Plympton voters are one step closer to having a part in the Carver Halifax Access Television after the Town Meeting’s nearly unanimous vote of Article 24, creation of a cable television public access enterprise fund.
Since the dissolution of the Comcast Cable Studio in Halifax last year, Plympton’s public access television has been at the mercy of Halifax and Carver who have provided for Plympton’s coverage of meetings. Now Plympton can begin the process toward participation with Carver and Halifax in the new public access studio in North Carver in the Cornerstone plaza.
Plympton resident Karen Foye, who works for the Comcast studio in Middleborough, spoke to the article, saying that while currently there are some Plympton selectmen’s meetings online, all of that would go dark if the process for collecting funds from Comcast cable and disbursing them to fund studio expenses was not voted.
Residents showed their support through their overwhelming vote.
The business of the town was completed in twenty five articles and the Annual Town Meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Discussion regarding retiring old debt for the Dennett School roof and the Town Barn took time as questions were answered about interest paid – on a loan – and interest earned – in a savings account. In this case, the Finance Committee recommended that the old debt from the school roof be retired at a cost of $23,206 which must be paid this year. An additional $75,822 would pay off the Town Barn note. Those funds would come from the Capital Purpose Fund, which required a 2/3 vote. Residents voted to retire the debt to put the town in a better financial position, looking ahead to when the town will construct two new public safety buildings which will house Police and Fire departments. Voters gave their approval.
The wages and salaries were capped at a 2% increase across the board, excepting those which were negotiated by contract.
Voters agreed to $104,691.46 for the annual lease payments for the 2013 Fire Dept. Pumper Tanker, the 2008 Smeal Pumper and 2008 GMC EMS vehicle as part of the lease to own programs. Fire Chief Warren Borsari explained that there are four years left on these annual payments.
In addition to salary budget line items and operating expenses, Plympton voters also
~ transferred from the Capital Purpose Fund $25,000 to fund the position of engineering project consultant to review plans, proposals, and bids for the creation of public safety facilities and the related infrastructure improvements.
~ rescinded the vote taken at last year’s Annual Town Meeting approving the creation a Silver Lake School District Stabilization Fund.
~ agreed to adopt a quarterly real estate tax payment program, instead of the biannual payments now in effect. Treasurer/Collector Colleen Morin spoke to the article saying that it would save the town from borrowing to meet expenses especially during the summer months.
~ agreed to purchase and equip an asphalt recycler and hot box for the sum of $17,300. Highway Superintendent Jim Mulcahy said the purchase would pay for itself as hot asphalt patches are less expensive and do a better job than cold patch.
~ voted to authorize Selectmen to enter into a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with Blue Wave Capital LLCD or their assign for a solar facility.
~ voted unanimously to set a $5,000 per year stipend for the position of Council on Aging director.
The meeting voted to adjourn at 10:15, until 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16, for the sole purpose of conducting the Annual Town Election at the Plympton Town House, 5 Palmer Rd. Polls are open until 6 p.m.