<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[South Shore News: Plympton]]></title><description><![CDATA[AI generated local news from the Town of Plympton]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/s/plympton</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iTuN!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbab45ada-ea94-4dd6-8d80-93d1484d69fd_500x500.png</url><title>South Shore News: Plympton</title><link>https://www.southshore.news/s/plympton</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:09:34 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.southshore.news/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[southshorenews@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[southshorenews@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[southshorenews@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[southshorenews@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Takes Direct Control of Water Project Amidst Fire Station Crisis and Administrator Resignation]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - March 23, 2026 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen took decisive action Monday to bypass the Town Properties Committee (TPC) and assume direct oversight of a time-sensitive water supply project, racing against a June 30 funding deadline.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-takes-direct-control-of</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-takes-direct-control-of</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:04:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7da1a9f2-1661-4aa4-a050-11e2a076a69c_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - March 23, 2026 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen took decisive action Monday to bypass the Town Properties Committee (TPC) and assume direct oversight of a time-sensitive water supply project, racing against a June 30 funding deadline. The meeting, marked by news of deteriorating public safety infrastructure and the resignation of long-serving Town Administrator Liz Dennehy, signaled a major shift in how the town manages its most pressing capital projects following a failed debt exclusion vote.</p><p><em>Editors note: South Shore News is going paid in April, subscribe now to make sure you don&#8217;t miss a story. Reach out for group or organizational pricing.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h2>The Full Story</h2><p>The meeting opened with a significant legal briefing from Town Counsel Gregg Corbo regarding the future of Plympton&#8217;s public safety infrastructure. Following the failure of a recent debt exclusion vote for a new fire station, Corbo recommended a &#8220;clean break&#8221; from the previous decade-old project management structure. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=97">01:37</a>], [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=381">06:21</a>] He urged the Board to prioritize the Town Campus Public Water Supply project, which faces a strict state funding expiration on June 30, 2026. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=189">03:09</a>]</p><p>Corbo advised the Board to remove the water project from the purview of the Town Properties Committee to streamline management. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=232">03:52</a>] &#8220;My recommendation is that you proceed with that project... that you move that forward and that the select board kind of retain the management of that project to ensure that it can be closed out as expeditiously as possible,&#8221; Corbo stated, noting that the design is nearly complete and does not legally require an outside Owner&#8217;s Project Manager (OPM). [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=198">03:18</a>]</p><p>The urgency of the situation was underscored by Fire Chief Cheryl Duddy, who delivered a sobering report on the current fire station&#8217;s condition. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=664">11:04</a>] Duddy detailed &#8220;continuing deterioration,&#8221; including rotting window sills and a single-pane front window that recently cracked during a storm. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=681">11:21</a>] Beyond the building, Duddy revealed a new crisis: the pump on Engine 1 may be completely decommissioned, a setback the department had hoped to avoid for several more years. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=774">12:54</a>]</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t want to continue to put money into something that&#8217;s either going to be replaced, torn down, or need to be updated anyway... the conditions of the vehicles continues to deteriorate.&#8221; &#8212; Chief Cheryl Duddy [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=664">11:04</a>]</p></blockquote><p>The Board also grappled with the Townhouse front entrance project. While they approved a contract amendment with Habeeb and Associates for construction oversight&#8212;noting the project cost had been successfully reduced from an original $170,000 estimate to approximately $35,000&#8212;a motion to remove the project from TPC oversight resulted in a 1-1 deadlock between Chairman Dana Smith and Vice Chairman Nathaniel Sides. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1061">17:41</a>]</p><p>The meeting concluded on a somber note as Administrative Assistant Briggette Martins announced the resignation of Plympton&#8217;s first full time Town Administrator Liz Dennehy, effective tentatively on April 16, 2026. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1688">28:08</a>], Dennehy was praised for her years of service, particularly her success in securing grant funding and managing town budgets. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1704">28:24</a>] &#8220;It&#8217;s a loss for the town,&#8221; Martins remarked, noting that a farewell event is being planned for residents to offer their thanks. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1824">30:24</a>]</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-takes-direct-control-of?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-takes-direct-control-of?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h2>Why It Matters</h2><p>For Plympton residents, the Board&#8217;s decision to take direct control of the water project is a move to protect state funding that would otherwise be lost by July 1. However, the 1-1 deadlock on project oversight and the loss of the Town Administrator create a leadership vacuum at a time when the town must return to the &#8220;drawing board&#8221; for a fire station solution that taxpayers will support.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h2><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To ratify the vote to remove the Town Campus Public Water Supply project from the purview of the Town Properties Committee (TPC). [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=403">06:43</a>]</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (2-0) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=423">07:03</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To move forward with the public water supply project under the oversight of the Board of Selectmen without an OPM. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=544">09:04</a>]</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (2-0) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=558">09:18</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To execute a contract amendment with Habeeb and Associates for the Townhouse front entrance project. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1205">20:05</a>]</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (2-0) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1215">20:15</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To remove the Townhouse front entrance project from the list of current TPC projects. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1232">20:32</a>]</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> 1-1 (Sides: Aye, Smith: Nay) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1262">21:02</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To execute a contract with Sarian Company for continued water operator services. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1356">22:36</a>]</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (2-0) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1385">23:05</a>]</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment</h4><p>No formal public comment period was held, though Chief Duddy provided extensive testimony regarding the &#8220;fast backwards&#8221; state of fire department equipment and facilities. