Agenda – Plymouth Select Board 4-12-22 Agenda

Official Minutes – Plymouth Select Board 4-12-22 Minutes

Please note this transcription is unofficial. If you find an error, use the contact page to notify Plymouth On The Record.

Dick Quintal:

Welcome to the Select Board meeting, Tuesday, April 12th, 2022. Please join the board in the Pledge to the Flag.

All:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Derek Brindisi:

Good evening, everybody. Thank you for coming out this evening. My name is Derek Brindisi. I’m the Town Manager. So, we have a great crowd, we have a great ceremony this evening to honor our outgoing Fire Chief, our new Fire Chief and our new Deputy Fire Chief. So, before I begin, I’d like to call up Reverend Gary Bloom, our Fire Chaplain.

Reverend Gary Bloom:

Uncover. Most gracious God, we ask your blessing upon this gathering for another wonderful day for our heritage, the history of a wonderful town. We offer our support and prayers for Neil Foley as he leads our Fire Department. We are very aware of Chief Foley’s commitment, character and compassion and his capability. Bless the Chief’s family as they are in this journey together, may the Chief’s heart and mind remind him that we are always in his support. We are blessed having another wonderful Chief. A Chief who combines his heart, his mind, ever leading by example, and we ask your blessing upon Jerome Hart as he assumes his responsibility as Deputy Chief. It’s in your name we pray, amen.

Derek Brindisi:

So, again, thank you all for coming this evening, families, friends. I’d like to recognize our elected officials here this evening: Senator Susan Moran, Representative Kathleen LaNatra and Representative Mathew Muratore. I’d also recognize like to recognize our Plymouth Select Board: Chairman Richard Quintal, Vice Chairman Betty Cavacco, Patrick Flaherty -member, Harry Helm- member and Charlie Bletzer -member. So, again, thank you to our elected officials for being here this evening.

I’d like to spend a few minutes just you’re talking about the individuals while we’re here. So, as many of you know, soon-to-be Chief Neil Foley, his wife Sarah Jean and her three sons are here this evening. Chief Foley started in Hingham in 2001. He then joined the Plymouth Fire Department in 2006. He was promoted throughout the years, finally attaining the rank of Deputy Chief in 2019. Prior to joining the fire service, Chief Foley served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was an advisor to the Company Commander and specialized in training in aviation company in nuclear biological chemical threats before being discharged army in 2001. He holds numerous certifications including incident command, marine operations, maritime firefighting, public safety rescue diving, fire investigation, fire officer training and labor relations. Needless to say, the Chief is ready to take this new position.

And then we have soon-to-be Deputy Fire Chief Jerome Hart, his wife Patricia and two children: Sean and Margaret are here also with us this evening. Deputy Chief Jerome Hart joined the Plymouth Fire Department in 1996. He rose to the ranks, was promoted to captain in 2009 and then Battalion Chief in 2000. Deputy Chief Hart is a certified EMT, he’s a Fire Instructor I and II, he’s a Fire Officer I, II, III, IV, he’s a Chief Fire Officer, he’s a safety officer and a Hazmat Operations Certified Officer.

[0:05:07]

Derek Brindisi:

Again, speaks to his credentials and why he’s here this evening to take on this new role. And then we have Mr. Chief Ed Bradley, who’s been with this fire department for 47 years. I had the opportunity to go away this past weekend for my birthday, I turned 47 years old on Saturday and I decided as–I drove to work this morning, I’m thinking, ‘I’m 47 and the Chief has been serving this community for 47 years, how amazing is that?’ So, again, thank you, Chief. In 47 of those years, he’s served as–14 of those 47 years, he served as Fire Chief. When Chief Bradley first took the helm of the department, he wanted to replace an aging, unreliable fleet of fire trucks that are often in the repair shop. Over the last 14 years, Chief Bradley has replaced seven pumping engines, one heavy rescue, one ladder, one tanker, one all-terrain pumping engine and a 33-foot marine firefighting platform. The fleet replacement policy he created has provided a clear direction for the future and has increased the public safety as a result.

In July 2020, Chief Bradley along with our Select Board opened at apartment’s newest three bay North Plymouth Fire Station, which he replaced the old North Plymouth fire station that was built in the early 1900s. This new state-of-the-art facility focuses on safety and preventative care for all of our firefighters. And then I think as his going away present to us all, he was able to help us move forward and secure funds for renovations in both Station 2 and Station 5. So, again, clearly you can see chief Bradley has done a lot for this community over the years, and I’m sure his family can attest and all the families here can attest to the long nights that they’re away from home. So, we thank them for their work but most importantly, we thank the families for the fact that you have given us these many, many years from all of our fire chiefs because if it wasn’t because of you and their support, they couldn’t do their job when they leave the house each and every night. So, again, we thank the families and we thank you all for the work that you have done over the years.

So, I’m going to stop here. I’m going to turn this over to our state delegation. I know they have a few words that they’d like to share as well.

