Marshfield Select Board Rejects Hearing on Housing Authority Member Removal

Ongoing tensions at housing authority spark debate over elected official's conduct

MARSHFIELD, MA - October 7 - The Marshfield Select Board voted 2-1 against holding a public hearing to consider removing Joseph Pecevich from the Marshfield Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, despite accusations of misconduct from other housing authority members.

At Monday's meeting, Select Board Chair Lynne Fidler stated she would not vote to schedule a disciplinary hearing under state law that allows for removal of elected housing authority members for "inefficiency, neglect of duty or misconduct in office."

"While there may be some name calling or other comments by Mr. Pecevich or other conduct that he has engaged that is very upsetting to others on the staff and residents, and I am not condoning any of it, the residents of this town elected Mr. Pecevich," Fidler said.

She added that if residents feel Pecevich's tenure should end, it should be decided through the recall process available under the town charter.

The request for a hearing came from Kerry Richardson, chair of the Marshfield Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. In a Sept. 19 email to the Select Board, Richardson cited a May 22 special meeting where four of five housing authority commissioners supported removing Pecevich.

Select Board member Steve Darcy supported holding a hearing, noting ongoing issues since the board last considered complaints against Pecevich.

"The fact that the behavior has remained the same or gotten worse, I think is a problem," Darcy said. "Following an employee several miles in their car to the town dump is not within the scope of being a Housing Authority Commissioner."

However, Select Board member Eric Kelley opposed the hearing, calling the situation a "witch hunt" against Pecevich.

"I think there's a distraction going on here," Kelley said. "I think Joe is snooping around too much and something's probably going on in the Housing Authority, in my opinion."

Kelley suggested investigations into all Housing Authority members, the Executive Director, and potentially the Quincy Housing Authority. He also called for an audit of the Marshfield Housing Authority.

"I am disgusted with how Joe has been treated, especially by the Executive Director," Kelley added.

The debate highlighted ongoing tensions within the housing authority. During public comments, several residents criticized the conduct of housing authority meetings.

Muriel Tovcey called an August housing authority meeting "extremely unprofessional," saying phones were ringing and people were talking throughout.

"We felt intimidated by the residents," Tovcey said, describing how she and two friends were "singled out" after the meeting by a woman named Cecilia.

Tina Shea questioned why public comment was held at the beginning of Select Board meetings, making it difficult to address agenda items. She suggested Joe Pecevich is "poking a bear that somebody wants to silence."

Jackie Mason read from an email allegedly sent by Town Administrator Michael Marasco to town counsel, which stated the housing authority executive director claimed Pecevich was "intimidating board and the residents" and "brings a group of zombies to each meeting with him."

Cecilia Del Gardelio defended her actions at the August meeting, saying she welcomed having other residents attend. "We're all residents of the same town. We're all looking to get the same thing for our town, for it to be a good, healthy place for either our kids or elderly people," she said.

The select board's decision not to hold a hearing leaves the issue unresolved for now.