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=664">11:04</a>]</p><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Budget Finalization:</strong> The Board will meet with the Finance Committee on <strong>April 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM</strong> to finalize the fiscal budget. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1879">31:19</a>]</p></li><li><p><strong>Administrator Search:</strong> The town will begin the process of replacing Liz Dennehy following her April 16 departure. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=1697">28:17</a>]</p></li><li><p><strong>Water Project:</strong> Town Counsel and the Board will coordinate with engineers to prepare bid documents for the water project to meet the July 1 deadline. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=232">03:52</a>], [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfeHAE48KM&amp;t=856">14:16</a>]</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p><em>Source Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/xpfeHAE48KM?si=MRYSfu-RFaS3OaNs">Area 58 Plympton</a></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">South Shore News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton School Committee Approves “Lean” Budget]]></title><description><![CDATA[Critical Personnel Cuts Trigger Outcry]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-approves-d6f</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-approves-d6f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:02:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/868bb984-89eb-4cb3-8512-05d6a9975f1d_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON &#8212; March 9, 2026 &#8212; Facing what officials described as a &#8220;macabre menu&#8221; of choices, the Plympton School Committee voted 4-1 on Monday night to approve a $4.6 million FY2027 budget that necessitates $122,795 in cuts. To bridge a gap widened by a sudden $140,000 out-of-district placement, the committee moved to reduce the librarian, speech therapist, and school psychologist positions to part-time status, sparking a raw debate over the erosion of student support services at the Dennett Elementary School.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The meeting was dominated by a stark presentation from Superintendent Jill Proulx and Principal Peter Veneto, who revealed that the district&#8217;s financial landscape had shifted dramatically since preliminary talks in December. While the town had stepped up with significant increases in recent years, Chair Jason Fraser noted that the district has now &#8220;slipped over the edge&#8221; of its fiscal capacity [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=1913">31:53</a>].</p><p>The primary driver of the crisis was an &#8220;11th-hour&#8221; out-of-district vocational and special education placement totaling approximately $140,000 [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=962">16:02</a>]. Under state law, the district is mandated to fund these placements, but with Plympton limited by Proposition 2 &#189; and facing minimal new growth, the only remaining &#8220;rock to turn over&#8221; was the school&#8217;s personnel budget.</p><p>The approved cuts include:</p><ul><li><p><strong>School Psychologist:</strong> Reduced from 1.0 to 0.8 Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=863">14:23</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Speech Therapist:</strong> Reduced from 0.8 to 0.6 FTE [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=863">14:23</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Librarian:</strong> Reduced from 1.0 to 0.8 FTE [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=863">14:23</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Curriculum &amp; Technology:</strong> A combined $60,000 reduction in supplies and updates [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=823">13:43</a>].</p></li></ul><p>The human impact of these numbers was brought into focus by Liz Goodman, a fifth-grade teacher and union co-president. She argued that these roles are not just about &#8220;minutes on an IEP&#8221; but provide a safety net for the entire student body. She highlighted that the school psychologist often checks in on 20 general education students in crisis during a typical week&#8212;students who may no longer receive that support under a reduced schedule [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=2843">47:23</a>].</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Our school psychologist responds to the majority of calls of students in need... without that one extra day, then the special ed staff will get pulled from the students they are servicing to meet the needs of the student who is in immediate need. I truly know the ramifications of cutting these two positions.&#8221; [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=2602">43:22</a>] &#8212; Liz Goodman, Union Co-President</p></blockquote><p>Committee member Ross MacPherson expressed deep skepticism regarding the cuts, questioning if the district was being &#8220;penny-wise and pound-foolish&#8221; [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=3983">01:06:23</a>]. He warned that reducing in-house support staff could ultimately lead to more students requiring expensive out-of-district placements in the future. MacPherson cast the lone dissenting vote against the budget.</p><p>Chair Jason Fraser defended the bottom-line vote as a fiduciary necessity to move the budget to Town Meeting, though he vowed to continue looking for alternative revenue, such as Rural Aid grants, before the school year begins [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=4311">01:11:51</a>].</p><p>Beyond the budget, the committee addressed physical infrastructure issues at the Dennett. Principal Veneto reported that the recent &#8220;snow bomb&#8221; storm caused new gutter damage and exacerbated ongoing roof leaks in the kindergarten wing [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=4523">01:15:23</a>]. Additionally, a malfunction in the fire suppression cistern led to the &#8220;recycling&#8221; of thousands of gallons of water, though the building remains safe and the issue has been isolated [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=4702">01:18:22</a>].</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-approves-d6f?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-approves-d6f?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>For Plympton residents, this meeting signals a potential turning point in how the town supports its youngest citizens. The reduction of support staff to part-time status means that students in crisis may face delays in care, and educators may be pulled from classrooms to manage behavioral needs. The $122,000 gap highlights the extreme vulnerability of small rural districts to even a single unexpected special education cost, a situation Chair Fraser suggested may eventually require a town-wide override or further regionalization to remain sustainable.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h3><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve $4,624,750 as the FY2027 local education operating budget.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> 4-1 (MacPherson voting Nay) ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=4460">01:14:20</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the consent agenda, including February minutes and grants (excluding financials).</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=94">01:34</a>])</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Alex:</strong> Expressed personal gratitude for the school psychologist&#8217;s role in his son&#8217;s success and questioned how the district can justify reducing services that prevent larger crises [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=2062">34:22</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Liz Goodman (Teacher):</strong> Provided a detailed breakdown of the non-mandated services provided by the librarian and psychologist, such as teaching digital accessibility tools and managing the RTI (Response to Intervention) groups [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=2602">43:22</a>].</p></li></ul><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Town Meeting:</strong> The approved $4.6M budget will now head to Plympton voters for final approval.</p></li><li><p><strong>Building Assessment:</strong> The committee will push for a $35,000 limited building assessment to address the failing roof and HVAC systems [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=5283">01:28:03</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Rural Aid Advocacy:</strong> Officials will continue to lobby the state for the Rural Schools Bill to secure more consistent funding for districts like Plympton [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRG-ESEA25I&amp;t=5713">01:35:13</a>].