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Opening Celebration for Plympton Parks

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The Plympton Open Space Committee invites residents and friends to join in celebrating the official opening of Plympton Parks on Saturday, April 23, from noon until 3 p.m. The festivities feature several special events, including a “scavenger hunt” for children, guided tours of the trails and ongoing acoustic music for all to enjoy.

  At 1 p.m. there will be a short ceremony to thank the organizations and individuals who have given their time and talents to make the Parks a reality. Invited guests include the descendants of the Churchill Family, Representative William Keating, the Wildlands Trust and the Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts. The old “gravel pit” is the location for the ceremony and the start of all other events.

Attendees are asked to park at the Dennett School and use the Ring Road entrance to the Parks. Plympton police will help facilitate safe crossing of Ring Road for attendees and their families. If you require transportation to reach the gravel pit area, volunteers will provide you with a ride from the school area. Please call Jane at 781 585 4771 to request this assistance.

Rain date is Sunday, April 24. The Open Space Committee thanks everyone who has supported this project and hopes you will be there to help celebrate!

Plympton residents testify

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BEACON HILL– At the prompting of residents, several weeks ago the Plympton Board of Selectmen asked the town’s state legislative delegation to file a bill that would define the language of a state law allowing certain activities, including agricultural activities, to operate unfettered by local zoning by-laws. The law is commonly known as Chapter 40A(3) or the Dover Amendment.

State Senator Michael Brady, D-Brockton, and State Representative Thomas Calter, D-Kingston, did file the legislation, and along with some familiar faces from around Plympton, both testified before the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government on Tuesday, April 12 at the State House.

Although there has been a certain amount of “mental gymnastics” going on in terms of determining if this legislative action would simply codify an existing definition of marijuana as a controlled substance, as House and Senate counsel argue, according to the legislators, or if it is in fact a significant change to 40A(3), the legislation simply inserts language into the agricultural section of the exemption to local by-laws, and prohibits marijuana from being considered agriculture for the purposes of relief under the 40A(3) exemption.

According to Brady and Calter, Plympton is the first city or town in the Commonwealth to challenge the definition of marijuana as agriculture.

The significance to the Plympton debate is that the Plympton zoning by-laws prohibit the cultivation of medical marijuana in an agricultural/residential zone unless the property qualifies for relief under 40A(3). If 40A(3) were changed to prohibit marijuana, the proposed grow facility would not be eligible to be built on Ring Road, where the applicant, Jeff Randall, wishes to site it.

First Representative Calter, then Senator Brady, testified before the committee, of which seven members were present, and presented the bill. Calter particularly noted the divisiveness the issue has caused, saying it had divided Plympton in a way he had never seen before.

“I’m not looking to make a new law, I’m looking to clarify a law,” he said. He noted that marijuana was already defined as a controlled substance.

He also stated that neither House Counsel nor Senate Counsel believe that the law needs to be clarified, but that the issue is, “of critical importance to people from the town of Plympton.”

Senator Brady presented the joint committee with 30 letters of support he had received in support of the act.

Chris Housley of Ring Road testified as well that the issue is, “tearing the community apart.” He spoke to many of the arguments presented at the previous night’s Selectmen’s’ meeting, and ended by saying it was a very emotional topic.

Stephanie O’Leary of Ring Road had harsh words for the Board of Selectmen, saying that Christine Joy, the only board member present, was the, “only sane member of the board.”

She said that the dangers of the proposal, “all were willfully ignored by two of the three Selectmen.” She later stated, “the willful arrogance of Mark Russo and Colleen Thompson is breathtaking.”

O’Leary believes the proposed grow facility will attract criminals, and therefore should not be in a residential neighborhood. She also noted the small police force in town, and that the Plympton Police Chief has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the project. She also tied the issue to gang-violence.

Sharon Housley testified next, saying that, “we’re here because we’re desperate, we really are.” She did not want to rehash facts, and said she was going to speak from the heart. She did not testify to anything regarding the specific law in front of the joint committee, but spoke to her general opposition and fears of the project, most of which she has expressed at previous Selectmen’s meetings over the past several months. She ended by apologizing, stating she had never done anything like this before, and was lauded for her testimony by the committee’s Co-Chairperson, State Senator Barbara L’Italien, D-Andover. “Good job,” she said. “Sometimes testifying from your heart is the best thing,” she went on to note.

L’Italien stated it was clear to her that the committee would need to further study the issue, and especially how the Department of Public Health, which regulates medical marijuana, feels about the matter.

