We're reporting live tonight from Cohasset High School for the town's 2025 Town Meeting.
Town meeting is open. The Town Meeting Moderator is going over ground rules before going into business.
Article 1 "To determine whether the Town will recognize the achievements and contributions to Town government of citizens and employees" passes.
Article 2, annual town report, passes.
Article 3, reports of town committees, passes.
Town Manager Chris Senior is presenting on Article 3, which would establish an enterprise fund for the Town’s Recycling Transfer Facility. He called it a modernization of finances. The town has not set fees or structure.
Based on questions from residents, there is some confusion on how the new enterprise fund would impact town revenue and the budgets of other departments.
Resident: "This needs a business plan... People need to know what they will be paying."
Resident: "I was prepared to vote yes for this, but hearing tonight that we're going to be taking refuse and garbage from other towns is extremely concerning to me."
Article 4 fails. That meanss that the town's Recycling Transfer Facility will remain within the town budget.
Seven people, including Select Board members, rose to doubt the count on Article 4. It now goes to a hand count where residents raise cards signifying their votes.
Article 4 is defeated by just under 30 votes. Now on to the annual budget.
Article 5, the town budget, passes.
Article 6 passes.
Article 7 is supplemental funding for the current year budget, which includes $650,000 for the schools. The article passes.
Article 8 passes.
Article 9 passes. Among other things, it included $3,968,301 in capital funds for the renovation of town hall.
Article 10 passes.
Article 11 passes.
Article 12 passes.
Article 13 passes.
Article 14, dealing with Community Preservation, passes with applause.
Article 15 passes.
Article 16, which would allow the Select Board to enter into a lease with a nonprofit for a portion of Town Hall, passes. Lots of applause tonight for Town Hall-related items including this one. Efforts to save and restore Town Hall, which were included a a few of tonight's articles, were described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity."
Article 17 passes.
Article 18 is up for discussion. It is a citizen's petition that would allow two houses to connect to Hingham's sewer system. The Select Board unanimously recommended that this item not pass at a recent meeting.
Article 18 fails. That concludes that business on the warrant. Town Meeting is closed.
