MassVoter.com← CohassetMunicipal votes · 2024–2025 Board
Cohasset Select Board
How the Cohasset Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide for three-year terms. David Farrag joined after the June 8, 2024 election; Jean Healey Dippold left. Reorganized June 11, 2024: Ellen Maher chair, Paul Grady vice chair, David Farrag clerk. Covers 31 meetings, June 11 to May 12, 2025.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetYour Cohasset ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
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Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Cohasset’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Cohasset Select Board minutes (called the Board of Selectmen until 2020) from January 2, 2018 through September 22, 2026, from the town’s Agenda Center, which has minutes back to 2013. The town posts minutes for nearly every meeting; 32 meetings since 2018 have an agenda but no minutes (most in 2018–2022, plus July 28, 2026), and the June 12, 2018 minutes file would not open. We list every meeting without minutes. Most minutes are typed; 55 are scanned images, which MassVoter read with text recognition and checked by hand. Most votes are roll calls by name or recorded as unanimous, so we show each member’s vote. When the minutes give only a count that doesn’t match the members present, or only the result, we show that without guessing. Motions with no recorded result (including four 2021 and 2026 roll calls where each member answered “present”) are left out. When members chose between candidates for an office, we show the result and quote each member’s choice in a note. At joint meetings, only the Select Board members’ votes are shown. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Apr 8Approve the expansion of operating hours at the Cohasset…Motion: to approve the expansion of operating hours at the Cohasset Yacht…Passed 3–0 · Abstained: Creighton, Plecs
April 8, 2025: Approve the expansion of operating hours at the Cohasset Yacht club to include Monday and Tuesday 5-10pm
To approve the expansion of operating hours at the Cohasset Yacht club to include Monday and Tuesday 5-10pm
Yes: Farrag, Grady, MaherAbstained: Creighton, Plecs
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to approve the expansion of operating hours at the Cohasset Yacht club to include Monday and Tuesday 5-10pm, seconded by Select Member Farrag. Roll Call Vote; Paul Grady-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye. Select Members Plecs and Creighton abstained from the vote..” (Motion: Grady, second: Farrag)
Apr 8Approve Charles O'Connor as manager for Cohasset Yacht ClubMotion: to approve Charles O'Connor as manager for Cohasset Yacht ClubPassed 3–0 · Abstained: Creighton, Plecs
April 8, 2025: Approve Charles O'Connor as manager for Cohasset Yacht Club
To approve Charles O'Connor as manager for Cohasset Yacht Club
Yes: Farrag, Grady, MaherAbstained: Creighton, Plecs
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to approve Charles O'Connor as manager for Cohasset Yacht Club, seconded by Select Member Farrag. Roll Call Vote; Paul Grady-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye. Select Members Plecs and Creighton abstained from the vote..” (Motion: Grady, second: Farrag)
Feb 11Advise the town manager the intent is to renew…Motion: to advise the town manager the intent is to renew his…Passed 3–2 · No: Creighton, Farrag
February 11, 2025: Advise the town manager the intent is to renew his contract
To advise the town manager the intent is to renew his contract
Yes: Grady, Maher, PlecsNo: Creighton, FarragVoted after discussion: "Chair Maher asked for a roll call vote on the motion made by Select Member Grady. Roll Call Vote; Chris Plecs-Aye, Paul Grady-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Jack Creighton-Nay, David Farrag-Nay."
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to advise the town manager the intent is to renew his contract, seconded by Select Member Plecs. Chair Maher reminded the board that the discussion must be related to performance only and anything else related to character, reputation is not appropriate for a public meeting. Select Member Creighton stated he doesn't think it is appropriate to renew Mr. Senior's contract since there have been issues but the real issue is term limits. There have been outbursts. When people are here for a long time, they get entrenched and do not serve the town. It is time for new blood and there are a lot of town managers out there. He also has a concern that the town manager is seeking employment elsewhere. Select Member Farrag stated he was torn about the issue. He dealt with the town manager while he was on other boards, and it was fine. Since coming on the Board in June the first issue was the hiring of the Director of the Senior Center and everyone knows what happened and then the assistant director left for another town. The town manager was a finalist in Hopkinton. There was a meeting here in October where there was an issue with the seniors and things like that. So, in being on the Board for months now it isn't in the best interests of the town to renew. Chair Maher asked for a roll call vote on the.” (Motion: Grady, second: Plecs)