Applicant Jeff Randall testified next, introducing himself simply by stating, “I’m Jeff Randall. I’m a farmer.”

He said that there is a significant group of residents in town that are supportive of his proposal, and that he has at least 100 letters of support. He attempted to explain the zoning by-laws to the committee, the first to hint at how the legislation would specifically affect him and target the Plympton zoning by-laws, as he thought they were intended to be interpreted.

He asked the committee to carefully study the legislation, not “fast-track” it.

He argued that marijuana was agriculture, using the analogy of hops, which are both processed into alcohol, and used to create a sedative which is a controlled substance. Hops are considered agriculture. So are red peppers, which contain capsaicin, which is also a controlled substance.

L’Italien was not convinced by this argument. She was also concerned about the project’s proximity to the Dennett Elementary School. Co-chairperson State Representative James O’Day, D-West Boylston, also quizzed Randall, especially on his experience and the details of the operation.

A representative of 4Front Ventures, of which Randall is a client, also testified, stating that there have been no known gang-related attacks on marijuana grow facilities in the country, that the facilities are very secure, and in order for marijuana to be valuable it would have to be stolen at exactly the right time in the harvesting season.

He also stated that former Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office had determined for the Town of Halifax that medical marijuana was allowable under 40A(3). He stated that the bill would substantially change the law. He was also grilled by the committee, but on more general aspects of any medical marijuana grow facility, including nationally.

Christine Joy testified last, briefly re-stating her previously known opposition, and that she was, “the only member [of the Board of Selectmen] that doesn’t believe this is an appropriate use of the land.” She stated her firmly held belief that the cultivation of marijuana was clearly not agriculture.

In the end, although only several members of the joint committee present chimed in with questions, they did not seem very familiar with the subject of medical marijuana, the “ins and outs” of the (very complex) rules set up by the Department of Public Health to regulate the industry nor exactly how 40A(3) fit in exactly with the specific situation in Plympton.

Although listening intently, it was quite clear that they needed to do some more homework now that they had solicited testimony. The joint committee co-chairpersons noted that they will have to due further due-diligence in committee.

In a heartening twist at the end of the hearing, everyone who knew each other from Plympton gathered outside hearing room B-2 and began to chat. Within a minute or two, Representative Calter’s legislative aide had gathered the group, ushered us all into a crowded elevator and began to lead us through the legislature.

Adversaries moments ago were now walking together as a group, getting a special tour of the State House, together marveling at the House and Senate Chambers, the Governor’s office, and other areas of the grand, historical capitol building. Just moments ago arguing, now everyone was just a group of fellow citizens, and although it went unspoken, it was a powerful moment.

“At the end of the day we’re all neighbors. Sometimes you have to agree to disagree,” said Christine Joy.

Plympton, Halifax after days of unseasonable weather

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PLYMPTON/HALIFAX– Despite windy weather last Thursday, snow squalls on Saturday and a one-two punch early April snowstorm on Monday and Tuesday, local officials reported that Plympton and Halifax were lucky with only a handful of motor vehicle accidents and downed trees and power lines.

Plympton Police Chief Patrick Dillon stated that Tuesday’s snowstorm, “caught us a bit by surprise,” but credited the Highway Department for keeping the roads as clear as possible. He stated Plympton saw few accidents.

Some notable incidents included a utility pole hit by a motor vehicle in front of Halifax Town Hall last Saturday, which snapped and knocked wires into the driveway, according to Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros. Utility crews were quickly able to repair it.

Also in Halifax, Elm Street was closed for a period of about an hour on Tuesday after a pickup truck collided with a utility pole, knocking it into the street, according to Vivieros.

No serious injuries were reported.

“We were lucky,” he said, noting that conditions, especially Tuesday could have made for a much worse outcome.

U Drive. U Text. U Pay.

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HALIFAX– Early last week, Halifax Police Chief Edward Broderick announced that his department was one of 202 local law-enforcement agencies to receive a grant from the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) to combat texting while driving and distracted driving.

Local police along with State Police and other law-enforcement agencies from across the Commonwealth and the country will use the grant money to fund “traditional and innovative” enforcement activities during a “crack-down” period on distracted driving from April 8 through April 29. Broderick stated that he would make any specifics of the campaign public.

Although the Plympton Police department was not eligible for the grant due to changes in highway-safety grant funding formulas implemented during the Patrick Administration, the Plympton Police force is “hyper-vigilant” for all forms of driving infractions, including texting while driving, distracted driving, seatbelt violations and inspection sticker violations, according to Chief Patrick Dillon.

