SCITUATE - September 1, 2026 - The Scituate Select Board prepared for the October 19 Special Town Meeting by reviewing major warrant items—headlined by a revived $2.73 million proposal for a municipal police firing range—while ratifying a three-year police union contract that paves the way for cruiser dashboard cameras and approving $388,000 to restore the historic Gates House.
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The Scituate Select Board faced a packed agenda on Tuesday night, balancing high-dollar long-term municipal investments with downtown community events.
Leading the policy agenda was a presentation by Capital Planning Committee Chair Michael Gibson on recommendations for the October 19, 2026 Special Town Meeting warrant. The headlining item is the proposed indoor police firing range, returning before voters after falling just short of the required two-thirds borrowing threshold at the April Annual Town Meeting with roughly 61–62% approval. Gibson explained that the project estimate has climbed roughly $200,000 to $2.73 million due to escalating costs.
Town officials outlined two funding pathways: either borrowing the entire $2.73 million sum or utilizing a split package consisting of $1.2 million in borrowing and $1.53 million from free cash. Gibson emphasized that debt service could be accommodated within the town’s existing $2 million borrowing envelope without increasing taxes as older municipal debt retires. Town Administrator Jim Boudreau stressed that modern tactical training is impossible under current arrangements at outside facilities.
“Took my pistol and I did very well. And then the range officer gave me a ballistic shield, turned off the lights, put on strobes, and said, ‘Now reach around and walk through the door and see how very well [you do].’ Scenario-based... those are the types of things that we can’t really do right now.” — Jim Boudreau, Town Administrator
Board members agreed that the project requires clearer public outreach ahead of Town Meeting to ease community concerns regarding multi-town usage and operational control. The Capital Planning Committee also unanimously recommended $57,600 to replace a totaled DPW truck, saving over $10,000 by salvaging existing plow equipment. Formal board votes on Town Meeting warrant recommendations were deferred until all five members could participate.
In labor negotiations, Human Resources Director Bob Clark presented a finalized three-year Memorandum of Agreement with MASSCOP Local 461 covering FY27 through FY29. The contract provides across-the-board cost-of-living adjustments of 2.5% in each of the three years. Additionally, it restructures overtime into base wages for “5 and 2” administrative personnel and expands specialist stipends ($250 to $2,500 annually) for evidence, K-9, and domestic violence officers.
Significantly, the contract includes an additional 1.0% wage increase in Year 2 tied directly to the union’s agreement to implement outward-facing in-car dashboard cameras. Town Administrator Boudreau noted the technology protects both the public and officers during motor vehicle stops and OUI investigations. The board unanimously ratified the agreement and congratulated Clark on his upcoming retirement set for December 16.
