It was announced during the Monday, Feb. 8 Plympton Board of Selectmen meeting that town accountant Barbara Gomez will resign effective May 27, 2021. Selectman Christine Joy said she accepted the resignation “with regret but tremendous appreciation of Barbara’s years of service to the town.” Joy continued saying, “she has been our financial rock that we’ve all leaned on; she will definitely leave a void.” Selectman Chair Mark Russo expressed gratitude to Gomez for “her patience along the way,” particularly in his early days on the Finance Committee and as a new selectman.

Town treasurer/collector Colleen Morin will retire effective June 3, 2021. Joy again expressed regret, this time at losing Morin who she called a “super source of information.”

“The nice thing is the foundation has been laid by Barbara and Colleen and it’s always great when we know that things are running well and we can take off from there,” Selectman John Traynor said. Of Morin, Russo said he was “very appreciative of her patience and sharing of wisdom along the way and a quite ready smile which was very much appreciated.” “Their expertise and kindness over the years has been very much appreciated and both of them will be well missed,” town administrator Liz Dennehy said.

Area 58 Director Richard Goulart attended Monday’s meeting to provide an overall update as well as discuss a renewal for the existing agreement which expired in September of 2020. The original agreement was signed in September of 2015. Goulart explained, “Substantively [we] don’t intend to change the agreement in any significant way.” He said that they would likely address COVID in the new agreement. Russo said, “cable access is just a constantly and rapidly evolving field… fully recognize this will probably look totally different in five years.”

Goulart said that currently Area 58 is operating out of 96 North Main St. in Carver but noted that they were hoping to move to a different location closer to both Plympton and Halifax. He said the hope is to cut down on their expenses associated with their location. Their current layout is around 3,000 square feet and their new location would need to be at least as large. Goulart said they were looking for feedback on possible locations.

Goulart said that both Carver and Halifax are occasionally holding live meetings but noted the extent to which COVID has changed their business. Traynor asked if it would be possible to live stream the selectmen meetings. Goulart said that it would be possible as long as Area 58 were the hosts of the Zoom meeting. “If you can do them live then that’s going to give us a lot more outreach,” Traynor said. Goulart said they are working on a plan for how to go live from the selectmen’s meeting room once in-person meetings are resumed. Joy spoke to a possible negative of having Area 58 host the virtual meetings as the selectmen or town administrator would lose their ability to mute a participant were things to get out of hand or inappropriate.

Traynor mentioned that he hasn’t seen the school committee meetings being posted to Area 58 regularly. Goulart said that he has had difficulty obtaining the recordings of the virtual school committee meetings. He noted that Area 58 has put out feelers to see if the committees would like them to record them or if they would be able to jump on and record the meetings while they are taking place. Plympton School Committee Chair Jon Wilhelmsen was on the call and said that he should be the contact person for the Plympton School Committee meetings.

Dennehy provided a general update on town business. She said that to date, the town had not offered a dental plan for town employees. According to Dennehy the town carries some excess in that particular budget line. She said the cost to the town would be $120 a month for families or $60 a month for individuals. Russo called it “a nice benefit that people will really appreciate without a huge expense to the town.” Joy asked if it would apply to retirees as well and was told it likely would. All the selectmen voted in favor of offering the plan.

Dennehy also provided an update to the water emergency at the Highway Barn on 23 Palmer Road. A large water leak occurred following the recent snowstorm. As of Monday’s meeting, Dennehy said that the affected ceiling tiles had been removed. She said they were unable to tarp the roof due to it being a metal roof as well as some repairs that had taken place, so they used sealant instead. The barn will also have to be checked for damage to insulation in the walls. Dennehy thanked Administrative Assistant Briggette Martins, who she said has extensive experience in insurance, for her work in getting the claims processed.

Dennehy said that the town has been working on their hazard mitigation plan and noted that there will be a public workshop in the next month or so that will be recorded through Zoom. She said she hoped to televise it live as well. The town is looking into several grant opportunities including one that the Fire Chief is working on to increase manpower. Dennehy said that the town had unfortunately received word that one of their larger projects that they were hoping to run through Green Communities would need to go through the procurement process.

The COVID-19 update was brief with Dennehy saying that the numbers have come down a bit in town. Plympton is now designated in the yellow risk category.

Wilhelmsen provided an update on Dennett Elementary and recapped the School Committee meeting from a few weeks ago. During that meeting, which was well attended, there was a lot of public interest around getting more students back into the classroom for more in-person learning. Wilhelmsen said that despite everyone agreeing that more in-person time is better for the children, there are still many logistical issues that stand in the way including limited bus capacity, the physical distancing requirement of 6 ft at lunchtime, and shortages with staff and substitutes, in particular. “To date, we have not gone full remote at all during the school year… we think we’ve had some good successes there,” he explained.

