Plympton Approves $13.1 Million for New Fire Station at Town Meeting

Residents also pass $15.3 million town budget and adopt zoning changes to comply with MBTA Communities Act

PLYMPTON - May 14 - Plympton residents voted to approve $13,166,000 in funding for a new fire station at the annual town meeting Wednesday night. The project, which has been in development for over a decade, will now go to a ballot vote on Saturday to finalize the debt exclusion required to fund construction.

The fire station article passed with a two-thirds majority vote of 108-43 after extensive discussion about the need for a modern facility to replace the current 50-year-old station.

"Our existing fire station was built over 50 years ago to house a small-call fire department," said John Wilhelmsen, Chair of the Town Properties Committee. "Since that time, we have seen the department grow and adapt to meet the current demands and needs of our town and its residents."

Wilhelmsen explained that the size of fire apparatus has nearly doubled in the last 50 years, and the current building "is bursting at the seams" and unable to accommodate future equipment needs.

Fire Chief Cheryl Duddy emphasized that the project goes beyond making more space for apparatus.

"A modern fire station requires all living space to have a warm zone between the garage and where the gear is stored to reduce cancer rates," Duddy said. "Firefighters have been found to have a 14 percent higher rate of cancer than the general public."

The new station will be located at the Palmer Road Town Center Complex, behind the existing police station. If approved at Saturday's ballot vote, the project will cost the average household with property valued at $532,000 approximately $468.95 annually, or $117.24 quarterly.

Former Fire Chief Steve Silva also spoke in support of the project.

"I don't think there's a debate in any way, shape, or form on whether or not the town of Plympton needs a new fire station," Silva said. "The station that is proposed is an adequate station. It's not too big, it's not too small."

Board of Selectmen Chair John Traynor noted that the town has held 46 meetings on the project over the last three years.

"We didn't do it 10 years ago and we could have probably done it for seven or eight million dollars," Traynor said. "Now we've got a cost of roughly double that."

The town meeting also approved the fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $15,307,800. Major expenditures include $4.43 million for elementary school costs, $3.3 million for regional schools, and $1.66 million for police services.

In another significant vote, residents approved zoning amendments to establish a Residential Development Overlay District, allowing multi-family housing by right in certain areas. The changes aim to bring Plympton into compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.

Planning Board Chair Ann Sobolewski explained that the overlay district would be placed on the automobile junkyard on County Road.

"This complies with the MBTA zoning requirements by creating a district within our town where multi-family residential zoning is allowed by right," Sobolewski said. "This is just a zoning article. It only has to do with dimensions, height, setbacks, and the number of units."

Selectman Traynor emphasized the financial implications of compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.

"We've taken in $2,861,000 in the last three years," Traynor said, referring to state grants. "We currently have just received a letter from the Commonwealth of Mass awarding us $73,200 for a police IT program."

Residents rejected an article that would have changed the name of the Board of Selectmen to Select Board. Selectman Mark Russo spoke against the change.

"If the purpose is to honor women, we already do that," Russo said. "Take a look at town leadership. We are a town of strong women in general. Leadership roles right now, fire chief, town administrator, town clerk, town accountant, town treasurer, head of the council of aging, chair of the zoning board of appeals, chair of the planning board, and on and on it goes."

Other significant votes at the meeting included:

- $200,000 for road construction, resurfacing, and top coating

- $65,000 from the Community Preservation Fund for an outdoor patio/seating area at the Plimpton Library

- $50,000 for the acquisition of land for open space

- $46,500 for information technology and equipment

- $38,000 for financial audits for fiscal year 2026

- $30,569 for annual lease payments for a highway department truck and police tasers

- Approval of amendments to the accessory dwelling unit bylaw to comply with state law

The Annual Town Meeting will officially adjourn after the polls close for the town election on Saturday, May 17.

Full meeting available via Area 58.