Article 1:  Annual Town Report - Passed

2020 Annual Town Report

To see if the Town will act upon the reports of the various Town Officers as printed in the Annual Town Report for 2020, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 2: Reports of Committees - Passed

To hear the reports of any Committee heretofore chosen and act thereon, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 3: Water Rate Restructuring - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to approve an amendment to the current schedule of Water Rates by adopting the following new schedules of Quarterly Base Fee and Usage Charges and Annual Fire Service Fee, to take effect July 1, 2021, or to take any other action related thereto.  

Article 4:Sewer Rate Restructuring - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to approve an amendment to the current schedule of Sewer Rates by increasing the rate per hundred cubic feet from $9.51/HCF to $10.46/HCF, to take effect July 1, 2021, or to take any other action related thereto. 

Article 5:  Operating Budget - Passed

Appendix A- FY22 (PDF)

Cohasset FY22 Budget Document (PDF)

Five-Year Forecast For ATM 2021

To see if the Town will vote to fix salaries and compensation of Elected Officers, and to see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate from available funds or otherwise, for the payment of the salaries and compensation, expenses, equipment and outlays, capital and otherwise, of the several Town Departments, including the enterprise funds for the Water Department and Sewer Department, for the ensuing fiscal year, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 6: Unpaid Bills from Previous Years - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, and/or borrow, pursuant to any applicable statute, a sum, or sums of money, to be expended by the Town Manager, to pay for unpaid bills of the Town, the Water Commission and/or Sewer Commission from previous fiscal years, or to take any other action related thereto.  

Article 7: Supplemental Appropriation for Fiscal 2021 - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute and/or transfer from available funds, a sum or sums of money, to be expended by the Town Manager, needed by various departmental budgets and appropriations to complete the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 or to decrease or otherwise adjust any budget line item as appropriated by the Town at the June 16, 2020 Annual Town Meeting, or to take any other action related thereto.  

Article 8: Stabilization and other Special Funds - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds and/or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute a sum of money to be deposited into the Capital Stabilization Fund, the OPEB Trust Fund, the General Stabilization Fund, the Sewer Capital Stabilization Fund, Special Education Stabilization, or the Water Capital Stabilization Fund, or to take any other action related thereto.  

Article 9: Capital Improvements Budget - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, and/or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute, a sum of money to fund various capital improvements, capital projects and/or capital equipment for the various departments, boards, commissions, and agencies of the Town, or to take any other action related thereto. 

1. ENTERPRISE FUNDS

2. GENERAL FUND

Article 10: Departmental Revolving Funds-Annual Spending Limits - Passed

To set the spending limits the Town will establish for revolving accounts established pursuant to Section 53E ½ of Chapter 44 of the General Laws and Section 10 of Article VI of the Town of Cohasset General Bylaws the Town will set for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending on June 30, 2022, or take any other action related thereto. 

Article 11: Allocation of Funds for One Time Cost - Passed

To see it the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, and/or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute a sum of money for funding one-time expenditures and projects, or take any other action related thereto.

Article 12: Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 91 Liability - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to assume liability in the manner provided by the MGL Chapter 91, Section 29, as amended, for all damages that may be incurred by the work to be performed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for the improvement, development maintenance, and protection of tidal and non-tidal rivers and streams, great ponds, harbors, tidewaters, foreshores, and shores along a public beach in accordance with Section 11 of said Chapter 91 and to authorize the Selectmen to execute and deliver bond on indemnity therefore to the Commonwealth, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 13: Additional Real Estate Exemptions-Annual Renewal - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 4 of Chapter 73 of the Acts of 1986 to grant an additional real estate tax exemption of not more than one hundred percent (100%). Such additional exemption may be granted to persons who qualify for property tax exemptions under clauses 17, 17C ½, 17D, 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 37, 37A, 41, 41B, 41C, 42 and 43 of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws and also, to see if the Town will vote to accept the amendment of Clause 41C in accordance with Chapter 184, Section 51 of the Acts of 2002, to subsequently grant an additional real estate tax exemption of not more than one hundred percent (100%). Such additional exemption may be granted to persons who qualify for property tax exemption under Clause 41C of Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 14: Community Preservation Committee - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to hear and act on recommendations by the Community Preservation Committee for Fiscal Year 2022 pursuant to Chapter 44B of the General Laws, also known as the Community Preservation Act: to implement such recommendations by appropriating and/or reserving a sum or sums of money from the Community Preservation Fund established pursuant to such Act for (i) the administrative expenses and all other necessary and proper expenses of the Community Preservation Committee; (ii) the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space; (iii) the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of historic resources; (iv) the acquisition, creation, preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use; (v) the acquisition and preservation of historic resources; (vi) the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing; and (vii) the rehabilitation or restoration of open space and community housing acquired or created under such Act; upon the recommendation of the Community Preservation Committee, to amend any votes previously adopted by Town Meeting on prior recommendations of the Community Preservation Committee; to authorize the Select Board with the approval of the Community Preservation Committee, to acquire by purchase, gift or eminent domain such real property interests in the name of or enforceable by the Town, acting by and through the Select Board or such other Town board as the Select Board may designate, including real property interests in the form of permanent affordable housing restrictions, historical preservation restrictions and conservation restrictions that will meet the requirements of Chapter 184 of the General Laws, as may be necessary or proper to carry out the foregoing, or to take any other action related thereto.  