Senator Susan Moran:

It’s an absolute joy to be here and having spoken when I got here a little bit earlier and toured with the Chief a couple of the stations to know that Plymouth is so well taken care of and to have the legacy of these first responders and their families who put community first, and they can’t do anything else. It’s in their heart, they grow up in the department, they realize how man-to-man, every brother, every sister is key to success and safety going forward and the fact that this is the passing of the torch, it’s just so fitting to have an incredible ceremony that all of your family and brothers and sisters and the Board is participating in. So, it’s my honor as your State Senator to read the Massachusetts General Court Resolutions congratulating Fire Chief Edward Bradley on his retirement from the Plymouth Fire Department

Whereas, Edward Bradley Fire Chief of the Plymouth Fire Department will retire on April 12, 2022, and whereas Chief Bradley began his career at Station 5 Manomet on October 13, 1974, became a full-time firefighter on January 2nd, 1977 and rose through the ranks to become lieutenant in November 2000; and

Whereas Fire Chief Bradley’s leadership skills led to him being promoted to captain in 2003, promoted to Battalion Chief in 2006 and appointed as Fire Chief in December 2007; and

Whereas Fire Chief Bradley strengthened the Plymouth Fire Department by updating policies, equipment, stations and the emergency operations center while also hiring 92 firefighters and promoting 34 lieutenants, 22 captains, 12 battalion chiefs, and Five Deputy Chiefs during his tenure; and

[0:10:16]

Senator Susan Moran:

Whereas Fire Chief Bradley has dedicated over 47 years of exemplary service to protect the safety of the town of Plymouth and its residents exemplifying the power of human compassion and selflessness to protect citizens while forming a professional team of first responders.

Therefore, be it resolved that the members of the Massachusetts General Court hereby congratulate Fire Chief Edward Bradley on his retirement and extend to him their appreciation and be it further resolved that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded by the Clerk of The House of Representatives to Fire Chief Edward Bradley, and it is signed by the speaker of the house, Ron Mariano; the Clerk, Steven James; the President of the Senate, Karen Spilka; the clerk of the Senate, Michael Hurley; and the delegation you have standing proudly before you: Matt Muratori, Senator Susan Moran, Rep. Kathy LaNatra and Rep. Stephen Xiarhos. Thank you.

Derek Brindisi:

Great. Thank you, Senator Moran, Representative Muratori, Representative LaNatra. Thank you so much for being here again this evening. I’d like to spend the next few minutes and turn this over to Selectman Charlie Bletzer to speak on behalf of the board.

Charlie Bletzer:

Thank you, Mr. Brindisi. First off, I’d like to say happy birthday to Chief Bradley. Yes, that’s a little bit better right there. We’ll sing in the end. So, I’d first off like to thank my fellow Select Board members for giving me the honor to be able to sit here and say a few words today about my good friend and now retired Chief Eddie Bradley.

Ed and I go back almost 50 years to our days in Whitehorse Beach, and I’ll just say that Eddie wasn’t always the quiet laid-back guy you see today. We had a lot of fun back then, and I’ll leave it at that. Eddie always had a strong work ethic, always working two jobs, but his first love was always the Fire Department. He became a paid on-call firefighter assigned to the Manomet Fire Station October 13th, 1974. That’s 47 and a half years to today, 47 and a half years. I can still remember hearing the fire sirens going off and seeing it when they had the horns, the fire horns and seeing Eddie and Pete Geller jumping in their trucks and racing down Route 3A to man the Manomet Fire Station.

He was appointed as permanent Fire Chief in January of ‘77, he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2000 and from there, he moved up the ladder, no pun intended, pretty quickly. He was promoted to Captain in March 2003, Battalion Chief in 2006, and he became the Chief of the department in 2007. His accomplishments as Chief were many. The few I’m going to talk about and most notable, I think in 2010 he obtained funding through the Entergy and town meeting to open the Emergency Operations Center in the Cedarville Fire Station. Before that, they will operate in the basement of Obery Street in a small space in a building that was taken back for county use. It was also instrumental in obtaining the funding needed to help upgrade and improve our fire stations. The brand-new Station 7 in North Plymouth is a state-of-the-art facility that was built on time in $900,000 under budget.

[0:15:02]

Charlie Bletzer:

That building was designed to prioritize the health and welfare of our firefighters. They are able to decontaminate their equipment and store their gear in an area away from their living quarters. Before, they used to have to get off the truck and walk in it, and it was awful. He also received funding for the West Plymouth, the Manomet Stations West Plymouth is proceeding right now. In the Manomet Station, they get the funding through town meeting recently and that’s going to be done next.

Both stations are in deplorable shape, but will now be renovated to assure that our firefighters will be able to live in a safe environment similar to Station 7. Lastly, and very important, he increased the staffing of our firefighters from 123 to 139 to make sure that we can properly service and protect the increased population of our town. But Eddie’s greatest achievement is his family. With his wife Jen, they have two sons, Jay and Brian along with their wives Caitlin and Brianna. They have given Ed and Jen 8 beautiful grandchildren and I know for a fact Ed is a great husband, great father and a great-grandfather. His family is very important to him, and I’m sure with 8 grandchildren, he will be very busy in his retirement.

