In Plymouth, Special Town Meeting, scheduled for next Tuesday (June 21), is truly special in several ways.
It will be the town’s 6th virtual meeting called chiefly to deal with Article 1 – an article the Advisory and Finance Committee has twice declined to recommend. And the meeting is also notable because of the number of participants.
Bobbi Clark has more:
Town Moderator Steven Triffletti:
“The Town of Plymouth, as a result of the census, increased the number of precincts from 15 to 18, which means 27 new positions for Town Meeting members—going up to 162 Town Meeting members.”
There are five articles on the warrant.
Article 1 would allow the town to purchase almost 25 acres of land at 46 Sandwich Road in Chiltonville – the site of a training center used by Entergy and now owned by Holtec.
Developer Rick Vayo agreed to buy the parcel from them for $2.3 million. He wants to build over 60 units of housing on the site.
Moderator Triffletti:
“We have a motion from the Select Board that the town be authorized to purchase the property for $3.75 million. The Advisory and Finance Committee does not support the main motion.”
In a 6 to 5 vote at their meeting on May 25th the Advisory and Finance Committee, or FinCom, declined to recommend the article—some members citing lack of clarity for the use of the property, concerns about the purchase price and others questioning proposed funding sources.
And, in an unusual move, Select Board Chair Betty Cavacco appeared before FinCom Wednesday night in an appeal for reconsideration of Article 1.
Her request included a video presentation featuring both Police Chief Dana Flynn and Fire Chief Neil Foley pitching the site as a location for a combined fire and police facility.
A vote to reconsider must be made by a member of the prevailing or winning side—no request was made.
Moderator Triffletti says Article 2….
“…relates to hybrid town meeting and Plymouth is petitioning the Massachusetts General Court for special legislation to hold remote and hybrid town meeting.”
And, Article 3 is a motion…
“…for the lease of town property for telecommunication purposes. And Articles 4 and 5 are petitioned articles and they are requests to amend the Town General Bylaws with respect to wetlands protection.”
Town Meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the 21st and will be broadcast live on PACTV.
