With social distancing guidelines in effect due to COVID-19, Cohasset held its Annual Town Meeting drive-in style at the South Shore Music Circus.
Voting was conducted by hand count in vehicles, with yellow cards were held in the air.
“It’s fantastic. I think we got folks who have never come to a Town Meeting before,” said Town Manager Christopher Senior.
Town officials felt they needed a meeting with the operating budget, a capital project plan, and other items on the warrant. Senior said every department in town played a role in making sure the event was a safe one.
U.S. Congressman Stephen Lynch was in attendance, and he felt this was a unique approach to important business.
“This is heroic. I think it’s very innovative. Thank goodness they have a nice, wide open space like this,” said Lynch. “It was interesting to see the voting where everybody holds the cards outside their car, they stay safe. They’re taking it very seriously in terms of the social distancing and all those steps. Very proud to see democracy continues here in Cohasset.”
Projection screens were set up, and audio was transmitted to FM radios in the vehicles. Microphones were sanitized between speakers.
“It’s citizens coming together to run their own government. They get to adopt the budget, they get to vote on their laws. We propose, we prepare. There’s a ton of work that goes into this,” said Senior. “At the end of the day, it’s the voters and it’s the folks who come out. That’s what makes it a special event.”
The majority of articles were quickly approved by voters. A $46,364,413 operating budget was approved, including $594,598 in reductions from original projections in January. For this budget, the general stabilization fund was not used. Senior said this budget keeps services intact, but plans for an uncertain future.
The majority of voters approved an article for a community choice electricity aggregation plan. The town can enter into a bulk purchasing agreement with Marshfield and Scituate, with the potential of residents getting lower prices for service.
In addition, voters approved the potential for solar panels at the DPW Station, Willcutt Commons, Police and Fire Departments, and at the High School.
Voters approved a home rule petition to change the name of the Selectmen to the Cohasset Select Board. Property located at 808 Jerusalem Road was transferred to the Affordable Housing Trust, with the goal of building affordable housing at the site.
Article 22 for a flood plain and water protection district was postponed due to pending regulations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The 27-article warrant was completed in an hour.
The town is celebrating it’s 250th anniversary, and numerous events were planned for the summer. The events have since been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A month from now was supposed to be the big event,” Senior laughed. “Fireworks, and a big parade. Instead we’re having the most unusual Town Meeting ever.”
While not the gathering officials expected, it was a special moment in the town’s history.
Just before the meeting concluded, Town Moderator Dan Evans and voters in about 150 cars thanked all those who made it happen. Naturally, with horns blaring.
“All of our departments came together. It makes me feel, and I think all of us, very proud,” said Select Board Chair Kevin McCarthy. “It came off outstandingly well. This was really a town-wide effort and we should all take pride in it.”
Senior was asked about the possibility of future Town Meetings being held in a similar way.
“We’ll see what happens in the fall, because we’re going to have to do another one in the fall. We’ll see where things are,” said Senior. “There was a lot of work pulling this together. If it really is successful and there’s health reasons why we need to do it again, we’ll obviously consider it. I’ve already shared the information with some of my colleagues here on the South Shore, we’ll see if it catches on.”
Lanes were set up to promote social distancing. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
On stage is Town Moderator Dan Evans (far left), Select Board Members Kevin McCarthy (second from left), Paul Schubert (third from left), and Town Manager Christopher Senior (far right). Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Projection screens were set up, and audio played through FM car radios. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Abigail Alves (left) and Bernadette Faulkner (right) checked-in participants of Town Meeting. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.
Registered voters were checked-in from their vehicles. Photo credit: Lenny Rowe.