Fire Damages Critical Infrastructure at Local Transfer Station

Cohasset officials scramble to restore services after blaze destroys buildings, equipment

COHASSET, MA - October 29 - A fire at Cohasset's transfer station early Monday morning caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, destroying buildings and equipment essential to the town's waste management operations.

The blaze, which began around 5:19 a.m. behind one of the sheds, was first reported to emergency services at 5:40 a.m. Three wooden buildings were damaged, and a metal storage building housing a 2022 front-end loader with 4,500 hours of use was completely destroyed.

Glenn Pratt, Director of Cohasset Emergency Management Agency, described the extent of the damage: "All of the power infrastructure and the fire radiator. Computers, cameras, play scale. All that stuff is totally gone."

The fire's impact extends beyond physical damage, affecting the town's ability to process waste and recyclables. The Recycling Transfer Facility (RTF) will remain closed at least through Sunday as officials work on recovery solutions.

"We decided yesterday at a meeting that the RTF would be closed, indefinitely, we think." Pratt said.

Town Manager Chris Senior emphasized the critical nature of the facility: "This is a very, very big problem. It's a very big loss in one of our critical infrastructures in town."

Officials are working with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop a recovery plan. Brian Joyce, Director of Public Works, stated, "Hopefully, we'll be up to running next Wednesday… with some form of disposal for household trash."

The town is exploring options to accommodate residents' waste disposal needs during the closure. Joyce mentioned, "We've had a discussion with Scituate. They've offered help and assistance in any way we need."

Insurance adjusters are expected on site Wednesday to assess the damage and begin the claims process. However, Senior cautioned that the insurance settlement could take three to four months, leaving the town to cover immediate costs.

"We need to know, looking ahead, we need to understand that the insurance settlement will cover whatever the policy requires, but it's likely that it could be three or four months out," Senior said.

The fire's cause remains under investigation. Officials are working to secure the site and prevent public access to damaged areas.

In other town business, a heated discussion erupted over an alleged Open Meeting Law violation by the Elder Affairs Board. The board reportedly held an executive session on Oct. 21 to discuss the town manager's job performance without proper notice or authority.

Select Board Chair Ellen Maher raised concerns about the violation, stating, "This is about every appointed or elected town board or committee following the law and doing what is right and fulfilling the oath that you take when you become a member of a board."

The discussion became contentious when Select Board member David Farrag presented what he claimed were minutes from a September meeting indicating prior knowledge of the planned executive session. This led to accusations of misrepresentation and calls for further investigation.

"From my understanding of what the information I've collected was that it was discussed at that meeting that the next meeting, they would go into executive session," Farrag said.

Town Manager Senior denied having prior knowledge of the executive session, stating, "I was never put on actual written notice, put on phone call notice. No one came to me and told me that when a meeting was posted."

The Select Board agreed to reach out to the Elder Affairs Board for an explanation before deciding whether to file a formal Open Meeting Law complaint.

As the meeting concluded, board members called for improved professional courtesy and adherence to proper procedures in future discussions.