Justin Evans
Express correspondent
The Plympton Board of Selectmen reviewed the proposed Town Meeting warrant at their April 14 meeting, discussing a spending plan that shows a 7.4% increase over the current year. The board also discussed plans to expand library hours and the town’s compliance with MBTA zoning requirements to maintain grant eligibility.
Town Administrator Liz Dennehy presented the budget section by section, highlighting areas with significant changes.
“Insurance and pension are costs that we just can’t get away from,” Dennehy explains. “The county pension is a fixed number. They tell us what that’s going to be. And as you can see, it went up substantially.”
Group health insurance costs are also increasing significantly, contributing to the overall budget growth.
The Recreation Department’s budget request shows one of the largest percentage increases. Last year, the department operated with a $10,250 annual budget plus an additional $10,000 from a separate article. This year, they requested $48,736, though Dennehy was able to reduce that by $4,000.
“Finance committee does not want to continue with the article, so they asked them to put the cost for field maintenance into the operating budget,” Dennehy says. She added that the Finance Committee was anticipating an amount closer to $20,000
The substantial increase is primarily for field maintenance, with costs estimated at about $9,000 per field for three fields.
“I understand from their point of view, they worked very hard, obviously, to build that committee back up and to do some really meaningful work with all the fields and getting things usable. They don’t want to see that slip back,” Dennehy notes.
Chair John Traynor acknowledged the recreation committee’s accomplishments.
“I think it’s great that we’ve got a very active recreation committee. And they have done a really good job out there. The fact that we have lights on the field still kind of, I’m in awe to go up and see it,” Traynor says.
The Fire Department budget includes a proposal to add four people to the union. The chief wants to have three people on some nights and every weekend.
“For any person that you add to the union, you also have to then allow for holiday pay, for example, so it doesn’t come without a cost, even though they’re still technically on call,” Dennehy explains.
Traynor notes that the department’s operational template is changing.
“Fires are not what drives the fire department anymore. It’s medical emergencies. And we also know that when we do medical emergencies for other towns, mutual aid, we get that revenue,” he says.
The Library Trustees are proposing a significant increase in hours for the library, from the current 26 hours per week to a minimum of 40 hours. This would require an adjustment to the Library Director’s salary to accommodate the additional hours.
“The library director was currently surveying people to figure out what days might make sense, and hours, and things like that,” Dennehy says.
The board also reviewed Article 19 for the annual town meeting, which establishes a residential development overlay district along Route 106 to comply with MBTA zoning requirements.
Dennehy explains that this is “a mandate to zone, not a mandate to build” and would simply give property owners along that stretch another option if they decide to sell or develop their land.
The town recently received a $73,200 community compact grant that includes language requiring MBTA zoning compliance.
“Now they’re starting to put right in these grants that if you’re not in compliance with the MBTA zoning, you forfeit the funds,” Dennehy warns.
Traynor acknowledges the difficult position the state has put the town in.
“I think it’s a terrible position that the state has put us in, because Plympton, quite frankly, with its 3,000 people, not even that, is not where this was being directed to. But I do think it would be foolish of us to walk away from this and lose the grants,” Traynor says.
The town has received more than $2 million in grants over the past two and a half years.
“I know our state representative has said Plympton is the most aggressive town that she works with, in terms of going after grants. And I think we want to continue that,” Traynor added.
Vice Chair Mark Russo agreed with the pragmatic approach.
“The legislation, I think, is abysmally, poorly thought through, an unfunded mandate, seeing the towns all as the same. I hate this approach,” Russo says. “All that being said, we’re a little tiny town. This is a battle I don’t think we should be taking up.”
In addition to the community compact grant, the town recently received two grants for the fire department: a $3,520 senior safe grant for public safety education for older adults, and a $1,875 fire equipment grant.
The Plympton Board of Selectmen has also given the green light to renew Comcast’s cable TV license for another 10 years.
Under the new agreement, Comcast will pay the town 5% of its gross revenues annually to fund public TV. The contract also includes set payments for capital improvements.
Russo, who spearheaded the negotiations, is pleased with the outcome. “We’ve landed on a really solid contract,” he says. “It aligns us with the other two towns in Area 58.”
This deal puts Plympton on par with its neighbors Carver and Halifax, who also receive 5% of Comcast’s gross revenues for public access TV.
Russo emphasizes the importance of the fixed annual payments for capital improvements. “This gives us the certainty we needed to plan effectively,” he explains.
The renewal process has resulted in a more streamlined 59-page agreement, down from the previous 99-page contract.
Reflecting on the process, Russo noted, “It’s interesting to see how similar our situation is a decade later.”
He also praised the regional approach to cable TV services among Plympton, Carver, and Halifax. “Having one combined cable television studio has been fantastic,” Russo said. “It’s working well for us and sets an example for other towns.”
The new license takes effect July 1, 2025.
The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 14, where residents will vote on the budget and other articles. The Finance Committee is expected to finalize their recommendations at their meeting later that evening.