</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p><em>Source Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/uRG-ESEA25I?si=Ox9K8nKkXeHQbzHV">Area 58 Plympton</a></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading South Shore News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Awards Townhouse Renovation Bid, Authorizes Grant Pursuit for New Fire Station]]></title><description><![CDATA[Town Administrator Liz Dennehy Appointed by Easton Select Board]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-awards-townhouse-renovation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-awards-townhouse-renovation</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:02:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ef92ed9d-766b-4598-ab11-3e8422cbb586_1024x1024.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - March 9, 2026 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen moved forward on several key municipal infrastructure projects Monday, awarding a $35,500 contract for renovations to the Townhouse front entrance and granting the Town Properties Committee (TPC) broad authority to seek state and federal grants for a proposed new fire station. The board also authorized the use of opioid settlement funds for school safety equipment and initiated a new lease agreement for the Old Townhouse following past utility issues.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The meeting opened with a focus on community and infrastructure. Chairman Dana Smith and Vice Chairman Nathaniel Sides presided over the session, with Town Administrator Liz Dennehy participating remotely via Zoom. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=12">00:12</a>] The board&#8217;s first action was the unanimous approval of an Eagle Scout project proposed by Ross MacPherson, which will involve interior renovations to the Holt Field Snack Shack. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=91">01:31</a>]</p><p>Attention then turned to the historic Townhouse front entrance project. Following a competitive bidding process that drew four applicants, the board issued a Notice of Intent to Award the project to DDC Construction Inc. for $35,500. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=163">02:43</a>] Vice Chairman Sides noted that the bid was &#8220;pleasantly surprisingly low&#8221; compared to other estimates, and the town&#8217;s architect has already verified the contractor&#8217;s references. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=170">02:50</a>]</p><p>In a move to secure future funding for the town&#8217;s most significant upcoming project, the board granted the Town Properties Committee (TPC) a &#8220;blanket authorization&#8221; to pursue grants for the proposed new fire station. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1039">17:19</a>] This authorization allows the committee to apply for various funding opportunities immediately, though any grants requiring a local match will return to the Selectmen for a specific vote. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1001">16:41</a>]</p><p>The board also addressed public health and safety by authorizing $8,500 in opioid settlement funds for the Dennett Elementary School. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=367">06:07</a>] The funds will cover educational &#8220;LEAD&#8221; materials, cruiser decals, and a radio project for the School Resource Officer (SRO). [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=243">04:03</a>] Town Administrator Liz Dennehy noted that if the school department is successful in securing separate grant funding for these items, the opioid funds would be returned to the town&#8217;s general settlement pool. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=333">05:33</a>]</p><p>A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the future of the Old Townhouse and its relationship with the Plympton Historical Society (PHS). [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=404">06:44</a>] The board moved to draft a new, formalized lease agreement to clarify maintenance responsibilities and utility costs. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=699">11:39</a>] The discussion revealed that a previous lack of clear oversight led to the building&#8217;s gas being shut off due to unpaid invoices after the former society group disbanded. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=534">08:54</a>] Under the new leadership of the PHS, the town seeks to ensure the building remains active for community use, including yoga and meditation classes, while protecting town finances. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=572">09:32</a>]</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Seeing the vacancies getting filled is very, very encouraging... kudos to all those who have stepped up and take on this responsibility of volunteering.&#8221; [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=863">14:23</a>] &#8212; <strong>Dana Smith, Chairman</strong></p></blockquote><p>The meeting concluded with a moment of reflection. Chairman Smith offered high praise for the Highway Department&#8217;s &#8220;fantastic effort&#8221; in clearing roads during a recent major blizzard, comparing the storm&#8217;s intensity to the historic Blizzard of &#8216;78. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1275">21:15</a>] The board also stood in a moment of silence for Donald Vautrinot, a long-standing member of the community, Vietnam veteran, and former Plympton Deputy Fire Chief and Police Officer, who passed away recently. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1332">22:12</a>]</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-awards-townhouse-renovation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-awards-townhouse-renovation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>For Plympton residents, these decisions represent a dual focus on fiscal responsibility and community preservation. By awarding the Townhouse bid to the lowest qualified bidder and aggressively pursuing grants for the fire station, the board is attempting to modernize town facilities while minimizing the direct hit to the local tax rate. Additionally, formalizing the lease for the Old Townhouse ensures that a historic community asset remains functional and safe without the risk of future utility lapses.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h3><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the Eagle Scout project for the Holt Field Snack Shack interior renovations.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=101">01:41</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To issue a Notice of Intent to Award to DDC Construction Inc. for the townhouse front entrance project for $35,500.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=229">03:49</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To authorize the use of opioid settlement funds ($8,500) for Dennett SRO materials and radio project.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=380">06:20</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To create a new lease with the Plympton Historical Society regarding building utilization and responsibilities.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=799">13:19</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To appoint Gabriela Falconieri to the Community Preservation Committee.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=857">14:17</a>])</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To authorize the Town Properties Committee to pursue grant funding for the proposed fire station.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (Roll Call) ([<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1065">17:45</a>])</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment</h4><p>No formal public comments were made during the open session; however, the board acknowledged the recent ribbon-cutting for a new local business, Asher&#8217;s Sandbox, scheduled for March 13th at 9:30 AM. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Vz2kjipRw&amp;t=1135">18:55</a>]</p><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><p>Following the conclusion of Monday&#8217;s public agenda, the Plympton Board of Selectmen voted to adjourn directly into <strong>Executive Session</strong>. The stated purpose was to &#8220;conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiation with non-union personnel... in regards to the town administrator&#8221;. While the board did not return to open session, the context for these negotiations became clear last week.</p><p>On <strong>March 2, 2026</strong>, the Easton Select Board conducted final interviews for their Town Administrator position, featuring Plympton&#8217;s own Liz Dennehy as a lead finalist. During that session, the Easton board praised Dennehy&#8217;s &#8220;scrappy&#8221; and &#8220;professionalized&#8221; approach to municipal management, specifically noting her success in building Plympton&#8217;s administrative structure from the ground up.