Wilhelmsen mentioned that teachers and elementary school staff are part of the third tier of Phase Two for vaccine distribution. He said the School Committee is interested in looking at what other plans can be put into place in addition to that mitigating factor. “How can we do this in a safe and effective manner both for students but also for teachers and other staff at the Dennett?” Wilhelmsen said that he would be holding a Zoom information session for parents along with Principal Peter Veneto later that week. He said the hope was to keep the lines of communication open and provide parents an opportunity to ask additional questions. “if parents are watching here, we are looking at how we can do this and do it in the right way so that we are successful.”

“I’ll just acknowledge the incredible challenge of balancing the needs and the wishes of numerous variant and disparate stakeholders and groups; you’re surely in the midst of kind of the crossfire from a lot of different directions and we’re glad you’re still standing,” Russo told Wilhelmsen.

Before moving to their rants and raves for the last few weeks, the selectmen also approved a request for use of town property. A Daisy Girl Scout Troop out of Plympton requested to work on the garden beds at the library throughout the spring, summer, and fall. They plan to clean, plant, and maintain the garden beds. Correspondence said that they also plan to do the work entirely outdoors and will adhere to all required safety protocols.

Joy said that she had two raves for the week, the first of which was for Traynor, Russo, and Dennehy working with Senator Michael Brady and Representative Kathleen LaNatra to advocate for the town and to be proactive in looking at ways to meet the town’s needs. “I’m sure a lot of good is going to come out of that,” she said.

Her second rave was for all those that stepped up to deal with the water emergency at the Highway Department including Briggette Martins and Fire Chief Stephen Silva. She noted that without a facilities manager, other people really had to step up to the plate. Chair of the Board of Health Art Morin also spoke up sharing a rave for the same.

Traynor’s rant was for the problems seen in the rollout of Phase 2 of vaccine distribution for individuals aged 75 and over. “I’ve never seen a website problem like the State has created… unfortunately, it’s just a nightmare,” Traynor said. Traynor said that it wasn’t until after filling out all necessary forms that the website would tell you there were no spots available for the selected date. He said this would happen repeatedly. “I think the State and Governor Baker are going to lose a lot of marks over this… it should have been done better,” he said. Both the Council on Aging and Fire Captain Cheryl Davis were assisting those that needed it with filling out the forms and booking appointments. Morin agreed with Traynor saying, “from a Board of Health perspective… it’s appalling.”

Russo said that with both the town accountant and town treasurer leaving, it got him thinking about mentors as he said he has considered both of them mentors along the way. Russo said he has been spending a fair amount of time at Churchill Park where there is a bench dedicated to Gail Briggs. He said that had the town had the opportunity to name either Churchill Park or Cato’s Ridge after someone it would have been Briggs. He mentioned that Briggs passed away before all of her decades’ worth of work came to fruition. “That bench is a wonderful place to sit at the beginning of the Boardwalk to see what she created and remember how her foresight and energy brought forth something that is so beautiful; thinking of you Gail and really appreciative,” Russo said.

Twenty-twenty began like any other year but would prove to be anything but ordinary.  A global pandemic rocked nearly all aspects of life and exacerbated an already contentious political climate. Racial tensions soared following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May. It was a year filled with protests and riots. Phrases like “social distancing” and “the new normal” became a regular part of the vernacular. Many adults and children worked and learned from home. Essential workers became heroes. More than 2.24 million people worldwide and over 400,000 Americans succumbed to COVID-19. It was a busy time globally and within local communities as well.

The year began with Ryan Lynch being named as the new Assistant Superintendent for Silver Lake. Lynch joined newly promoted Superintendent Jill Proulx. In a bit of fun news from the past year, Halifax resident Susan Hill appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy in February. Another bright spot in an oftentimes dreary year was Silver Lake Regional High School senior and now graduate Alexa Connors claiming two MIAA Div. 1 state titles as a member of the school’s swim team.

The towns of Plympton and Halifax grappled with where and when to safely hold their town meetings and town elections. In addition to concerns over COVID-19, towns also had to contend with the threat posed by mosquito-borne illnesses like Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Plympton utilized multiple rooms at the Dennett Elementary School to hold their town meeting on June 17 and moved forward with their town election on June 20 after ensuring multiple safety protocols were in place for both. Halifax scheduled and rescheduled their town meeting many times over before finally holding it at Halifax Elementary School over the course of September 12 and September 22.

Residents voted in record numbers both locally and nationally in several elections this past year including the presidential general election in November. Halifax voted in favor of Donald Trump by a slim margin of 49.4 percent to 48.5 percent. Plympton favored eventual winner and now President Joseph Biden by a margin of less than three percentage points. Locally, incumbent Kathy LaNatra overcame Halifax resident Summer Schmaling in a close contest for Representative in General Court for the 12^th Plymouth District. Both Plympton and Halifax voted yes to the Right to Repair question while voting no on the question of ranked choice voting.

