The Cohasset Select Board took a monumental step toward addressing the town’s infrastructure needs Tuesday night, formally endorsing a $135 million recommendation for the proposed Public Safety Building project. The decision, part of a comprehensive review of the upcoming Town Meeting warrant, signals the board’s commitment to a project that has undergone significant redesign and fiscal scrutiny over the past year. Chair Ellen Maher emphasized the collaborative effort required to reach this stage, stating, I'd like to thank the Public Safety Facility Committee for all their hard work... to come up with a very good solution for Town Meeting. Member David Farrag echoed the sentiment of progress, adding, I'd just like to publicly thank our police and fire chiefs and the people serving on the Public Safety Building committee. I'm proud to have it move forward. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 21. Motion Passed 3-0.

While the board rallied behind the public safety facility, a deep-dive into Article 8, which covers capital improvements, revealed lingering concerns regarding school security. The discussion centered on a proposed $155,000 allocation for school camera upgrades. Member Farrag expressed sharp frustration over existing gaps in the surveillance network, questioning both the cost and the historical oversight. I don't know what I'm more concerned about—the fact that there were gaps that needed to be filled or the cost, Farrag said. If you ever had a child kidnapped, we wouldn't have the car that was sitting in the school grounds. Despite the concerns, the board ultimately moved to support the capital plan to ensure the security deficiencies are addressed. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 8. Motion Passed 3-0.

Fiscal management dominated a large portion of the warrant review, with the board recommending several articles aimed at stabilizing the town’s long-term liabilities and operational costs. This included Article 7, which handles transfers to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) trust and capital stabilization, and Article 10, which seeks to double the cap on the inspection revolving fund from $50,000 to $100,000 to accommodate increased activity. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 7. Motion Passed 3-0. The board also moved to recommend Article 10. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 10. Motion Passed 3-0. Other financial measures recommended included Article 5 for unpaid bills and Article 9, which funds one-time costs ranging from cemetery maintenance to town-wide electrical inspections. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 5. Motion Passed 3-0. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 9. Motion Passed 3-0.

The board showed more hesitation regarding Article 22, a resolution for 2050 climate goals. While supportive of environmental progress, members questioned the pragmatism of such a long-distance municipal commitment. I'm also very leery of making a commitment on behalf of Cohasset through 2050. I think that's a challenge for me, Farrag noted. Chair Maher also expressed hesitation regarding the longevity of the commitment, and the board chose to discuss the item without a formal recommendation at this time. In contrast, the board quickly moved to support Article 23, which streamlines the stormwater bylaw to allow for administrative reviews. Motion Made by P. Grady to recommend Article 23. Motion Passed 3-0.

Community health and youth advocacy took center stage during a presentation by the Safe Harbor Cohasset Youth Ambassadors. The students detailed their recent legislative trip to Washington D.C., where they met with Senator Ed Markey and Representative Bill Keating. Ambassador Cassidy Rojo explained the mission, noting, CADCA stands for Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America. The goal is to strengthen coalitions through facilitating collaboration and providing training. The ambassadors highlighted their work on community mapping to identify "hotspots" for substance misuse and discussed the positive social impacts of the high school's new phone policy. Jasmine, another ambassador, observed that the policy has shifted school culture: Kids that were often on their phones kind of doing their own thing were forced to have to talk a little more. Chair Maher specifically praised the group’s focus on men’s mental health initiatives.

Local business licensing also saw activity, most notably with Stevie G’s Restaurant seeking to upgrade its wine and malt license to an all-alcohol on-premise license. Manager Andrew Localo explained the move is intended to bring the Cohasset location in line with their Rockland site. We're just trying to be able to have the same brand and all the same products that we sell in our Rockland location, Localo said. The board noted the restaurant’s 2:00 p.m. closing time and the lack of previous issues. Motion Made by P. Grady to approve the application to convert the liquor license for Stevie G's. Motion Passed 3-0. Motion Made by P. Grady to close the public hearing. Motion Passed 3-0.

However, the board encountered a procedural snag with Q&L Food Company, doing business as Black Hat Breakfast and Bakery. Interim Town Manager Michelle Leary reported that the business had been operating without proper Board of Health permits and had outstanding administrative issues. I think they've been operating minus the proper permits, Leary said, noting that the applicant had not responded to town outreach by the end of the business day. The board deferred the license request until the business coordinates with health officials. In more routine business, the board authorized several annual event permits, including the Cohasset Historical Society’s Sea Shanty Shindig on September 4 and the High School Senior Prom "Red Carpet" on May 22. Motion Made by P. Grady to approve the Sea Shanty Shindig permits and one-day liquor license. Motion Passed 3-0. Motion Made by P. Grady to approve the Senior Prom event permit and entertainment license. Motion Passed 3-0.

During the public comment period, resident Stephanie Saunders submitted a request for more granular detail in the FY27 budget. In a letter read into the record by Chair Maher, Saunders asked for a line-item breakdown and expressed concern over potential cuts to the Health Department budget. Maher responded by noting that detailed departmental reviews are scheduled for the coming week and that all meeting packets are available for public viewing on the town website. The meeting concluded with a celebratory note as Maher recognized the 60th anniversary of the METCO program in Massachusetts, thanking the participants for their contributions to the Cohasset community.