Plympton Board of Selectmen Updates Procurement Policy, Approves Old Townhouse Property Survey
New policy requires written scope of work for construction services between $5,000 and $10,000, while town moves forward with $1,300 survey to address boundary issues and tree stump removal.
PLYMPTON - July 7 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen adopted an updated procurement policy at their July 7 meeting, requiring written scopes of work for construction services between $5,000 and $10,000 performed on town grounds or in town buildings. The policy takes effect retroactively to June 30, 2025.
Town Administrator Liz Dennehy presented the updated policy to better outline requirements for written documentation. "The updated policy that's proposed clearly specifies that for construction type services between $5,000 and $10,000 that are for work on town grounds or in town buildings that we have that written scope of work in the file," Dennehy said.
The policy requires detailed documentation of work to be performed for quoted prices. No other changes were proposed to the existing procurement guidelines, which follow Massachusetts General Laws for municipal projects.
The board also authorized a $1,300 survey of the old townhouse property to establish clear boundary markers and provide visible stakes for neighboring property owners. The survey will produce a plan showing property boundaries and address ongoing issues from recent tree removal work.
"I reached out to a local surveying company to get an approximate price for surveying the property at the old townhouse, putting out visible stakes for the benefit of the abutters and also to provide the town with a small plan clearly showing the property boundaries," Dennehy said.
The survey becomes necessary following tree removal work that left 13 tree stumps on the property. The trees were removed due to potential damage risks to neighboring properties and safety concerns for residents.
Board Chair Dana Smith expressed concerns about the remaining stumps. "It's currently those stumps that were left, it's kind of a mess on that side too, so something has to be done before it is no problem, and also with the stumps rotting into the ground, I have another problem with that as well," Smith said.
The town plans to contact the tree warden about stump removal options, with the highway department potentially assisting if grinding services are not available. Board members discussed the importance of proper stump removal before any future paving projects.
Funding for the survey will come from existing budget articles for surveys and appraisals, with any remaining costs covered by the town buildings and grounds maintenance budget. The board is also considering installing a fence to clearly delineate property boundaries in the future.
The board appointed member Nathaniel Sides as their representative to the Old Colony Planning Council, a regional organization that assists area municipalities with planning and grant applications. The council provides technical assistance for green community grants and housing production plans.
"They are helpful to us, though. It's more things like the technical assistance that they've helped us out with over the years," Dennehy said. "They apply for a grant so that they can assist me with the annual report. And that's what helps keep us eligible to keep applying for the state grants."
Dana Smith was selected as the backup signatory for town warrants, providing additional coverage for warrant processing. The board also appointed Paul Armstrong as alternate building commissioner and local inspector for a term running through June 30, 2026.
Timothy Johnson was reappointed as a part-time police officer after declining a full-time position. The appointment creates complications for the school resource officer program, which requires a full-time officer according to the union contract.
"The little hiccup in everything is that the union contract, it involves like it's supposed to be a full-time officer," Dennehy said. Police Chief Matt Ahl is working with the union to develop a new memorandum of understanding for a hybrid approach to school coverage.
In administrative updates, Dennehy reported progress on closing fiscal year 2025 accounts and preparing for the annual audit process. The auditor has signed an engagement letter and plans to begin preliminary work in early September.
The Regional Old Colony Communications Center received grant funding to update fire and police radios, addressing long-standing communication issues between departments. "Radios are very expensive. And the ROC went out of their way to apply for some additional grant funding for us," Dennehy said.
The town is also working on MBTA zoning compliance applications and community compact grant implementation for internal permitting software. Website improvements are planned to enhance mobile accessibility and add the police department to the town's web platform.
A generator failure at the highway department requires replacement with a more powerful unit. The town solicited written quotes following proper procurement procedures, with South Shore Generator selected for the installation using a combination of ARPA funds and building maintenance budget allocations.
Other business items included:
• Meeting with the postmaster to address ongoing mail delivery issues
• Finance committee recommendation for vacant seat appointment
• Bond rating meeting with S&P scheduled
• Area 58 expanding video coverage to additional town boards and committees
• MassDOT coordination for railroad crossing pavement marking upgrades
The board rescheduled their next meeting to Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. to accommodate scheduling conflicts. Before adjourning Sides offered condolences for a recent fatality in town, emphasizing support for both the victim's family and first responders affected by the incident.
"I think we all grieve with the family and support them in our own way. But I also would like to make sure that we remember the first responders as part of that process because they can be affected by responding to such a call as well," Sides said.