The Select Board convened on Tuesday evening to interview the final two candidates vying to lead the town’s executive branch. Chair Eric S. Kelley opened the session by emphasizing the gravity of the appointment, noting that the board would not take a vote immediately to ensure a thoughtful vetting process. Kelley remarked, It is my belief is incumbent on the select board to ask questions we need to to make the best decision going forward for the town. The board spent nearly two hours questioning Kyle E. Gfkin and Leilani Delpy on their respective approaches to fiscal stability, housing mandates, and infrastructure challenges.

Kyle E. Gfkin, a candidate with extensive municipal experience in Pennsylvania and Arkansas, led with a detailed account of his financial turnarounds. He addressed past controversies head-on, clarifying his departure from Fort Smith and a rumor regarding a former associate. Gfkin explained, Communication is one of my key elements, while detailing how he grew fund balances in previous roles. When Kelley asked specifically about an appointment of a person with a criminal record to a diversity committee, Gfkin responded, He turned his life around. He realized the error of his ways. He paid his debt to society. Gfkin positioned himself as a stabilizer capable of managing high-density housing needs and coastal vulnerabilities.

Leilani Delpy, currently a project manager for an engineering firm and a former Assistant Town Administrator in Weymouth, presented a vision centered on smart growth and tourism. Delpy, a former opera singer, argued that the town’s historical assets are currently underutilized. For every dollar that a town invests in tourism, $8 is brought back to the community, Delpy stated, advocating for the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to attract businesses. Vice Chair Stephen R. Darcy asked Delpy what she might redo in her career, to which she replied, I would have gotten into this earlier. Delpy also highlighted her MCPPO procurement certification as a vital asset for managing the town's upcoming infrastructure projects.

Throughout the interviews, member Patricia Simpson focused on the candidates’ ability to integrate into Marshfield’s unique political culture. Simpson noted, Marshfield has a rich and proud history and part of that history includes long-standing connections within our political and civic systems. Following the interviews, the board expressed satisfaction with the caliber of the finalists. The board reached a consensus to review feedback from department heads and union leaders before reconvening. Kelley concluded by stating that the board needs to be confident in the direction we choose to go in choosing a new town administrator.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 PM