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;She owned that Plympton&#8217;s a small town, but... it&#8217;s no small feat building that role up from the ground up. You could see that in her answers.&#8221; &#8212; <strong>Craig Barger, Easton Select Board</strong></p></blockquote><p>Following a brief deliberation, the Easton Select Board voted <strong>unanimously</strong> to appoint Dennehy as their next Town Administrator, pending successful contract negotiations. As Plympton&#8217;s first-ever Town Administrator finishes her nine-year tenure, the town now faces its first major leadership transition in nearly a decade.</p><div><hr></div><p><strong>Source Videos:</strong></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://youtu.be/o9Vz2kjipRw">Plympton Board of Selectmen - March 9, 2026</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-LHMqyQPJg">Easton Select Board Finalist Interviews - March 2, 2026</a></p></li></ul><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading South Shore News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Relaunches Fire Station Project Amidst Data Debates and Open Meeting Violation]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - February 7, 9, and 11 - The Plympton Town Properties Committee has officially entered &#8220;Phase 1&#8221; of a renewed effort to address the town&#8217;s aging fire station, emphasizing a &#8220;data-first&#8221; approach that prioritizes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) over traditional fire response.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-relaunches-fire-station</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-relaunches-fire-station</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:03:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e413b673-cefc-471a-99e9-d87fa7db2e6a_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - February 7, 9, and 11 - The Plympton Town Properties Committee has officially entered &#8220;Phase 1&#8221; of a renewed effort to address the town&#8217;s aging fire station, emphasizing a &#8220;data-first&#8221; approach that prioritizes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) over traditional fire response. However, the committee&#8217;s first week of public sessions was marked by sharp questions from residents regarding the dismissal of $1 million in previous studies and a formal acknowledgment of an Open Meeting Law violation stemming from an improperly held executive session in January.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>Following the resignation of the previous committee members in late 2025, the newly appointed Town Properties Committee (TPC) held three meetings this week to establish a baseline of facts for the community. Chair Pierre Boyer characterized the current phase as a &#8220;listening and education session,&#8221; presenting data that shows Plympton&#8217;s emergency services are overwhelmingly medical in nature.</p><p>Data presented by the committee indicates that total emergency responses rose from 750 in 2021 to 808 in 2024. Of those, roughly 67% to 69% are EMS-related, while actual fire incidents average only 11 to 14 per year. The committee also highlighted a significant spike in mutual aid, with Plympton providing assistance to surrounding towns in approximately 22.5% of its total calls in 2024.</p><p>The committee&#8217;s strategy involves determining a new &#8220;operational model&#8221; before deciding on the size or location of a building. Chair Boyer suggested that focusing on an EMS-driven service might allow for a smaller, more cost-effective station. This approach, however, met with resistance from some residents and members of the Fire Department. During the February 9 meeting, attendees questioned Boyer&#8217;s expertise in determining &#8220;operational needs&#8221; without a formal feasibility study or direct consultation with outside experts.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;We want to make sure we have the facts right... so when we do come up with that final solution and it goes to town meeting for a vote, it passes. That is the ultimate goal.&#8221; [00:40:07] &#8212; Pierre Boyer, TPC Chair</p></blockquote><p>Residents also expressed frustration over the perceived abandonment of previous plans. One resident noted that the town had already authorized nearly $1 million for studies and design, asking why the committee was &#8220;spinning its wheels&#8221; instead of modifying existing work. Boyer maintained that the committee is open to previous plans but insists on verifying the data themselves to ensure transparency and taxpayer support.</p><p>The week concluded with a legal corrective action. On February 11, Town Counsel Matthew Skydel advised the committee that their January 5 executive session violated the Open Meeting Law because the &#8220;purpose&#8221; cited&#8212;dispute resolution&#8212;did not meet the narrow legal requirements for private sessions. To remedy this, the committee voted to release the minutes of that session and recreate the discussion in public.</p><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>For Plympton residents, this project represents one of the largest potential tax impacts in recent history. The committee is exploring tax mitigation strategies, including the use of the ambulance fund (which generates revenue through patient billing) to offset costs. However, with $50 million in projected school repairs on the horizon and limited debt rolling off, any fire station proposal will likely require a Proposition 2 &#189; debt exclusion or override.</p><p>+1</p><div><hr></div><h3>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h3><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes (February 11, 2026)</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To release the minutes from the January 5, 2026, executive session to the public to remedy an Open Meeting Law complaint.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (<a href="https://youtu.be/kqacrJmDHjE?si=YHBewm3ScHoHnqvz&amp;t=220">00:03:40</a>)</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To vacate the motion made in the January 5 executive session regarding a request for a joint meeting between the Town Administrator, Select Board, and TPC.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (<a href="https://youtu.be/kqacrJmDHjE?si=Sfc4urXUvQESNcgf&amp;t=242">00:04:02</a>)</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To authorize Town Counsel to respond to the January 7 Open Meeting Law complaint on behalf of the committee.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (<a href="https://youtu.be/kqacrJmDHjE?si=neI_4Yb7O8LqR_KJ&amp;t=290">00:04:50</a>)</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment &amp; Core Testimony</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Previous Plans:</strong> Residents urged the committee to utilize the data from the 2012 Rind Study and the most recent failed proposal to avoid wasting past investments.</p></li><li><p><strong>Population Growth:</strong> Attendees challenged state data suggesting a population decrease, citing pending 40B developments that could add 60+ families.</p></li><li><p><strong>Committee Goal:</strong> Chair Pierre Boyer emphasized that the current &#8220;Phase 1&#8221; is about ensuring the final solution is based on facts to ensure it passes at Town Meeting.</p></li></ul><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><p>The committee will move into Phase 2, which includes investigating potential alternative locations, such as land at Center and Palmer Streets or Maple Street, and developing preliminary design options. No specific timeline has been set, but the committee confirmed the project will not be ready for a vote at the May 2026 Town Meeting.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Source Videos:</em></p><ul><li><p><a href="https://youtu.be/kqacrJmDHjE?si=zh8IRSILv3nF3QhF">Plympton Town Properties Committee - February 11, 2026</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://youtu.be/uezNBF2ct-s?si=NSmtZWgq0AT8QB6a">Plympton Town Properties Committee - February 9, 2026</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://youtu.be/6BxJvNHNj_Y?si=jjLXW74GTK23kIa3">Plympton Town Properties Committee - February 7, 2026</a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading South Shore News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton School Budget Hits “Net Zero” Balance Amid Rising Vocational Costs and Transportation “Monopoly”]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - February 9, 2026 - The Plympton School Committee navigated a high-stakes fiscal balancing act February 9 revealing that a significant $93,000 increase in state aid has been almost entirely absorbed by an unexpected $84,000 surge in out-of-district vocational tuition and transportation costs.