South Shore News...letter: South Shore's Special Town Meeting Season Begins
MBTA Zoning, Cohasset Public Safety building sticker shock, EB's Central School, and several school roof projects
September 22-25, 2025
It was a week of fiscal reckonings across the South Shore, with communities grappling with everything from nearly tripled infrastructure costs to innovative budget processes that put unprecedented power in voters’ hands. Special town meetings dominated agendas as municipalities prepared to ask residents for significant new investments while wrestling with state mandates, aging facilities, and the eternal challenge of doing more with less.
The week’s biggest story may be playing out in Abington, where officials are pioneering a budget approach that could fundamentally change how communities handle Proposition 2½ overrides. Meanwhile, Cohasset officials found themselves explaining how a $10.4 million public safety building somehow morphed into a $29 million ask—a cautionary tale that had more than one select board member wincing in recognition.
Budget & Financial Planning
Abington Charts New Override Territory
Abington Select Board Approves Complex Budget Process
Abington is trying something different this budget season: letting voters decide department-by-department funding through individual Proposition 2½ override questions. The Select Board unanimously approved a two-tiered budget process that will present both baseline funding within current revenues and “level service” contingent appropriations. If voters approve the contingent items at the May 4th town meeting, they’ll then face individual ballot questions for each department at a May 16th special election—complete with projected tax impacts for each override. As Select Board member Kevin Donovan put it bluntly: unlike last year’s one-time revenue saves, “that’s not going to be able to be the case this coming year.” The school committee has until March 23rd to notify the town manager of their desired override amount, or the board will include whatever’s needed for level services.
Marshfield Certifies $6.4M in Free Cash—Three Months Early
Marshfield Reports $6.4 Million Free Cash Certification
In what Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin called exceptional timing, the Department of Revenue certified Marshfield’s free cash at $6,404,954—representing 5.22% of the operating budget and arriving three months earlier than last year. The early certification gives town officials concrete numbers heading into the October special town meeting, though the meeting itself was overshadowed by Building Commissioner Andrew Stewart’s pointed public criticism of Select Board Chair Eric Kelley for what Stewart called inappropriate administrative interference. Stewart accused Kelley of threatening his employment and bypassing proper enforcement procedures. The board also wrestled with selecting labor counsel from five firms with rates ranging from $225 to $285 per hour, ultimately postponing the decision.
Cohasset Confronts $18.4M Additional Ask After Costs Nearly Triple
Cohasset Faces $18.4 Million Ask for Public Safety Building
Select Board Chair Ellen Maher said board members were “all a little gobsmacked” when they first saw the updated costs for the King Street public safety building—and small wonder. The project now carries a $28.7 million price tag, requiring $18.4 million beyond the $10.4 million already approved by voters in 2023. Low bidder M. O’Connor came in at $18,987,000, with additional costs for construction management, radio infrastructure, security equipment, and a required traffic light at Route 3A pushing the total to nearly three times the original budget. Police Chief William Quigley made the case for urgency, noting the department has received four state citations for detention cell violations and expects a fifth in October—which would move the town from “negligent” to “gross negligent” liability status. The board approved plans for a peer review by an independent architect and two public forums before any town meeting vote.
Marshfield’s $7.8M School Roof Collides with MBTA Mandate
Marshfield Grapples with $7.8 Million School Roof Project
The joint Select Board and Advisory Board meeting stretched nearly five hours as officials dissected 37 warrant articles for the special town meeting, with the Martinson Elementary School roof emerging as both the most expensive and most controversial item. Facilities Manager Fred Russell painted a dire picture of the 1963-era roof—consistently leaking, with cracking plastic skylights he’s “actually shrink-wrapped...with the things you do for boats.” The $7.8 million project has 49.3% state reimbursement approved through MSBA, but requires emergency designation and summer construction timing. Meanwhile, the MBTA Communities Act resurfaced as Select Board Chair Eric Kelley remained defiant despite warnings from Town Planner Greg Guimond that the Attorney General could appoint a court-ordered special master to decide where to locate required zoning. “If the state wants to come down and do something, then let’s go. I’m ready for it,” Kelley declared.
