On July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Plympton Town Hall in the Deborah Sampson Room, a hearing will take place on the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project proposed by Peter Opachinski of SLT Construction Cooperation. SLT Construction is proposing to develop a parcel of land near Route 44 in an area zoned as General Industrial. The site is accessed through Carver via Ricketts Pond Drive -a private road that SLT built to access the small industrial park that abuts their proposed development.
SLT says it intends to develop Ricketts Pond Estates which will include 30, two family condominiums containing 2-3 bedroom units and that 25% of the units will be designated affordable housing. SLT Construction also claims they will provide private wells and septic systems for all 60 homes on their 23 acres of land under the 40B application which overrides many of Plympton’s by-laws.
This project requires multiple facets of review and consideration including a traffic study, environmental impact implications, and a myriad of other points that various public service entities have written letters of concern and inquiry about in going forward with this project and its impacts on Plympton.
Previous hearings for the Ricketts Pond Estates 40B Project have taken place on May 28th and June 26th of 2025 with very little residential attendance or awareness for a project that would increase the town population by 5-7%. The Plympton ZBA must make a decision on the project within 180 days of the first hearing per state law.
SLT Construction earlier proposed an asphalt crushing site on the same parcel of land but this use for the land was turned down by Plympton. Residents of Plympton are encouraged to visit the town website for all public data, letters, and information about the 40B Project and attend the forthcoming public hearings -all which are listed in the newspaper community calendar and the town website. www.town.plympton.ma.us

This week, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a $1.39 billion supplemental budget funded by the Fair Share surtax that represents $716 million of funding for public transportation and $593.5 million for public education across the Commonwealth. Senator Dylan Fernandes worked successfully to secure $750k in targeted investments that will directly benefit communities across the Cape and South Shore.
“Our region faces unique challenges in transportation and education, and this funding is crucial to expanding opportunities for our students and improving mobility for residents across Cape Cod and the South Shore,” said Senator Dylan Fernandes. “As the federal government reduces resources for our communities, the money we secured in this budget will have an even greater impact, strengthening the everyday experiences of residents throughout the Cape and Plymouth communities.”
Fair Share Budget Investments Secured by Senator Fernandes
● $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod
● $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth
● $25,000 to the Plymouth Center for Active Living
● $25,000 to Plymouth Family Network
● $25,000 to fund a study to expand commuter rail to Buzzards Bay
● $30,000 for the Town of Sandwich through the Cape Cod Foundation
● $35,000 to See Plymouth
● $40,000 to the Pembroke Public Library
● $25,000 to the Pembroke Public Schools

● $40,000 to the South Shore Community Action Council
● $40,000 to Volunteers of America, Massachusetts, Plymouth Area Veterans Center
● $50,000 to the ARC of Plymouth and Upper Cape
● $75,000 to the Silver Lake Regional School District
● $100,000 to the Plymouth Educational Foundation
● $165,000 to Falmouth/Upper Cape YMCA
● $25,000 to Taking People Places/ Plymouth Transportation
Senator Fernandes praised the Senate bill as a transformative funding tool: “This legislation will enhance our local schools and student enrichment, increase transportation access, and expand opportunities across the Plymouth and Barnstable District. I am proud to have worked with the Massachusetts State Senate and the entire Legislature to bring these resources to our region and the Commonwealth.”
Additional Fair Share Budget Investments:
● MBTA Upgrades. $535 million for improvements and infrastructure upgrades across the MBTA system.
● Aid For Cities and Towns. $103 million for regionally equitable, shovel-ready transportation improvements.
● Regional Equity in Transportation. $73 million for regional transit initiatives.
● World Cup Preparations: $5 million for transportation improvements associated with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
● Special Education. $248 million for special education costs, including Circuit Breaker reimbursements to local school districts.
● Career Technical Education Capital Grants. $100 million to expand capacity and accommodate additional career technical education school opportunities, including $15 million for a pilot program to support career and vocational technical annex buildings on comprehensive high school campuses.
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● EEC Workforce, Affordability, and Quality Improvement. $45 million for initiatives to support workforce development, affordability and quality improvements in the early education and care sector, including $20 million for rate increases to support early education providers.
● Literacy Growth. $25 million for high dosage tutoring to support accelerated literacy growth and success for students in kindergarten through grade 3.
● Endowment Match. $20 million for the endowment incentive match program to leverage public funds to encourage private fundraising by the state’s public higher education institutions to support accessible and affordable education programming, including $10 million for a Department of Higher Education (DHE) endowment incentive match and $10 million for the University of Massachusetts endowment incentive program.
● English Language Learning Programs. $10 million for educational grants to help speakers of languages other than English to learn English—and subsequently aid in filling in-demand jobs—by reducing the waitlist for services.
● Green SchoolWorks. $10 million for grants to eligible local school districts for clean energy infrastructure improvements and upgrades.
● Regional School Transportation. $8.1 million to support regional school transportation costs.
Having passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.