There were a number of changes to appointed positions in both towns in 2020 as well as the early days of 2021. Notable results from the elections held over the summer included Alan Dias besting Ashley DiSesa for a spot on the Halifax Planning Board and Highway Surveyor incumbent Steven Hayward besting challenger Michael J. Schlieff to maintain his position. Longtime Selectman Troy Garron won re-election to a three-year term. In Plympton, Mark Russo won re-election to the Board of Selectmen and would go on to be named Chair. Daniel Cadogen was also voted into a position on the Plympton Elementary School Committee.

Following resignations, Lukasz Kowalksi and Emily Davis were named as new members of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee from Plympton and Kingston respectively. Paula Hatch replaced Jason Fraser as the Chair of the Regional School Committee.  In November, Ashley DiSesa was named as the newest member of the Halifax Elementary School Committee. Also, in November, Colleen Thompson was named as the new Council on Aging Director for Plympton. Former Assistant Town Clerk Susan Lawless completed her first year as the Director of the Halifax Council on Aging after being appointed in December of 2019.

Following their abrupt closure in March, the schools grappled with how to continue to educate while maintaining the safety of both students and staff. Teachers and administrators scrambled to continue to provide necessary services including the need for free lunches for many eligible students. They worked throughout the summer to gather community input and assess all aspects of a possible reopening plan. Schools looked at how many students could fit on a bus and how many desks could fit into a classroom with proper distancing. Polices were put into place to limit the possible spread of the virus. Air quality tests were run and new equipment was purchased when necessary. All scenarios were weighed carefully, always with the safety and security of the staff and students in mind. In the end, all Silver Lake schools opened in a hybrid model sending students back in Cohorts who would divide their time between remote and in-person learning. In a piece of good news, despite numerous cases in students and staff at the schools, the evidence does not point to there being any in school spread.

Both Halifax and Plympton held peaceful protests over the summer in the name of racial injustice. Plympton organizer Amy Laura Cahn described the event as “a vigil for George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, Tony Mcdade, and all Black Americans slain by racial violence and injustice, including police brutality and the pandemic.” At the event on June 14 in Plympton residents took a knee for 8 minutes and 36 seconds in protest of George Floyd’s killing. Seventeen-year-old Jay Cline organized the event in Halifax on Saturday, June 6 that saw a few hundred people peacefully gather at the intersection of Routes 58 and 106.

Looking forward to the promise of a new year, there are signs of hope on the horizon. Vaccine development and rollout provides the first glimmer of an end to the pandemic that has poked holes in everything once seen as normal. Many healthcare workers and first responders have already been vaccinated in Plympton and Halifax. May 2021 bring healing to the physical, emotional, and financial struggles of the previous year.

Executive Director Jim Middleton and Development Director Amy Belmore of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth attended the virtual meeting of the Plympton Board of Selectmen on Monday, Jan. 25. Middleton provided some background into the locally based volunteer organization which is headquartered in Carver. With only five paid employees, the organization relies on the 200 to 300 volunteers who assist in all phases of work being done. Initially founded by ministers from Plympton, they serve Plymouth, Kingston, Middleborough, Lakeville, and the towns in between. Work includes building and fixing up existing houses as well as running the ReStore on Route 58 in Carver. Proceeds from the thrift shop assist with the work being done by Habitat.

Middleton explained that where a typical home in a local community might cost upwards of $350,000 to $450,000, a home built by Habitat for Humanity can be sold well below market value for say $170,000. Middleton also pointed out that oftentimes rentals of similar size can cost approximately $2,000 per month. “A lot of people who live in a town like Plympton they can’t afford to stay there,” Middleton said. He explained that a number of factors go into keeping their costs low. “We’re able to do that by having volunteers and community minded people who help us with the trades, like electric, and also with materials.”

Middleton said that the organization is always looking for land to build on as they can’t afford to pay market rates. Whenever possible Habitat tries to purchase land in partnership with towns. This is done by looking at the Assessor’s list to see if there are properties that are under utilized that the town may be able to make available. Of the 12 houses built by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth only one was through donation of land alone. “All of our houses go through DHCD [The Department of Housing and Community Development] at the state to get certified and to make sure that there is a deed writer on it and that there is a regulatory agreement… to keep that house as an affordable home in perpetuity,” Middleton explained. He said when no waivers are required for a plot of land the process is simplified and likened it to a joint application with the town and Habitat to the state. If waivers are required the town can, through a hearing, apply to build on a plot of land that might not otherwise be buildable.

