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In a solemn and tense proceeding, Town Attorney Stacey Verde detailed a harrowing multi-year timeline of aggression involving the dog. According to town records, the animal’s violent history began in May 2025 when it attacked another dog. Over the following year, the dog repeatedly bit pedestrians, attacked a police officer, and engaged in a March 2026 biting incident. The situation escalated dramatically on April 2, 2026, when police responded to the owner’s address and Ms. Quintal allegedly used the dog to interfere with officers, resulting in pending criminal charges for assault with a dangerous weapon.

Following a formal dangerous dog hearing on April 29, 2026, Hearing Officer Christopher Badot issued a ruling on June 3rd giving Quintal 30 days to license, vaccinate, securely contain, and muzzle the animal when it left the property. Quintal failed to appeal or meet any of the safety mandates. On July 15, the uncontained dog bit a neighbor on his own property and attempted to attack him again the following day. When Quintal refused to surrender the animal for quarantine, town officials obtained a court warrant on July 20. Plymouth Police, Plymouth Animal Control, and New Bedford Animal Control executed the warrant on July 22 to seize the dog. Verde noted that the dog remains intensely aggressive while impounded, lunging and growling at shelter staff. It has also attacked at least two Plymouth Police Officers.

Board members expressed deep discomfort with the decision but emphasized that public safety left them no alternative under state law. Town Counsel explained that once an animal is legally deemed dangerous and conditions are breached, Massachusetts statute prohibits rehoming or releasing the dog outside town borders.

The board voted 2-1 to confirm the findings, with Vice Chair David Golden and Chair Deborah Iaquinto joining Board Member Bill Keohan, who expressed frustration with the procedural setup. Select Board members Kevin Canty and Richard Quintal recused themselves from the hearing. Immediately following the vote, a heated exchange broke out on the dais when Keohan confronted Golden, leading Chair Iaquinto to call for decorum.

Mr. Keohan I said that you’re a coward.

No, that’s not what you said. Say what you said...

Mr. Keohan, I said that you’re a coward. Madam Chair, I yield the floor back to you...

People need to know the language that you are using on this board. — Exchange between Board Member Bill Keohan and Vice Chair David Golden

Chair Iaquinto immediately intervened to restore order, calling for a respectful discussion before moving on to the remaining town business.

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Guided by Assistant Town Manager Lauren Lind, the workshop served as the second installment in a series designed to translate findings from a town-wide SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and the recently approved comprehensive plan into actionable municipal policies.

A central focus of the discussion was the ongoing pressure on Plymouth’s commercial and industrial land footprint. Lind and board members noted that while the town faces pressing housing needs, allowing residential development to encroach on light industrial zones undermines the non-residential tax base and risks future land-use conflicts. Lind explained that municipal staff are working with the Planning Board to update zoning definitions for commercial corridors, specifically aiming to refine mixed-use standards so that commercial vitality is preserved on the ground floor.

To address long-standing public perceptions regarding local regulatory hurdles, staff recommended establishing a designated “business concierge” within Town Hall. This cross-functional position would serve as a single point of contact to guide small business owners and developers through multi-departmental permitting workflows.

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The Plymouth Select Board held its off-site “Town Hall on the Road” meeting in North Plymouth, providing residents a direct forum with board members and Town Manager Derek Brindisi. Highlighting the evening were discussions regarding major infrastructure initiatives, local school building studies, traffic safety, and the contentious Pulte Chapter 40B housing development.

At the outset of the meeting, the board briefly debated Administrative Note #1 regarding personnel code amendments. Select Board Member Bill Keohan raised concerns over voting on reclassifications while a town-wide compensation study remains underway. Town Manager Derek Brindisi clarified that the proposed changes included reclassifying the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) coordinator position from grade A5 to A6 and shifting seasonal treasurer-collector staff to non-union roles following bargaining with SEIU. Brindisi noted that the town-wide study is expected to wrap up by the end of fall. To allow for further evaluation of position percentages and pay steps, the board voted unanimously to defer action on the item.

