The Marion Select Board met in the Police Department on Tuesday night. On their agenda was the appointment of new full-time police officers as well as the reappointment of other town positions. They also had some discussions, with one getting a bit fiery as it went on.
They began by approving the minutes of their last meetings, March 3 and March 10, without any alterations.
Next, Marion Police Chief Richard B. Nighelli spoke on Police Officer positions. Tyler Paquette was first reappointed as Sergeant.
Next was the full-time Police Officer appointments. Peter O’Brien and Brandon Carrillo just recently graduated from Police Academy. Robert Randall graduated in 2019, and is now “taking on that responsibility,” as the chief said.
Nighelli thanked the men for their dedication and commitment to the town. He mentioned the “long hours, missed holidays, and the uncertainty” that comes with the job. He also thanked the officers’ families for their dedication as well.
O’Brien was in the Harbormaster Office beginning in 2025 and was also a Marine for 27 years, having retired in 2023. He had spoken at that year’s Veteran’s Day ceremony in Marion. He was confirmed by the board with March 21 beginning his one-year probation period.
Cardelli was a dispatcher since 2025 and had attended Bishop Stang and graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut with a 3.97 GPA. He was approved by the board, also beginning his probationary period on March 21.
Randall graduated from Police Academy in 2019 and worked with Plymouth Police Department following that. He left the force and got a job in electrical work where he had his own contracting company. He wanted to come back to police work, with the chief saying he has worked hard to fulfil new requirements. He had also been part of US Army Reserves. He was approved by the board, with March 29 beginning his probationary period.
The new Town Clerk, Katrina Desroches, performed the swearing-in ceremony.
Next, the board made quick work of their town position reappointments. Inspector of Animals Susan Connor and Assistant Inspector of Animals Luke Mello were approved. William Horrocks was reappointed as Alternate Building Inspector. Kathy Broder was also approved for a license in Aquaculture Renewal.
A One Day Alcohol License was granted to St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church for a country-western line dance on March 28.
Next, a $43,500 donation from the Friends of Marion Fireworks was accepted. Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said the funds would allow the town to enter into a contract for fireworks. He cited that the total cost for fireworks was around $70,000. It’s nearly $40,000 for the fireworks themselves, and the rest is police detail, electrical, and other.
An update on the Revocation Policy regarding licensing, including a fortune-teller license, was quickly discussed. The board said they would need more time to go through it, and so no action was made.
There was then discussion, per Select Board Member Norm Hills, on the Inclusionary Fee Bylaw, which hasn’t been updated in four to five years. He said it has to be done yearly, per wording at the end of the document. The current fee is $75,000, but the board discussed raising it. Hills recommended $100,000, noting the proposed amount will also have to be voted at Town Meeting, though Chair Randy Parker said it may not, since the wording may give the board the ability to change since it says they must “review annually.”
Parker recommended the Planning Board also review the bylaw. Vice Chair John Hoagland agreed and also suggested the Zoning Board of Appeals be involved. If it goes to Town Meeting, it needs a two-thirds vote of approval, per the town administrator. Parker said they have time and would like to see it be “cleared up.” Gorman said the Town Meeting Warrant is to be closed next Tuesday.
Following that, 53G Fund Regulations for the Department of Public Works was discussed. It will allow the town to accept checks from Toll Brothers and analyze their work more closely. They agreed to also push this decision to Tuesday to give them more time to look through the regulations.
Discussion of Island Wharf parking was next, with Hills citing examples from the town’s past. “Back in 2009 when the town transferred to Marine Resources Commission, it was to be managed as parks and recreation land,” he said, adding that the state recognized what the town can do with parks and recreation land, “and parking lots isn’t one of them.” The lot was sold to the town “for like a buck” in 1901, Hills said, adding it was for no commercial use per the original agreement. Norms argued it “should be green space … not parking or boat storage.” Hoagland stated that the general parking regulation and rules in town for those with a parking permit must be specified and clarified, and Hills agreed.
Chief Nighelli spoke per Parker’s request, saying that for the police, it’s difficult to enforce the current parking limit of 72 hours. He said they don’t currently have the ability to check, but finished, “tell us what to enforce and we’ll enforce it.”
Marion Marine Resources Commission Chair Vincent J. Malkoski, Jr., said, “I’m very curious why the MRC, who is appointed by the Select Board, has been ignored for a year.” Malkoski claimed the MRC sent multiple recommendations on this issue but has never received a reply. He stated he had likewise submitted other notices and questions but has “not ever” received a reply. “If you ignore us, we can’t do our job,” he said, asserting that the Select Board was making a “knee jerk reaction,” adding, “I believe you do not understand the problems that this is going to create.”
Malkoski went on to say, “Parking is an issue in town. We all know that. I suggest we all sit down together.” Hills agreed, but the MRC Chair said he’s still been ignored nonetheless.
Hoagland asked what his proposed solution is, but Malkoski said he doesn’t have an exact one. He believes all the town departments should get together to solve it. He then said the Select Board had a “management by crisis” approach to its work, saying it “is a problem.”
Hills agreed with Malkoski that other parking options should be explored, but he went back to the original 1901 purpose for the land, saying parking at Island Wharf was not the original intent of the agreement, nor is it proper use of land designated for parks and recreation. Malkoski pushed for the area to stay parking, but Hills again pushed back, saying it wasn’t the original purpose. The MRC chair said, “that’s all there is.”
“I don’t think we’re getting anywhere with this,” Parker said.
Next, Hoagland spoke, referring to the book Master of the Senate by Robert A. Caro, when he told Malkoski, “I would say in Marion you’re the world’s greatest filibusterer I’ve ever met.” Hoagland referred to similarities between Malkoski’s approach to that of Richard Russell Jr., or who in the book is called “the world’s greatest filibusterer,” according to Hoagland. The Select Board vice chair then asked for a week to fix parking regulations.
“It’s only a filibuster if I’m trying to stop progress,” Hoagland replied. Hoagland shot back, “I think you are.” Though Hoagland then apologized for the Select Board not getting back on the issue, he asked Malkoski, “how long do you need?” to come up with a solution to the issue. Malkoski said “you can replace me, I understand that – I want to find a resolution so we’re not doing this in six months.” As volumes rose, Hoagland then said, “we’re not getting through another summer with this – if it’s that important for you, figure it out, now!”
Hoagland recommended a meeting be called in two weeks, but Malkoski will not be available then. Hoagland recommended, “figure it out and give it to someone else on the board to be here.”
For public comment, resident Bill Washburn rose, saying, “I’ve got some real radical ideas.” He mentioned some “kind of vacant” lots near Tabor Academy. He said he knows they didn’t have much time to strike a deal, and added he believed Tabor “owes us a bit of a favor.” He said the town and Tabor could strike a deal to use the parking spots together, to which the board said they could explore such an option.
“Anyone else on parking?” Parker asked. “Great,” he joked, when there was no response.
There is a special meeting of the Marion Select Board scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00 pm in the Marion Police Department’s conference room.
Marion Select Board
By Sam Bishop