The Cohasset Select Board reviewed the final design and cost for a new combined public safety facility at 135 King Street during its Tuesday night meeting, revealing a total project cost of nearly $28.8 million and the need for an additional $18.3 million appropriation from the town. The proposal will now go before a Special Town Meeting and a subsequent ballot vote. The presentation followed a public comment from resident Will Ashton, who argued the project was "overscoped and overly burdensome" and urged the board to redesign a smaller, more modest building.

Chair Ellen Maher opened the discussion by detailing the town’s multi-year effort to address the "tremendously inadequate" facilities on Elm Street, which are out of compliance with state regulations. “This is a plan of need, it's not a plan of wants,” Maher stated, explaining the board’s initial $10.4 million appropriation was based on limited information available before purchasing the King Street building. The project team, including OPM Daniel Pado and architects from HKT, detailed how the design was reduced by over 22% to 23,600 square feet to balance cost and necessity. Architect Amy Dunlap noted the building’s structure must be upgraded to a Level 4 facility, which is required to “withstand something like an earthquake... so that first responders can get out and help the community.”

Police Chief William Quigley described the current operational challenges, stating the department is split between two locations and faces significant liability from its detention cells, which have received multiple state citations. When asked by Member David Farrag about the non-compliance, Chief Quigley explained the cells lack proper fixtures, are too small, and have outdated bars. “If a prisoner was to hurt themselves within the cell... the town would be considered not just negligent, but under gross negligence,” Farrag concluded. The discussion also highlighted the project's long history, with Vice Chair Paul Grady noting that a 1974 study first recommended a combined public safety building on Route 3A. “We’re pulling that out 51 years later,” Grady said. Concerns about future costs were raised by Member Chris Plecs, who noted that past projects that were scaled back to save money often "backfire and we end up with a more expensive project that has a smaller scope."

Dan Tarpy, a resident and citizen member of the project's working group, delivered an impassioned plea for the facility, sharing a personal story about a heart attack and the critical importance of response times. “If the ambulance is dispatched to my neighborhood and the train's coming across, we're in trouble... If you're delayed for two or three minutes due to the train, shame on us,” Tarpy said. Clerk Julie Rollins inquired about the estimated $750,000 cost for a new traffic light on Route 3A, which the project OPM confirmed the town is responsible for.

Earlier in the meeting, the board approved an event permit for the Cohasset Historical Society. Motion Made by an unnamed board member to approve the Cohasset Historical Society Touch a Truck on October 5th, 2025. Motion Passed unanimously. Following that, a Motion was Made by an unnamed board member to approve an entertainment license for the Cohasset Historical Society touch a truck event on October 5th, 2025. Motion Passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:51 PM.