Ed, I wish you well as you end your call and start your retirement and enjoy your family. You have served that community tirelessly without regret and left the department in great shape for the future and I know that Neil Foley will continue in your footsteps to do the same. For that, I thank you on behalf of the Select Board and the residents of Plymouth, and finally, I’d like to personally thank you for being my long-time friend. Years ago, I could never imagine myself sitting here as a member of the Select Board, but I always knew that you would be the chief. Thank you.

Derek Brindisi:

So, just in a few minutes, we will get to the change of command ceremony. But before we do, Chief Bradley, we’d like to give you the floor, give you the opportunity to say a few words if you like.

Chief Edward Bradley:

I thank everyone for coming here tonight. I thank you for all the kind words, but I want to tell you that it’s the men and women of the Plymouth Fire Department that make me look good every day. They do a tremendous job. There’s an old saying that if you find a job that you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’m cautious about using that because there’s people who say that if you work for the State, Federal, Local Government you’ve never worked a day in your life anyway. But it’s true, I wasn’t going to work. It’s just something I love to do. All right? Thank you all.

Derek Brindisi:

So, Chief Bradley and I had the opportunity to talk about when he was pinned on Fire Chief in 2007. I think it was a cold December night in 2007. I think what you explained was that your wife Jennifer came to the Old Town Hall, and she had pinned you Chief. So, here we are, 14 years later, we’re going to pass that torch. And so, I want to read something to folks because Change of Command ceremonies haven’t been tradition in Plymouth because of just the way the evolution of chief to chief has evolved. But to Chief Bradley’s credit and to the board that allowed him through special legislation and with the support of the State Delegation to get that special legislation gave us an additional two years, chief, right? So, I don’t know if you know but at age 65, these guys have to call it quits. So, thank you for the extra two years. But what that gave us was two years to plan for our next Fire Chief, our next Deputy Fire Chief. And so, again, we appreciate those two years, and again we thank your family for allowing us to have you for two more years.

So, this is the Change of Command. The Change of Command is a tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a department from one commanding officer to another.

[0:20:08]

Derek Brindisi:

The passing of colors or standards from an outgoing commander to an incoming ensures that the department is never without official leadership. A continuation of trust and one that signifies an allegiance of the men and women to their commander. This is great symbolism and is attached to the ceremonial aspects of a command change. So, with that being said, I would invite the three of these gentlemen to come forward with their wives so that we can witness the Change of Command. Gentlemen?

So, now, that they’ve accepted their duties now, we will swear them in. We will start with Deputy Chief Hart. Is Larry Pizer in here? He was here. Oh, here he is.

Larry Pizer:

From my first days as clerk three decades ago, when we were implementing the 911 system, it has been a pleasure to work with the Fire Department. It is an honor to be part of the swearing-in ceremony. Jerome Hart, you have been named Deputy Chief of the Plymouth Fire Department. Do you solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties incumbent upon you as Deputy Chief in accordance with the bylaws and charter of the Town of Plymouth and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?

Deputy Chief Jerome Hart:

I do.

Derek Brindisi:

Congratulations Deputy Chief Hart. Now, we will have the swearing-in for Chief Neil Foley.

Larry Pizer:

Neil J. Foley, you have been named Chief of the Plymouth Fire Department. Do you solemnly swear that you will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties incumbent upon you as chief in accordance with the bylaws and charter of the Town of Plymouth and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?

[0:25:14]

Chief Neil J. Foley:

I do.

Derek Brindisi:

Chief, don’t go too far. As the new Fire Chief, we will give you the floor to say a few words.

Chief Neil J. Foley:

All right. Well, thank you all for being here. Chairman Quintal, the Board appreciate you providing the time tonight to do this ceremony. It’s important. I think that you can see from what transpired up here that it really involves much more than the individual. It involves the family, and I’m so glad that my family was able to be here today to witness this event. It’s important because I’m going to need your support, right? And you’ve always been there for me and I really appreciate it. My friends, my family that are here, my brother and sister firefighters are in the back, fellow town employees, I really do appreciate the support. There’s been a lot of well-wishes that have been provided to me over the weeks and months leading up to this.

And to the community, I’ve been given a great honor and it’s been given to me. The torch has been passed from Chief Bradley, who set the motion of this department to where it is right now. We are in excellent shape for the future. We are going to continue to make our improvements. We’re going to build our fire stations back to where they should be. We’re going to provide the level of service that this town is always known to appreciate. We’re there for you. We will answer your call. Thank you so much for being here tonight, and I look forward to working with you all.

Derek Brindisi:

We will offer one last closing prayer. Reverend Bloom?

Reverend Gary Bloom:

Uncover. Gracious God, we realize how blessed we have been as the Town of Plymouth. We’re ever so grateful for the service of all of our firefighters. We’re especially grateful for the direction that the chief has led us into this point, and now our new Chief will lead us into the future. We ask your blessing upon them. May they remain safe and in your care. Thank you for this time. Thank you for this place. Thank you for the honor for all of us to be here. Amen.