Article 15: Treats Pond - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Cohasset Select Board to acquire, by purchase, gift or eminent domain, such easement or easements in the area within the Town of Cohasset bounded by Atlantic Avenue, Beach Street, Howard Gleason Road and the Atlantic Ocean, as in the Board’s judgement are necessary and proper to establish, install, construct, operate and maintain a system or systems of drainage for Treats Pond watershed and Atlantic Avenue in the Town of Cohasset, and further to raise and appropriate, transfer from available funds, or borrow pursuant to any applicable statute a sum of money to be spent by the Town Manager to carry out the foregoing, or to take any other related thereto.

Article 16: Town Hall Renovation - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate, borrow pursuant to any applicable statute and/or transfer from available funds, a sum, or sums of money, to be expended for the creation of detailed engineered design and construction plans and the conducting of a bidding process for the reconstruction and addition to Town Hall, or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 17: Lease of Property at Water Department for Solar - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Water Commission and the Select Board to: (i) lease certain roofs of Town-owned buildings and other portions of the building real estate for up to and including twenty (20) years for the development and operation of a solar (PV) power electric generation facility for purposes of reducing the Town’s energy costs to the maximum extent feasible, by means of the provision of electrical energy via a net metering agreement or to supply electrical load on the site directly, together with (ii) permission to grant a non-exclusive easement for the reasonable access for the purpose of constructing, installing, operating, and maintaining the solar energy array, and (iii) permission to grant an easement for the duration of the solar energy array lease to National Grid or a third party for the benefit of the Town of Cohasset as necessary for the purposes of providing electricity and telecommunications to and from Town-owned property, for the following Town-owned sites: the Town Water Plant, or take any other action related thereto.

Article 18: Amendments to §30 Cohasset Affordable Housing Trust Bylaw - Passed

2021 ATM Warrant Article 18 (PDF)

Article 19: Debt Authorization for the South Shore Regional Vocational School District - Passed

To see if the Town will authorize the South Shore Regional Vocational School District (SSRVSD) to incur debt in the amount of $10,516,372 under the authority of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71 Section 16(d), or any other enabling authority, for the purpose of remodeling and making extraordinary repairs to its school building which will extend the useful life of the school and support the required education program, under the following terms:

1. SSRVSD will use any and all monies borrowed to make extraordinary repairs and permanent improvements to its school building and, where necessary, remodel and expand its building footprint.  Priority project determinations will include but are not limited to recommendations from its 2018 Facilities Master Plan as provided to the town.  
2. The terms of any agreement to incur debt or borrow monies under this Article shall be approved by the school committee and any sums borrowed pursuant to this Article will be expended under the direction of the school committee.
3. The monies received pursuant to this Article shall be kept separate and apart from other School funds and may be expended by the school committee without further appropriation provided, however, that any balance remaining in such account at the close of a fiscal year shall remain in said account and may be expended for the upkeep and maintenance of any facility under the control of the school committee, or take any other action related thereto.

Article 20: Floodplain and Watershed Protection District Amendment - Passed

2021 ATM Warrant Article 20 (PDF)

Map for Article 20 (PDF)

Article 21: Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Overlay District Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Cohasset Zoning Bylaws to amend Article 20, Section 2 “Applicability” of the Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Overlay District bylaw to establish subsection B1 as the existing applicable location and establishing subsection B2 to include additional new parcels as follows: 

Ҥ 300-20.2 Applicability.

A. Article 20 shall apply to proposal(s) for site plan review and approval of GMSP installations and construction of approved GMSP installations in the GMSP Overlay District after the effective date of this Article 20. This Article 20 shall also apply to physical modifications that materially alter the type, configuration, or size of these installations or related equipment over the operational life of the installation.

