PLYMPTON — Voters at the Annual Town Election polls on May 16 will be asked to elect a slate of 18 town officers, from assessor to tree warden.
Thus far, four candidates have pulled nomination papers seeking election, said Town Clerk Tara Morrison, formerly known as Tara Wick.
All four are incumbents, she said.
They are: Highway Surveyor James Mulcahy, Library Trustee Kristine Boyles, Silver Lake School Committee member Maureen Springer, and Morrison, who is finishing her first term as town clerk.
“There are a lot of positions available for this year, a lot of open seats,” Morrison said.
Nomination papers are available at the town clerk’s office at the Town House, 5 Palmer Road.
The town clerk’s office is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday.
Candidates must collect the signatures of at least 20 registered Plympton voters and return the papers to the town clerk’s office for certification by Monday, March 30.
The last day to object or withdraw nomination papers is Wednesday, April 15.
All three positions on the Board of Assessors are up for election. Voters will fill three-year, two-year and one-year assessor terms on the May ballot, in order to stagger the terms.
Assessors Chairman Jocelyn Anderson’s three-year term expires in May.
The two other elected assessors, Steven Lewis and Richard Nordahl, resigned last year. Lewis withdrew his nomination papers in 2014 due to the selectmen race. He was later appointed to May 2015, but the term would have been through to 2017. Nordahl’s term would have expired in 2016. Ethan Stiles was appointed to May 2015.
“It’s pretty unusual to have all three assessors positions available. That was due to the resignations of last year,” Morrison said.
Finance Committee member Christa Prescott has resigned.
Voters in May will be asked to elect someone to a two-year Finance Committee term to fill the vacancy.
Silver Lake School Committee member Douglas Hall has resigned.
Voters will elect someone to a two-year term to fill the vacancy.
Selectmen appointed Jason Fraser to fill the Silver Lake vacancy until the election. Fraser is vice chairman of the Plympton School Committee.
Voters will also be asked to fill a one-year Planning Board term that was vacated after former member Jack O’Leary resigned.
Dominique Sampson was appointed to fill the vacancy to the election.
Offices up for election
* Assessor, vote for one, for three years.
* Assessor, vote for one, for two years.
* Assessor, vote for one, for one year.
* Board of Health, vote for one, for three years.
* Plympton School Committee, vote for two, for three years.
* Finance Committee, vote for one, for three years.
* Finance Committee, vote for one, for two years.
* Highway Surveyor, vote for one, for three years.
* Library Trustee, vote for two, for three years.
* Planning Board, vote for one, for five years.
* Planning Board, vote for one, for one year.
* Selectman, vote for one, for three years.
* Silver Lake School Committee, vote for one, for three years.
* Silver Lake School Committee, vote for one, for two years.
* Town Clerk, vote for one, for three years.
* Tree Warden, vote for one, for three years.