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-budget-hits-net-zero</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-budget-hits-net-zero</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 11:00:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3b87d0bc-731a-4a7b-8c70-405cb6aae49e_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - February 9, 2026 - The Plympton School Committee navigated a high-stakes fiscal balancing act February 9 revealing that a significant $93,000 increase in state aid has been almost entirely absorbed by an unexpected $84,000 surge in out-of-district vocational tuition and transportation costs. Despite these pressures, the committee moved forward with a &#8220;net zero&#8221; budget strategy while bracing for a looming multi-million dollar capital crisis involving the Dennett Elementary School&#8217;s aging roof and HVAC systems.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The primary focus of Monday&#8217;s session was the FY27 budget, a document that has seen several &#8220;moving parts&#8221; since the committee&#8217;s last meeting. Director of Finance &amp; Operations Sarah Hickey reported that Governor Healey&#8217;s &#8220;House 2&#8221; budget proposal released $93,000 in additional net state aid for Plympton. However, the celebration was short-lived as the district simultaneously learned of two additional students applying for out-of-district vocational programs. These two placements alone carry a fiscal impact of $84,000&#8212;comprising $70,000 in tuition and $14,000 in specialized transportation. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=1623">27:03</a>]</p><p>Chair Jason Fraser noted that while the state aid &#8220;giveth,&#8221; the vocational costs &#8220;taketh away,&#8221; leaving the district in a delicate &#8220;net zero&#8221; position. To further streamline the operating budget, the committee agreed to move a $12,500 phone system overhaul&#8212;required because the current system will become defunct in January 2027&#8212;out of the general budget and into a separate warrant article for Town Meeting. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=1729">28:49</a>]</p><p><strong>The Transportation &#8220;Monopoly&#8221;</strong> The committee held a lengthy discussion regarding the district&#8217;s busing contract with &#8220;First Student.&#8221; Sarah Hickey recommended exercising a &#8220;Year 7&#8221; option, which limits the annual increase to 5%. She described the move as a &#8220;fiscal no-brainer,&#8221; noting that many neighboring districts are currently facing double-digit increases. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=238">03:58</a>]</p><p>Chair Jason Fraser used the moment to criticize the current state of school transportation in Massachusetts, labeling it a &#8220;monopoly&#8221; that leaves small towns with no competitive bidding options. Fraser highlighted House Bill 4066, filed by State Representative Michelle Badger, which aims to address &#8220;predatory pricing&#8221; in public school transportation.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;This is an absolute financial no-brainer... it is a monopoly that seems to be allowed. They each bid in their own area and no one else ever bids against them.&#8221; [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=255">04:15</a>] &#8212; Jason Fraser, Chair</p></blockquote><p><strong>Capital Concerns: The Three-Million-Dollar Roof</strong> While the operating budget remains stable, the committee expressed deep concern over the &#8220;limping&#8221; physical plant of the Dennett Elementary School. Vice Chair Jon Wilhelmsen reported from the Capital Improvement Planning team, noting that the school&#8217;s roof is in dire need of replacement. While a previous assessment estimated the cost at $1.3 million, Wilhelmsen warned that by the time the project reaches Town Meeting in 2028 or 2029, the cost could balloon to $3 million. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=2583">43:03</a>]</p><p>The committee discussed seeking a $30,000 to $35,000 professional building assessment to provide &#8220;hard numbers&#8221; for future borrowing. Wilhelmsen emphasized that the town cannot rely on free cash to fund these massive projects and must begin planning for a significant debt exclusion or borrowing plan. Other &#8220;big ticket&#8221; items on the horizon include aging rooftop HVAC units, which now cost approximately $110,000 each to replace. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=2728">45:28</a>]</p><p><strong>Academic Excellence and AI</strong> Assistant Superintendent Tricia Clifford provided an update on the district&#8217;s academic initiatives, including the upcoming professional development day on February 23. This day will feature specialized training in Artificial Intelligence for high school staff and continued math curriculum implementation for K-8 educators using the HMH curriculum. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=1165">19:25</a>]</p><p>Coordinator of Student Support Christine Marcolini shared highlights from the Dennett, including the successful &#8220;100th Day of School&#8221; celebrations featuring a Grade 1 fashion show. She also introduced the school&#8217;s new custodian, Jameson Wright, who &#8220;jumped right in&#8221; on his first day to proactively address campus maintenance. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=761">12:41</a>]</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-budget-hits-net-zero?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-budget-hits-net-zero?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>For Plympton residents, the &#8220;net zero&#8221; budget is a temporary reprieve. While the school committee has successfully managed immediate cost increases through state aid, the looming $3 million roof replacement and the necessity of a new $12,500 phone system for safety reasons represent significant future tax impacts. The committee&#8217;s decision to move toward a professional facility assessment is the first step in what will likely be a multi-year conversation about a major capital investment in the town&#8217;s only elementary school.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h3><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To adjourn to executive session to discuss strategy regarding litigation and non-union personnel negotiations.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous (Roll Call) [[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=114">01:54</a>]]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the consent agenda (Minutes from Jan 12, warrants, and grants).</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous [[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=182">03:02</a>]]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the hourly rate increase for the Administrative Assistant to the Principal to $28.50.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous [[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=651">10:51</a>]]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the FY27 School Committee meeting dates as presented.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Vote:</strong> Unanimous [[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=1400">23:20</a>]]</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment</h4><p>No members of the public chose to speak during the scheduled public hearing for the FY27 budget or the general public comment period. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=35">00:35</a>]</p><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Professional Development Day:</strong> February 23, 2026 (No school for students). [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=850">14:10</a>]</p></li><li><p><strong>Joint School Committee Meeting:</strong> February 26, 2026 (Union 31) at 5:00 PM. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=3390">56:30</a>]</p></li><li><p><strong>Next Plympton School Committee Meeting:</strong> March 9, 2026, where a final vote on the FY27 budget is expected. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh9MDSzFw9k&amp;t=3396">56:36</a>]</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><p><em>Source Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/kh9MDSzFw9k?si=qRYTJ8Wyo-yAMQfm">Area 58 Plympton</a></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading South Shore News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Fire Station Faces State Safety Citations as Town Launches New Facility Outreach]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON &#8212; February 2, 2026 &#8212; The Plympton Board of Selectmen addressed a series of state-issued safety citations against the town&#8217;s fire station during their Monday afternoon meeting, coinciding with the rollout of a multi-phase public education campaign for a new facility.