During the Town Manager’s Report, Brindisi provided updates on critical North Plymouth issues:

• Pulte Development Infrastructure Obligations: Pulte has agreed to several infrastructure improvements, including reconfiguring the end of Prince Street with a standard turnaround, installing a looped water main between Prince Street and Hedge Road, placing an emergency warning beacon at Hedge Road and Court Street, and establishing a connection to the North Plymouth Rail Trail. However, Brindisi cautioned that all Pulte improvements remain on hold pending the outcome of ongoing legal appeals regarding the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) decision.

• Cherry Street & Court Street Intersection / Water Main: The town executed a contract to replace the aging, break-prone water main on Cherry Street, with work slated to start this fall, pause for the winter due to surface bypass lines, and complete in the spring. Furthermore, Eversource plans to replace a main on Cherry Street crossing into Prince Street. The major intersection improvements at Cherry Street, Court Street, and Prince Street—budgeted at approximately $2.5 million—are projected for summer or fall 2027 to avoid tearing up newly paved roads after utility work.

• Hedge & Cold Spring School Feasibility Study: The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) accepted Hedge Elementary School into its feasibility study stage with an estimated 53% state reimbursement, exploring potential consolidation with Cold Spring Elementary. An Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) contract has been executed, and an architectural firm selection is underway, to be followed by robust public outreach meetings this fall.

• North Plymouth Fire Station: Following failed negotiations with prior top bidders, the town is pursuing state funding for a Phase 2 site assessment to remediate soil and building hazardous material contamination before repurposing the structure.

• Traffic & Pedestrian Upgrades: DPW added 28 crosswalk/pedestrian signs along Court Street, installed bump-outs at Standish and Alden Street, and added flashing pedestrian signs near Christ the King Parish at Allerton Street.

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The Department of Public Works (DPW) presented a stark financial landscape to the board: Plymouth currently features 243 miles of public roads and a staggering 133 miles of unaccepted private ways. According to DPW Director Bill Coyle, upgrading all private roads to municipal standards carries a $36 million price tag. To protect the town from open-ended liabilities, the newly approved policy implements strict roadway criteria—including an 18-foot minimum paved width and a mandatory 100% betterment cost assigned to petitioning residents.

The policy immediately faced a major test from Shallow Pond Estates, an unfinished development spanning 2.56 miles across six roads. Neighborhood representative Michael Hertz requested a commitment to a Fall 2026 Town Meeting warrant article to accept the roads “as is,” noting that residents have sought relief for over three decades and have 91% signature support. Hertz highlighted a history of unresolved town zoning oversights and heavy wear from cement trucks building neighboring subdivisions. “We are not asking for or expecting these roads to be improved or upgraded... as a precondition of accepting them,” Hertz declared, explaining they would willingly wait in the regular pavement management queue.

“We are not asking for or expecting these roads to be improved or upgraded. Not now and not as a precondition of accepting them.” [04:46:58] — Michael Hertz, Shallow Pond Estates Representative

However, severe legal and administrative obstacles emerged. Town Engineer Rick Bosse revealed that a preliminary search exposed critical title defects across approximately 180 parcels, where original developer deeds explicitly excluded the “fee in the roadway” from being conveyed to homebuyers. Resolving these issues would require full title searches estimated at $90,000 to $144,000, bank subordination agreements for properties with mortgages, and potential legal fees pushing overall preliminary costs significantly higher. Because state law dictates a strict 120-day deadline after a Town Meeting vote to finalize and record layout acquisitions, the town cannot risk proceeding without clear titles in place.

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The Plymouth School Committee moved efficiently through a mid-summer legislative docket, focusing heavily on operational efficiency, facility upgrades, and policy modernization. The central debate centered on policy revision KHB regarding advertisements and publications on school billboards and scoreboards. Under the prior guidelines, all commercial sponsorships required direct approval from the School Committee. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stacey Rogers explained that the proposed update delegates this authority to the superintendent or their designee.

