In Plymouth, Dick Quintal, who served for 12 years as a Selectman, some of that time as Chairman, returns to the Select Board tonight after a long hiatus. Bobbi Clark talked with him about some of the questions folks have raised during his recent run for office.
A concern that has been raised is that Town Manager Melissa Arrighi is supposed to report to the Select Board, but increasingly, it looks like the Select Board reports to the Town Manager.
“You know, I question a lot of Mrs. Arrighi’s decisions, and I will have no problem questioning them at the meetings.”
Quintal is considered by some to be negative about the town’s Community Preservation Act tax rate, but he says:
“I never would support eliminating it—that I can tell you. Lowering the rate in hard times? Absolutely.”
Regarding the schools, where teaching students during COVID-19 restrictions will be challenging and costly, Quintal says he’s talked with the Chair of the School Committee:
“It’s a very intense situation, naturally. I think the worst part of it is, the state hasn’t really told us what the guidelines are going to be. But, I reached out to Dr. Sorensen and said that I would stand with him, whatever his committee recommends, I’ve already committed to that.
And, not all Town Meeting members are comfortable with a virtual town meeting, now set for August 10th.
“I see nothing wrong with going to one of the high school fields. It’s more personal, if you will. Town Meeting members get up to voice their opinions—it’s going to be a lot easier. If you have to rent a few tents, so be it.”
The Select Board’s remote meeting is broadcast on PACTV tonight at 5 o’clock.