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-faces-state</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-faces-state</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/244ae916-9f19-428c-af57-db14863655c0_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON &#8212; February 2, 2026 &#8212; The Plympton Board of Selectmen addressed a series of state-issued safety citations against the town&#8217;s fire station during their Monday afternoon meeting, coinciding with the rollout of a multi-phase public education campaign for a new facility. Town Properties Committee Chairman Pierre Boyer detailed five distinct violations from the Department of Labor Standards, ranging from electrical hazards to drainage issues, while outlining a strategy to regain public trust following the defeat of a previous fire station proposal last year.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The meeting opened with a comprehensive update from the Town Properties Committee (TPC) regarding the deteriorating condition of the Plympton Fire Station and the town&#8217;s response to recent regulatory scrutiny [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=31">00:31</a>]. TPC Chair Pierre Boyer informed the Board that the State Department of Labor Standards issued several citations following an inspection of the facility [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=484">08:04</a>].</p><p>The violations cited included electrical equipment installed contrary to instructions, insufficient working space around electrical boxes, and improper drainage where &#8220;wet processes&#8221; are used, leading to standing water [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=376">06:16</a>]. Fire Chief Cheryl Duddy noted that short-term remedies&#8212;such as covering electrical boxes with plastic and implementing internal policies to prevent water buildup&#8212;have been accepted by the state for now [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=397">06:37</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=443">07:23</a>]. However, the town must provide progress updates every two weeks, and long-term solutions, including potentially moving water feeds and repairing the roof, will require significant planning and capital [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=511">08:31</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=546">09:06</a>].</p><p>In response to these challenges and the failure of a $14 million fire station project at a previous Town Meeting, the TPC is launching a four-phase &#8220;Education and Listening&#8221; initiative [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=626">10:26</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=665">11:05</a>]. Phase One begins this Saturday, February 7, with a public meeting aimed at presenting factual data on current operations, EMS response times, and facility needs [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=665">11:05</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=687">11:27</a>].</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re trying to listen to what the residents said at the meeting when the last proposal was turned down. Our focus is on transparency, tax impact, and providing multiple design options so residents can form their own informed conclusions.&#8221; &#8212; Pierre Boyer, Town Properties Committee Chair [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=649">10:49</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=983">16:23</a>]</p></blockquote><p>Resident Joe Colanino expressed skepticism regarding the costs, suggesting that residents primarily care about the bottom line [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=934">15:34</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=963">16:03</a>]. &#8220;Bottom line is when people come to town meeting, they&#8217;re going to look at the numbers,&#8221; Colanino said, questioning if the previous $14 million project could be revisited with a better quote [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=963">16:03</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1135">18:55</a>]. Boyer responded that the committee is focusing on the overall tax impact and exploring three to four different options to meet operational needs [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1035">17:15</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1121">18:41</a>].</p><p>Beyond the fire station, the Board heard a report on significant building maintenance issues caused by recent winter weather. Briggette Martins reported that ice dams have caused water to leak through the walls of the Town House, the Council on Aging, and the Library [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1938">32:18</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1954">32:34</a>]. Maintenance crews have been working through the weekend to install &#8220;ice dam boxes&#8221; and use roof rakes to mitigate damage, though the situation remains &#8220;quite messy&#8221; [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1969">32:49</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=2030">33:50</a>].</p><p>In lighter news, the Recreation Commission received approval to install a seasonal inflatable ice skating rink at Holt Field [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1629">27:09</a>]. The 60-by-100-foot rink will be available for public use, with the commission planning signage to notify residents of hours and &#8220;skate at your own risk&#8221; policies [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1373">22:53</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1696">28:16</a>]. Selectmen suggested adjusting hours to allow for &#8220;unobstructed use&#8221; by seniors during off-peak morning hours [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1472">24:32</a>].</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-faces-state?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-faces-state?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><h3>Why It Matters</h3><p>The state safety citations place Plympton under strict regulatory oversight, creating an urgent timeline for facility repairs that could impact the municipal budget. For residents, the new phased approach to the fire station project represents a critical attempt by town leadership to balance essential public safety infrastructure with taxpayer concerns after a failed debt exclusion vote. Additionally, the ongoing battle with ice dams highlights the vulnerabilities of the town&#8217;s aging municipal buildings, potentially leading to further capital requests in the upcoming fiscal year.</p><div><hr></div><h3>Official Minutes &amp; Data</h3><h4>Key Motions &amp; Votes</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the revised mission statement for the Town Properties Committee.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Outcome:</strong> Passed [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=232">03:52</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve a formal process for maintenance and repair requests on town-owned buildings or land.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Outcome:</strong> Passed [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=321">05:21</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the request for use of town property for a seasonal ice skating rink at Holt Field.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Outcome:</strong> Passed [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1635">27:15</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve and post the annual town elections calendar and ballot positions.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Outcome:</strong> Passed [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1756">29:16</a>]</p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Motion:</strong> To approve the use of town property for the annual Best Buddies Challenge bike race on May 30, 2026, pending departmental sign-offs.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Outcome:</strong> Passed [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=1869">31:09</a>]</p></li></ul></li></ul><h4>Public Comment</h4><ul><li><p><strong>Mark Wallis:</strong> Questioned the timeline and bidding process for the Town Hall front door project [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=832">13:52</a>].</p></li><li><p><strong>Joe Colanino:</strong> Raised concerns about the escalating costs of the fire station project and the likelihood of taxpayer approval at Town Meeting [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=934">15:34</a>].