Derek Brindisi:

So, again, thank you all for coming out tonight. This is the end of our ceremony. To me, it’s a historic evening in the historic building, so I appreciate you all coming out tonight. And I think the chief, you have an invitation that you wanted to share with folks. Black Raspberry family and friends right after this event. So, again, thank you everybody for coming. Appreciate it.

Dick Quintal:

Excuse me. There’s no reason to hurry out. The Select Board’s holding our meeting tonight in the Great Hall. So, you can all mingle on. Have a good night.

Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

In accordance with Section 2475, and pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, this meeting will be conducted via remote means and in-person.

[0:30:04]

Betty Cavacco:

Members of the public who wish to watch the meeting may do so in the following manner: tune in to PACTV government cable access channels Comcast Channel 15 or Verizon Channel 47 and watch the meeting as it is aired live, or watch the meeting live the PACTV website on PACTV.org. Members of the public who wish to participate in the meeting may do so in the following manner:

In-person: Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street in the Great Hall.

Remote participation: Please go to the Town Website under the Select Board page and click on the Zoom Webinar registration box. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. And we have a proclamation. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

Yes, we do. We have a proclamation.

WHEREAS, the Board of Selectmen takes pleasure in recognizing

Education Day and Sharing Day, USA

WHEREAS a quality in education is one of the significant foundations of the continuing success of our state, country and our society at large; and in the town of Plymouth, we strive for the betterment of all our citizens through the increased focus on education and sharing; and

WHEREAS through providing the possibility of an excellent education for all, especially children, with which to gain knowledge through rigorous study, we can create hope for a brighter future, kinder and more united and prosperous future in the lives of so many; and

WHEREAS the educational system must also focus on building character by emphasizing the cultivation of universal, moral and ethical values that have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization, including the values known as the Seven Noahide Laws; and

WHEREAS one of the leading global advocates for the advancement of education, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of righteous memory, stressed the importance of moral and ethical education as the bedrock of humanity and the hallmark of a healthy society, and strongly urged that education be enforced by the inculcation of strong morals values; and

WHEREAS in recognition of the Rebbe’s outstanding and lasting contributions towards improvements in education, moralities and acts of charity, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and the United States Congress has established his birthdate as a national day to raise awareness and strengthen the education of our children; and

WHEREAS April 12, 2022 will mark 120 years since the Rebbe’s birth, and the date will be celebrated across these United States and around the globe in tribute the Rebbe’s vision, guidance and leadership; and

WHEREAS for more than forty years the President of the United States has recognized and honored the Rebbe’s vision each year on that day by proclaiming it “Education & Sharing Day USA”; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard Quintal, Chairman of the Plymouth Select Board, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, April 12th, 2022, to be; EDUCATION & SHARING DAY, PLYMOUTH in the Town of Plymouth and call upon government officials, educators, volunteers and citizens to reach out to those within your communities and work to create a better, brighter and more helpful future for all.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Plymouth to be affixed at the Plymouth Town Hall this twelfth day of April in the year two thousand and twenty-two.

And it is signed by each Select Board Member.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Now, we’re going to move on to the hearing for the Artisan Pig. Outdoor Dining License Agreement. In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held remotely or in-person at Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm to consider the application for an alteration of premises and a change of license category from Wine and Malt to All Alcohol from the Artisan Pig LLC d/b/a the Artisan Pig, holder of an Annual Wine and Malt Restaurant License, 66 Court Street, Andrew Rivera-Myers.

[0:35:19]

Dick Quintal:

Description of premises will be as follows: one floor with a single room, 2700 square feet of dining room, bar, two entrances, two exits. Applicant seeks to add outdoor seating on the sidewalk against the building and in cordoned off parking spaces in front of the building and use of the sidewalk to travel from the restaurant to the parking spaces per the license agreement from the town. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should plan to attend this meeting. I now declare this hearing open. And Chris, is there anybody that would like to speak? Well, is this the gentleman that’s from the–welcome. How are you?

Andrew Rivera-Myers:

Good. How are you?

Dick Quintal:

Good, thank you. Would you like to say anything before I open it to the public?

Andrew Rivera Myers:

No. Just that we are like as stated looking for the outdoor dining for that and then the addition, the change to full liquor. We just get an insane amount of requests, so we looked at our model and decided it might be time to pursue that option. So, we are hoping that the town will be generous and allow us the opportunity to expand our license.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application? Anyone online, Chris?

Chris Badot:

No.

Dick Quintal:

No? Anyone wishing to speak in opposition? Nothing online? Okay. I declare this hearing closed and bring it back to the board awaiting their motion.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion to approve.

Charlie Bletzer:

I’ll second that.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Bletzer. Discussion?

Charlie Bletzer:

I just like to comment about what a great job they’re doing there, and they deserve to be able to have a full liquor license. They’ve shown in the last year how responsible they are, and I’ll tell you they’re doing a heck of a business. So, it’s really good to see that. So, I’m all in favor of this.

Dick Quintal:

Any other discussion or questions? All those in favor? Four in favor and I abstain. Thank you.