Oct 15Approve the application for a Common Victualler and Restaurant…Motion: to approve the application for a Common Victualler and Restaurant Annual…Passed 3–2 · No: Grady, Plecs
October 15, 2024: Approve the application for a Common Victualler and Restaurant Annual All Alcohol License for Phoenix Bistro
To approve the application for a Common Victualler and Restaurant Annual All Alcohol License for Phoenix Bistro
Yes: Creighton, Farrag, MaherNo: Grady, Plecs
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Creighton to approve the application for a Common Victualler and Restaurant Annual All Alcohol License for Phoenix Bistro, seconded by Select Member Farrag. Roll Call Vote; Chris Plecs-Nay, Paul Grady-Nay, Jack Creighton-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye. Motion passed..” (Motion: Creighton, second: Farrag)
Oct 15Amend Page 4 of the Select Board Handbook and…Motion: to amend Page 4 of the Select Board Handbook and Protocols…Passed 3–2 · No: Creighton, Farrag
October 15, 2024: Amend Page 4 of the Select Board Handbook and Protocols as presented
To amend Page 4 of the Select Board Handbook and Protocols as presented
Yes: Grady, Maher, PlecsNo: Creighton, Farrag
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to amend Page 4 of the Select Board Handbook and Protocols as presented, seconded by Select Member Plecs. Roll Call Vote; Chris Plecs-Aye, Paul Grady-Aye, Jack Creighton-Nay, David Farrag-Nay, Ellen Maher-Aye. Motion passed 3-2..” (Motion: Grady, second: Plecs)
Sep 24Refer PB7-Amendment to Article 5.3 Implementation of Floor Area…Motion: to refer PB7-Amendment to Article 5.3 Implementation of Floor Area Ratio…Passed 3–1 · No: Plecs
September 24, 2024: Refer PB7-Amendment to Article 5.3 Implementation of Floor Area Ratio in Residential Districts to the Planning Board for a public hearing
To refer PB7-Amendment to Article 5.3 Implementation of Floor Area Ratio in Residential Districts to the Planning Board for a public hearing
Yes: Farrag, Grady, MaherNo: Plecs
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to refer PB7-Amendment to Article 5.3 Implementation of Floor Area Ratio in Residential Districts to the Planning Board for a public hearing, seconded by Select Member Farrag. Roll Call Vote; David Farrag-Aye, Paul Grady-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Chris Plecs-Nay..” (Motion: Grady, second: Farrag)
Sep 17Adopt the Select Board Handbook & Protocols subject to…Motion: to adopt the Select Board Handbook & Protocols subject to potential…Passed 4–1 · No: Creighton
September 17, 2024: Adopt the Select Board Handbook & Protocols subject to potential changes to Page 4 paragraph 3
To adopt the Select Board Handbook & Protocols subject to potential changes to Page 4 paragraph 3
Yes: Farrag, Grady, Maher, PlecsNo: Creighton
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Grady to adopt the Select Board Handbook & Protocols subject to potential changes to Page 4 paragraph 3, seconded by Select Member Plecs. Roll Call Vote; Paul Grady-Aye, Chris Plecs-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Ellen Maher-Aye, Jack Creighton-Nay..” (Motion: Grady, second: Plecs)
Sep 4Request that public comments are aggregated into a single…Motion: to request that public comments are aggregated into a single file…Failed 3–2 · No: Grady, Plecs
September 4, 2024: Request that public comments are aggregated into a single file for a Select Board Review
To request that public comments are aggregated into a single file for a Select Board Review
Yes: Creighton, Farrag, MaherNo: Grady, PlecsThe minutes say the motion failed, but the vote they record has 3 yes and 2 no.
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Creighton to request that public comments are aggregated into a single file for a Select Board Review, seconded by Select Member Farrag. Roll Call Vote; Jack Creighton-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Chris Plecs-Nay, Paul Grady-Nay, Ellen Maher-Aye. Motion failed 3-2..” (Motion: Creighton, second: Farrag)
Sep 4Create a working group to review the Town Manager…Motion: to create a working group to review the Town Manager ActFailed 2–3 · No: Grady, Maher, Plecs
September 4, 2024: Create a working group to review the Town Manager Act
To create a working group to review the Town Manager Act
Yes: Creighton, FarragNo: Grady, Maher, Plecs
From the minutes
“Motion by Select Member Farrag to create a working group to review the Town Manager Act, seconded by Select Member Creighton. Rofl Call Vote; Jack Creighton-Aye, David Farrag-Aye, Chris Plecs-No, Paul Grady-No, Ellen Maher-No. Motion failed 3-2..” (Motion: Farrag, second: Creighton)
Aug 6Sabrina Noering, Reis L. Alfond, & TownMotion: Sabrina Noering, Reis L. Alfond, & TownPassed Unanimous, 5 present · see note
August 6, 2024: Sabrina Noering, Reis L. Alfond, & Town
Sabrina Noering, Reis L. Alfond, & Town
The minutes record this motion without restating its wording; the title is taken from the text just before it.
From the minutes
“Motion moved by Select Member Creighton, seconded by Select Member Plecs. Roll Call Vote; All aye..” (Motion: Creighton, second: Plecs)
From the Cohasset Select Board’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials.
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