Plympton Selectmen to Voice Complaints about Carver to State
North Carver Redevelopment Project
The Plympton Board of Selectmen met virtually on Monday, July 11. The Selectmen discussed the possible drafting of a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) regarding issues the town is facing stemming from the North Carver Redevelopment Project. The main issue involves the reconfiguring of trailer bays near Montello St. and Heather’s Path in Plympton. Carver’s plan is currently with DHCD for approval. Joy said that she hoped that a letter would help bring the issues to the attention of the DHCD so that they could be considered in the approval of the plan. Selectmen Mark Russo and John Traynor agreed, and Joy said that the letter would likely be sent later that week.
Plymouth County Advisory Board
The Selectmen also discussed who would be appointed to the Plymouth County Advisory Board for FY 2023. Joy said that the budget is voted in the spring and noted that there are a few meetings in other parts of the year as needed. Joy said the Board manages the parking tickets for some of the larger towns. “They often look for creative ways to help member communities,” Joy said of the Board. Traynor was chosen as the new representative with Russo listed as the alternate. Previously, Joy had been the rep.
Board Goals and Priorities
The Selectmen also discussed their goals for FY 2023 as well as their Projects and Priorities list. “It’s become kind of a catch all for all sorts of things, big and small,” Town Administrator Liz Dennehy said. She asked if the Selectmen wanted to create one or two goals with actionable steps that could be taken to achieve those goals. The Selectmen agreed to come up with some goals to be discussed during their next meeting.
“One of the concerns I’ve had is because of the open meeting law we have not been able to just sit and chat,” Traynor said. He expressed that some things are not issues that he feels should be brought up in a meeting but still need to be discussed. He posed the possibility of those kinds of issues going through Dennehy to avoid a violation of open meeting law. Traynor had previously expressed the desire to have each of the Selectmen share an update at each meeting of what issues and projects they are currently working on, but Joy and Russo had felt that it could appear to be campaigning and were not in favor of the idea.
The Selectmen all agreed that they would like to return to having different department heads attend meetings to provide an overview of what is currently going on within their department. Russo suggested that the overview be presented in writing ahead of time so that the meeting time could be used for questions and discussions regarding that submission.
Town Administrator’s Update
Dennehy said, “We’ve had a little bit of movement with that opioid settlement that town counsel had us sign onto.” She was referring to the State’s $526 million share of two national $26 billion settlements. Massachusetts’ share will be divided between the State and the municipalities which chose to sign onto the settlement.
Dennehy said that the government was moving away from a DUNs number and moving toward wanting towns to have a separate SAM.gov entity ID. Dennehy said she was cognizant of not wanting the process to delay the town receiving their second ARPA disbursement.
She also said she was working with the Fire Department to put out invitations for bids for a refurbishment of Engine 1. The funds were appropriated during town meeting two years ago.
Dennehy also said she was waiting on a couple of pending grant applications. “I haven’t heard anything yet on our most recent Green Communities Grant.” She said they were also waiting to hear about a grant for the Fire Department to obtain an ATV type vehicle.
Town Property Requests
The Selectmen fielded two use of town property requests. The first was for National Night Out on August 12 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Holt Field. The event is being organized by Library Director Mike Slawson and the Plympton Public Library. It will utilize the Town House, Library, and Police Station parking. There will be food trucks and a myriad of entertainment. “I’m excited about this, I think it is going to be a wonderful time for the town,” Traynor said.
The second request was for a wedding at the gazebo on the Town Green on August 13 at 4:30 pm. Decorations will be hung but promptly taken down following the ceremony. The Selectmen voted to approve both requests.
Selectmen’s Rants and Raves
Russo said his rave was for weddings on the Town Green and the use of town property in a “sweet and historical way.”
Traynor said that his rave was for the Plympton-Halifax Express as so many other small towns no longer have a paper.
Joy said her rave was for Russo finally figuring out the Zoom technology blip during the previous meeting.