Article 20 sparked a debate over town governance before ultimately passing by a two-thirds majority. The article sought to delete all references to the Housing Partnership in the town’s zoning bylaws and replace them with the Marshfield Affordable Housing Trust. Town Planner Greg Guimond explained that the Housing Partnership essentially no longer exists and the Trust is its successor entity with the authority to hold and invest funds for affordable housing.

Resident Joe Povich, a member of the Housing Authority, spoke in strong opposition, arguing that the Housing Partnership had not been officially dissolved and that the change was more than mere housekeeping. I disagree strongly with the characterization that this is some sort of a housekeeping thing and has no effect on actual governance, Povich said, suggesting that funds should instead be directed to the Housing Authority. Despite these concerns, Town Counsel clarified that the Affordable Housing Trust has the legal authority that the previous partnership lacked.

Motion: The planning board moves that the town vote to amend the Marshfield Code Division 3 zoning bylaw chapter 305 zoning by deleting all reference to the housing partnership each time it appears in said code and inserting Marshfield affordable housing trust in place thereof.

Vote: Passed by 2/3 Majority