PLYMOUTH — March 3, 2026 — Following a historic winter storm that paralyzed the South Shore, Town Manager Derek Brindisi presented a comprehensive debrief to the Select Board on Tuesday, detailing a massive response effort that saw over 27,000 homes lose power and required the intervention of the National Guard. While officials praised the tireless efforts of first responders and DPW crews, the meeting also spotlighted critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, including a 30-year-old police generator that failed during the height of the emergency.
The Full Story
The meeting opened with a somber and detailed report on the “Blizzard of 2026,” a severe weather event that triggered a local state of emergency on February 21st [08:41]. Town Manager Derek Brindisi described white-out conditions that reduced visibility to a mere 10 to 15 feet, forcing the town to rely on its three front-end loaders to pull stranded residents and even fire apparatus out of snowdrifts [11:41]. One of those critical loaders broke down on the first day, leaving the town operating at a deficit from the start [12:13].
The scale of the emergency was staggering. The Plymouth Police Department responded to over 1,000 calls during the storm week—triple their typical volume—with a primary focus on well-being checks for elderly residents [01:16:17]. The Fire Department saw a 250% increase in calls, totaling 651 incidents, many of which involved carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly used generators [19:11]. Brindisi noted that the morgue at Beth Israel Deaconess (BID) Plymouth reached capacity during the event, requiring the town to assist with logistical morgue requests [01:14:33].
A major turning point in the response was the arrival of state aid. Brindisi credited the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the National Guard for sending “the cavalry,” which included 32 front-end loaders, 20 dump trucks, two snow melters, and five Humvees for medical transports [25:40]. At the peak of the storm, 80% of the community was without power [29:10].
“We did the best that we could with the resources that we have... [My grandson] asked, ‘Why can’t they just plow?’ And I feel like that was the sentiment of the community. 65,000 adults were just saying, ‘Why can’t they just plow?’” [33:32] — Derek Brindisi, Town Manager
Beyond the blizzard, the board grappled with the ongoing pilot program on Fremont Street, which has divided the neighborhood over whether the road should remain one-way or return to two-way traffic [01:25:29]. Assistant DPW Director James Downey reported that while the one-way designation improved safety at the Sandwich Street intersection, it caused significant backups on Lincoln Street during school drop-off times [01:30:14]. Despite a petition from some residents to return to two-way traffic, the board voted 3-1 to extend the pilot program for a full year to gather data across all seasons [01:49:15].
The meeting also addressed a vacancy on the Distinguished Visitors Committee (DVC). Resident Len Levin, the former secretary-treasurer of the committee, used the public comment period to allege “unfettered spending” and “politicization” within the DVC [53:36]. Despite these concerns, the board proceeded with an appointment, selecting Tamao Buffalo-Ellis, a nonprofit professional and former participant in the student exchange program with Japan, to fill the citizen-at-large seat [01:23:41].
Why It Matters
The Blizzard of 2026 has served as a wake-up call for Plymouth’s capital needs. The failure of the 30-year-old police generator [18:03] and the collapse of the boiler system at Memorial Hall [01:51:06] demonstrate that routine maintenance is no longer sufficient for Plymouth’s aging public facilities. For residents, this means the town will likely prioritize significant equipment and infrastructure investments in the upcoming budget cycles to ensure that emergency services remain operational during future “severe events.”
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the sale of the foreclosed property at 51 Cypress Street rather than retaining it for municipal use. [01:05:00]
Vote: 4-0-1 (Keohan abstained) ([01:09:18])
Motion: To appoint Kathryn Ann Morini as a full member of the Board of Health. [01:09:31]
Vote: Unanimous (5-0) ([01:15:45])
Motion: To appoint Tamao Buffalo-Ellis to the Distinguished Visitors Committee. [01:16:21]
Vote: 4-1 (Buffalo Ellis received 4 votes; Nilosek received 1) ([01:23:41])
Motion: To extend the Fremont Street one-way pilot program for an additional nine months (totaling one year). [01:46:44]
Vote: 3-1 (Quintal opposed; Keohan abstained) ([01:49:15])
Motion: To increase Long Beach parking sticker rates by $5. [00:42:43]
Vote: 4-1 (Golden opposed) ([00:42:43])
Public Comment
Fremont Street: Residents were split. Connie Melahoures argued safety outweighs inconvenience [47:28], while Brian Corcoran and Edward Cushing argued the two-way system “wasn’t broken” [48:58].
DVC Controversy: Len Levin criticized the DVC’s financial management and called for a charter review [53:36]. Matt Tavares defended the committee, noting Levin had previously voted in favor of the items he now criticized [59:18].
What’s Next
Budget Workshop: The Select Board will meet Wednesday, March 4, at the Courthouse to continue budget deliberations [02:07:49].
Storm After-Action Report: Town staff will compile data from the blizzard “hotwash” to present a formal investment strategy to the board within the next month [02:03:41].
Trash Removal Study: At the request of Member Iaquinto, the board will revisit options for streamlining town-wide trash hauling to reduce heavy truck traffic [01:58:13].
Source Video: Local Seen Streaming Channel