Plymouth Select Board Debates Non-Binding Ballot Question on Gun Law Opt-Out
Board votes to add ballot question on controversial firearms issue as town meeting approaches
Plymouth - April 1 - The Plymouth Select Board votes 3-2 to place a non-binding ballot question on the May 17 election regarding whether the town should opt out of a new state law prohibiting firearms in municipal buildings.
The decision comes just days before town meeting members are set to debate the same issue at the Spring Town Meeting on Saturday.
editor’s note: Town Meeting voted the measure down.
Board member Charlie Bletzer, who proposed the ballot question, argues it would provide town meeting members with valuable insight into residents' opinions on the controversial topic.
"I'm trying to give a tool for town meeting to have," Bletzer says. "I'm trying to let everybody, before you make a controversial decision, which I realized how much it was after I made my vote, I wanted to listen to the citizens."
The board previously voted to recommend "no action" on Article 12 at town meeting, which would have opted Plymouth out of the state law prohibiting firearms in municipal buildings. That law, passed in October 2024, allows municipalities to opt out if they choose.
Vice Chair Kevin Canty expresses concern about the timing of the ballot question.
"I think given that town meeting is this Saturday, and that this, while we have requested a no motion, no action on Article 12 under the last article, special town meeting Article 12, any town meeting member can move this," Canty says. "I think it's premature, in my opinion, given that it is going to go before town meeting for us to put it on the ballot at this point."
Canty adds that putting the question on the ballot before town meeting votes could be "perceived as basically doing an end run around town meeting's ability to debate and discuss this particular item in their purview."
Town Manager Derek Brindisi confirms that if the board approves adding the question to the ballot, they would still need to meet on April 8 to finalize the specific language that would appear on the ballot.
Matt Tavares, Precinct 2 Chair and Committee of Precinct Chairs Chair, speaks against the ballot question.
"I understand what Mr. Bletzer is going for. He's looking for temperature of the room, if you will, across the town," Tavares says. "But I do have to support what Mr. Canty is saying. I wouldn't be doing my job as a town meeting member or as a precinct chair to not say let town meeting do its work."
Betty Cavacco, a Precinct 6 town meeting member, confirms she plans to move Article 12 at town meeting regardless of the board's recommendation.
"I do believe in our second amendment rights," Cavacco says. "Our chief of police is one of the best in the business, one of the best that we've had. And I will always defer to him and the police department to guide us to do what we need to do."
Chair Richard Quintal, who voted against recommending "no action" on Article 12, explains his position.
"The way I see it is I've sat here for 20 years, and the laws, if voted positive, to opt out of this is the same as it's been since I've been sitting here, and I have no issue with that," Quintal says. "I'm not saying, and neither is this article, to arm Town Hall. What I believe it's saying is it's the way it has been since the Pilgrims landed."
Several residents speak during public comment, including Maura Kelly, who argues against opting out of the state law.
"We cannot rely on licensed to carry individuals to be protecting our citizens, our residents, or our employees," Kelly says. "Licensed to carry individuals are licensed to carry. They're not licensed to protect the citizenry."
Charlie Vautrain, Vice Chair of Precinct 4, also speaks against opting out.
"I'm for what the state's doing. And I think it's correct," Vautrain says. "Everybody is saying, we want to keep what the state's doing. Let's accept the thing about keeping guns out of the town hall."
The board ultimately votes 3-2 to place the non-binding question on the May ballot, with Quintal, Bletzer, and Golden voting in favor, and Canty and Mahoney opposed.
Board member John Mahoney expresses concern about the divisive nature of the issue.
"This is obviously a very polarizing issue. Maybe one of the top three polarizing issues in the country today," Mahoney says. "At the end of the day, if this gets on the ballot, the only people who win are those people who make lawn signs. They get into a higher tax bracket and that's it. This will just further divide the community."
Other major items from the meeting:
- The board dissolved the Whitehorse Beach Parking Committee after the chairman reported their work was complete and the parking program is working well.
- Michelle Bratti from Health and Human Services presented an update on Plymouth ARISE (Addiction Response and Improvement Strategies Effort), reporting that $295,171 has been distributed to community grantees to combat the opioid crisis.
- The board approved a host community agreement amendment for Eagle Eye Transport Solutions and approved a transfer of ownership to Talaria, a nationwide cannabis wholesaler and distributor.
- Town Manager Derek Brindisi reported that demolition of the Full Sail building will begin this spring, with construction of improvements to start in the fall after the summer season.