</p></li></ul><h4>What&#8217;s Next</h4><p>The Town Properties Committee will hold its first &#8220;Education and Listening&#8221; session on Saturday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m. in the Town House to discuss the fire station&#8217;s future [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=665">11:05</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=2122">35:22</a>]. The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for February 23 at 2:00 p.m. [<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU&amp;t=2083">34:43</a>].</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Source Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhp_bAwYRqU">Area58_Plympton</a></em></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading South Shore News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton School Committee: Medicaid “Recoupment” and Reimbursement Cuts Could Hit Town Revenues]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON &#8212; January 12, 2026 &#8212; Plympton officials were warned January 12 of a &#8220;triple-sided sword&#8221; facing town finances: a federal &#8220;recoupment&#8221; of Medicaid funds and a predicted drop in future reimbursements that could squeeze the town&#8217;s budget starting this year.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-medicaid</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-medicaid</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:01:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ec456436-d65f-4428-baaf-dd181397aea8_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON &#8212; January 12, 2026 &#8212; Plympton officials were warned January 12 of a &#8220;triple-sided sword&#8221; facing town finances: a federal &#8220;recoupment&#8221; of Medicaid funds and a predicted drop in future reimbursements that could squeeze the town&#8217;s budget starting this year.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>In a sobering report to the Plympton School Committee, Director of Finance and&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Reclaims Energy Independence, Expects Savings]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - January 12, 2026 - Plympton is no longer part of the Silver Lake Regional School District&#8217;s energy contract and has secured its own, more favorable agreement with Sprague Energy.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-reclaims-energy-independence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-reclaims-energy-independence</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:02:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d268d4b4-28e4-48e2-a401-8baf62443dc8_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - January 12, 2026 - Plympton is no longer part of the Silver Lake Regional School District&#8217;s energy contract and has secured its own, more favorable agreement with Sprague Energy.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy announced a significant shift in Plympton&#8217;s energy procurement strategy. After being excluded from a collective con&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Joins Regional Mental Health Initiative Using Opioid Settlement Funds]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - December 22, 2025 - In a move to bolster local mental health resources without impacting the tax rate, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to enter an Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) with Kingston and Halifax for shared clinician services.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-joins-regional-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-joins-regional-mental-health</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:02:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7f6a716a-f904-48bf-82dc-959dcf680e52_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - December 22, 2025 - In a move to bolster local mental health resources without impacting the tax rate, the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to enter an Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) with Kingston and Halifax for shared clinician services. The board authorized the use of approximately $4,500 in opioid settlement funds to cover Plympton&#8217;s&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Fire Station Project “Reset” Sparks Debate]]></title><description><![CDATA[Committee Seeks &#8220;Tax Neutral&#8221; Plan While Chief Warns of Cutting Corners]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-project-reset</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-fire-station-project-reset</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 11:00:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d348508f-ca85-41e5-8a2a-1610c5d9d83a_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - December 11, 2025 - The Town Properties Committee officially hit the reset button on the town&#8217;s fire station project this week, prioritizing a &#8220;clean slate&#8221; approach with a goal of &#8220;tax neutrality.&#8221; However, the proposal met immediate pushback from the Fire Chief, who warned that prioritizing cost over function could repeat the mistakes of th&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Schools FY27 Budget Preview: Level Funding Would Cut Band, Library, and Staff]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - December 15, 2025 - The Plympton School Committee got its first look at the preliminary FY27 budget, where administrators presented two starkly different paths: a &#8220;level service&#8221; plan requiring a 2.61% increase to maintain current programs, or a &#8220;level funded&#8221; option that would eliminate the school band and significantly reduce library and custodial staff.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-schools-fy27-budget-preview</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-schools-fy27-budget-preview</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 13:01:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/31d893f8-5883-4415-a0fa-7385d75455bc_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - December 15, 2025 - The Plympton School Committee got its first look at the preliminary FY27 budget, where administrators presented two starkly different paths: a &#8220;level service&#8221; plan requiring a 2.61% increase to maintain current programs, or a &#8220;level funded&#8221; option that would eliminate the school band and significantly reduce library and cu&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Tax Rate Drops to $14.26 as Selectmen Maintain Single Rate for All Properties]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - November 17 - Plympton property owners will see their tax rate decrease by 63 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to $14.26 for fiscal year 2026 after selectmen voted unanimously November 17 to maintain a single tax rate across all property classes.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-tax-rate-drops-to-1426-as</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-tax-rate-drops-to-1426-as</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 19 Nov 2025 11:03:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3af86dbd-ce14-47bd-a4da-f9adf26ff845_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - November 17 - Plympton property owners will see their tax rate decrease by 63 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to $14.26 for fiscal year 2026 after selectmen voted unanimously November 17 to maintain a single tax rate across all property classes.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The Board of Selectmen&#8217;s annual tax classification hearing centered on whether to &#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Explores Microsoft Office 365 Upgrade to Potentially Replace Costly Permitting Software]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - November 5 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen heard promising news about a potential technology upgrade that could save the town tens of thousands of dollars annually.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-explores-microsoft-office</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-explores-microsoft-office</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:00:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/eb1064d1-12d8-4376-8372-97bb36b5f2fb_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - November 5 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen heard promising news about a potential technology upgrade that could save the town tens of thousands of dollars annually. Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy reported that the town is exploring Microsoft Office 365 with Copilot functionality as a possible alternative to expensive permitting softwa&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton School Committee Unanimously Recommends Ross MacPherson to Fill Vacant Seat]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - October 27 - The Plympton School Committee voted unanimously on October 27 to recommend Ross MacPherson for appointment to fill a vacant seat on the committee, addressing a gap created when a member joined the Finance Committee and was required to resign from the school panel.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-unanimously</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-school-committee-unanimously</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:00:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/c0f59326-b0a1-4278-8447-7c8ae6b73156_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - October 27 - The Plympton School Committee voted unanimously on October 27 to recommend Ross MacPherson for appointment to fill a vacant seat on the committee, addressing a gap created when a member joined the Finance Committee and was required to resign from the school panel.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>The Plympton School Committee convened at 5:47 p.m. o&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fire Station Faces State Safety Violations, Must Address Building Deficiencies by November]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - October 22 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen confronted a state safety citation against the town&#8217;s fire station on October 22, requiring immediate corrective action on multiple building violations including water drainage issues, electrical hazards, and inadequate space&#8212;with a November 17 deadline looming for remediation plans.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/fire-station-faces-state-safety-violations</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/fire-station-faces-state-safety-violations</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:02:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5d1bc7bb-2c2c-4685-84d8-25ee4b8bfa9a_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - October 22 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen confronted a state safety citation against the town&#8217;s fire station on October 22, requiring immediate corrective action on multiple building violations including water drainage issues, electrical hazards, and inadequate space&#8212;with a November 17 deadline looming for remediation plans.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Full Story</h3><p>T&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Board Grapples with $60,000 Annual Cost for Permitting Software Despite $74,000 Grant]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - October 6 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen confronted a difficult funding dilemma on October 6, debating whether to accept a $74,000 state grant for permitting software that would require the town to pay approximately $60,000 annually after the initial setup period, a recurring expense that could prove challenging for the small community&#8217;s b&#8230;]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-board-grapples-with-60000</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-board-grapples-with-60000</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 10:02:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/456f26dd-75c5-4232-b391-0eed099782b5_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - October 6 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen confronted a difficult funding dilemma on October 6, debating whether to accept a $74,000 state grant for permitting software that would require the town to pay approximately $60,000 annually after the initial setup period, a recurring expense that could prove challenging for the small community&#8217;s b&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[School Committee Approves Three-Year Teacher Contract, Secures $133,000 Reading Grant]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - September 8 - The Plympton School Committee unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Plympton Teachers Association featuring 3% annual cost-of-living increases, while celebrating a major victory in securing $133,000 in state funding to overhaul the district's reading curriculum through the prestigious PRISM grant program.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/school-committee-approves-three-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/school-committee-approves-three-year</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:01:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e16be7c0-b7a8-4f4b-89b4-16998b906d70_2048x2048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - September 8 - The Plympton School Committee unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Plympton Teachers Association featuring 3% annual cost-of-living increases, while celebrating a major victory in securing $133,000 in state funding to overhaul the district's reading curriculum through the prestigious PRISM grant program.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><h3>The Fu&#8230;</h3>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Board Addresses Resignations as Key Volunteers Step Down from Town Committees]]></title><description><![CDATA[PLYMPTON - September 8 - In a concerning development for Plympton's volunteer-driven government, four experienced committee members submitted resignations during the September 8 Board of Selectmen meeting, including longtime Conservation Commission member Linda Leddy and three members of the Town Properties Committee.]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-board-addresses-resignations</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-board-addresses-resignations</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 10:01:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1cac024f-93c6-42d5-ba0b-e8a8edea2ca9_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - September 8 - In a concerning development for Plympton's volunteer-driven government, four experienced committee members submitted resignations during the September 8 Board of Selectmen meeting, including longtime Conservation Commission member Linda Leddy and three members of the Town Properties Committee. The mass resignations prompted boar&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Town Properties Chair Resigns Amid Political Tensions Over Fire Station Project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Wilhelmsen to resign Town Properties Committee and Historical Commission effective September 8]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/town-properties-chair-resigns-amid</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/town-properties-chair-resigns-amid</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:02:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ac2eeecf-3419-4fc7-aa54-b91071114462_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - September 3 - The chairman of Plympton's Town Properties Committee announced his resignation during Tuesday night's meeting, citing frustration with the political climate surrounding the failed fire station project and criticism from Board of Selectmen Chairman Smith. The resignation comes as the committee grapples with the aftermath of a $14&#8230;</p>
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   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Plympton Selectmen Consider Vo-Tech Partnership for Historic Door Project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Board seeks cost-effective solutions for $60,000 Town House restoration]]></description><link>https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-selectmen-explore-vo-tech</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.southshore.news/p/plympton-selectmen-explore-vo-tech</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Justin Evans]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:03:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/55124254-e85c-4f15-bb85-332c2efb438c_1456x1048.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>PLYMPTON - August 18 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen is exploring the possibility of involving vocational students in the restoration of the Town House's historic front door, potentially reducing costs on the $60,000 Community Preservation Act-funded project.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.southshore.news/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p>During their Aug. 18 meeting, board members discussed alternative approaches to the door repla&#8230;</p>
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