Community Update: Fire Station Renovations, Kindergarten Debate, and School Committee Appointment
Fire Station Renovations at 62 Elm Street
At Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, members reviewed the proposed fire station renovations at 62 Elm Street.
The project has been scaled back to a $4 million budget, which can be funded from the annual capital budget—similar to the ongoing Town Hall renovations.
Key improvements include:
A much-needed decontamination space for the fire department
Office space for the Town IT Department
A new home for the Safe Harbor Cohasset Coalition
This is a thoughtful, responsible use of town funds—exactly what Invest in Cohasset has been working toward. Bravo to the Select Board and town staff for their progress on this important project.
Tuition-Free Full-Day Kindergarten Debate
The Board also discussed the citizen’s petition for tuition-free full-day kindergarten.
The central debate is about responsibility:
The Select Board believes this is a School Committee issue.
The petition’s proponents argue that a Town Meeting vote could allow the Select Board to adjust the school budget to include kindergarten—without cutting into the already stretched budget.
This remains an ongoing discussion with strong perspectives on both sides.
New School Committee Appointment
On Wednesday, a joint meeting of the School Committee and Select Board was held to fill a committee vacancy until the next election.
Three strong candidates were interviewed. The final decision came down to a tie-breaking vote from Chair Ellen Maher, who ultimately deferred to the School Committee majority. Jake Squatrito—a recent CHS graduate and current Northeastern student—was selected.
We extend our gratitude to Drew Knowlton and Victoria Lattanzi for stepping up to serve. The conversation with all three candidates was thoughtful and collaborative.
We look forward to Mr. Squatrito’s leadership in this time of transition, ensuring citizen voices are heard and solutions remain thoughtful and inclusive.
