COHASSET - November 18 - The Cohasset Select Board grappled with the urgent need to fill a vacant finance director position during their November 18th meeting, with board members debating whether to hire an outside search firm to accelerate recruitment before the critical budget season begins. The discussion highlighted the town’s ongoing staffing challenges as it faces multiple vacancies in key administrative positions while also managing major infrastructure projects and planning for long-term financial needs.
The Full Story
Select Board member David Farrag argued forcefully for prioritizing the finance director search, suggesting the town retain a professional recruiting firm rather than relying solely on traditional job postings. “The finance director is something that we that the town needs first, and probably as soon as we can, as soon as possible,” Farrag stated. He noted that recruitment firms typically employ former town managers who maintain extensive professional networks that could identify qualified candidates the town wouldn’t otherwise reach.
Farrag also raised concerns about timing, pointing out that launching a town manager search now would place candidates in the difficult position of interviewing during budget season. “If you put out tomorrow and say, hey, we want a town manager and then we get the whole bunch of candidates, they’re all going to be interviewing in the same time when everyone’s trying to do their budget,” he explained. The board has been operating with Assistant Town Manager Michelle Leary serving in an interim capacity, a situation that has drawn praise from fellow board members.
Board member Chris Plecs supported moving forward on both searches simultaneously despite their urgency, noting “no slight to Michelle there. It’s just, it’s a lot of work.” The finance director position has remained posted but has attracted limited interest despite being advertised for an extended period.
Chair Ellen Maher suggested the town take an aggressive approach to recruitment even during the holiday season, challenging the conventional wisdom about posting jobs between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. “Maybe people are looking to make a move before budget season starts, maybe they’re looking at, I don’t want to go through this in my town again, because we have no money,” Maher said, suggesting that finance professionals in struggling communities might be seeking new opportunities.
The board also addressed a growing list of other vacancies. The town received 33 applications for the director of public health position, with the Board of Health reviewing candidates that evening. A social worker position at Elder Affairs had attracted only two applicants since being posted November 7th. The Department of Public Works continues to actively recruit for a heavy equipment operator, with Leary noting “it seems as if we hire one, we lose one.”
Adding to the staffing challenges, the town is now seeking an administrative assistant for the Select Board and Town Manager’s office after Tracey Connors accepted a position with the DPW. “We have some interviews starting this week,” Leary reported, though she acknowledged the applicant pool remained small going into the holiday season.
The meeting also featured routine business that demonstrated the town’s active civic engagement. Bill Burnett received unanimous approval for the 18th annual Cohasset Triathlon scheduled for June 28, 2026, and the 8th annual Kids Triathlon set for August 1st. Burnett’s adult triathlon has grown into one of the top 25 largest sprint-distance races in the country, drawing 1,200 to 1,300 participants annually.
Police Chief William Quigley noted that the triathlon serves as valuable regional training for first responders. “We use this as a regional training event. So it exercises us in working with partner agencies as well as the Coast Guard, the different harbor departments, EMS and Metro,” Quigley explained. The board also approved entertainment licenses and a waiver opening for the race day.
The Paul Pratt Library and Cohasset Historical Society received approval to install story walk displays on the town common from December through May. The library will feature a winter-themed children’s book initially, then transition to content related to the Revolutionary War in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. The Historical Society plans to highlight Cohasset’s role in the Revolutionary War, including information about the town’s three Boston Tea Party participants, during their April and May installation.
Town Assessor Rachael Carlisle and Board of Assessors Chair Patrick Kennedy presented the annual tax classification hearing. The board voted unanimously to maintain a single tax rate of $11.35 per thousand dollars of valuation for fiscal year 2026, continuing the town’s longstanding practice of not splitting rates between residential and commercial properties. The board also voted against adopting a residential exemption and a small commercial exemption.
Total property valuations increased 6.8% overall, with residential properties up 6.7% and commercial properties up 7.3%. The average single-family home value rose 6% to $1,481,437, while the average tax bill increased $572, or 3.5%. Notably, the tax rate actually decreased by 23 cents from $11.58 in fiscal 2025.
