The Marion Select Board met on Tuesday for its first post-election convening with Carleton “Toby” Burr taking the seat previously held by Norman Hills. Burr had been on the Select Board until the 2025 Town Election, when he decided not to run. There was standing room only in the Police Station Conference Room, with Chair Randy Parker saying, “I love to see the attendance.”
Parker then motioned for a reorganization of the board. John Hoagland was made Chair, Toby Burr was made Vice-Chair, and Randy Parker was made Clerk.
Next, there was an update from the Elizabeth Taber Library on the Library Garden Project. Children’s Librarian Macy Kinney stated they unfortunately did not receive the grant they had applied for, though the library board itself had approved the project. The Select Board also then quickly voted to support the project.
Next, there was an update on the Flag of Marion Project by local artist Mike Malone. To “celebrate the nautical history” of the town, Malone originally sought to paint nautical signaling flags onto the road at Front Street. He said he had originally proposed the exhibit last year and spent the winter analyzing various alternate options to ensure safety (in terms of not increasing difficulty of seeing the road) and support for the project. Chair of the Historical Commission Meg Steinberg noted the commission members “have no object to the concept,” though they did not support the project as presented. They are concerned by the art’s altering of the historic Front Street, saying it should be near Tabor Academy fields or by Island Wharf. It was noted the original proposal for the project would be around 500 feet long, ending at the Marion Music Hall. The board took no action yet, with members saying discussion on this project will continue.
The big discussion of the night stayed on Front Street and was that of the removal of the stop sign at the corner of Front and Main Street and the Speed Bump Installation discussed at Town Meeting. Residents spoke in favor of the stop sign that has since been removed, though Police Chief Richard B. Nighelli said “if we add a sign, we have to do it legally,” noting it may not have been legal or warranted to add the original sign. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman noted the stop sign was only a small part of various implementations meant to make cars pass through the intersection slower. He said, “We’re throwing everything we have at it to reduce speeds and make it safer.”
The Chief again clarified that he has no preference between a speed hump or a stop sign, and that he only wants to make sure procedure is followed. “I don’t know the legality of a stop sign,” Member Parker later said. Gorman requested support from residents as the town tries to find the best solution. He stated, “I’m trying to do the right thing going forward,” as he requested the town conduct a pilot on implementing a speed hump.
Gorman told the board, “Humps are ready as soon as I get your gentlemen’s approval.” He also noted the town has six moveable humps in its inventory. A motion was made for the readdiction of the stop sign at the corner, as well as an additional stop sign and a speed hump down a section of Front Street. None of these installations will be permanent in their onset and can be moved as experimentation continues. The motion passed and went into effect immediately.
The next regular meeting of the Marion Select Board is scheduled for Tuesday, June 2 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Station.
Marion Select Board
By Sam Bishop