Distracted driving can include anything from fiddling with the car radio to talking on your cell phone, which although not explicitly forbidden, can get you a ticket if it is affecting your driving.

Texting while driving was outlawed in Massachusetts in 2010, according to EOPSS.  Drivers who write, send or read texts can be hit with a $100 fine. Teen drivers under 18 years of age are prohibited from using cell phones or other electronic devices at all while driving, including to make phone calls. The fine for a juvenile first offense is $100, a 60-day license suspension and required completion of a driver re-training course.

In 2014, across the United States, 3,179 people were killed and an additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the state.

Plympton Chief Dillon suggests that if you absolutely must use your phone during the course of a trip, to pull over to a safe spot, out of the way of traffic so as not to create a hazard, such as a parking lot, and conduct your business there and not while on the road.

He also suggested simply putting the cellphone away and not using it until you’ve reached your destination, the safest option according to him.

Tony the Cat is home after Grrreat Fire Dept. rescue

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HALIFAX– Tony the cat normally lives on Chestnut Road. But, on Wednesday, March 30,  Tony wandered away.  Missing for 48 hours, the curious creature created a stir in the neighborhood, and kept neighbors on their toes searching, both high and low.

On Friday, though, one searcher heard a meow, from all places, beneath the street! Could that be Tony the cat, the neighbor thought, and from whence is that meow coming?

And to the neighbor’s surprise, Tony was found at the bottom of a storm drain. The neighbor called for help, and the Halifax Fire Department arrived to save the day.

Now Tony, already on an adventure, took off further into the stormdrain system when search and rescue arrived, necessitating some further back-up from the Water Department, who helped firefighters map out the underground pipes in the area.

Once the firefighters had an idea of where Tony was hiding, they strategically flushed water into various storm drains, chasing the cat into the arms of a waiting firefighter.

Happily, Tony and owner were soon reunited, and the cat is happily back at home on Chestnut Road, officials report.

When asked why the Halifax Fire Department rescued a cat from a storm drain, Halifax Fire Chief Jason Vivieros responded that there were two reasons: First of all, he said, the area of the system where Tony was found was flooded, and the cat would likely not escape without intervention. Second of all, he knows how attached people are to their pets.

“If we didn’t go down there, a neighbor was going to go down. We didn’t want someone to be in an unsafe situation.”

Tony is a very lucky cat.

Will Halifax diners digest proposed local meals tax?

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HALIFAX– Halifax Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 30 in order to meet with Robert Bergstrom regarding a music event he is planning for this summer, as well as meet with FinCom members regarding a proposed meals tax. They also held a public street acceptance hearing.

Forking over more money for meals?

The Selectmen are planning a warrant article for this May’s Annual Town Meeting asking voters to approve a .75% meals tax. The small tax, common among neighboring communities, according to Town Administrator Charlie Seelig, would add 75 cents to a $100 dinner bill.

The tax would simply be added to the 6.25% sales tax already paid on meals, the two combined raising the excise tax to an even 7%. The meals tax would be collected with the sales tax by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and redistributed back to the town. No extra burden would be put on restaurant owners, other than reprogramming point-of-sales systems to charge 7%, rather than 6.25% in tax.

The small tax is unlikely to drive restaurant dinersfrom coming into town to eat, nor locals leaving for towns without the tax as it is becoming increasingly hard to find nearby communities without a meals tax.

In fact, Seelig recounted a story of a certain franchised coffee shop, whose owner was so accustomed to working in communities with the meals tax, simply assumed Halifax had imposed one as well and thus programmed the point-of-sale systems to collect 7% sales tax. A sharp-eyed resident noticed the extra .75% being charged on their coffee or doughnuts, and Seelig had to go notify the coffee shop that Halifax in fact does not have a meals tax.

The ultimate decision is up to voters at the Annual Town Meeting, but Selectmen and FinCom members were already discussing the meals tax as if it had passed. When they present the article, both boards hope that there is a clear understanding of where the money raised from the tax would go.

Chairman Roy is leaning

owards the capital planning fund, although there will be ongoing discussions with FinCom.

A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19 at 3 p.m.

Questions remain about ‘Music Event’

Robert Bergstrom, known for his MudFest truck racing events, was again before the board to discuss his plans for a possible yet-to-be-named two-day concert that he is planning for the summer. The board seemed as skeptical as ever, and several town officials were present to express their concerns.