Effective June 5, 2025, new water restrictions were put into place as follows:
No outdoor watering on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Outdoor watering, including the use of lawn sprinklers and automobile washing, is permitted on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
The Board of Water Commissioners appreciates everyone’s cooperation in conserving water to avoid a total water ban.
If these restrictions are not adhered to, the following fines will be enforced:
1st Offense – Verbal Warning
2nd Offense – $50 fine
3rd Offense – $100 fine
4th Offense – TERMINATION OF WATER SERVICE AND $250 TURN-ON FEE.
The increased demand we have experienced can threaten public safety and the quality of public drinking water. In extreme cases, high water use can threaten the ability of Municipalities to store water for water pressure and fire protection purposes.
Watering during the heat of the day does not help your lawn and wastes water.
If you have a well, please visit the Board of Health office to obtain a well or irrigation well number.
This number must be posted on the front lawn to prevent the Water or Police Departments from stopping at your house to enforce this policy. For questions, you should contact the Water Department by visiting their office at 500 Plymouth Street or calling (781) 293-1733. The Board of Water Commissioners appreciates your cooperation.

Jason Fraser
Special to the Express
In a year marked by tight budgets, Senator Dylan Fernandes has stepped forward as a champion for our community. At a time when every dollar counts, the Senator and his dedicated staff secured an earmark for $75,000 in the FY26 state budget for Silver Lake Regional Schools to address safety and accessibility issues on campus.
Since his election in the fall of 2024, Senator Fernandes has been meeting with constituents and community leaders across his district, including members of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. His collaborative leadership has bridged the gap between legislative action and educational needs. His proactive engagement underscores his commitment to the well-being of students, staff, and community members, ensuring that critical issues are addressed promptly. This partnership has yielded tangible outcomes, demonstrating that when policymakers and educational leaders unite, practical, real-world improvements follow.
Jason Fraser, the Legislative Agent for the Silver Lake Regional School Committee, commented, “We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Dylan Fernandes and his team for their pivotal role in this process. Their foresight, dedication, and willingness to collaborate have transformed fiscal challenges into opportunities for a safer, more accessible campus at the Silver Lake Regional Schools. This collaboration not only reflects the Senator’s commitment to public service but also serves as an inspiration for further partnerships that prioritize community welfare and the future of our educational environment here in Silver Lake and beyond.”

