Cohasset Select Board Reviews Town Meeting Warrant
Board closes warrant for 2025 annual town meeting, recommends approval for operating budget and capital improvements
COHASSET - April 8 - The Cohasset Select Board votes several key budget items and recommends negotiations for a town hall auditorium lease during its April 8 meeting, setting the stage for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on May 12.
The board closes the warrant for the 2025 Annual Town Meeting, recommending approval for most articles including the operating budget, capital improvements, and the creation of an enterprise fund.
"I want to say that in the end, I'm pleased with how the process worked, because the process worked," says Select Board Chair Ellen Maher regarding the enterprise fund creation. "Despite all of the chatter on Facebook and concern that was expressed, it's the role of advisory to do exactly what they did."
The board unanimously recommends the creation of an enterprise fund for the transfer station, which Town Manager Chris Senior explains underwent changes after public presentations and advisory committee review.
"The major change after all the public presentations was to extend the right for comments or current comments that are going to affect," Senior says. "That'll give us time to develop some policies, but to see what the actual good price might actually be as we go through."
Board member David Farrag emphasizes the importance of the public process. "Part of the good thing about a public process is that it's public," he says. "I think one of the problems is that when we have a policy discussion, the cart got before the horse with a lot of people out there, especially in the virtual or social media world."
The board also approves the operating budget for fiscal year 2026. Maher commends the school district for their budget work.
"They have done yeoman's work to bridge that gap and come in on an operating budget that is on the number that the town has provided to them," Maher says, noting that the school district faced a $1.2 million shortfall at the start of budget season.
Vice Chair Paul Grady specifically praises the new superintendent for her efforts. "I'm going to give a shout out solely to the school superintendent on coming in, tackling a project that can work with the school committee," he says.
The capital improvements budget receives unanimous approval, including $3,968,000 for town hall renovations. This funding fully covers the project, which includes CPC funds and project management costs.
"We're right where we want to be," Maher confirms, adding that the debt won't impact the town until fiscal year 2027, when other debt is rolling off, making it replacement debt that shouldn't affect other capital projects.
The board authorizes negotiations for a town hall auditorium lease, which would allow for the leasing of the town hall auditorium and related spaces. This initiative aims to preserve the historic building while supporting local arts organizations.
"I think this idea is long overdue," Farrag says. "We've tried everything else and we've come to this to fix town hall on one side and then look to lease the auditorium."
Jack Creighton adds, "This is a wonderful way in which we're able to preserve our town hall and also start funding a very good consolidation of the various arts groups. This is a wonderful thing that I think our town has a unique ability to do."
The board also approves several license applications, including a new wine and malt license for Stevie G's Restaurant, a family-friendly breakfast and lunch establishment planning to open in June at 380 Chief Justice Cushing Highway.
"We're a brunch place, breakfast and lunch, everything from eggs benedict to sandwiches and stuff like that," says Andrew Loconsolo, one of the owners.
In other business, the board approves changes for the Cohasset Yacht Club, including expanded hours to include Mondays and Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and a new manager, Charles O'Connor.
The board also authorizes the school superintendent to submit statements of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority for both Cohasset High School and Cohasset Middle School. These submissions seek potential funding for facility improvements, including roofs, windows, boilers, and heating and ventilation systems.
Maher clarifies that the board's approval simply permits the submission and doesn't reflect on the content or affirm the statements of interest themselves.
The board approves the Healing Field event scheduled for May 24 and the Memorial Day parade on May 26. Police Chief William Quigley notes that both events will include hardened roadblocks for safety.
"We're starting to harden the roadblocks that we use on either end," Quigley explains. "People notice this weekend at the road race, we're using trucks to block some of these intersections so no one can penetrate that."
The next regular Select Board meeting is scheduled for April 29, when the board will hear a presentation on the citizens' petition to expand the sewer district, which appears as Article 18 on the town meeting warrant.