The concert, which according to Bergstrom might attract up to 5,000 people per day, is still in its infancy in terms of planning. Kim Roy, Selectmen Chairman noted that the board had asked Bergstrom to begin meeting with different town departments to discuss plans several weeks ago, and he had only begun the process yesterday, with the Police Chief.

He had prepared a preliminary information packet, including names of possible bands, a security expert that he knew– but did not, according to his résumé have experience with crowd control at a concert, and an aerial map of Fieldstone Farms, where he plans to hold the event.

Major concerns that have still not been addressed by Tuesday night’s meeting include working out a public health plan with Health Agent, Cathy Drinan, coordinating with the Police and Fire Departments, and as well as the Building Inspector.

The Building Inspector, Robert Piccirilli had numerous reservations, including whether or not such an event could even be held in an agricultural zone. He also noted that because the owner of Fieldstone Farms has a legal agreement with the town exempting him from certain zoning by-laws, but that in his opinion this event would not “count” for those exemptions because it is not related to agriculture.

Roy said she had been cautiously optimistic that Bergstrom could pull off the “ambitious” proposal, but that she needed to be convinced, a sentiment echoed by other Selectmen, Troy Garron and Tom Millias. All agreed they wanted detailed plans, much more detailed than those provided thus far.

“You’re going to have to sell me,” said Selectman Millias.

Despite Bergstrom and the board having worked well together in the past for MudFest, this event would be on a different scale.

“We can’t just throw the town’s liability to the wind to throw a party,” said Roy. “This is not ready. When you’re ready, come back.”

Apparently because of his good history with the board, Bergstrom was added to the agenda for the April 12 scheduled meeting.

He stated that he could “absolutely meet that date.”

The board’s change in tone from the last time Bergstrom appeared before them did not seem to phase him. It appears, though, that Bergstrom will have to plan very carefully and quickly to appease the Selectmen.

On The Road To Acceptance

A public “street acceptance” hearing was also held on Tuesday, for two roads in the Two River Farm development, off of Walnut Street. This type of hearing comes up less frequently than other types of hearings in Halifax, for example, dog hearings, and therefore Chairman Roy was a bit confused as to how to start the hearing, but Seelig was able to walk her through it.

“We don’t accept many streets in these parts,” she joked.

A two-step process, first the Selectmen and then the voters at Town Meeting must approve any new roads so that the town can take responsibility for their maintenance. Traditionally, the developer comes before the board to address any questions from the Selectmen or the public.

No members of the public were present for the hearing.

A representative of GF Engineering was present, though, and he addressed a concern from the Water Department posed by the Town Administrator. They were concerned that several “water gates” needed to be raised to grade level. Other than some topsoil that needed to be removed, the Selectmen appeared satisfied and voted to accept the road on the condition that the two minor issues were resolved.

Bourne Drive and Danson Lane are now half way down the road to being accepted. Welcome, and best of luck at Town Meeting!

Cranberry Equestrian Team compete at IEA Nationals

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In the 2010-11 season, the Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team, “CET” for short, an Interscholastic Equestrian Team, was champion of Zone 1, made up of the six New England states, qualifying them for the IEA National Finals in Maryland.     Last weekend, five years later, the Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team once again finished in the top three of 18 teams at the Zone 1 Finals, qualifying them for the IEA National Finals once again, this year to be held in Lexington, KY at the Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park.

The Cranberry Equestrian Middle School Team is based at Reunion Farm, Plympton Village, and is coached by Macaela Burnet, Geraldine Burnet, and Betsy Kupic.

The middle school team will travel to Lexington, KY to compete against 18 delegate teams from across the country April 20 through 24.

What does it take to bring a team of riders and a group of horses a thousand miles?  “It takes a lot,” said Geraldine Burnet, owner of Reunion Farm.  “A lot of effort and a lot of money.”  Burnet continued, “We are all proud of the effort our team put forth for a chance to compete at the national level, and hope we will be able to get them there.”

As you can imagine, there are large costs involved with the endeavor.  Each team member has to pay for airfare, hotel, coaching, local transportation, and meals.   

To that end, the Cranberry Equestrian Team will hold a fundraiser this Saturday morning, April 2, at Reunion Farm, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bring the kids and treat them to pony rides, a petting zoo, and a bake sale. Saturday night, April 2, the indoor riding arena will become home to games and two big screen family friendly  movies from 6-9:30, bring the family!  The cost is $20 per child, with a $35 family cap.  The price includes popcorn, pizza, and soda.

This team will work hard to raise what they need to get where they need to go.  They hope the community will pitch in and give them a hand.