The shift sparked an intense, necessary conversation about corporate oversight and educational integrity. Committee member Paul Samargedlis questioned the rationale for removing the committee’s oversight, noting that while he sought to expedite the process for local business owners, he did not want to abdicate policy authority over entities displaying messaging within public schools.

Committee member Christina Bryant reinforced these concerns, emphasizing the reputational risk to the district if an advertiser faced community backlash after gaining access to school grounds. To bridge the gap, Dr. Rogers and Chairman Luis Pizano agreed to add protective language to the draft, requiring all future corporate sponsorships to align explicitly with the “mission, vision, and values” of the Plymouth Public Schools. This modified policy will return to the subcommittee for final refinement ahead of the August voting session.

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The redevelopment of 179 Court Street represents a major transformation at the boundary line of North Plymouth and the downtown village service areas. Assistant Town Manager Lauren Lind presented the conceptual layout, which remains unchanged from previous board iterations. The plan anchors a four-story senior assisted living community at the rear of the parcel, surrounded by a blend of private and publicly accessible open space. The existing Pioppi’s Liquor Store will remain intact on the western boundary. Along Court Street, the developer plans to demolish an old bank building to clear the way for two new three-story structures featuring ground-floor commercial space and two floors of residential apartments above.

A key provision of the development agreement dictates that while the HYM development team will complete the assisted living complex, they will only make the front mixed-use retail lots “pad ready”. A third-party developer will ultimately step in to execute the vertical construction of those retail and residential spaces under a singular, overarching special permit.

Board members raised localized concerns regarding infrastructure demands. Select Board Member Kevin Canty highlighted that the proposed parking counts appeared light on first impression. Seamus Joyce of the HYM development team countered that local engineering firm Merrill Engineering and traffic experts VHB are actively drafting plans that exceed baseline zoning requirements. Joyce estimated that while local bylaws dictate roughly 200 parking spots for these combined uses, the current design trends toward 220 spaces. Egress will feature three distinct points: one on Nelson Street and two directly accessing Court Street.

Select Board Member Bill Keohan advocated for the historical preservation of an on-site asset, requesting that the developer integrate a historic water trough fountain into the public artwork space. Joyce confirmed the project’s landscape architects are already conceptualizing ways to incorporate the artifact.

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The decision came following a detailed strategic briefing by Assistant Town Manager Lauren Lind, who mapped out the municipality’s current housing metrics and projected growth. Plymouth currently sits at an official SHI rating of 8.42%, requiring 406 units to achieve the state’s 10% compliance threshold. While the town currently features 168 units actively moving through its developmental pipeline, an additional 238 units must be formally permitted before next summer to solidify safe harbor rules permanently through the next census cycle.

“Meeting the 10% gives you the opportunity to then really put aside the threat of a comprehensive permit that you don’t want to see so that you can focus on things like workforce housing... It gives you time on the horizon to proactively plan and put the zoning in that you want.” [03:14:27] — Assistant Town Manager Lauren Lind

The board debated whether to achieve the numbers via public-private partnerships or by utilizing the unique mechanisms of municipal authorities. Select Board member Kevin Canty argued strongly against using the local housing or redevelopment authorities, noting that historical projects, such as the Oak Street School, suffered from structural inefficiencies and inflated costs tied to prevailing wage laws. Instead, Canty urged the town to lean heavily on friendly Chapter 40B comprehensive permits and targeted public-private initiatives, such as deploying Community Preservation Committee (CPC) or Affordable Housing Trust funds to “buy down” deed restrictions on market-rate units already under construction.

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The workshop, led by Assistant Town Manager for Economic Development Lauren Lind, laid bare the stark mathematical reality facing the South Shore’s largest municipality. Plymouth’s tax base has skewed heavily residential, sitting at 83 percent residential to just 17 percent commercial. While Lind noted that this ratio outpaces several neighboring bedroom communities, it falls dangerously short of the 25 percent commercial rule-of-thumb required for long-term fiscal stability.

