Marshfield: DPW left with budget deficit after seaweed cleanup

An overwhelming amount of seaweed caused Green Harbor Beach in Marshfield to close mid-June and called for a total clean-up by resident volunteers. But DPW also helped remove the marine algae, requiring two days of overtime work.

According to DPW Superintendent Tom Reynolds, it cost them about $10,000 between the use of contracted equipment and manpower; but due to the 2012 fiscal year ending June 30th, money was tight.

“This time of a year was just a difficult time. I was squeezing our troops on overtime because we were running out of overtime money but yet I was required to go out on that beach on overtime money,” said Reynolds

Reynolds said a working group made up of Marshfield town officials is now forming a Beach Management Plan and reviewing the use of the $200-300,000 in annual revenue generated by beach stickers in order for the DPW to finally get a share, “Currently, Duxbury makes $2 million a year on beach permits and Hull makes roughly a million dollars so something needs to be done.”

The possibility of additional parking and allowing non-residents to purchase stickers was mentioned during Monday night’s Board of Public Works meeting.

But as for now, seaweed costs absorbed by the DPW will be submitted as an unpaid bill at the October Special Town Meeting.

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