The town achieved record new growth of $1,020,237, exceeding one million dollars for the first time due to significant building permits including the Harbor condos development. However, Carlisle cautioned this windfall was likely “one and done” and that similar growth shouldn’t be expected in future years. Kennedy echoed this concern, warning that several years of strong new growth had helped balance budgets but “that may not be the case in 2027, 2028.”
Kennedy emphasized the importance of maintaining business-friendly tax policies, noting that shifting the maximum 50% of tax burden to commercial properties would save residential taxpayers only 3% ($548 on average) while increasing commercial tax bills by $8,402. With commercial, industrial, and personal property representing only 6% of the town’s tax base, such a shift would be “a big shift” that could discourage business.
Project updates revealed significant progress on multiple fronts. The new lacrosse wall at recreation fields has been completed and is already in use, with seating installations planned for spring. This marks the completion of the town’s entire recreation task force project list, including bathrooms at Milliken Field and new dugouts. “Kids have a great time. I saw some kids playing there over the weekend, which was wonderful,” Maher noted.
The town hall renovation project continues to advance with the fire suppression system installation expected to finish shortly after the first of the year. The town received two responses to a request for qualifications for design services, with interviews scheduled for the following day. The selected design team will handle space planning, window specifications, door specifications, and project management.
Leary announced that the town plans to apply for a $500,000 one-time decarbonization grant through Green Communities in April, with awards announced in July. If successful, this grant “could substantially decrease our liability to pay for the HVAC system” at the town hall.
The most contentious discussion centered on the 135 King Street public safety facilities project. The Public Safety Facilities Working Group has been meeting weekly and appears to be moving away from including a fire substation in the initial construction. “The need for the substation seems to be going by the wayside,” Leary reported, though she clarified no final decision had been made. The project would instead focus on a police headquarters and emergency operations center, with a pad prepared for a future substation if needed.
Chair Maher expressed concern about eliminating the fire annex component. “We have spent so much time, we’ve spent two years talking about how important it is to have a fire annex up there,” she said. “We need to be sure that the reason that we’re leaving it there for a future build is not going to impact lives.” Maher emphasized that response times to the far end of Beechwood and North Cohasset should not be compromised by cost considerations.
Board member Paul Grady, who serves on the working group, acknowledged the challenge of balancing needs against community acceptance. “In a perfect world, we’d have an annex, we’d have everything,” Grady said. “But we also have to take into account what the town is willing to accept.” He emphasized that the town currently has a functioning fire department but not a functioning police station, making the police facility the most critical immediate need.
Farrag raised concerns about future service demands, noting that a new urgent care facility opening in the Stop & Shop parking lot would likely increase emergency calls. “That ambulance in the town is going to be called for that. And that is going to be a magnet, not just for Cohasset residents. It’s going to be a magnet for all Scituate, potentially Norwell, and maybe some Hingham,” Farrag said. He argued this factor must be considered when planning fire department capacity and the need for a second ambulance.
Plecs urged the working group to keep careful watch on project costs. “That’s going to be the first thing that people pay attention to on this,” he noted.
In a lighter moment, the board welcomed two new volunteer appointees. Owen Berry was appointed to the Post Employment Benefits Committee after speaking up at a special town meeting about the town’s long-term retirement obligations. “I guess that’s what I get for opening my mouth at town meeting,” Berry joked, though he expressed enthusiasm about contributing his expertise in retirement planning and health insurance. Berry’s background in working with small businesses on retirement planning led board members to view him as an excellent fit for the committee that has been managing the town’s OPEB obligations.
Paula Almeida was appointed to the Cultural Council, bringing her experience as a former first-grade teacher with nearly 30 years in education and 45 years as a Cohasset resident. Maher noted the Cultural Council is experiencing “rejuvenation” with renewed interest and multiple applicants.
The board announced an opening on the Capital Budget Committee following the departure of Katie Dugan, who took a full-time municipal position in another community. Applications will be accepted until December 1st.
Board member Farrag proposed creating an advisory group for the Recycling Transfer Facility to review management, employment contracts, capital budgeting, and potential improvements. The group would include a select board member, the RTF manager, and several citizens. While acknowledging the improved efficiency under new management, Farrag argued that deeper analysis was needed on both revenues and expenses.