Pembroke Advances $467K Special Town Meeting Warrant
Pembroke Select Board Approves $467,000 Special Town Meeting Warrant
Town Manager Bill Chenard walked the board through revised warrant articles totaling significant expenditures, led by $452,000 for schools made possible by increased Chapter 70 state aid. The capital plan includes $300,000 in Peterson family trust funds for library expansion (82% of needed funding now raised through private donations, eliminating the need for borrowing), $160,000 supplemental funding to complete a fiber connectivity project at 100% with grant support, and $110,000 additional free cash for library roof overruns. The board also unanimously approved joining the South Shore Vocational Technical School district for negotiation purposes—though Chenard emphasized this only authorizes negotiations, with any final commitment requiring debt exclusion and operating overrides at spring town meeting.
Municipal Operations & Infrastructure
East Bridgewater Preps Comprehensive 22-Article Warrant
East Bridgewater Select Board Approves Special Town Meeting Warrant
Department heads presented funding requests totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars at the September 22nd meeting, with Fire Chief John Dzialo seeking approval for a new fire engine, $70,000 for contractual retirement obligations (including one retiree who’s been waiting since May for payment), and $10,000 for archival services to organize what Select Board member Katherine Mullen called “an immense amount of records” dating back to “the beginning of time.” Police requested $18,000 for promotional assessment centers to test candidates for sergeant and lieutenant positions—notably, the department currently has no lieutenant positions. Three alcohol-related articles would expand business opportunities: allowing Sunday alcohol service starting at 10 a.m., increasing available liquor licenses, and allowing wine/malt beverage licensees to sell cordials. The Special Town Meeting is scheduled for October 27th.
Kingston Resolves Road Plowing Standoff with Hold Harmless Agreement
Kingston Approves Road Plowing Compromise
After heated exchanges between selectmen and frustrated Post Court residents, the board voted unanimously to continue winter plowing of the private road after the fence owner agreed to hold the town harmless for any potential damage during snow removal. The dispute stemmed from a fence on the south side of the road—installed in 1983 and reportedly moved closer to the road during sewer betterment work—creating tight clearances for plowing equipment. The broader context involves Kingston’s struggle to secure private plowing contractors statewide, with Board Chair Eric Crone explaining that pickup truck costs have more than doubled in five years while insurance has gone through the roof. The meeting also marked outgoing Town Administrator Keith Hickey’s last week before becoming Fairhaven’s Town Administrator, with Interim Town Administrator George Samia taking over during the search for a permanent replacement.
Scituate Scores Competitive Bidding Win on Minot Parking Lot
Scituate Select Board Approves $272,250 Contract
In what Town Administrator James Boudreau called an “incredible” result, the Minot Beach parking lot rehabilitation project drew 11 competitive bids, with JR and Sons Construction of Westport winning at $272,250—well below the $291,000 appropriated at Annual Town Meeting. The result stands in stark contrast to other recent projects that received only single bids costing upwards of $600,000. The board also approved a $150,000 contract with Horsley Engineering for stormwater management program compliance (an unfunded state mandate), and authorized borrowing $200,000 through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s zero-percent interest loan program to help residents connect to sewer or replace failing septic systems. The five-year capital improvement plan totaling $146 million includes major projects like a $6 million fire station renovation and a $2.5 million police shooting range.