B. Location of GMSP Overlay District. 

(1) The GMSP Overlay District shall be comprised of Town Assessor's Map Parcels B4-05-048, B4-06-O25B, and B4-06-003 and the land identified as 81-91 Cedar Street. The GMSP Overlay District for location B (1) is shown on a map entitled "Old Landfill Drawing," which map is hereby incorporated by reference in and made part of this Zoning Bylaw. 

(2) The GMSP Overlay District shall also be comprised of Town Assessor’s Map Parcel B6-74-011. The GMSP Overlay District for location B (2) is shown on a map entitled "Crocker Lane Landfill Site" which map is hereby incorporated by reference in and made part of this Zoning Bylaw.

C. Areas for additional GMSP Overlay Districts may be added from time to time by vote at Town Meeting to amend this bylaw article.”

Or to take any other action related thereto.

Map for Article 21 (PDF)

Article 22: Zoning Map Update-Whitney Spur Rail Trail Reclassification - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Cohasset Zoning Map to reclassify the parcel identified on the Town Assessor’s Map as parcel A6-74-020, commonly referred to as the Whitney Spur Rail Trail, from Light Industry and Technology Business to Open Space.  The amendment is shown on a map entitled "Proposed Zoning Whitney Spur Rail Trail Open Space Reclassification" which map is hereby incorporated by reference in and made part of this Zoning Bylaw.

Or to take any other action related thereto.

Maps for Article 22 (PDF)

Article 23: Fast-Food Restaurant Definition Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws Section 2.1, Definitions by amending the definition for “FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT” by inserting the word “principal” so as to read:

 “Fast-Food Restaurant:

An establishment whose principal business is the sale of pre-prepared or rapidly prepared food, not cooked to order, directly to the customer, usually wrapped or bagged, intended for immediate consumption on or off the premises, and usually requiring ordering of food at a counter or take-out window and without a waiter or waitress.”

Or to take any other related thereto.  

Article 24: Special Permits in the Village Business District Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Town of Cohasset Zoning Bylaws Table of Use Regulations, Section 300-4.2, to establish the Planning Board as the Special Permit Granting Authority for all Special Permits in the Village Business District, including detached one-family dwellings and veterinarian practice so as to read:

Or to take any other action related thereto.

Article 25: Use Variances Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend the Zoning Bylaws Section 300-12.5, Variance to eliminate the absolute prohibition of Use variances found in Section 12.5.

By deleting the last sentence of paragraph one in entirety, which now reads:  

“A variance may not authorize a use not otherwise permitted in the district in which the land or structure is located.”

Replacing it with:

“A Special Permit may authorize a use not otherwise addressed in the Bylaws; a Variance may authorize a use specifically prohibited in the Bylaws.”

And relocating this sentence to Article 4 (“Use Regulations”), Section 300-4.2 as a new subsection A.

Or to take any other action related thereto.      

Zoning Bylaw Working Group Article 25 (PDF)

Article 26: Land Alteration Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to amend Article 11, Regulations Governing Earth Removal of the Zoning Bylaws of the Town, by deleting the existing text thereof and replacing it with the following new text, or to take any other action related thereto.

ARTICLE 11 Regulations Governing Land Alteration

§ 300-11.1 Purpose and Intent

To promote land development and site planning practices which are responsive to character of Cohasset’s topography without preventing the reasonable development of land. This land alteration article regulates (i) clearing activities and (i) earth removal associated with land development.

This land alteration article is in addition to and works with the (i) Cohasset’s Wetlands Bylaw (General Bylaws, Part II, Chapter 260), whose purpose is to protect wetlands, related water resources, and adjoining land areas and the (ii) Stormwater Management Bylaw (General Bylaws, Part II, Chapter 223), whose purpose is to prevent and reduce existing and future flooding, protect water quality, increase groundwater recharge, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and promote environmentally sensitive site design practices. 

§ 300-11.2 Activities Subject to a Special Permit 

All clearing activities proposed to take place on any lot in any zoning district that exceed the limits set forth below must obtain a Special Permit from the Planning Board, unless specifically exempted herein.

Clearing activity means the complete removal of trees 4” in diameter or greater, measured at 5 feet above existing grade. Percent of lot area will be measured by square feet of disturbed earth from clearing activities divided by total square feet of the lot.

