Essex Select Board Approves Fire Position Rename, Earmark Bid, and Landing Upgrades

ESSEX — March 9, 2026 — Essex Select Board advances federal water main earmark, fire position rename, and harbor pile-sharing plan. The board voted unanimously Monday to ratify a House of Representatives earmark application for up to approximately $1.1 million to replace the town's aging transite water main — described by Town Administrator Brendan as a single point of failure for the entire distribution system — and authorized a parallel Senate submission requiring a 20 percent local match. The board also amended its February 24 vote on a new fire department position, changing the title from deputy fire chief to fire captain/fire prevention officer at the request of the Board of Fire Engineers, with a revised salary range of $90,000 to $120,000, a move the town administrator acknowledged will contribute to a likely Proposition 2½ override at the May 4 annual town meeting. Police Chief Tom Shamshack presented a cost-sharing proposal with three or four area marinas to drive new pilings at the Essex Town Landing for roughly $7,000 versus a $16,000 standalone price, with funding targeted at the town meeting warrant. The board also revised draft language for a proposed river use fee, changing "at the town landing" to "at any town landing" to close potential enforcement loopholes.