Throughout the school year, the Cranberry Middle School Team held practice sessions once or twice each week and competed in a maximum of five events per student so that the playing field is level for each rider.   Once a student has accumulated enough points, 18 this year, they qualify for post-season regional finals, which were held Feb 27 and 28 at Stoneleigh Burnham School in Greenfield, moving forward three riders per event onto the Zone 1 finals, held this year at Mt. Holyoke College, March 26, and 27.

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association is made up of 350 teams from across the country, in grades 6-12, who enter competitions on completely equipped horses that are provided at each venue to the students.   

Since the horse is new to the rider, the scores are based upon horsemanship and equitation, and the skills the rider exhibits in controlling and bringing out the best attributes of the horse.

All disciplines offer a variety of ability levels from beginner through advanced. The IEA has set guidelines for the placement of new riders entering the IEA to allow for the unique program format of riding an unfamiliar horse.

For student equestrians in grades 6-12, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) was established in the spring of 2002 and held its first annual national finals event the following year in Willoughby, Ohio. A non-profit organization, the IEA has grown both geometrically and geographically each year. 

Shane Sullivan at Bridgwater State Hospital until arraigned

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PLYMPTON – Shane Patrick Sullivan, 25, of Boston, continues to be held at Bridgewater State Hospital, now under a suicide watch, after a Plymouth District Court judge ordered him evaluated following charges that he allegedly attempted a home invasion on Brook Street, Plympton, Sunday, March 6, according to court documents.

Sullivan, whose arraignment was twice delayed directly following the alleged crime, was last to be arraigned Monday, March 28, but that was postponed at the request of the hospital, which is a secure mental health facility located at the Bridgewater Correctional Complex in Bridgewater.

The fourth attempt to arraign Sullivan will occur on Thursday, April 14 at 9 a.m. at the Plymouth District Court, 52 Obery St., Plymouth. He will remain in the custody of Bridgewater State Hospital until that date.

The hospital is conducting a forensic evaluation to determine Sullivan’s competency to stand trial and his criminal responsibility (known as a 15B evaluation).

Sullivan made headlines recently for allegedly leaving the Brook Retreat, a “sober-living” facility located at 55 Brook St., and attempting to break into a neighboring home on Brook Street with an icepick.

He is well known to police, law-enforcement officials have said, and court documents indicate a lengthy criminal record.

Sullivan was located when the victims called the Plympton Police, and according to the police narrative, he was making bizarre statements and was barefoot when found.

Sullivan told paramedics, who told police, that he had ingested drugs, although the veracity of the statement is not clear due to his behavior at the time police took him into custody and medical privacy laws.

Sullivan is charged with felony vandalizing property, felony home invasion, misdemeanor disturbing the peace and misdemeanor resisting arrest.

10 Citizens petitions to be voted at ATM

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Abram Neal

Express staff

PLYMPTON– At a brief meeting on Monday, March 28 Selectmen updated the public on a few ongoing major issues, closed the Annual Town Meeting warrant, but not the Special Town Meeting warrant, and acknowledged ten citizens’ petitions that have been certified by Town Clerk Tara Shaw. Board Chairman Mark Russo was not present, and Selectperson Colleen Thompson was acting Chair in his absence.

Controversies On Hold

Two on-going controversies have been put on hold awaiting further information, according to Selectperson Christine Joy.

Ring Road resident Jeff Randall’s proposal to locate a medical marijuana ‘grow-op’ on his farm, in an agricultural/residential zone appeared to meet the requirements of Plympton zoning by-laws, although he was seeking relief under a state law that prevents local zoning by-laws from interfering in certain activities, including agriculture, known as Chapter 40A(3). Although Plympton by-laws forbid medical marijuana cultivation in an agricultural/residential zone, they specifically exempt proposals that meet the requirements of Chapter 40A(3).

Although different attorneys at different times throughout this months-long controversy interpreted Chapter 40A(3) differently, apparently the Commonwealth has not determined if marijuana cultivation is actually agriculture. (And if it is not, that would stop Randall’s proposal in its tracks as 40A(3) would not apply and his farm is in an agricultural/residential zone).

At the behest of Selectperson Joy, and a unanimous vote by the board, Plympton’s state legislators, Representative Thomas Calter and Senator Michael Brady offered to file legislation  to clarify the law, by introducing a change in wording to 40A(3) explicitly forbidding marijuana cultivation in the definition of agriculture. According to the legislators, Plympton is the first town to challenge marijuana cultivation as agriculture.

