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Municipal votes · 2026–2027 Board

Marshfield Select Board

How the Marshfield Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. Rick Smith joined the board after the May 2026 town election; Stephen R. Darcy did not run again and left. On May 11, 2026 the board (two members) chose Rick Smith as Chair and Eric S. Kelley as Vice Chair. Christopher R. Rohland won the July 25, 2026 special election for the seat Patricia F. Simpson left; at his first meeting, July 27, 2026, the board chose him as Clerk. Minutes are loaded through the August 19, 2026 meeting. Covers 13 meetings so far, May 11 to August 19, 2026.

A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.

What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.

Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.

Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budget
Election Day · Tuesday, Nov 3

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Vote Transparency Score

Marshfield Select Board: 7 out of 10 · Mostly open

How easy Marshfield makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 3, 2026.

  • Minutes postedMinutes are posted for most, but not all, meetings in the past year.Part points: 1/2
  • Each vote namedVotes are roll calls that say how each member voted.Full points: 3/3
  • Posted quicklyMinutes usually go up within about two months.Part points: 1/2
  • Past years onlineSelect Board minutes from 2015 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
  • Readable textThe minutes are mostly text you can search and copy.Full points: 1/1
  • Member photosThe Select Board page shows no member photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
  • Minutes posted (+1): Post approved minutes for every meeting on the town website. Don’t require a sign-in to view them.
  • Posted quickly (+1): Post minutes within 30 days. If approval takes longer, post a draft marked “Draft – not yet approved” and replace it later.
  • Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.

How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.

A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.

Board years

Coming up

MassVoter can’t read Marshfield’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →

What Town Meeting decided

In Marshfield, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.

Special Town Meeting · April 28, 2025 31 votes: 29 passed, 1 passed as amended, 1 indefinitely postponed

Sessions: April 28 and 29 and June 2, 2025

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 28, 2025 15 votes: 12 passed, 2 passed as amended, 1 failed

Sessions: April 28 and 29 and June 2, 2025

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · December 16, 2024 28 votes: 19 passed, 2 passed as amended, 3 failed, 2 indefinitely postponed, 2 no action

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2025 Annual Town Report.

Special Town Meeting · April 22, 2024 29 votes: 26 passed, 2 failed, 1 no action

Sessions: April 22 and 23, 2024

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Annual Town Meeting · April 22, 2024 22 votes: 17 passed, 4 failed, 1 other

Sessions: April 22, 23 and 25, 2024

Source: Town Clerk's minutes in the 2024 Annual Town Report.

Not here yet: the June 24, 2024 Special Town Meeting (not in the 2024 Annual Town Report; only its warrant is posted), the October 20, 2025 Special Town Meeting (not in the 2025 Annual Town Report; only its warrant is posted) and the April 27, 2026 Annual and Special Town Meetings (minutes not posted yet).

Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).

Members

Christopher R. RohlandClerk (from July 27, 2026) · Elected townwide · at 2 of 3 meetings · from Jul 2026

"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.

Attendance

From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.

A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.

Meetings

About missing minutes

Loaded: Select Board minutes from January 3, 2018 through August 19, 2026, as posted on the town website (the board was called the Board of Selectmen until 2021). Not here yet: minutes before 2018, and minutes the town has not posted. The town lists agendas but no minutes for 13 Select Board meetings between July 5, 2025 and July 5, 2026, and for every meeting after August 19, 2026. Seven short minutes that cover only a vote to go into executive session are not included. Marshfield's minutes give each motion with who made and seconded it. When they say "The vote was unanimous" we show every member present as voting yes, and when they list a roll call (aye/nay by name), as most votes from 2020 on do, we show each member's vote as recorded; "present" in a roll call is shown as abstaining. When they give only a count that does not account for every member present (for example 2-1 with no names, or 2-0 with three members present), or a roll call that names a member the minutes list as absent or does not match the stated count, we show the count only and add a note. Members who stepped aside (recused) are left out of that vote. Votes taken jointly with another board (Board of Public Works, Housing Authority, Trustees of Veterans Memorials) are not included. A few 2026 minutes record a vote without the wording of the motion; those show the agenda item instead. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 · Regular meeting4 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Eric S. KelleyFriday, August 7, 2026 · Regular meeting6 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAbsent: Christopher R. RohlandMonday, July 27, 2026 · Regular meeting20 recorded votes, 6 with disagreementAll 3 members presentMonday, July 20, 2026 · Regular meeting7 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members presentThursday, July 16, 2026 · Regular meeting3 recorded votes, 0 with disagreementAll 3 members present

Votes where members disagreed

Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.

Jul 27Appoint Ted Langill as Town AdministratorMotion: to appoint Ted Langill as Town Administrator.Passed 2–1 · No: Kelley

July 27, 2026: Appoint Ted Langill as Town Administrator

AppointPassed · 2–1

To appoint Ted Langill as Town Administrator.