Andrew Rivera-Myers:

Very good, thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Public hearing for Outdoor Dining License agreement for the Food Court. In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held remotely or in-person at Plymouth Town Hall, 26th Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:05 pm to consider the application for in alteration of premises in JSR Corporation d/b/a Food Court, holder of an Annual All Alcohol Restaurant License, 39 Court Street, John Ricardo, manager. Description of the premises will be as follows: first floor has 984 square feet, and three rooms. Floor two has 920 square feet and two rooms, one entrance and three exits. Applicant seeks to add outdoor seating in cordoned off parking spaces in front of the building and use of the sidewalk to travel from the restaurant to the parking spaces per the license agreement from the town. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should plan to attend this meeting. I now declare the hearing open. And Chris is anyone from–

Chris Badot:

No.

Dick Quintal:

No? Okay. Anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application? Anyone wishing to speak in opposition? Seeing none, I’ll close the hearing and bring it back to the Board.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion to approve.

Patrick Flaherty:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion.

Charlie Bletzer:

Again, another new business to the downtown Plymouth that’s doing a fantastic job. Great addition. And in fact, I was by there the other night and saw how busy they were, and they need more seats. So, this outdoor dining is going to be huge for them and they deserve it, so I’m all for it.

Dick Quintal:

Any other comments from the Board or questions? All right. All those in favor? Unanimous.

[0:40:04]

Dick Quintal:

Public hearing for Su Casa- Outdoor Dining License Agreement. In accordance with Chapter 138 of the Massachusetts General Laws as amended, notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held remotely or in-person at Plymouth Town Hall, 26 Court Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. to consider the application for an alteration of premises from Ladder 15 LLC d/b/a Su Casa, holder of an Annual All Alcohol Restaurant License, 30 Main Street, Erin Murphy, manager. Description of premises will be as follows: 1800 square feet, one floor with I believe four rooms on one entrance, I’m assuming. Two exits, basement is 400 square feet. Applicant seeks to add outdoor seating in cordoned off parking spaces in front of the building and use of the sidewalk to travel from the restaurant to the parking spaces per the license agreement from the town. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should plan to attend this meeting. I now declare the hearing open. And this is Ms. Murphy on the screen?

Chris Badot:

Yes.

Dick Quintal:

Welcome. Do you have anything you’d like to say at this moment? We have the hearing open.

Erin Murphy:

We just wanted to thank you again for this opportunity. We’re really looking forward to it. And yeah, we’re excited. So, thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. Anyone wishing to speak in favor of this application? Anyone wishing to speak in opposition? Seeing none, I close the hearing and bring it back to the Board.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Patrick Flaherty:

I’ll second that.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Flaherty. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous. Thank you.

Erin Murphy:

Thank you so much.

Dick Quintal:

All right. Now, we have Upweller Proposal- Presentation. Please identify yourself for the record and make sure the green light is on.

Kyle Marble:

Kyle Marble, 72 R Warren Ave. I’m Kyle Marble. I’m here to present this Aquaculture’s new aquaculture zone. Calling it a zone because in Hobs Hole where it is on the eastern side of the Hobs Hole channel where I would like to see some operators go to help the oyster community. Right now, Plymouth has 30 lease holders and over 70 acres of oyster flat. And that’s right there’s, that’s 52 acres of flat that if you look at it in Google Earth, it’s pretty bare. Let’s say someone puts 300,000 seed out, it makes one of those leases, it doesn’t look like it really does much. So, compared to Duxbury who’s right across the bay, we have roughly the same number amount of leases and more acreage than they do, but they pretty well produce us every year tenfold because I believe they have full support of the community, town leadership, marketing within the town: regional and national and have opportunities of making new decisions and making their industry thrive over there.

This is America’s Hometown. Everybody knows us in the state, nation, international tourism. We’re known as Plymouth. Everybody knows us, but nobody knows that we do oysters. This is going to help the restaurants, the shopping, the entertainment, the recreation. This is going to help growth of the oyster industry short-term and long-term with helping out farmers year-to-year and then in the long-term filling up White Flat or in the other flats as well just trying to get as much as we can out of what we’re doing. The opportunities of the Upwell is trying to obviously increase more jobs, increase sales for the restaurants, increase shopping, boating, tourism, supporter of the oyster farmers as far as like they’d be spending more money on building boats, building upwellers, buying gear and this helps our environment, it helps our bay.

[0:45:02]

Kyle Marble

All the oyster farmers will be able to grow or the ones that want our produce to be able to grow more seed, which would help filtration of our bay and then create habitat across White Flat, which is a bare flat of just sand. As we have all of our oyster cages and trays out there, as I go through row-to-row, you see more habitat for green crab, sea worms, all different types of fish. It’s almost like an artificial reef where it creates more life for the bay. So, a lot like the cranberry industry with all of its like youth benefits and what am I trying to say here? What am I trying? Education for schools, and we have an opportunity here to have the upwellers, which is science in our harbor. Because I know as a kid, we were going to Plymouth Beach to look at the ocean and everything that lives, but the fact that we have the opportunity to grow oysters and have science inside of our bay for our students to see and stuff like that sis a great opportunity that we could have just to present.

