Cohasset Select Board reorganizes, elects Farrag chair after public safety facility vote fails

COHASSET — May 12, 2026 — Cohasset Select Board reorganizes under new Chair David Farrag and grapples with public safety facility fallout. The board unanimously elected Farrag as chair, Ellen Maher as vice chair, and William Ashton as clerk at its May 12 meeting — all by 5-0 votes — after Maher thanked outgoing chair Grady moved the slate of nominations. Chase Colasurdo, president of the United Federation of Police Officers, Cohasset Police Local 143, told the board during public comment that the 62 Elm Street station suffers from sewage backups, mold, and structural deterioration, calling it "no longer capable of supporting the safe and effective operations required of a modern police department." Two members of the Public Safety Facilities Committee — Glenn Pratt and Dan Tarpy — asked the board for a definitive charge before resuming work, with Tarpy saying the committee needs to know whether it is focusing on 135 King Street, 44 Elm Street, or both. Town Accountant Bethany Mosley reported ambulance revenue is running $95,000 below the prior year against a $600,000 budget, and a $331,000 snow and ice deficit will be addressed in the FY27 recapitulation.