Hingham Center for Active Living: Triple the Programming, Zero Additional Cost
Hingham Center for Active Living Could Triple Programming
Center Director Jennifer Young presented utilization plans showing the proposed 25,000-square-foot facility would expand from 247 unique programs annually to approximately 817 programs—based on data from Marshfield’s senior center, which serves a comparable population and saw exactly triple participation after expanding. Town Administrator Tom Mayo outlined that the only new municipal expenses would be one full-time maintenance worker, potential health insurance, and custodial supplies totaling approximately $95,000 annually before utilities. “The programming for the HCAL will require no budget at all, never has, doesn’t now, and never will,” Mayo emphasized, explaining that programming operates on participant fees, a state formula grant of approximately $105,000 annually, and donations. Building Committee Chair Tom Carey cited state health data showing Hingham ranks among the 14 worst communities in Massachusetts for senior health outcomes across multiple disease categories. Full capital costs will be presented October 1st.
Education
Plymouth Schools Approve $9.8M Capital Plan Dominated by HVAC, Roof Repairs
Plymouth School Committee Approves $9.8 Million Capital Projects
The committee voted 6-1 to approve 19 capital projects for fiscal year 2027, led by a $3.5 million chiller replacement at South Middle School where the 26-year-old system is deteriorating due to salt air exposure. School Business Administrator Dr. Adam Blaisdell said they’ve “put some Band-Aids on it to try and keep it running, but it’s going to be needed to be replaced probably yesterday.” The plan allocates significant resources to district-wide HVAC repairs ($500,000) and building envelope improvements ($400,000), plus a $200,000 roof restoration at South Middle that uses a liquid overlay system providing a 30-year warranty at one-fifth the cost of complete replacement. The committee also heard updates on food service operations following an independent audit identifying 13 risk areas, with four of five high-priority risks relating to payroll management. The district has already begun centralizing payroll functions.
Hull High Launches Business Pathway Program with State Grant
Hull High School Launches Innovative Business Pathway
The groundbreaking entrepreneurship course marks the first of what officials hope will be multiple “innovation pathways” providing alternative routes to graduation while connecting classroom learning to real-world applications. Ms. Galluzzo’s class arranges desks in an oval boardroom configuration and conducts daily meetings with prepared agendas, with senior Chris Resnick describing it as “very much a creative class” where students collaborate toward creating hypothetical companies by term’s end. Principal Shaw explained the program is supported by a state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education innovation pathway grant providing planning funds to develop a comprehensive sequence of business courses. The grant structure includes two phases: current planning for curriculum development and community partnership building, followed by a second implementation grant funding actual program expansion beginning in 2026. The committee also voted 3-1 (Conley opposed) to approve the PHI club’s pursuit of an international service trip to Peru, after extensive debate about the ethics of international volunteerism.
Marshfield Schools Spotlight Wellness Through Unified Sports, HIVE Program
Marshfield Schools Highlight Student Wellness
High school teachers Alyssa Gage and Yvonne O’Brien presented updates on the Unified Sports program, which brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates in track and basketball. The program completed its first track season in spring 2025 and just began basketball season with 31 registered students and five games scheduled, with organizers working with the dance team, cheerleaders, and pep band to create full school experiences. Meanwhile, Furnace Brook Middle School introduced the HIVE (Health, Identity, Values, Empowerment) Journal program—a comprehensive wellness curriculum created specifically for all sixth-graders to address Youth Risk Behavior Survey data showing many students don’t feel they have a trusted adult to turn to. Health teacher Kate independently created the entire journal on her own time, developing content specifically tailored to Marshfield with references to local landmarks and school traditions.
Silver Lake Study Committee Approves $105K Regionalization Analysis
Committee Approves $105,000 Study Contract
The Silver Lake Regionalization Study Committee unanimously approved a revised contract with the UMass Boston Collins Center for Public Management to conduct comprehensive financial analysis of potential regionalization benefits across four school districts serving Kingston, Halifax, and Plympton. The Collins Center significantly restructured their original proposal based on committee feedback, stripping out public engagement components and focusing primarily on financial modeling. The approved study will be conducted in two phases: a baseline report documenting current operations across all districts, followed by comprehensive financial modeling projecting potential cost savings under various regionalization scenarios. A significant concern emerged regarding data collection, with Silver Lake Director of Finance Sarah Hickey warning her office is already understaffed with state reporting requirements and four budget processes running concurrently. Grant funding can be used to hire external consultants to assist with data extraction from the district’s School ERP Pro financial software.
