Cohasset IT Department Seeks Additional Staffing to Address Growing Cybersecurity Threats

Capital Budget Committee navigates funding priorities while IT department highlights security challenges amid budget constraints

COHASSET - February 25 - Cohasset's Information Technology Department faces increasing cybersecurity challenges that are impacting service delivery, IT Director Ron Menard tells the Select Board during a budget review presentation.

The department, which maintains level service in its proposed FY26 budget, seeks approval for an additional low-level technical support position to address growing security demands while maintaining end-user support.

"Past budgets have seen substantial increases due to security concerns and mitigation solutions," Menard explains. "The level of end-user support is being impacted now."

Menard highlights that the department's labor hours are fully accounted for, with staff increasingly pulled away from help desk functions to address security alerts that require immediate attention.

"When we hear from our security operations center and it tells us you've got an admin password that was just changed or somebody just created a rule in an email to forward it to a personal email address, we get all of that information," Menard says. "Every one of those things has to be addressed in a timely manner. We can't let that stuff go."

The IT department currently operates with 4.5 full-time equivalent positions, a staffing level unchanged since 2015 despite significant expansion of services and security responsibilities.

"We handle everything now. Phone systems, network, firewalls, servers, storage, disaster recovery, incident response plans," Menard says. "I cannot stress enough how proud I am of that group and how honored I am to work with these individuals."

Town Manager Chris Senior acknowledges the department's contributions, particularly in cybersecurity preparedness.

"We've been put through the paces on our cybersecurity training, we've won a number of grants," Senior says. "They do phishing exercises regularly to test us, and we actually have to complete training protocols from time to time."

The proposed central infrastructure budget shows a 7.2% increase, primarily due to service level agreement costs for recently upgraded infrastructure now moving from capital to operational budgets. The municipal software budget remains level-funded with a 0% increase.

The department also faces a 20% reduction in device replacement funding, extending the replacement cycle for laptops and other devices beyond the preferred six-year timeframe.

Meanwhile, the Capital Budget Committee reports progress in balancing funding priorities for FY26. Committee Chair Susan Franklin explains they began with $5.3 million in requests but have worked to defer some items to future years.

"We're now looking at $1.95 million in requests to fund, and we have $2.146 million in our fund," Franklin says.

The committee hasn't voted on specific allocations yet but expects to accommodate most remaining requests while maintaining approximately $1 million in reserve.

Committee member Corey Evans expresses confidence about the funding outlook following the Select Board's decision on Town Hall renovations.

"What you guys did with Town Hall is exactly what we needed," Evans says. "FY26 was really tough. FY27, we have more flexibility. This gets a lot of things done in an efficient way."

Key capital items under consideration include:

- Nine school bus leases, including eight diesel buses and one electric bus

- Interactive smart boards to replace projectors at Osgood and Deer Hill schools

- Police vehicle replacements

- Various technology and infrastructure upgrades

The committee notes that some major expenses, including fire apparatus, will need to be addressed in future years. A fire engine with an estimated cost of over $1 million and a ladder truck are on the horizon, both with approximately two-year lead times for delivery.

Department of Public Works Director Brian Joyce also presents a level service budget with minor increases for contractual obligations and operational adjustments. Joyce highlights efforts to improve asset management and maintenance tracking.

"We're automating a lot," Joyce says, describing a new system that will allow staff to document maintenance activities digitally rather than on paper. "We're just trying to digitize that and make it a little bit better."

Select Board Chair Ellen Maher expresses strong support for infrastructure investments.

"Every penny we can find, I want it to go into your area," Maher tells Joyce. "We have to put our money where our mouth is, and if it's important to all of us, and it is because we voted it as a goal, then we have to find it."

Other items discussed at the meeting include:

- Two Eagle Scout projects received approval: improvements to the alumni field flagpole at Cohasset Middle High School and enhancements to the Beacon Rock Trail

- The Recycling Transfer Facility hours will shift to 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting March 1

- Several board and committee positions remain open, with few nomination papers filed for upcoming elections

The Select Board will continue budget discussions in upcoming meetings as the town prepares for the annual Town Meeting in the spring.

Full meeting available via the Town of Cohasset YouTube page.