Justin Evans
Express correspondent
The Town of Plympton is advancing plans for a new fire station, with construction bids coming in at $11.1 million, nearly $2 million under the estimated cost. The total project, including equipment and other expenses, is expected to cost $14,285,000.
Jon Wilhelmsen, chair of the building committee, presented the project details and costs during a recent information session, emphasizing the need to replace the current 50-year-old station.
“Our current station is 50 years old. It’s done a great job, and I think it’s done another great job yet again because it’s done so much more than it was ever designed for,” Wilhelmsen says.
The existing station, originally designed for a call-fire department without EMS services, now struggles to accommodate modern equipment and safety requirements.
“The space and facilities properly cleaned and decontaminated are severely lacking in the building,” Wilhelmsen explains, noting that the current layout fails to separate contaminated gear from administrative and public areas.
The proposed 18-month construction project would begin this summer if approved at the annual town meeting on May 14 and in a subsequent debt exclusion vote on May 17.
For the average Plympton homeowner with a property valued at approximately $8,500 in annual taxes, the project would add about $468 annually, or $117 quarterly, to their tax bill. This amounts to 88 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. This assumes a 30-year bond at 4.5%, however borrowing will be at market rate sometime this summer if the project is approved.
The town plans to offset some costs by supplementing $100,000 annually from capital stabilization funds. Additionally, existing debt that will be paid off in the next two years, the Dennett and Silver Lake debt, will help mitigate the impact on taxpayers.
Dan Pallotta, the owner’s project manager from P3, emphasizes the competitive pricing secured for the project.
“If you look at the cost of fire stations and Google it, all throughout the Commonwealth, you might find a substation, which is subsidiary to a headquarters. You might find one that’s a little less than this, but you’re not going to find a headquarters less than the cost of this project,” Pallotta says.
The building committee received eight bids from pre-qualified contractors, with the lowest responsible bid coming in at $11.145 million. The selected contractor has experience building fire and police stations and has previously worked with the project’s architecture firm.
The new station will be located behind the police station on the town complex. The design includes an apparatus bay large enough for all department vehicles, dedicated decontamination areas, administrative space, living quarters, and a training room that can double as a community space.
“This allows for them to come in from a fire, be able to take their gear off, be able to utilize it with gear washers and dryers, be able to decontaminate in the showers that are in here before they ever get back into the other space,” Wilhelmsen explains about the decontamination area.
The project also includes a new septic system for the entire town complex, estimated to cost about $100,000. A separate project funded by American Rescue Plan Act money will provide a new public water supply for the complex.
Committee members stress that renovation of the existing station was considered but rejected as impractical and potentially more expensive. Renovation would require a temporary station costing $2 to $3 million and would still not address all the space limitations.
“From a cost-efficiency standpoint, renovation is not an option to continue to use this as a fire facility for the next 50 years,” Wilhelmsen says.
The committee suggests the current fire station could potentially be repurposed as a community center or senior center after the new station is completed.
During the information session, one resident, Nancy Butler, emphasized that the project is about more than just a building.
“My concern is the safety of these men back here. I have firefighters in my family, and I know what they go through. And I think we need to seriously consider their safety,”Butler sid. “These are our friends. These are our neighbors. They live on our street. They live in our town. We need to protect them as much as we need a new building.”
The proposed debt exclusion would remain on tax rolls for the 30-year bond period and then drop off, rather than permanently raising the tax levy.
Wilhelmsen urges residents to attend the next information session or reach out to committee members with questions before the May votes.
“If we don’t do it this year, next year it’s going to cost more. It’s the only thing I can promise you,” Wilhelmsen says, noting that construction costs have been increasing at 7 to 8 percent annually, well above the 2.5 percent annual tax increase limit under Proposition 2.5.

It’s 60 degrees out; the thermometer doesn’t lie.
I can feel the energy changing as the Spring weather ebbs and summer approaches. And, as if that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, the opportunity to welcome in the month of May is upon which means Cinco De Mayo.
If you are anything like me, good food and good drink go hand in hand, especially Margaritas. The multitude of different ways a Margarita can be crafted could fill a book, never mind this small paper, and that story will have to wait.
Today I want to ask a larger question: what is Cinco De Mayo? The short answer, Cinco De Mayo celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, not Mexican Independence. Though it is not a national holiday in Mexico the event is celebrated with parades, parties and traditional foods like Mole Poblano. How did it come to the United States you ask? We can give thanks to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), who though best known for the “New Deal”, was instrumental in bringing the holiday to the United States. America was just beginning to rise back out of the ashes of the Great Depression and FDR was looking to build bridges with our neighbors to the south, Central and South America. Roosevelt wanted to emphasize cooperation and trade rather than military force to maintain stability in the hemisphere, so in his inaugural address on March 4, 1933, Roosevelt stated “In the field of world policy I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor – the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others.” The history of this idea and the desire to continue it in our modern world makes this writer smile, because I am free to be a good neighbor and sit down and enjoy a margarita with any and all of my neighbors; that is a beautiful… and delicious thing.
For the best local margaritas and authentic traditional Mexican food please try Cancun – A Family Mexican Restaurant at 145 Main St., Kingston, or Fiesta Charra, at 66 Main St. in Carver.