1. All lots with an area of 18,000 square feet or less shall be exempt from this requirement.
2. In the OS District or all lots with Land Use Code 200 (Open space as defined by Massachusetts Department of Revenue Property Type Classification Codes), clearing of the lot is prohibited unless necessary for permitted or grandfathered use.
3. On an undeveloped lot (Land Use Code 130, 131, 132, 390, 391, 392, 393, 431, 440, 441, 442 017, 0186, 086, as defined by Massachusetts Department of Revenue Property Type Classifications Codes), clearing is not permitted in excess of:
   1. 70% of lot area in the RA, RB, and RC Districts.
   2. 85% of lot area in the HB, LI, TB, DB, VB, & WB Districts.
4. When residential developed lots (Land Use Code 101 as defined by Massachusetts Department of Revenue Property Type Classifications Codes) are subdivided or reconfigured into multiple lots for redevelopment clearing activity is not permitted in excess of 70% of lot area in the RA, RB & RC Districts.
5. There shall be no further clearing, beyond the above thresholds, for those undeveloped lots (as defined in §300-11.2C transitioned to developed lots for a period of ten (10) years after the final certificate of occupancy is issued for structures constructed upon it.
6. The following activities are exempt from having to obtain a Special Permit, in all districts:
   1. Routine maintenance or removal of hazardous trees (a tree with a structural defect or disease).
   2. Temporary work relative to emergency storm events or emergency repairs to any utilities (gas, water, sewer, electric, telephone, etc.), including situations that pose an immediate danger to life and/or property.
   3. Activities conducted in accordance with Forest Stewardship Plan approved by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation. 
   4. Construction and maintenance of public and private streets and utilities within town-approved roadway layouts and easements or in connection with a subdivision approved in accordance with the Town’s Subdivision Rules & Regulations.
   5. Exploratory work associated with the siting of a new or replacement sewage disposal system, and which is otherwise being monitored by the appropriate Town boards and departments having jurisdiction.
   6. Agricultural activities in existence at the time this bylaw was adopted, work conducted with approved Natural Resource Conservation Service Agricultural Plan or agricultural uses on parcels of land of more than five acres as specified in MGL c. 40A, section 3.
   7. Work conducted in accordance with any prior and still-valid earth removal or building permit issued pursuant to the predecessor version of this Article 11 or other sections of the Cohasset Zoning Bylaw.

§ 300-11.3 Other Land Alteration Activities 

Earth removal means the extraction of materials, including soil, loam, sand, gravel, or stone. These materials shall not be removed from any lot within the Town unless such removal will constitute an exempt operation as hereinafter provided or is subject to a valid Building Permit, Special Permit, or Stormwater Bylaw Permit.

A. The following activities are exempt:

1. The removal of not more than 10 cubic yards of material in the aggregate from one lot.
2. The transfer of material from one part of the lot to another part of the same lot.
3. The removal of material from land in use by the Town or other governmental agency.
4. Where earth removal was necessarily excavated in connection with the lawful construction of a building, structure, sewage system, or other utility, provided that the quantity of material removed does not exceed that actually displaced by the portion of the building, structure, road, driveway, sidewalk, or path below finished grade.

§ 300-11.4 Application, Review & Decision

1. No land alteration activities described herein shall begin prior to issuance of Building Permit by the Town, written approval by the Planning Board or Conservation Commission, or the issuance of a Clearing Activities Special Permit Per §300-11.2 above and/or a Stormwater Bylaw Permit per General Bylaws, Part II, Chapter 223 from those respective boards if required.
2. All applications for a Special Permit hereunder, and the review of and decision regarding same, shall follow the provisions of §300-12.4 of the Zoning Bylaws and the Subdivision Rules and Regulations process as are applicable. The Planning Board may, by rule and regulation, supplement those bylaws with specific filing requirements.
3. The Planning Board may require a performance guarantee in a form acceptable to it to cover the costs associated with compliance with this Article in the same manner and on the same conditions as are applicable to performance guarantees related to subdivision projects.
4. When a Special Permit application per §300-11.2 is submitted to the Planning Board, the Open Space & Recreation Committee shall also be notified, and it may submit comments within 14 days of receipt.

Zoning Bylaw Working Group Article 26 (PDF)

Article 27: Sunset the Senior Multifamily Residential Overlay District - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to delete section 300:16, the Senior Multifamily Residential Overlay District, from the Zoning Bylaws of the Town, and further to make corresponding amendments to the Zoning Bylaws where references to the deleted Senior Multifamily Residential Overlay District now appear as follows, or to take any other action related thereto.

