PLYMPTON — Oct. 20, 2026 — Plympton’s Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday to retain a foreclosed wetland parcel on Center Street beside Harry Jason Park for conservation, directing the treasurer to finish notice, appraisal, accounting and excess-equity steps and identify any Town Meeting action needed to dedicate it. The town administrator also reported state-certified free cash of $215,376 as departments begin budgets that will be reviewed for possible cuts.
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The treasurer asked the board to keep the foreclosed lot, parcel 11-1-13, which the posted agenda lists as owned by Phillip Deming and describes as wetlands abutting Harry Jason Park. The motion the board passed retains the property for conservation and protection of the wetlands next to the park. It directs the treasurer, working with town counsel, to complete the notice, appraisal, accounting and excess-equity requirements and to identify any further Town Meeting action needed to dedicate the land to conservation. The motion carried on a voice vote. The vote does not itself dedicate the parcel or transfer it; those steps remain.
Town Administrator Bob Fennessy, catching up after missing the board’s previous meeting, said the state certified Plympton’s free cash at $215,376, effective July 1. The certification was issued Sept. 28 and forwarded to the Finance Committee chair Oct. 6, and Fennessy called the balance an important consideration as the town weighs upcoming funding requests and budget priorities.
Fennessy has handed out the budget package to departments. The first round will look at a base budget that keeps current services, then at where cuts could be made if they have to be, with department heads asked to volunteer what they can do without. Budgets are due to the town administrator Nov. 18, and the Finance Committee will follow the process.
Fennessy also reported that the attorney general issued a determination Oct. 5 on an open meeting law complaint about the board’s June 15 meeting notice, which omitted the names of people being considered for appointment or reappointment. According to him, the determination acknowledged the board’s corrective measures and considers the complaint resolved, but ordered immediate and future compliance and cautioned that future violations could be considered evidence of intent. Tuesday’s posted agenda named both people up for appointment.
The town’s public water supply project is back out for qualifications. In the first round only one respondent submitted qualifications, Fennessy said, and the law requires at least three for a request-for-qualifications determination. This round drew 15 requests, compared with 11 last time, and the deadline for intent to file is Thursday.
The town also received notice Tuesday that it is eligible to join a proposed national opioid settlement with Albertsons. Fennessy said the settlement provides more than $770 million nationally, including $655 million for opioid remediation and abatement paid over nine years. The notice does not say what Plympton might receive, and Fennessy said the necessary documents will be filed to keep the town in the process.