The urgency of the meeting centered on an alarming demographic and development crossroad. For the past five years, massive master-planned housing communities—specifically the Pinehills and Redbrook developments—have driven a staggering 35 to 40 percent of Plymouth’s entire new growth tax revenue annually.

“As we think about both of these communities coming to build out within the next four to five years, that’s going to be a substantial drop off in a consistent stream of new growth,” Lind warned the board.

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The meeting opened with a somber note as the board observed a moment of silence for former Selectman Eugene Lane and veteran WATD journalist Bobbi Clark. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted to intense local policy debates as the board transitioned into its public question-and-answer session at the Cedarville Fire Station.

The primary catalyst for public outcry was the board’s recent majority vote to logistically bypass exercising its Chapter 61 right of first refusal on the PA Landers property in South Plymouth. The town had the option to acquire the 140-acre parcel for $5 million to ensure total preservation. Instead, a majority of the board executed a conditional waiver with local developer Matt Sheridan. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the developer plans to build a residential development containing starter homes priced between $450,000 and $500,000, while voluntarily setting aside roughly 40% of the land for open space.

Select Board member Kevin Canty fiercely defended his participation in the vote, addressing concerns regarding his personal friendship with Sheridan by highlighting that he had formally filed a public disclosure statement. Canty argued that the deal effectively balances conservation with the town’s most critical crisis: housing affordability for residents under 35. Board Chair Deborah Iaquinto supported this stance, clarifying that the town simply could not justify adding a $5 million acquisition burden onto local taxpayers given its constrained fiscal resources.

Conversely, Select Board members Bill Keohan and Richard Quintal voiced strong dissent, alignment themselves with the frustrated audience. Keohan emphasized that the town possessed the financial capacity to buy the land using its robust Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund—which currently holds a multi-million dollar balance—without impacting the standard tax rate. Quintal expressed deep regret over how quickly the waiver was finalized, noting that alternative environmental partnerships and conservation coalitions were not given adequate time to secure competitive funding.

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The restructuring of the town’s Airport Commission dominated a heavy agenda of municipal board and committee appointments. Five candidates competed for two open three-year terms expiring June 30, 2029, pulling forward a packed chamber of local pilots, business operators, and neighborhood activists.

Incumbent commissioners Douglas Crociati and Ken Fosdick both made direct appeals for continuity, citing their institutional knowledge during a critical transition period. Crociati noted that during his 24 years on the board, the commission brought in over $37 million in state and federal grants and successfully managed the facility entirely “in the black” as an enterprise fund using zero local taxpayer dollars. Fosdick argued that with a newly hired airport manager onboarding and a critical $7 million runway rehabilitation project commencing, removing experienced leadership would be irresponsible.

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The final in-person meeting of the academic year opened with a celebratory outdoor ceremony honoring dozens of elementary, middle, and high school student artists whose work was chosen for the biannual Central Office Artwork Awards. However, the evening’s primary policy focus quickly shifted to student-led civic action when eighth graders Sophia Scarini, Skye Togun, Leah Mansfield, James Moore, Avery Mahan and Lily Simpson took the podium.

The students revealed that their presentation was the culmination of a year-long civics project involving local community assessments, interviews with former officials, and extensive literary analysis. The research sharply highlighted the biological mismatch between adolescent sleep patterns and current school schedules. Under the district’s current framework, Plymouth High Schools open at 7:20 a.m., Middle Schools at 8:12 a.m., and Elementary Schools at 9:05 a.m..

“The high school start times directly contradict students’ natural sleep patterns,” student Leah Mansfield explained, noting that the teenage brain does not naturally produce melatonin until around 11:00 p.m.. The student presentation underscored a harrowing correlation between sleep deprivation and severe mental health struggles, citing data that adolescents with insomnia are ten times more likely to develop depression. Conversely, data shows that just one additional hour of sleep results in a 28% reduction in students reporting feelings of depression or sadness.

