In Plymouth, spring Town Meeting will be the first one to be held using the hybrid format, now permitted because of state legislation passed late last year. The hybrid plan allows Town Meeting members to appear in person or to participate remotely.
The Town Moderator, elected by the town’s voters, presides over 162 Town Meeting Members, representing 18 precincts. Significant changes could take place if voters approve the proposed new Charter in May and some of them directly affect the Moderator.
Town Moderator Steven Triffletti has been elected by the voters to serve in that capacity for over 30 years.
“—currently there are over sixty thousand registered voters in the Town of Plymouth. The proposed Charter change provides for the voters to no longer elect the Town Moderator—rather it would be left to elected Town Meeting members. Currently 82 Town Meeting Members could elect the Town Moderator.”
The Town Moderator is not in agreement:
“I don’t support the Charter changes that relate to the Moderator and Town Meeting. I think that the registered voters for the Town of Plymouth should elect the Town Moderator.”
The new Charter calls for the Committee of Precinct Chairs to appoint 10 members of the Advisory and Finance Committee, and the Moderator to appoint 5. Now all members are appointed by the Moderator:
“I do not support the provision that provides for the Committee of Precinct Chairs to appoint members to the Advisory and Finance Committee. It’s important that those appointments be done in a timely manner and I’m quite concerned that we have a committee do the appointments. a committee currently comprised of 18 members, is a process that probably would require more time when we have appointments that need to be filled as soon as a resignation is received.”
Town Meeting is scheduled for April 1st at North High School.