Plecs questioned whether such a committee was necessary, suggesting direct communication with RTF management might be more efficient. “This seems like the kind of thing where we would normally just have the manager of the RTF or Mr. Joyce come in and talk to us about it, as opposed to forming a committee,” Plecs said. Grady expressed concern about “too many cooks in the kitchen” potentially muddying operations. The board agreed to postpone a decision until the full board could discuss the proposal with a detailed charge for the advisory group.
Plecs also reported meeting with residents who brought the citizen petition for full-day kindergarten to town meeting. He and School Committee Vice Chair Craig MacLellan are exploring ways to create more opportunities for community members to connect with both boards outside of formal meetings, and will follow up on questions raised by the group.
Maher announced the Long Range Financial Planning Group has been meeting regularly to update the 2023 plan, finding that many objectives have either been accomplished or set aside. She invited community input on infrastructure needs and long-term priorities for the next five to ten years, specifically mentioning the water treatment facility as a topic that “comes in and it goes out” without the town fully committing to a long-term investment strategy. The group aims to release an updated report before next year’s town meeting.
In a closing comment, Maher recognized David Snowdale, a 2008 Cohasset High School graduate who enlisted in the Army at age 35 and is completing boot camp this week. “His classmates in this training call him the old man and he says he feels that every moment of every day,” Maher said, thanking Snowdale and his family for his service to the country.
Why It Matters
The finance director vacancy poses significant risks as Cohasset enters budget season without permanent leadership in this critical position, especially with the Assistant Town Manager acting as Town Manager. The finance director oversees all municipal financial operations, budget development, financial reporting, and long-term fiscal planning. With the town facing multiple capital projects, ongoing staffing challenges, and warnings that recent new growth revenue windfalls are unlikely to continue, having an experienced finance director is essential for maintaining fiscal stability. The debate over whether to engage a search firm reflects the broader challenge of recruiting qualified professionals to municipal government in an increasingly competitive labor market. For taxpayers, the tax classification decision maintains the status quo of a single rate that treats all property types equally, avoiding any shift that could discourage business development while keeping residential tax increases modest despite rising property values.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve Class A Triathlon event license for June 28, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:07:37)
Motion: Approve entertainment license for Class A Triathlon for June 28, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:07:54)
Motion: Approve event license for Cohasset Kids Triathlon on August 1, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:09:29)
Motion: Approve entertainment license for Cohasset Kids Triathlon on August 1, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:09:45)
Motion: Approve Paul Pratt Library story walk with book from December through March. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:18:05)
Motion: Approve Historical Society story walk from April through May. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:18:24)
Motion: Open public hearing for tax classification. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:19:50)
Motion: Town of Cohasset does not adopt a residential exemption for fiscal year 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:31:59)
Motion: Adopt residential factor of 1 (single tax rate) for fiscal year 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:34:02)
Motion: Town of Cohasset does not adopt small commercial exemption for fiscal year 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:35:49)
Motion: Close public hearing for tax classification. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:36:31)
Motion: Appoint Paula Almeida to Cohasset Cultural Council. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:38:45)
Motion: Appoint Owen Berry to Post Employment Benefits Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:41:16)
Motion: Approve minutes of October 28, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 01:21:54)
Motion: Approve minutes of November 3, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 01:22:13)
Motion: Adjourn at 8:22 PM. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 01:22:28)
Public Comment
No public comment was offered during the designated public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.
What’s Next
The town will conduct interviews with two design firms for the town hall renovation project and expects to issue a notice of award by the following week. The town will apply for a $500,000 Green Communities decarbonization grant in April 2025. The Board of Health is reviewing 33 applications for the Director of Public Health position and will schedule interviews. The town will continue recruiting for multiple vacant positions including social worker at Elder Affairs, heavy equipment operator, and administrative assistant to the Select Board and Town Manager. The town will repost the finance director position after the first of the year and may engage a professional search firm to assist with recruitment. The Capital Budget Committee will accept applications until December 1st for a vacant position. The select board will revisit the proposal to create an RTF advisory group when the full board is present with a detailed charge prepared. The Long Range Financial Planning Group will continue updating the 2023 plan and welcomes community input on infrastructure priorities. Paul Pratt Library will install story walk in early December, with Historical Society installation planned for April. The Public Safety Facilities Working Group will continue meeting weekly on the 135 King Street project.