Scituate Select Board reorganizes, approves $527,000 server contract amid price surge

SCITUATE — June 23, 2026 — Scituate Select Board reorganizes under new chair, approves nearly $834,000 in technology contracts, and splits 3-2 on a temporary World Cup bar extension. Thea Schlagel was unanimously elevated to chair and Jamie Gilmore to vice chair at the June 23 meeting, following a recent town election. The board unanimously awarded a $527,621.87 contract to Ecostar Solutions for replacement virtual server infrastructure — nearly $178,000 over the $350,000 appropriated — after AI data center demand drove memory chip prices from roughly $4,900 to $42,000 per chip since last October's budget submission; $134,683 from the town's solar array revolving fund was authorized to help cover the gap. A separate $306,138.50 fiber optic contract went to Comtract Corp, bringing the town's total fiber grant awards to roughly $950,000 in recent years. On a 3-2 vote, the board opted in to a state law allowing licensed establishments to extend alcohol sales by one hour through July 31, 2026 — IT Director Mike noting the quote on the server hardware expires June 30, which drove the same urgency that shadowed nearly every spending vote of the evening. The board also unanimously approved a pilot veterans banner program from American Legion Post 144, pending a memorandum of understanding, and appointed five residents to town boards including Sarah Siciliano and Skip Fernandez to the Affordable Housing Trust.