Plympton Takes Direct Control of Water Project Amidst Fire Station Crisis and Administrator Resignation
PLYMPTON - March 23, 2026 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen took decisive action Monday to bypass the Town Properties Committee (TPC) and assume direct oversight of a time-sensitive water supply project, racing against a June 30 funding deadline. The meeting, marked by news of deteriorating public safety infrastructure and the resignation of long-serving Town Administrator Liz Dennehy, signaled a major shift in how the town manages its most pressing capital projects following a failed debt exclusion vote.
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The Full Story
The meeting opened with a significant legal briefing from Town Counsel Gregg Corbo regarding the future of Plympton’s public safety infrastructure. Following the failure of a recent debt exclusion vote for a new fire station, Corbo recommended a “clean break” from the previous decade-old project management structure. [01:37], [06:21] He urged the Board to prioritize the Town Campus Public Water Supply project, which faces a strict state funding expiration on June 30, 2026. [03:09]
Corbo advised the Board to remove the water project from the purview of the Town Properties Committee to streamline management. [03:52] “My recommendation is that you proceed with that project... that you move that forward and that the select board kind of retain the management of that project to ensure that it can be closed out as expeditiously as possible,” Corbo stated, noting that the design is nearly complete and does not legally require an outside Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). [03:18]
The urgency of the situation was underscored by Fire Chief Cheryl Duddy, who delivered a sobering report on the current fire station’s condition. [11:04] Duddy detailed “continuing deterioration,” including rotting window sills and a single-pane front window that recently cracked during a storm. [11:21] Beyond the building, Duddy revealed a new crisis: the pump on Engine 1 may be completely decommissioned, a setback the department had hoped to avoid for several more years. [12:54]
“I don’t want to continue to put money into something that’s either going to be replaced, torn down, or need to be updated anyway... the conditions of the vehicles continues to deteriorate.” — Chief Cheryl Duddy [11:04]
The Board also grappled with the Townhouse front entrance project. While they approved a contract amendment with Habeeb and Associates for construction oversight—noting the project cost had been successfully reduced from an original $170,000 estimate to approximately $35,000—a motion to remove the project from TPC oversight resulted in a 1-1 deadlock between Chairman Dana Smith and Vice Chairman Nathaniel Sides. [17:41]
The meeting concluded on a somber note as Administrative Assistant Briggette Martins announced the resignation of Plympton’s first full time Town Administrator Liz Dennehy, effective tentatively on April 16, 2026. [28:08], Dennehy was praised for her years of service, particularly her success in securing grant funding and managing town budgets. [28:24] “It’s a loss for the town,” Martins remarked, noting that a farewell event is being planned for residents to offer their thanks. [30:24]
Why It Matters
For Plympton residents, the Board’s decision to take direct control of the water project is a move to protect state funding that would otherwise be lost by July 1. However, the 1-1 deadlock on project oversight and the loss of the Town Administrator create a leadership vacuum at a time when the town must return to the “drawing board” for a fire station solution that taxpayers will support.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To ratify the vote to remove the Town Campus Public Water Supply project from the purview of the Town Properties Committee (TPC). [06:43]
Vote: Unanimous (2-0) [07:03]
Motion: To move forward with the public water supply project under the oversight of the Board of Selectmen without an OPM. [09:04]
Vote: Unanimous (2-0) [09:18]
Motion: To execute a contract amendment with Habeeb and Associates for the Townhouse front entrance project. [20:05]
Vote: Unanimous (2-0) [20:15]
Motion: To remove the Townhouse front entrance project from the list of current TPC projects. [20:32]
Vote: 1-1 (Sides: Aye, Smith: Nay) [21:02]
Motion: To execute a contract with Sarian Company for continued water operator services. [22:36]
Vote: Unanimous (2-0) [23:05]
Public Comment
No formal public comment period was held, though Chief Duddy provided extensive testimony regarding the “fast backwards” state of fire department equipment and facilities. [11:04]
What’s Next
Budget Finalization: The Board will meet with the Finance Committee on April 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM to finalize the fiscal budget. [31:19]
Administrator Search: The town will begin the process of replacing Liz Dennehy following her April 16 departure. [28:17]
Water Project: Town Counsel and the Board will coordinate with engineers to prepare bid documents for the water project to meet the July 1 deadline. [03:52], [14:16]
Source Video: Area 58 Plympton