Candidates vying for spots on the Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Open Space Acquisition Committee and Board of Health took turns making their case to a packed room at the Music Hall on Thursday night.

The Marion Candidates Night is an annual event sponsored by the League Women of Voters to prepare for election day, which this year is scheduled for May 13.

The challenge of handling the steep costs Marion is expected to face to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and lagoons came up time and time again. The EPA has yet to issue an order that will determine the extent and costs of the required upgrades.

Resident Chris Collings asked both the Selectmen and Planning Board candidates to share their short and long term goals of handling the sewer issue.

“Where do you stand, particularly when the water holding basin project will be an enormous project—tens and tens of millions of dollars? How does one afford regionalizing after nearly bankrupting our accounts?” he asked.

Selectmen candidates Norm Hills, a retired Navy engineer, and Steve Gonsalves, a local business owner, both admitted that the issue was complex and that there are no easy answers.

Gonsalves, who said regionalizing with Wareham down the road is “appealing,” recommended that a separate water and sewer commission be established as a “checks and balances” to study options. Currently,Sselectmen serve as the town's water and sewer commissioners. Gonsalves said the board may face challenges managing the enormity of this responsibility with their other duties.

“This issue could have major implications on the town we love,” he said.

Hills said all options must be considered. The situation has yet to play out with the EPA, and no one knows whether it's cost effective to replace the linings of the lagoons, he said.

Planning Board candidates, including William do Carmo, Jon Henry, Stephen Kokkins and Saltonstall ( Jerry “Rico” Ferrari was not present) also weighed in during their panel discussion.

Kokkins said there may be tax benefits with regionalization, and any efforts should mesh well with other town projects to ensure the best use of resources.

Carmo offered few specifics, but said people should take charge. “Instead of talking, we have to be active to get things done.”

Henry said the town still has $8.57 million in bonds for the current plant that would require payment before embarking on any regionalization plan.

“I'm giving the very bad news that we can't dodge this issue,” he said.

Related to that, one resident during the Q&A called out “unnamed” persons in Marion who may have deep enough pockets to pay off the $8.57 million for the good of the town.

Gonsalves implied that plenty of residents already are generous to Marion. “A lot of people do things quietly, folks.”

Other issues discussed included town growth, protection of natural resources and open space, affordable housing for seniors, and improving communication and collaboration on boards.

On the topic of town growth, Saltonstall told residents “we shouldn't be afraid of the word 'density,'“ and suggested more mixed-use development and greater density in pockets of town.

Henry also commented that the town's taxpayers need additional commercial development to shoulder more of the tax burden.

“It's disingenuous to think mom and pop stores will do that,” he said.

In response to one questioner who noted that 93 percent of tax revenues come from residential properties, Gonsalves said more must be done to encourage growth—”but not explosive growth.” Hills said zoning changes may need to happen, pointing out that many houses sit in commercial areas.

Dan Crete, a local business owner who recently went through a costly permitting process to expand his business, asked Planning Board members what they will do to make the site plan review process smoother. “I have a lot of ideas,” he said to laughter.

Henry said the town should adopt initiatives at the state legislative level designed to streamline board processes.

Kokkins answered that the set of site plan requirements should be in proportion to the scale of the project.  Saltonstall suggested that developers engage in one pre-submission conference with chairs of all boards to hammer out the process from the onset.

“That would save a lot of effort,” he said.

On the topic of bylaws, Hills, Saltonstall and Kokkins all said at various times that the bylaws need to be cleaned up. Hills said after spending hours reviewing them, he located 93 errors.

One audience member asked Selectmen on their views of Tabor making a payment in lieu of taxes. As an educational institution, Tabor is exempt from taxes. Hills suggested opening up negotiation through communication with a Tabor committee that handles this very matter. Gonsalves said Tabor could set up a fund to maintain buildings bequeathed to the town from Elizabeth Taber, including the library and Music Hall.

In one lighter moment of the night, Saltonstall in his opening remarks joked that he would “make Marion great again” by putting a wall around the town “paid by CVS.”

Other candidates who participated included Albin Johnson and Dr. Jason Reynolds, who are both fighting for one spot on the Board of Health. Johnson, who owns a local realty company, has served on the board for 23 years, and was one of the original members. Reynolds is a pediatrician who said he has a lot of experience “working, living and breathing health.”

Randy Parker, an electric contractor, and John Rockwell, a conservation expert and farmer, both spoke at the meeting. There are three people seeking two spots on the Open Space Acquisition Committee (Ferrari was not present).