Middleton also explained the process for selecting eligible families. He said there tends to be a misconception that it is a giveaway program but said it is “a hand up not a handout.” The state has a lottery which is income qualified. Habitat considers those whose incomes fall within 30 to 60 percent of the area’s median income. Middleton said, “The state likes a lottery but Habitat likes to look at the current living situation of a family and factor that in… it’s a blind process where our Family Selection Committee of volunteers go and visit each of the income qualified families and they look at overcrowding, sub-standard health and safety conditions, whether the people are paying way too much money out of their monthly incomes to be in that house.” From there, three families are usually presented to Habitat’s Board of Directors who select a family without being given names or other identifying information. Middleton and Belmore confirmed that towns can give a higher priority to those that live or work within their town though other factors will also be considered.

Even with the below market value on the homes, families that are selected still pay a mortgage. Mortgages are 0 interest over thirty years. “A young family trying to start out can get a house that costs them less than $1,000 a month all in for their mortgage, their taxes, and their home insurance,” Middleton told the Selectmen. Selectman Mark Russo asked if there was continued control of the home once sold or if the control was relinquished to the new homeowners. “They become the owners but there is a deed restriction that is quite detailed that says if they want to resell, they can’t sell at market rate,” Middleton explained. The owners would be able to recoup their money plus a bit for inflation.

Selectman John Traynor asked if there was an age requirement as it seemed the homes being discussed were geared toward younger families. Middleton said that because the homes that are built tend to be three-bedroom homes, usually capes, they tend to be filled with families as it is a requirement that all bedrooms be filled. Russo asked if they had explored the possibility of building duplexes or townhouses. Middleton said, “We haven’t done that but we’re wide open to doing that.” Belmore pointed out the affordability issue for older members of the community including retirees. She said that finding affordable housing for seniors could be a good reason for the organization to explore building duplexes and townhouses.

Traynor also inquired as to whether there was a set design that had to be abided by for the types of homes built. Typically, the homes that have been built are three-bedroom capes though one of the most recently built homes was a ranch style to accommodate the needs of the new homeowners. “We try to pay a lot of attention to making sure our houses don’t stand out as something different,” Middleton explained.

The selectmen were excited to have a potential solution to the town’s affordable housing issue. Selectman Christine Joy said, “We need to identify some parcels and hopefully get moving with the process.” Traynor agreed saying, “It’s something that we should be doing, it just needs to fit into the culture of the town.” “We are kind of a town of very modest means but we’re a town where people are willing to consider donations… this could be a real focal point for a community effort that we all could be proud of,” Russo said.

Joy also asked if Middleton and Belmore could speak to the Brush with Kindness Program. Middleton said that they have a very active program that takes on five or six projects a year that help people age in place in their homes. It is not limited by age, however, and often those with disabilities are also aided in getting things done around their home. Projects have included wheelchair ramps, roof projects, weatherization, and installation of windows and doors. Belmore said that while the labor is free, homeowners are asked to assist with the purchasing of materials to the extent that they are able.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy provided an update on various affairs in town. Dennehy told the Selectmen that there had been some paid leave for employees under federal coronavirus legislation that had been passed early in the pandemic. To date, Congress has not extended that provision which leaves towns to come up with their own. Dennehy said that should the state or federal government decide to pass further legislation it would prevail over local policy. She said, “I’m hoping we won’t have to use it a lot and that we are on a path to wellness.”

Dennehy also said that for the time being the townhouse and transfer station will remain functioning as they have been for some weeks now. Dennehy said she hasn’t received any complaints about residents being unable to get needed services. She said the town will reevaluate the status of various town departments in a few weeks.

Dennehy told the selectmen that the Board of Health and Fire Department have been inundated with questions regarding vaccine rollout. “We intend to keep people informed as far as the minute we find anything out, we’re happy and ready and willing and able to get that information out to the public. Currently speaking we’re not in a position to be administering vaccines or anything like that but we’re working on a program right now with some other towns… so as soon as we can get people vaccinated whether we have that capability or whether we partner with another town in the area we’ll definitely keep the public informed on that,” Dennehy explained.

COVID numbers continue to be updated weekly on both the town website and the town Facebook page. Dennehy said she had received a request for data regarding age group and other specifics about positive cases in town but said she doesn’t have the manpower to do that level of tracking.

The Selectmen closed with their rants and raves. Joy said her rave was for Habitat for Humanity and both Russo and Traynor concurred. Russo shared a rant saying, “we had a little mischief at Churchill Park last week. Some graffiti, some trash left behind. Kind of frustrating that that has happened but within an hour of the Open Space Committee and the Board of Selectmen learning of that we ensured that there was a police investigation and got in the process of cleaning it up and have started closing the gate at dusk to deal with those issues.” Russo spoke about how the project was a community effort that took years of hard work and dedication to come to fruition. He referred to the area as “sacred ground” and said of the poor behavior, “that is not the place for that to happen.”