Public Safety & Personnel
Hanson Police Celebrate Promotions Amid School Budget Concerns
Hanson Police Celebrate Promotions and Awards
Chief Mike Casey presided over a ceremony recognizing three officers for life-saving CPR efforts on September 2nd, while announcing significant promotional changes: Robert Mansfield promoted to sergeant for midnight shift supervision, Peter Daley promoted to Lieutenant of Operations, and Elisha Durgin to Lieutenant of Administration. However, the meeting’s most concerning revelation came when board members learned through a South Shore News article that Whitman-Hanson Regional School District had spent $1.14 million from reserves, leaving only $248,000 remaining from approximately $2 million in savings. “We found out about it in a newspaper article?” Board member Joe Weeks asked with frustration. Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett announced plans to reach out to Superintendent Szymaniak and the school committee for clarification, calling it “quite shocking” to learn about through social media.
Whitman Concludes Three-Year Fire Union Contract
Whitman Board Approves New Three-Year Fire Union Contract
The board voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of understanding with Whitman Firefighters Local 1769, concluding what Select Board member Shawn Kain described as “a really complex process” involving legal teams, the fire chief, and union representatives. While specific contract terms weren’t disclosed, the three-year agreement provides stability through 2028. The board also heard Veterans Service Officer Declan Ware propose a major change from the traditional parade format to a tri-town Veterans Day celebration with Rockland and Abington at the Whitman VFW on November 9th, citing concerns about aging veterans, wet weather, and declining organization membership nationwide. Meanwhile, Select Board member Justin Evans presented proposed changes to the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District agreement, sparking immediate concerns from former school committee member Dawn Byers, who argued the proposed agreement “disadvantages Whitman taxpayers financially” and could cost between $100,000 to $850,000 annually compared to alternative funding formulas.
Hull Selects Aleeza Hagerty for School Committee
Aleeza Hagerty Selected for Hull School Committee Seat
After nearly two hours of candidate presentations from six qualified applicants, the joint Select Board and School Committee appointed longtime community volunteer Aleeza Hagerty by a vote of 7-1. The 12-year Hull resident brings direct educational experience as a former middle school teacher who developed social studies curriculum and worked with McKinney-Vento grant funding programs for homeless students. Hagerty addressed critical enrollment challenges during her presentation, suggesting creative approaches to attract families including examining zoning policies and new construction that currently favors one-bedroom and studio apartments rather than family housing. The selection process proved difficult with several strong candidates, including Dr. Robert Insoft from Boston Children’s Hospital and former school committee member Ernest Minelli seeking to return. The boards also filled three positions on the newly-created Hull Community Housing Trust and received a comprehensive presentation on the proposed $5-20 million reconstruction of Manomet and Samoset Avenues.
Community & Veterans
Halifax VFW Proposes Veterans Memorial Garden at Town Hall
Halifax Veterans Memorial Garden Project Gets Board Support
The Board of Selectmen expressed unanimous support for a Veterans Memorial Garden project that would create a six to seven-foot buffer zone around the town hall patio, funded entirely by the Halifax VFW with no cost to taxpayers. David Walsh presented “step one of four steps” in creating a comprehensive Veterans Memorial, noting “I think we’re one of the few towns that doesn’t have a Veterans Memorial of some sort.” The ambitious multi-phase vision includes lining walkways with perennials, adding granite memorials for each military service branch facing Hemlock Street, and incorporating memorial bricks honoring deceased veterans purchased by their families. The board requested detailed plans and insurance documentation before final approval, suggesting a ceremonial groundbreaking on Veterans Day (November 11th) with actual construction potentially occurring in spring 2026. The VFW has selected Najah Nessralla to head the project, with multiple members volunteering for ongoing maintenance.
That’s the week that was on the South Shore. Special town meetings ahead across the region—budget season never really ends, does it?