Joy reported that there is no news yet from Beacon Hill on the definition of agriculture, at least as it applies to 40A(3) nor on the pending legislation.

Brook Retreat “Sober Living” house

The Brook Retreat, a so-called “sober living” facility located at 55 Brook Street, has also recently been in the news due to a resident leaving the facility and terrorizing a couple neighboring the “sober house” by attempting to break into their home using an ice-chipping tool.  Police report that he succeeded in damaging the house, breaking an outside light and a storm door while shouting threats.

Although the three principal operators of the facility spoke with Selectman Russo, they refused to do so publicly, and have not responded to a request for comment from the Express.

A large number of residents came to the selectmen’s meeting on March 21 to hear a report on the conversation Russo had with the operators of the Brook Retreat. His report did not appear to satisfy those gathered.

At the suggestion of an audience member, the board unanimously voted Selectperson Joy to meet with Town Counsel to explore any action the town could take to improve safety and communication with the unlicensed facility, which, it appears, is not required to be licensed by any state agency.

Joy reported back to the public that she had spoken to Town Counsel, and that they have a few “good options”, but did not say what those were stating that she was waiting for Town Counsel to prepare an official opinion for the board.

The board and the townspeople will have to wait for further information on another controversial topic in town.

10 Citizen’s Petitions for Town Meeting

Annual Town Meeting Warrant Closed; 10 Citizens’ Petitions accepted

The board closed the warrant for the May 18 Annual Town Meeting on Monday evening, although they chose to wait to close the Special Town Meeting warrant in order to give themselves some more time to tweak it.

A large number of citizens’ petitions will appear on the warrant this year, including several addressing medical marijuana grow facilities, another that would end the town’s participation in the Community Preservation Act, two addressing the town’s demolition delay by-law, and two that would order the town to sell certain lots that are in tax-foreclosure status.

The three medical marijuana related warrant articles include one that would ask to see if “the Town will vote to allow the residents of Plympton to vote on the proposed marijuana grow facility on Ring Road that is presently before the Board of Selectmen.”

According to Town Counsel at a previous meeting, any vote of the sort would necessarily be a non-binding referendum, as Selectmen have full decision-making power to oppose, send a municipal letter of non-opposition or a letter of support for any type of medical marijuana operation.

It is not apparent if the measure passes when the referendum would appear on a ballot;  due to time constraints, it could not appear on this year’s annual town election ballot.

Marijuana RMDs

Another warrant article asks the town to vote to instruct the board to oppose any Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) applications located in an agricultural/residential zone until the state makes definitive decisions on whether the agricultural exemption in Chapter 40A(3) applies to marijuana.

The final article asks the voters to amend the town zoning by-law, adding a new article: “Article XXXI…All applications for a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD) in which any of the facilities (dispensary, cultivation, or processing) are located in the Town must be approved or denied through a ballot question to be voted at the Annual Town Election. Passage of the question will authorize Selectmen to provide a letter of support or non-opposition to the applicant, failure of the question will authorize the Selectmen to provide a letter of opposition to the applicant.”

On a different subject, an article asking voters to revoke Plympton’s participation in the Community Preservation Act (CPA), which it accepted at the 2008 Annual Town Meeting, will be on the warrant. The CPA, funded by a 1.5% additional excise tax on real property and matching funds from the state, established a dedicated funding source, “to acquire and preserve open space, parks and conservation land, protect public drinking water supplies and scenic areas, protect farm land [sic] and forests from future development, restore and preserve historic properties, and help meet local families’ [sic] housing needs.”

Two other warrant articles ask the voters to make changes to the demolition delay by-law, which protect houses of historic value from being demolished without significant delays, which are generally used in order for the town officials and property owners to find an alternative to demolition.

The current delay is 18-months, and one article would reduce that to six-months. The other slightly changes language in another section of the by-law, to reflect the change if the voters approve the shorter delay period in the aforementioned article.

Finally, two other articles list several properties that are in tax-foreclosure status and ask voters to instruct the town to sell them. They appear all to be vacant lots, although some are of significant value– one roughly 16-acre lot on Palmer Road was assessed at $203,100 in 2016.

• Animal Control Officer Frank Bush announced a low cost rabies clinic at the Kingston Animal Shelter on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.  Aimed to assist seniors, the cost is $10.  Contact the ACO at 781-585-9444 with any questions before April 11.    Transportation if needed by COA van.

• The Selectmen will not meet next week, but will meet next on Monday April 11.