Plympton selectmen met Monday night with the Board of Health and chairman of the buildings and properties committee, Jon Wilhelmsen, trying to discern whose responsibility it is to work with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection in siting a new well or wells, making up a public water supply to serve the town buildings complex as it develops.
Board of Health administrative assistant Cathy Ferguson told selectmen that Plympton has been in non-compliance with its water supply at the Town Hall, Library, and Fire Station, and has been working with the DEP to resolve these issues.
“This has to be done in a very specific way,” Ferguson said, “to comply with their directives.” Ferguson told selectmen that she hadn’t heard from DEP in several weeks regarding information she had provided them with and later found that the DEP had mistakenly thought that the Town Properties Committee and the Board of Health were presenting the same project. The Board of Health wanted to be sure that the siting of the well for the Town buildings complex be done properly, step by step, to ensure that not only present needs, but also future needs for these buildings are accommodated.
Town Properties Chairman Jon Wilhelmsen argued that their study should come first and the siting of the well for these buildings should come under Town Properties Committee’s umbrella of responsibility, as they are working under the authority of the Board of Selectmen.
Cronin said that Town Properties Committee has had plans drawn and work done that the Board of Health has not been made aware of. He said that in order to get the project done properly, they need to know what’s been done already.
Vice-chairman of the Board of Health Harry Weikel told The Express that he had requested any plans for the complex and were told that there were none. He said it wasn’t until he got a FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request, that the plans were given to the Board of Health – the day of the meeting with selectmen.
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen Christine Joy suggested that the two boards get together and meet with representatives from the DEP to untangle the misunderstandings.
The Board of Health and the Town Properties Committee agreed that they would schedule a meeting as soon as can be arranged with DEP representatives.
Wilhelmsen responded to a request for comment from the Express that he was not aware of the Board of Health or any individual asking for any information via a FOIA request, nor any FOIA request asking for the campus survey. He did say that in early March the Town Properties Committee was asked, via Liz Dennehy, Town Administrator, for any conclusions regarding the septic and/or well by Grady Engineering. Wilhelmsen replied to the Board of Health and the Town Administrator that Grady was simply hired to do a survey of existing conditions, and no conclusions were made. He emphasized that his committee has never refused to provide public documents to another commmittee/board or told a committee/board that they need to request via FOIA.
He furthered, “TPC was unaware until late last week that BOH was planning to undertake tasks that we already had in progress.” … “My hope is that we can make some progress at that meeting and move the project forward for the benefit of the folks who work up at the town complex and the town as a whole.”
In other business, selectmen signed a contract with Sarian Company, Inc., of Sandwich, a woman-owned business with more than 20 years experience in the field, to help determine what is needed in a small public water supply, which the town buildings complex would require.
BOH Admin. Cathy Ferguson pointed out that there are a number of wells serving town buildings: the library, fire station, highway dept., that are undocumented and the Board of Health has no information regarding them. These wells, once the public water supply is online, will be repurposed for landscape watering.
Selectmen heard from Wilhelmsen in his role as a Chairman of the Plympton School Committe, that the regional agreement with Silver Lake needs some amendments. Some of the services with Silver Lake are administered at the town level, such as K-6 education. Other services, such as Pre-K, and food services, are shared services administered by the Silver Lake Regional District but are not included in the regional agreement.
Wilhelmsen said that the agreement hasn’t been adjusted in 35 years and it is time to take that under consideration.
Selectmen signed a contract with K&G Remodeling for $134,250 to replace the roof, fascia, and gutters on the Old Town House/Plympton Historical Society building. K&G was the low bidder on the project, coming in at considerably less that was requested in the warrant article. Chairman Joy said they would adjust the figure on town meeting floor.
Selectmen also affirmed their vote not to exercise their right of first refusal for Upland Road Solar, 61 Upland Rd. Pending town meeting approval of their PILOT agreement. They also voted to execute a legal fee agreement with Ring Road Solar.
Selectmen voted to appoint Timothy Ferraro to the Conservation Commission, with his term running from May 8, 2023 through June 30, 2025, and Christine Kelly as interim administrative assistant from May 9, 2023 until dissolved. Geraldine Cellini was also appointed election worker from May 8, 223 until dissolved.
Christine Joy announced that the town clerk is still looking for election workers to count ballots for the annual town election. Contact the clerk’s office to sign up. This is a paid position.
Closing the meeting, selectmen noted their “RAVES” for the week. John Traynor told the assembly, driving around town he noticed ‘The hummingbirds are back!” Selectman Mark Russo noted that it’s spring, the dogwoods are all blooming and what that means is – it’s time for Town Meeting! It’s such a pure form of democracy… the opportunity to influence the direction of the town, short-term and long-term. His rave was for the huge amount of work put into the Annual Town Meeting Warrant so things can go smoothly at Town Meeting. Christine Joy noted that town meeting is so important to the functioning of the town.