Municipal Matters

Looking for answers to road and sidewalk projects
25 Aug

Looking for answers to road and sidewalk projects

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer says there is a “method to the madness” behind Marblehead’s much-criticized road and sidewalk work, while acknowledging that communicating that plan to residents has been a challenge. The condition and construction of the town’s roads and sidewalks have become a heated topic on social media and in letters to the editor, with residents questioning how projects are prioritized, how money is being spent and what work is planned next. People are also complaining about bumpy patchwork, saying it creates dangerous conditions…
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Select Board dissolves Charter Committee after receiving final work
18 Aug

Select Board dissolves Charter Committee after receiving final work

Leigh BlanderLocal News, Municipal Matters
The Select Board has formally dissolved the Town Charter Committee after receiving the committee’s final work product. The Charter Committee was formed April 24, 2024, with the mission of developing Marblehead’s first town charter, similar to a constitution. The group examined Marblehead’s existing government structure, authorities and processes. The committee submitted a package of materials, including Draft C of a proposed charter, an executive summary, appendices, organizational charts, potential recall language, public forum and hearing points, and alignment memoranda. Charter Committee Chair Amy Drinker emphasized…
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Town to seek Coffin School reuse proposals in early September 
13 Aug

Town to seek Coffin School reuse proposals in early September 

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Top Stories
The town plans to invite companies to submit proposals for the Coffin School reuse project in early September.  The school closed in 2021. The property includes roughly 3 acres and was assessed at $3.4 million in 2025. The town has hosted several public forums and meetings to gather input on how the property should be used. Ideas have ranged from town-owned green space and a dog park to townhouses and a development for seniors and veterans. The Coffin School has been closed since 2021. Ideas…
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Select Board sets goals, charts 10-year financial strategy after override
28 Jul

Select Board sets goals, charts 10-year financial strategy after override

Grey CollinsMunicipal Matters, Top Stories
The Select Board sat around a conference room table overlooking Marblehead Harbor, sipping coffee and eating blueberry and chocolate chip muffins as members discussed goals for the next fiscal year and laid out plans for the town’s post-override future. At its annual retreat on July 24, the board looked beyond the budget crisis that dominated much of the past year, set priorities for the coming year and outlined a long-term financial strategy designed to keep Marblehead on stable footing for the next decade. The Select…
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Town, unions agree to health insurance opt-out program for cash savings
27 Jul

Town, unions agree to health insurance opt-out program for cash savings

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Top Stories
The town and its Public Employee Committee have reached a new health insurance agreement that creates an opt-out incentive program “designed to reduce future health insurance costs,” according to Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. Under the agreement, eligible employees who have participated in the town’s health insurance plan for at least two consecutive years and have qualifying health coverage elsewhere may voluntarily opt out of the town’s plan. Employees who choose to waive coverage will receive an annual incentive payment of $4,000 for declining individual coverage…
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Select Board hires search firm, sets rules for senior property tax exemption
24 Jul

Select Board hires search firm, sets rules for senior property tax exemption

Aleka KroitzshMunicipal Matters, Top Stories
Marblehead currently has two open positions following the resignation of Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin and the forthcoming retirement of Town Administrator Thatcher W. Kezer.  At the July 22 select board meeting, Kezer gave an update on the search to fill these soon-to-be vacant positions. Benjamin announced her resignation on July 10 and will leave at the end of August, and Kezer will depart at the end of this year. Kezer emphasized the importance of having a new chief financial officer in place before the start…
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