How do we make this happen? We need full support of the community, the town leadership. Basically, this is going to help put Plymouth oysters on the map because right now, a lot of people don’t even know who we are. We go into East Bay and people ask for Duxbury oysters, and they say we are Plymouth, but they said they don’t want them. So, I really like to see more people realize who we are and what we’re doing out there and how we compare to them. So, this is the area in Hobs Hole, if you can kind of make sense of where we are, and I have the packets there for you guys to see a little better, but that yellow line is the Eastern side of the channel in Hobs Hole. Right there, you can see in that particular yellow line I have drawn, that’s a row where you could put eight moorings or eight anchor and chain systems for the upwellers. That area is not used for anything. Bill Doyle has had his is upwell over there, I believe, for like five years. It’s in the bottom of the picture and that little tiny little sliver that comes off the bottom of the picture there and there’s really not any room in there for any other upwellers. But out along that edge, there is. And if you see on the pictures that I showed you there, it’s a little bit clearer. This is a primary tool for the oyster farmers. It’s just a small boat with basically some silos inside of it and there’s a pump in there that helps the oysters grow.

We have upwellers out there we can buy seed at one millimeter or two millimeters. You can buy really whatever millimeter you want but the smaller you buy it, the cheaper it is. 4 to 6 millimeters is really all a farmer can put on his farm into 2-millimeter bags. And let’s say if you bought a million oysters from the hatchery at 4 to 6 millimeters, it’s $25,000 but if you bought it at one millimeter, you’re looking at like right around $10,000. So, I look at it as saving $12,000 for every million. Farmers can pretty much double if not three, four times their craft for what they’re putting out because right now, if you spend $15,000, that gets you right around four to six million plus your gear, that’s $15,000, and it doesn’t look like it did anything to White Flat. So, that right there is a picture of an upweller that Coastwise marine has put together. It’s very small, compact, quiet, just looks like a floating dock. There are 10 silos inside of that, and it’s ran off of a small Honda generator. Like I said, it’s very quiet and max height we’d probably get on those is about 10 feet.

So, as the oyster community is out there with all the individual leaseholders and the husband and wives are out there, if every grower and family wanted a site, there’d be 26 locations we’d be asking for. But with what there is already some local docks in town and in other places, you would only need from what I’ve gathered within the community, we’d only need eight upwellers in that location. I put the 38 feet as a max length because I don’t really feel like we’d be anything more than that, but there is some of that reach. You have two docks or whatever, they could be bigger, but that could also be something that’s discussed in the guidelines later on.

[0:50:01]

Kyle Marble:

They would only be out there from June to September during the growing season. There’d obviously be some sort of protocol to just putting it up while they’re out there. This would be something that would have to be I guess drawn up or gone over within the shellfish constable as far as getting a site whether their lease is compliant or not, whether you can’t just get a site out there and use it for a boat or whatever. It has to be used for the upweller. So, that’s something that could be discussed later on. So, throughout this entire presentation I’ve put together, I’ve also been talking with the community now for about six months. I seemed to have gathered everybody’s support: the Oyster Community, Chamber of Commerce, I’ve reached out to the DMF, Lobster Men Association then we brought it to the Harbor Committee, and they were in full support of it as well. So, really just looking for the support of you guys to okay these particular locations out there and the locations would be basically GPS coordinates. Off of each location would either be a new lease or attached to the leases we already have. That would be something else that would kind of have to be drawn up, but that was it. I appreciate it. Thank you for having me.

Dick Quintal:

Any questions from the board or comments?

Betty Cavacco:

Well, I’ll make a comment just so folks know that this was unanimously supported by the Harbor Committee and maybe you have questions, but I would make a motion for the board to actually accept this proposal and to allow upwellers in the area proposed.

Harry Helm:

And I’ll second that motion.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Helm. Discussion? Mr. Bletzer?

Charlie Bletzer:

The only question I have is what are the negatives to this? I don’t see any. Is there a negative thing?

Kyle Marble:

A storm could go blow through and wipe out our crop is really all the negative that is in it.

Charlie Bletzer:

I think that would hurt you.

Kyle Marble:

Exactly right.

Charlie Bletzer:

For the town, I’m saying there’s no, I don’t see any negatives.

Kyle Marble:

I don’t think so, no.

Charlie Bletzer:

It’s a no-brainer to me. So, thank you.

Betty Cavacco:

But the Board actually if they ever have the opportunity, I was able to go to Mr. Doyle’s upweller a few years ago, and it really is a very interesting process. And I don’t know if any of you guys have anything out there as of yet, but if you have the ability, I suggest that you go and do a little tour and see how the whole operation is because it’s pretty interesting, so.

Dick Quintal:

Harry, did you have a question?

Harry Helm:

No question, just a comment. I look forward to the day I could go to a restaurant in Austin, Texas and they have Island Creek crossed out and Plymouth Oysters written in.

Kyle Marble:

That’s what we want too. Exactly right. Thank you very much.

