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Marblehead’s first sustainability coordinator, Logan Casey, announced this week that he will leave the position after roughly two years to take a new role with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
“Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with dedicated colleagues, community members, and partners to advance projects that strengthen Marblehead’s climate resilience and get closer to the community’s Net Zero GHG emissions by 2040 goal,” Casey wrote in a public post.
Casey began working for Marblehead in February 2024 in a role created to help translate the town’s net-zero roadmap into concrete projects, policies and funding opportunities. The position was also intended to help the town secure outside grants and coordinate sustainability initiatives across municipal departments.
During his tenure, Casey served as a key staff liaison to the Green Marblehead Implementation Committee and worked with community groups including Sustainable Marblehead to advance the town’s climate and energy goals.
He also helped launch Marblehead’s Community Development and Planning Department, which was established in 2024 to bring together planning, economic development and sustainability work within a single municipal department.
“Another exciting first was being a founding member of Marblehead’s first Community Development and Planning department,” Casey wrote.
One of the most visible aspects of Casey’s work involved pursuing grants and outside funding for environmental and infrastructure projects. Casey said he helped the town secure more than $745,000 in grant funding during his time in Marblehead.
Those grants supported a range of initiatives, including electric vehicle charging planning, coastal resilience work and other sustainability-related projects. Several of those efforts were connected to broader municipal initiatives such as improvements at State Street Landing and resilience projects intended to help prepare town infrastructure for climate-related impacts.
Casey also highlighted transportation planning as a major focus of his work. During his tenure, the town began developing Marblehead’s first town-wide bicycle facilities plan, an effort aimed at evaluating potential improvements to cycling infrastructure and safety throughout the community.
Another effort involved positioning Marblehead to apply for designation under the state’s Green Communities program, which provides funding to municipalities for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction projects.
Casey said the town developed and adopted several policies required for that application, including a municipal energy reduction plan and a zero-emissions vehicle procurement policy.
Communities designated as Green Communities become eligible for an initial grant as well as access to competitive state funding rounds for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects.
“Assisting with the process of turning community ideas into tangible projects has been incredibly rewarding,” Casey wrote.
Casey’s work often required coordination across departments, committees and community groups, reflecting the cross-departmental nature of the sustainability coordinator role.
Casey thanked town staff, volunteers and residents who collaborated with him during his time in Marblehead.
“It was a great experience in large part because of the people I got to work with,” he wrote.
Casey told the Independent he will begin a new position with the MBTA as he moves on from the Marblehead role.
His departure comes as Marblehead officials continue to grapple with a difficult fiscal outlook. Town leaders have warned that the town may face significant budget constraints in upcoming fiscal years, forcing difficult decisions about staffing levels and municipal services.
It is not yet clear whether the town plans to refill the sustainability coordinator position following Casey’s departure.
Elaine Leahy, executive director of Sustainable Marblehead, called Casey’s departure “a big loss for the Town of Marblehead.” She credited him with advancing projects such as shipyard resiliency improvements, the Village Street Bridge replacement and rail trail improvements, while also helping bring in grant money and plan for future work.
“His energy, intelligence, and strong work ethic will be greatly missed,” she said.
Jean-Jacques Yarmoff, Marblehead Municipal Light Commission chair, called Casey “a very helpful partner.”
“Many of the activities of the Light Department are naturally integrated with the activities of the town,” he told the Independent. “He has been a consistent help, bringing the right people together, consistently pushing for solutions.”
He added, “We wish him well in his new role with the MBTA where I am sure new challenges await.”
For now, Casey said he is leaving Marblehead grateful for the experience and the people he worked with.
“I am grateful for my time in Marblehead,” he wrote, “and I’m excited for the next chapter to begin soon.”
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