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The Select Board emerged from a lengthy executive session to ratify a 3-2 vote originally cast behind closed doors. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 61, the town possesses a right of first refusal to purchase designated agricultural or open-space land when it is put up for commercial sale. The Landers Farm Road property carries a purchase price of $5 million.

Board Chair Deborah Iaquinto explained that purchasing the massive tract outright was financially unfeasible for Plymouth under current capital constraints. The board also evaluated assigning the acquisition rights to a non-profit, specifically the Community Land and Water Coalition. However, Iaquinto stated that the organization did not provide sufficient planning or financial capacity documentation within the town’s review window to support that path.

Instead, the board majority opted to negotiate a conditional waiver with Sheridan Home Builders. Under the binding agreement hammered out by Iaquinto and Board Member Bill Keohan, the developer must preserve at least 40 percent—approximately 51.5 acres—of the property as open space. This includes northern cranberry bogs and critical “Zone Two” public water supply wellhead recharge areas. The developer has also agreed to evaluate building a standalone wastewater treatment facility to avoid individual septic installations, construct sidewalks, establish a walking trail connecting to the Hedges Pond Recreation Area, and restrict earth removal to amounts incidental to housing construction.

The debate exposed a sharp philosophical rift among board members. Board Member Kevin Canty strongly endorsed the waiver, citing the desperate community need for workforce housing. Canty pointed directly to the town’s comprehensive plan, noting that Plymouth is actively pricing out residents under the age of 35. He praised the developer’s track record of building attainable, working-class units while donating land back for environmental protections. Board Member David Golden echoed support, pointing out that the seller would owe the town five years of rollback taxes with interest, and that the 51 acres of open space would come at zero expense to taxpayers.

“We have utilized Chapter 61 to get agreements from a developer that we would not have gotten if it were not in Chapter 61. That is the value of Chapter 61... It is not a lost opportunity. It is an opportunity seized and made the most of.” — Kevin Canty

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The primary debate of the evening centered around a presentation by Department of Public Works Director Bill Coyle and Director of Finances Lynne Barrett, who introduced the water, sewer, and solid waste fiscal year 2027 rate recommendations. Coyle clarified that these utilities operate entirely as enterprise accounts, meaning they are completely funded by the direct users of the services rather than through the general municipal tax levy.

The structural rate changes mark year three of an ongoing five-year study conducted by utility consultant Raftelis. The approved plan introduces a 9% increase across all four tiers of water consumption, as well as a 9% hike to quarterly fixed rates based on meter sizes. Additionally, a 10% seasonal surcharge will remain active during the peak summer months of July, August, and September for tiers two through four to promote conservation. Sewer volumetric and fixed charges will rise by 5%, while septic and sludge hauling fees at the Camelot Park wastewater treatment facility will spike roughly 4.17%.

Financial projections show that the combined average bill for a residential customer utilizing a standard five-eighths-inch meter will climb to just over $1,200 annually, up from just under $1,200 this past year. Conversely, solid waste rates will remain flat with no price changes to transfer station passes or trash bags for the third consecutive year, though the town plans to offset an estimated $144,000 operational deficit in that specific account by tapping solid waste retained earnings.

Select Board member David Golden cast the lone dissenting vote, urging the board to look at the numbers from a broader perspective. Golden cited that Plymouth’s median household income hovers around $107,000, and noted that when utility bills are compounded with average property tax bills of roughly $6,200, local families are already surrendering 7% to 8% of their incomes to municipal costs. He questioned if a milder increase could sustain long-term objectives without hitting residents so severely.

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The early-June legislative session opened with a clear focus on structural optimization, culminating in the formal approval of a strategic administrative reorganization plan. Over the past several months, the district navigated an approved leave of absence and an upcoming end-of-year resignation within its human resources division. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Campbell explained that this transitional window allowed the administration to informally evaluate workflows and experiment with cross-departmental operations.