Deleting definition of Dwelling, Multifamily in § 300-2.1, which now reads:
 “DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY — A building containing three or more dwelling units. All housing units permitted by special permit issued by the Planning Board pursuant to Article 16, Senior Multifamily Residence Overlay District, of the Cohasset Zoning Bylaw, and all housing units permitted by comprehensive permit issued by the Zoning Board of Appeals pursuant to Chapter 40B of Massachusetts General Laws, shall be considered multifamily dwelling units for purposes of the enumeration of both the "total number of multifamily dwelling units of any kind erected in Cohasset" and of the "dwelling units of the Town" as specified in § 300-16.11C hereunder.[Amended 3-27-2004 by Art. 10; 4-30-2018 ATM by Art. 19]”
Replace it with:
 “DWELLING, MULTIFAMILY – Attached dwelling units or buildings designed for or occupied by two or more families.”

Deleting § 300-3.1 B., which now reads:
“In addition, there are five overlay districts: The Floodplain and Watershed Protection District, the Water Resource District, the Residential Cluster Development District, the Senior Multifamily Residence Overlay District, the Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District, and the Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Overlay District. [Amended 5-5-1975 by Art. 35; 4-7-1986 by Art. 39; 4-4-1987 by Art. 21; 4-4-1981 by Art. 26; 11-18-2002 by Art. 8; 4-1-2006 by Art. 17; 4-1-2006 by Art. 18; 4-30-2018 ATM by Art. 19]”
Replace it with:
 “In addition, there are six overlay districts: the Floodplain and Watershed Protection District, the Water Resource District, the Residential Cluster Development District, the Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District, and the Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Installations Overlay District and Harbor Village Business Overlay District. [Amended 5-5-1975 by Art. 35; 4-7-1986 by Art. 39; 4-4-1987 by Art. 21; 4-4-1981 by Art. 26; 4-1-2006 by Art. 17; 4-1-2006 by Art. 18; 4-30-2018 ATM by Art. 19, Added 4-29-2019 ATM by Art. 18]”

Deleting § 300-4.3N.(4), which now reads:
“If a specific provision of this bylaw or of applicable state or federal law requires a greater number or percentage of "local action units" or so-called "affordable housing units" than required by this provision (for example, bylaw Article 16, MGL c. 40B), then the greater requirement shall control.”
Replace it with:
 “If a specific provision of this bylaw or of applicable state or federal law requires a greater number or percentage of "local action units" or so-called "affordable housing units" than required by this provision (for example, MGL c. 40B), then the greater requirement shall control.”

Deleting § 300-17.10 A., which now reads:
  “Sections 300-16.11C and 300-7.2J of the bylaw shall not apply to the TOD Overlay District.”
Replacing it with:
 “ Sections 300-7.2J of the bylaw shall not apply to the TOD Overlay District.”

Deleting § 300-22.9 A., which now reads:
 “Section 300-16.11C of the bylaw shall not apply to HVBOD.”
Renumbering existing § 300-22.9 B. to § 300-22.9 A.
“No certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the Building Inspector until he has certified to the Cohasset Planning Board that the premises have been built in accordance with the plan approved hereunder.”
Renumbering existing § 300-22.9 C. to § 300-22.9 B.
 “The Cohasset Planning Board shall adopt, and from time to time amend, rules and regulations consistent with provisions of this Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 40A of the General Laws, and other applicable provisions of the General Laws, and shall file a copy of said rules and regulations with the Town Clerk. 

Such rules and regulations shall, subject to provisions of Zoning Bylaw § 300-12.4, prescribe as minimum the size, form, contents, style and number of plans and specifications, the Town boards or departments from which the Cohasset Planning Board shall request written reports and the procedure for submission and approval of a special permit under the provisions of this Zoning Bylaw Article 22. The Cohasset Planning Board shall also specify the fees to be paid in connection with application for a special permit for an HVBOD, bonding requirements to satisfy conditions of approval, and owner/occupancy reporting requirements to satisfy compliance with the age and affordability restrictions. Other specifications as deemed necessary by the Cohasset Planning Board shall be included in the rules and regulations. Failure to adopt such rules and regulations shall not affect the validity of this Zoning Bylaw Article 22.”

Or to take any other action related thereto. 

Zoning Bylaw Working Group Article 27 (PDF)

Article 28: Board of Public Health Zoning Bylaw Amendment - Passed

To see if the Town will vote to replace every instance of the phrase “Board of Health” with the phrase “Board of Public Health” within the Zoning Bylaws and General Bylaws, or take any other action related thereto.