Betty Cavacco:

America’s Hometown Oysters. Here we go.

Kyle Marble:

Exactly, yeah.

Dick Quintal:

All those in favor? Unanimous.

Kyle Marble:

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion and Vote on the Wood Lot Referendum Question. Is there anyone wishing to speak on this in the audience?

Pat McCarthy:

Pat McCarthy, Precinct 5. I have a procedural question. It was on the agenda for 6.50, and I know that there’s a lot of people that have been following this issue and this question who may or may not be coming to hear your discussion. And I know you’re running–

Dick Quintal:

You do have a good point.

Pat McCarthy:

I appreciate you running early. I mean, I have a thank you to the Board, so I could start with that. I appreciated the Board with the cross-links on your main page on the Town of Plymouth website so that one of my big concerns as always, I guess over all the years that I’ve been here is that people get proper information and get the facts.

[0:55:04]

Pat McCarthy:

And because of that, I was able to cross, copy and paste and create a post myself, which is nice for me to be able to do that and share it with the different groups just with the links to get information so that people could read some facts. So, in light of that, I hope that the board would have that any new information added as you move along in the process. And then when you get to the full discussion of the question, I’ll probably have maybe another comment, but I just wanted to thank the board for that.

Dick Quintal:

You’re welcome. Actually, I reached out to Chris and asked him to post those memos as they come in, and I’ll continue to do that. No, I didn’t do it. The office does it, but I don’t have time to be honest with you. So, and after Chris, whoever the successor is will be his or her job to do the same. And I agree with you 100%, it was the fastest way to get information out. And not only that, the biggest part, the correct information and that’s really what I was trying to get across. So, I hope that that works. It sounds like it’s already got some good feedback. So, good.

Betty Cavacco:

Can we put this question? Can we continue through the agenda?

Dick Quintal:

If you let me continue on the agenda, I’ll say that next. So, we’ll come back to this. Right, Betty?

Betty Cavacco:

It works for me.

Dick Quintal:

All right. Do we have a Town’s Manager’s report? I know you were away, and we understand that but–

Derek Brindisi:

I always had Town Manager’s report, Mr. Chairman.

Dick Quintal:

Okay.

Derek Brindisi:

So, I was away last week, but I wanted to reflect on town meeting.

Dick Quintal:

Please make sure that your mic is always turned on.

Derek Brindisi:

We had a very successful town meeting. A lot of great debate, deliberation and discussion. Although it was long, I felt it was very successful overall. So, I appreciate the Board’s support, certainly appreciate our department heads. I don’t know if folks are aware. I’m sure town meeting members are aware. The number of requests that come from town meeting members is in the hundreds, and we understand that, and we appreciate that because we’d rather answer those questions in advance. But I just want folks to realize that. Folks like Marie Brinkman, Lynne Barrett, Lee Hartman, they spend countless hours to answer those questions. So, I really appreciate all their efforts in doing that because when folks send one email, they don’t realize there are 10 others from 10 other town meeting members that are coming behind that. So, it’s just important to note because they put in so much effort to make sure town meeting is successful.

That being said, just kind of moving on to some weekly updates. We met with Karen Keane from the Public Health Department this morning, who’s continuing to track COVID. So, we see a small uptick in our positivity rates, a little north of 2%. But I had reported in previous town meetings that we had received a grant to start to sample our wastewater for COVID and those samples are already starting to come in on a regular basis. And what it’s demonstrating is that there is actually an increased level of viral load of COVID in our wastewater. And so, what that’s indicative of is the fact that most of the folks aren’t reporting to hospitals or they’re taking their tests at home and maybe not taking tests at all, but it’s certainly showing up in higher accounts in the wastewater than we’re seeing through the positivity rate. So, COVID is not gone away. It’s something we’re going to continue to track, and I know some other communities have I think the City of Denver started to implement mask wearing again. So, hopefully, we don’t have to go down that path but the Health Department and the Board of Health is closely watching that. So, I’ll continue to report on COVID as we move forward.

Moving on, this 558 Wareham Road I know has been of discussion in the past with this board, so I wanted to just give you an update. 555 Wareham Road is scheduled to receive an appointed receiver on April 25th. So, this is a property that’s been in disrepair for quite a long time. We’ve had no compliance from the current property owner. So, once the receiver has been appointed by the courts, we’ll go ahead and work with the receiver to have the property brought back into compliance. So, I’ll keep you posted on that. The smokestack, again, this was a discussion item for the past four weeks.

[1:00:00]

Derek Brindisi:

We’ve been informed by the property owner that they have engaged a general contract to begin the dismantling of the smokestack the week of May 19th. That being said, I have had regular communications with Bill Keohan. I know Board Members have also attended the site as well to get a first-hand view of what’s going on with the smokestack. So, everybody’s aware, the owner has engaged a building conservation specialist who’s in the process of completing a report. This report will help us determine whether or not there’s going to be any reclamation possible. And so, Bill is working closely with this building conservation specialist. That being said though, I just want folks to be aware that Massachusetts Historical Commission has approved the demolition of the smokestack. So, unfortunately, we don’t see this smokestack standing, but we hope that we can work with the property owner in the future to reassemble something to give it a historical look back to that area.