During this interim period, Dr. Blaisdell absorbed the oversight of personnel operations alongside his standard financial duties. The trial period revealed deep, structural operational efficiencies. “Finance and human resources are deeply, inseparably connected,” Dr. Campbell noted during his presentation. He added that unifying the two divisions eliminated historical operational silos and catalyzed more synchronized executive decision-making.

The comprehensive plan features four integrated moving parts:

• Executive Reclassification: Dr. Blaisdell steps up from School Business Administrator to Assistant Superintendent for Finance and School Operations, establishing him as the chief operational officer for finance, personnel, facilities, and student transit.

• Assistant Superintendent Job Description: A newly codified executive charter formally cementing the expanded parameters, cross-departmental authorities, and long-term fiscal liabilities of the consolidated office.

• Director of Human Resources: The creation of a dedicated management position reporting directly to Dr. Blaisdell to oversee day-to-day hiring, contract compliance, recruitment, and collective bargaining alignment.

• Human Resource Specialist: Reclassifying an existing secretarial role into a technical, data-driven specialist position tailored to modern municipal compliance, background reporting, and certification tracking.

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Jason Silva, Director of Inspectional Services, presented the final draft of the temporary commercial sign permit policy, describing it as a collaborative “olive branch” effort between town staff, the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce, and local business owners. The policy provides an add-on to the existing zoning bylaw, allowing commercial properties to place temporary signs—such as A-frame sandwich boards—directly in front of their storefronts. Prior to this policy, temporary sidewalk signs were technically prohibited throughout the town under existing zoning bylaws.

“This policy went through many edits and versions, and the version you see today represents a final draft. We all worked hard to create this policy, and it represents the business community’s desires while also incorporating an impartial and safe set of standards for the public.” — Jason Silva, Director of Inspectional Services

A major focal point of the board’s debate revolved around specific location restrictions, notably a rule requiring that signs maintain a clear path of five feet or more on the sidewalk and stand at least 15 feet away from intersections to avoid sightline hazards. Board member David Golden questioned whether the five-foot path requirement would effectively preclude smaller downtown businesses on narrow sidewalks from participating. Silva clarified that businesses failing to meet the five-foot clearance could alternatively turn their signs single-sided flat against the storefront facade to avoid obstructing the right-of-way.

Golden also expressed staunch opposition to the implementation of the $50 fee and the $1,000 surety bond, characterizing them as unnecessary added financial burdens on local businesses. He urged the board to delay the vote for a more holistic presentation that included town counsel and deeper analysis of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sidewalk regulations.

Conversely, board member Kevin Canty supported the measure, asserting that public rights-of-way must prioritize pedestrian safety and mobility. Board member Bill Keohan also approved the measure, noting that regulating the “wild west” of unregulated signs would improve safety during Plymouth’s peak day-tripping tourist season. The board ultimately passed both the policy and the corresponding fee structure in split 4-1 votes, with Golden dissenting.

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The meeting opened with Town Clerk Kelly McElreath administering the oath of office to newly re-elected Select Board members Richard Quintal and Kevin Canty. Both members expressed profound gratitude to the community for their support during what they described as an intense and taxing election season.

Immediately following the oaths, the board initiated its annual reorganization. Outgoing Chair David Golden moved to nominate Iaquinto for the position, stating that the town needs a leader who can “bridge the divides that have happened over the last 12 months”. Board member Bill Keohan counter-nominated Kevin Canty for the seat. However, Canty declined the nomination, urging his colleagues to unite behind Iaquinto.

“I think that in the circumstances that we’re in, that the best course forward would be if we could unify behind Ms. Iaquinto. I think that she brings a fresh perspective.” [28:56] — Kevin Canty

The final roll call vote installed Iaquinto as Chair with unanimous approval. The board subsequently elected Richard Quintal to serve as Vice Chair in a 4-1 vote, with Canty dissenting.

