Plympton Selectmen Candidates Face Off in Forum
Both candidates support new fire station, discuss town priorities at Council on Aging event
PLYMPTON - May 10 - Fiscal responsibility and maintaining town services emerge as the central themes in the race for Plympton's Board of Selectmen, with incumbent John Traynor and challenger Nathaniel Sides presenting their visions for the town's future at a candidate forum hosted by the Council on Aging.
Both candidates identify the town's financial health as their top priority, acknowledging the challenges of balancing a tight budget with community needs in a town of just under 3,000 residents.
"Fiscal responsibility, balancing the budget while maintaining services is very hard to do with the number of people we have," says Traynor, who currently serves as Board of Selectmen chair and is completing his ninth year in the position.
Sides, who has served on the Finance Committee for the past 10 years, shares similar concerns about the town's financial situation.
"It bothers me a great deal when speaking with folks in the town, when they say, 'I'm thinking of moving out of town because I just can't afford to live here anymore, the tax burden is just becoming too great,'" Sides says.
The candidates agree on the need for a new fire station, a project that has been under discussion for more than a decade. The current station, built 50 years ago, no longer meets the needs of the department or the town.
"We've done the heavy lifting as far as bringing it this far," says Traynor, who has participated in 46 Town Properties Committee meetings since 2023. "When we go to town meeting next week, we will be able to say, this is not an estimate. This is what it will cost."
The project carries a price tag of approximately $11 million for the building itself, with a total cost of around $14 million including equipment. The proposal requires a debt exclusion for 30 years, which needs a two-thirds vote at town meeting and majority approval at a subsequent ballot.
Sides acknowledges the significant cost but emphasizes the necessity of the project.
"The building has been well-documented. It was built 50 years ago for a call-fire department that consisted of two pickup trucks armed with jerry cans and a Ford Country Squire as an ambulance," Sides explains. "We need to, as a town, step up, do what's right for each other, do what's right for the men and women of the department, and build the building."
Both candidates also address affordable housing as a critical issue for Plympton. They support Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a way to help seniors remain in town and potentially increase affordable housing options.
"I think it's the one avenue I see where seniors and others can still live in Plympton," Traynor says of ADUs, which allow homeowners to convert spaces like garages or barns into living units. "I don't think I've met a senior yet that hasn't said, that's the issue I'm facing. My house is too big. I can't keep going up and down stairs."
Sides notes the demographic challenges facing the town, with three of the four largest population segments being over the age of 60.
"If this is one tool that we can give folks to allow them to continue to stay in town and stay in a comfortable environment that they're used to with people that they care for and will care for them, then I'm absolutely all for it," Sides says.
The candidates also discuss a proposed 40B development at the end of Spring Street, which would include 30 buildings with 60 units. Both express concerns about the impact on the water aquifer and safety issues but acknowledge the town's limited control over such projects.
Traynor brings 55 years of residency in Plympton and extensive experience in town government, having served on the Finance Committee for 12 years, as a Library Trustee for 8 years, and as Town Moderator for 8 years before his current role as Selectman.
"I believe I've got the experience," Traynor says. "I'm hopeful that I can bring some stability with my experience as a board of selectmen as we go forward."
Sides, who will retire from his 40-year career as a pharmacist in about two months, positions himself as bringing "a fresh set of eyes" to town government.
"I think at some point, it becomes a good idea to maybe bring in a fresh set of eyes," Sides says. "And I think it's a good idea, and it's time to bring a different perspective, maybe from outside town government, to take a look at how things operate and maybe ways things can be tweaked and improved and run a little more efficiently."
Both candidates emphasize their commitment to volunteerism and community engagement, with Traynor highlighting his regular visits to various town committees and organizations, and Sides pledging to continue that practice once he retires.
The election takes place May 17, with the fire station vote on the same ballot.