Town Meeting - Marblehead Current

06 May

Man whose housing comment at Town Meeting went viral: ‘We should all be vocal’

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Top Stories, Town Meeting

David Modica didn’t realize his remarks at Town Meeting had gone viral until his phone started blowing up the next morning. His comments — questioning Marblehead’s plan to comply with the MBTA Communities Act (also known as 3A) by zoning the Tedesco Country Club golf course for multifamily housing — struck a chord with residents in town and far beyond. (Read an article about Modica in the Boston Globe HERE.) The proposal, approved by Town Meeting, designates the golf course (along with Broughton Road) as…

05 May

PHOTO GALLERY: Single-night Town Meeting sends override to ballot

Grey CollinsTop Stories, Town Meeting

It was democracy in action — Marblehead voters filled the high school field house to take part in the town's 377th annual Town Meeting. Check out this photo gallery by the Current's Grey Collins. Voters have their say at Town Meeting Monday night. Samantha Rossato speaks about the impacts on the town if a general override doesn't pass. This voter spoke against the town's new zoning law, saying, "We're doing a bad thing. We're not doing any housing. Are we kind of being pricks?" Resident…

05 May

That’s a wrap: One-night Town Meeting sends override to June ballot

Leigh BlanderMarblehead Public Schools, Public safety, Top Stories, Town Meeting

NEW: This story has been updated with new information from the Marblehead Liberty Foundation. See below. A three-year, three-tiered general override — ranging from $9 million to $15 million — will be on Marblehead’s election ballot June 9, after Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved advancing the measure Monday night. The vote was 1,227 in favor, 159 opposed. If it passes in June, it will be the first general (permanent) property tax override approved in Marblehead in more than 20 years. Town Meeting completed its warrant agenda…

04 May

Marblehead 2026 Town Meeting live blog

Marblehead Current staffTop Stories, Town Meeting

Stay with the Marblehead Current for up-to-the-minute coverage of Town Meeting with our live blog right here and with our vote tracker HERE. Check out our social feeds, too, for updates at @MHDCurrent. For comprehensive coverage of budget, override and other Town Meeting business, visit our Town Meeting Guide HERE. Doors open at Marblehead High School at 5:45 pm. and Town Meeting kicks off at 7 p.m. See you there! Monday, 10:45 p.m. Town Meeting adjourns. https://videopress.com/v/OiyWQHkX?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Article 40 co-sponsors Kate Borten and Lynn Nadeau…

04 May

Town Meeting starts tonight; voters to debate overrides, zoning and more

Leigh BlanderTop Stories, Town Meeting

After months of budget discussions and hundreds of meetings involving every department, board and committee in town, Marblehead's 2026 Town Meeting kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. at the high school field house. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Voters face two override questions: One is whether to send a three-year, tiered tax increase up to $15 million to the June election ballot. The language for the override was recently finalized. It represents the highest tier that might be approved ($15M) and the amount appropriated the…

01 May

LETTER: These are not numbers on a page. These are your neighbors

Submitted ContentLETTERS, Opinion, Town Meeting

To the editor: I write to you today on behalf of the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union with urgency and concern as we approach the Proposition 2 1⁄2 override vote at the upcoming Town Meeting. The situation facing our town is no longer theoretical, it is immediate and severe. As presented by the town, if the override does not pass, Marblehead will be forced into a budget that eliminates 56 municipal jobs and effectively shuts down multiple town departments. This includes the closure of the library,…

30 Apr

Middle School students support Tier 2 override in mock Town Meeting

Leigh BlanderEducation, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories, Town Meeting

At the Veterans School Thursday, more than 150 seventh graders took on the roles of Marblehead voters, debating Proposition 2 1⁄2 tax overrides in a lively mock Town Meeting that mirrored the real decisions facing the town on Monday, May 4. Students rose one by one to speak at the microphone, some arguing passionately that additional funding was essential to maintain services, while others warned of the burden higher taxes could place on residents — particularly seniors on fixed incomes. Town Moderator Jack Attridge led…

30 Apr

From tax rates to poor house, 135-year-old report offers window into town life

Leigh BlanderLocal History, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories, Town Meeting

Jerry Wishnow was combing through bins at a flea market on the Lynnway years ago when something caught his eye: a 72-page paperback titled “Town of Marblehead Auditors’ Report, 1890-91.” As Marbleheaders closely follow today’s budget and override debate, Wishnow said the old report offers a fascinating look at how little — and how much — has changed. Jerry Wishnow stands on his back porch holding the copy of the “Town of Marblehead Auditors’ Report 1890-91.” CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER Wishnow, a retired award-winning…

29 Apr

LETTER: Our town is being rattled to its core; support the override

Submitted ContentLETTERS, Opinion, Town Meeting

To the editor: Both my husband and I grew up here and chose to raise our family here. Anyone who is drawn here can see why: A beach is within a half-a-mile of anywhere you go; the sense of community runs deep; a small town feel with relative accessibility to a large city — what's not to love? And because of these things, Marblehead will always be special. However, it’s the not-so-visible or obvious things that are rattling our town to its core, ones that…

29 Apr

EDITORIAL: Let the voters decide

Marblehead Current Editorial BoardOpinion, Town Meeting

On Monday, Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting will convene, and it is anticipated that a large number of residents will attend to listen, question, debate, learn more about and then vote on the articles in this year’s warrant. To ensure adequate seating, it will again take place in the field house at the high school. Article 23, Expenses of Several Departments, and Article 29, Supplemental Appropriation and Expenses of Several Departments, are sure to command much of the attention on Monday (or Tuesday). Town leaders have…