Yes: Rohland, SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith made a motion to appoint Ted Langill as Town Administrator. Seconded by Eric Kelley. Roll call vote conducted: Rick Smith, aye; Chris Rohland, aye; Eric Kelley, opposed. Motion carried, 2-1..” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Jul 27Reconsider Action Item 1 and vote on the appointment…Motion: to reconsider Action Item 1 and vote on the appointment of…Passed 2–1 · No: Kelley

July 27, 2026: Reconsider Action Item 1 and vote on the appointment of Edward Langill as Town Administrator contingent upon successful background check and negotiations of contract of employment

AppointPassed · 2–1

To reconsider Action Item 1 and vote on the appointment of Edward Langill as Town Administrator contingent upon successful background check and negotiations of contract of employment. Motion made by: Rick Smith Seconded by: Chris Rohland

Yes: Rohland, SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith made a motion to reconsider Action Item 1 and vote on the appointment of Edward Langill as Town Administrator contingent upon successful background check and negotiations of contract of employment. Motion made by: Rick Smith Seconded by: Chris Rohland Vote: Rick Smith, aye; Chris Rohland, aye; Eric Kelley, opposed. Motion carried, (2-1)..” (Motion: Smith)

Read it in the official minutes, page 2 (PDF)

Jul 27Approve and advance the proposed charter amendment consistent with…Motion: to approve and advance the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article…Passed 2–1 · No: Kelley

July 27, 2026: Approve and advance the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 6, as presented at Town Meeting

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To approve and advance the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 6, as presented at Town Meeting

Yes: Rohland, SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith made a motion to approve and advance the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 6, as presented at Town Meeting. Seconded by Eric Kelley Vote: Rick Smith, aye; Chris Rohland, aye; Eric Kelley, opposed. Motion carried, (2-1)..” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Jul 27Approve the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 22…Motion: to approve the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 22 and…Passed 2–1 · No: Kelley

July 27, 2026: Approve the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 22 and amend Sections 4.14 and 4.15 and Section 5.2 of the Town Charter as contained in the Town Meeting warrant

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To approve the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 22 and amend Sections 4.14 and 4.15 and Section 5.2 of the Town Charter as contained in the Town Meeting warrant.

Yes: Rohland, SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith made a motion to approve the proposed charter amendment consistent with Article 22 and amend Sections 4.14 and 4.15 and Section 5.2 of the Town Charter as contained in the Town Meeting warrant. Seconded by Eric Kelley. Vote: Rick Smith, aye; Chris Rohland, aye; Eric Kelley, opposed. Motion carried, (2-1)..” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

Jul 27Establish September 1, 2026, as the date for the…Motion: to establish September 1, 2026, as the date for the operational…Passed 2–1 · No: Kelley

July 27, 2026: Establish September 1, 2026, as the date for the operational override election and request that the Town Clerk establish compliant early voting

ApprovePassed · 2–1

To establish September 1, 2026, as the date for the operational override election and request that the Town Clerk establish compliant early voting.

Yes: Rohland, SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith made a motion to establish September 1, 2026, as the date for the operational override election and request that the Town Clerk establish compliant early voting. Seconded by Eric Kelley. Vote: Rick Smith, aye; Chris Rohland, aye; Eric Kelley, opposed. Motion carried, (2-1)..” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 4 (PDF)

Jun 29Adopt the Pride Month resolutionMotion: to adopt the Pride Month resolution.Failed 1–0 · Abstained: Kelley

June 29, 2026: Adopt the Pride Month resolution

Adopt resolutionFailed · 1–0

To adopt the Pride Month resolution.

Yes: SmithAbstained: KelleyThe minutes say the motion failed (1 yes, 0 no, 1 abstaining).

From the minutes

“Motion: Chair Rick Smith moved to adopt the Pride Month resolution. Seconded by Vice Chair Kelley. Vote: Smith – Aye; Kelley – Abstained. Motion failed..” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 10 (PDF)

May 20Submit the proposed charter change to the LegislatureMotion: to submit the proposed charter change to the Legislature.Failed 1–1 · No: Kelley

May 20, 2026: Submit the proposed charter change to the Legislature

ApproveFailed · 1–1

To submit the proposed charter change to the Legislature.

Yes: SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith motioned to submit the proposed charter change to the Legislature. Vice Chair Kelley seconded. Vote: Smith – Yea Kelley – Opposed Motion failed.” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

May 20Forward with submission of the legislationMotion: to move forward with submission of the legislation.Failed 1–1 · No: Kelley

May 20, 2026: Forward with submission of the legislation

ApproveFailed · 1–1

To move forward with submission of the legislation.

Yes: SmithNo: Kelley

From the minutes

“Chair Smith motioned to move forward with submission of the legislation. Vice Chair Kelley seconded. Vote: Smith – Yea Kelley – Opposed Motion failed.” (Motion: Smith, second: Kelley)

Read it in the official minutes, page 3 (PDF)

From the Marshfield Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town website. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: stills from WATD News candidate videos (Chris Rohland and Rick Smith, 2026) and Marshfield Community Media’s “Meet the Candidates” (Eric Kelley). Former members show initials.

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