Marshfield (OnFocus) In a significant move, the Marshfield Common Council voted 6 to 3 on Tuesday night to abolish the city’s Economic Development Board. The proposal, presented by District 6 Alderman Stauber, seeks to streamline economic development by eliminating the board and revising section 3-66(13) of the Marshfield Municipal Code.
“This ordinance intends to allow the direct reporting of staff and other organizations, such as Main Street Marshfield, Visit Marshfield, and the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MACCI), to the Common Council. Given our current economic constraints and budgetary considerations, this change will provide better use of municipal time and resources, enabling us to incorporate long-range public infrastructure and financial planning at an earlier stage in proposed economic development projects.”
The Economic Development Board was initially established to offer advisory input to the Common Council on planning and funding for economic development initiatives. However, Stauber emphasized that direct oversight by the council would eliminate redundancy and improve efficiency.
Despite the proposal’s passage, concerns were raised about the future of economic development in Marshfield. Alderman O’Reilly, one of the three dissenting votes, highlighted recent projects like the Wenzel Plaza Bathrooms, arguing that such initiatives require thorough and inclusive planning, suggesting that the Common Council has made decisions without all the information in the past and this decision is much the same and happening again.
“It’s irrational to make this change without a constructive path forward,” O’Reilly commented. The decision will effectively shift a significant burden of work onto the council, extending the meetings and complicating decision-making processes. O’Reilly said, “While I’m open to discussion, I can’t imagine making a decision like this without a plan in place.
The motion to abolish the Economic Development Board, seconded by Alderman Tompkins, was met with opposition from Aldermen O’Reilly, Spiros, and Varsho. Despite their objections, the proposal was passed.
As of publication, city officials have not responded to requests for information on how economic development will be managed going forward. The community awaits further details on the council’s plans to sustain and enhance economic growth in Marshfield.
