The town’s regularly scheduled trash cleanups can lead to some dismaying discoveries. “I found an electric fireplace that someone had dumped in the woods,” said Andrea Dickinson, one of the coordinators of the twice-yearly volunteer event. Others have found vacuum cleaners, mattresses, and tires – all tossed along roadsides or wooded areas. The Department […]
Author Archives: Fred Thys - Independent Staff
Posted inGovernment
Here’s who’s running for office in the town election
It’s easy to predict who will win a place on Plymouth’s Select Board in the May 18 town election – David Golden. That’s because there’s no contest. Shockingly, Golden is the only candidate for the open seat on the five-member board being vacated by Harry Helm, who didn’t seek re-election because he is moving to […]
Posted inGovernment
Helm says Community Preservation chair made ‘egregious’ mistake in detailing affordable housing project
A vote approving funding for affordable housing on Court Street is in question after it came to light that two officials misspoke when they described the scope of the project at Town Meeting earlier this month. Meeting representatives overwhelmingly approved an article to spend $960,000 in Community Preservation funds to subsidize the construction of six […]
Posted inGovernment
Town says the nonprofit Farmhouse violates rules, lacks permits
The town has ordered the owner of a nonprofit known as The Farmhouse to stop using buildings on his 10-acre property to run educational programs, saying he lacks proper permits and violates the state’s fire code. In recent weeks, Plymouth South High School, MAP Academy, and EdTV, the Plymouth Public Schools’ video education production program, […]
Posted inGovernment
Hokanson officially announces candidacy for state rep
Democrat Scott Hokanson has made it official – he is running to succeed Republican Mathew Muratore as state representative for the 1st Plymouth District. “I can be a good person at getting resources for the town of Plymouth,” said Hokanson, who chairs the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce. “I get stuff done.” Hokanson will […]
Posted inGovernment
Town meeting OK’s spending on shelter, affordable housing
After a 90-minute debate, Town Meeting members Monday night overwhelmingly approved partially funding a homeless shelter that’s planned for Plymouth Industrial Park. The measure – which passed by a 98 to 36 margin, with three abstentions – culminated months of discussion over whether Plymouth should use $3 million in Community Preservation money toward the $7 […]
Posted inGovernment
Town Meeting gets down to business
Plymouth town meeting members waded through a long agenda Saturday — making it through 28 articles before adjourning until Monday night with two controversial issues still to be decided. The town’s elected representatives, who attended either in person at Plymouth North High School or remotely, approved almost everything that came before them. Members authorized a […]
Posted inGovernment
In advance of Town Meeting, proponents of shelter funding make their case
Supporters of a plan to build a homeless shelter for up to 26 families in the Plymouth Industrial Park have faced a barrage of questions at precinct caucuses ahead of Saturday’s Town Meeting. The Community Preservation Committee is proposing to authorize $3 million in taxpayer funds to go towards renovation of an office building […]
Posted inCulture
Can this historic Cordage house be saved?
Liz Tracy developed a passion for the house at 2-4 South Spooner St. a few months ago after her grandfather told her it was scheduled to be demolished. “It takes away the history that was there,” said Tracy. “I’d love for it to go somewhere where you could maintain that two-family. The next step […]
Posted inGovernment
TOWN MEETING PREVIEW
Each spring, Plymouth holds a combination regular and special town meeting at which much of its business gets done. This year, it’s on April 6, at the Plymouth North High School auditorium, starting at 8 a.m. Usually, it involves a lot of coffee drinking, lively debates, and fair amount of political maneuvering. Think of Town […]