additional actions:
Financial review: Select Board Chair Dan Fox announced that town and school officials will hold their first quarterly financial review under the memorandum of understanding associated with the town’s $15 million override. The meeting is scheduled for the week of Oct. 19, with Fox planning to present a summary at the board’s Oct. 28 meeting.
Trash and recycling: The board approved a five-year curbside collection contract with Republic Services. Public Health Director Andrew Petty said first-year costs total approximately $1.65 million, including $621,308 for trash collection, $621,708 for recycling collection, $312,500 for recycling processing and $96,000 for leaf and grass collection. A separate waste disposal contract is expected to come before the board.
Police staffing: Kezer said newly appointed Officer Luke Morris is scheduled to begin police academy training Oct. 26. The town is recruiting another officer for a January academy class and plans to fill a third position through a hybrid hiring process. All three positions were funded through the town’s override, with the goal of bringing the department to 33 officers.
Restaurant licenses: The board approved licenses for Davino Gusto Trattoria, a planned Italian restaurant at 114 Pleasant St., including permission to serve wine, malt beverages and cordials, and to offer entertainment. The board also unanimously revoked the liquor license held by 257 Washington Street Inc., associated with the former Barrelman, after the license holder failed to operate and did not appear at two scheduled hearings. The property’s new owner hopes to obtain a license and reopen the space
400th anniversary: The board appointed Adam Cohen, Don Doliber, Eric Jay Dolin, Dan Marshall, Pam Peterson, Brian Snell and Tim Swiggor to a committee planning Marblehead’s 400th anniversary celebration. Grader volunteered to serve as the Select Board liaison.
Green Community designation: Kezer said the town is preparing an application for Green Community designation ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline. The designation could make Marblehead eligible for state energy-efficiency grants.