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Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Planner Michael Cahill presented the finalized agreements with Connecticut-based developer Greenskies LLC. The projects, originally approved overwhelmingly by Town Meeting under Article 30 on April 11, transfer parcel use for energy generation and empower the School Committee to execute the contracts.

The three school properties constitute the largest portion of a broader municipal solar bundle. Under the “behind-the-meter” model, the developer absorbs all design, permitting, maintenance, and construction costs, while the town leases the underlying property in exchange for significantly reduced electricity rates. Individually, Plymouth South High School will save $64,000 annually, Plymouth South Middle School will save $69,000, and Plymouth North High School will yield $50,000, combining for $185,000 in yearly district-wide savings. When combined with the DPW headquarters and the Plymouth Public Library installations, total town savings climb to $227,000 annually ($4.5 million over the 20-year term). Board member Christina Bryant confirmed that no hidden or unapproved school budgetary funds would be required to execute the launch.

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The decision to sell the historic Simes House dominated the early portion of Tuesday evening’s open session, revealing a deep philosophical rift on the board regarding the management and liquidation of town-owned historic properties. Item number four of the administrative notes, which authorized the signing of the purchase and sale agreement, was pulled for separate consideration at the request of Select Board Member Bill Keohan [06:29].

Keohan voiced unequivocal opposition to the deal, arguing that the town should have pursued a long-term lease agreement rather than an outright sale, pointing to successful local precedents. He noted that community preservation acquisitions like the Center for the Arts and the Spire Theater were successfully leased to maintain public benefit while keeping the properties intact under town oversight. Keohan emphasized that the building’s true market value far exceeds the $40,000 purchase price, calling the transaction an irresponsible deployment of public money [07:02].

“The idea of selling this building, I was opposed to. Now there’s a purchase and sales agreement for 29 Manomet Point Road, the Simes House, for $40,000. The building is worth much more than that. This is not how you treat taxpayers’ money when it comes to buildings... giving a building away for pennies on the dollar is wrong.” [07:30] — Bill Keohan

Despite Keohan’s sharp objections, Select Board Member Deborah Iaquinto moved to approve and execute the purchase and sale agreement, a motion seconded by Kevin Canty [08:28]. Keohan reiterated his deep frustration before the vote, arguing that a property worth over $1 million was being liquidated without Town Meeting approval, a move he described as a disservice to the Manomet neighborhood [08:42]. The motion ultimately passed 3-1, with Chair David Golden, Iaquinto, and Canty voting in favor, and Keohan casting an emphatic dissenting vote [10:01]. Vice-Chair Richard Quintal was absent from the physical chamber due to a family bereavement; a moment of silence was held in honor of his mother, Judith Quintal, at the meeting’s commencement [04:18].

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During the Superintendent’s Update, Dr. Chris Campbell announced that the MSBA review panel formally selected CHA Consulting to serve as the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) for the Hedge Elementary project [01:34:37]. Pending final approval from the MSBA, this crucial hire will officially launch the district into the feasibility and schematic design phase for its next major school building project [01:35:36].

The momentum for facility improvements extended into the district’s annual elementary school improvement presentations. Nathaniel Morton Elementary Principal Kristine Chase unveiled a massive new community playground, entirely funded through a partnership with the Plymouth Growth and Development Corporation (PGDC) and Park Plymouth [58:39]. The century-old building also received crucial infrastructure updates, including the installation of mini-split cooling stations in the cafeteria to combat extreme heat, and new security cameras monitoring all exterior doors [56:30].

Academically, Nathaniel Morton is seeing strong results, with state accountability data showing students “exceeding typical growth” in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA) [01:01:47]. The school is also actively addressing a performance dip in fourth-grade math through targeted interventions and specialized coaching [01:04:10]. Next year, the building will expand its special education offerings by hosting a new “Strive” inclusion program for the town’s North Side [52:50]. To address everyday student needs, the school established a “Snack Shack” to provide free snacks to students, supported by local apartment complex management and community donations [54:37].

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