As far as IT goes, I just want the Board to be aware that I’ve been working with Joe Young, an IT Director. They’re actually in the process of removing an antenna over headquarters for various reasons, and one of the prime locations to relocate that antenna is on top of this building. I know in the past, folks have shied away from attaching an antenna to this building for historical purposes or at least the aesthetics, but we’re looking at what types of antennas won’t be as noticeable, but we do know that this is a prime location given the elevation one but both Fire, Police and EMS all say that this would increase the efficiencies of their communications if we were to do that. So, I’ll bring that back before the board just so folks are fully aware that if we are able to move down this road that there may be a dish like antenna attached to the roof somewhere. But again, I’ll keep you posted on that.

As far as staying on the IT, you will notice on the second floor over here that we have the help desk is up and running. So, folks that come to Town Hall, and they need assistance with getting online, paying bills online or just need assistance in navigating the building, the help desk is available, and we have 2 IT support staff that can help folks do whatever they need to accomplish here in Town Hall. That being said, during this conversation, we have recognized that especially many of us who work in this building, we always see people wandering on the building and not really knowing where to go. So, an idea came up this morning amongst our department heads to research the feasibility of acquiring kiosks. So, there’s a town down the Cape that has these kiosks where you can indicate what you’re trying to accomplish. So, if you’re looking for a birth certificate, you punch in birth certificate, it’ll tell you go to the Town Clerk’s Office because folks don’t know to go to Town Clerk’s Office and where it’s actually located. So, again, the IT is researching that. If we can do it, we may post a kiosk at this entrance and then kiosk at the other entrance. Again, to help folks navigate this four-story structure.

A couple meetings, very important meetings have happened and will continue to happen this week. The DCR Commissioner will be in town tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. He’s going to visit the site to look at potential promenade funding support. JB will be out there with a few other staff members. In addition to that, we’re going to have a follow-up meeting at 10:30 to talk about the town’s ability to potentially acquire the park on the right of the portico. So, again, those conversations will take place tomorrow. I’ll be happy to report back on any progress we make with the Department of Conservation Recreation.

On yesterday, the DPW held a meeting over at Stevens Field to begin the design of the Stevens Field play area. And then this Thursday, we also have another meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers. They’re going to be meeting with David Gould and his team over in Long Beach to review the $25,000,000 dike project. Remember, I had reported this a few weeks back. It came from Senator Markey’s Office that awarded the town $25,000,000 to repair the dike over in Long Beach. So, again, that that meeting would take place on this coming Thursday with David Gould.

Two important issues I think the Board would be very interested in: restrooms. So, we have two options relative to the White Horse Beach restrooms. We can go ahead and acquire just the old-fashioned Porta Potties, or we can potentially use ARPA funds at the cost of about $100,000 to acquire the portable restroom trailers. So, that’s something that if the Chairman would like for us to bring back a couple possibilities and options next week for consideration.

[1:05:07]

Derek Brindisi:

Again, this Board, you are responsible for the use and purpose of ARPA funds. So, if you wanted us to pursue this portable restroom trailer, we’d be happy to do that. But again, the cost is $100,000. I think we only have approximately $40,000 set aside for restrooms down at White Horse Beach. So, something to consider.

And then again, Steve and I have been talking, and he brought to my attention that VSB would consider a grant of $10,000 for us to open the Town Hall restrooms outside. Right now, we’re scheduled to open May 20th. With a potential grant award, we could extend the number of days that we are open to the restrooms by 147 days. I believe Steven mentioned that they’re going to meet this Tuesday. So, at that point, again, if the Board agrees, we’d like to go ahead and execute an amended contract to the cleaning company so that we could open those restrooms sooner rather than later and then try to extend the restroom use well into the early fall. Again, assuming the Boards are amendable to that.

Charlie Bletzer:

Can I ask the question?

Derek Brindisi:

Absolutely.

Charlie Bletzer:

I just have a question. So, instead of May 20th, it’s going to be opened later? What will be the closing date?

Derek Brindisi:

So, we have 147 days. Right now, we’re scheduled to be open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. From May 20th I think it’s September 15th, somewhere there.

Charlie Bletzer:

The 15th of the 6th.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah, somewhere in that range.

Charlie Bletzer:

So, we potentially could go into November?

Derek Brindisi:

Yes, absolutely.

Charlie Bletzer:

Okay. That would be fantastic if we could do that.

Derek Brindisi:

So, I’d certainly like to open as soon as we can. So, maybe late April and then to your point extend to–

Charlie Bletzer:

Very important to the downtown businesses. And I know, I talked to Steve about it and once we get that we can let them all know and maybe they can put some signage in their storefronts and let people know that so, but I’d be all for that. So, do we need a motion for that?

Derek Brindisi:

Not at all. I’ll continue to work with Steve later and his board.

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Lydon.

Steven Lydon:

The VSB Board is committed to support tourism as much as we can, that’s one of our jobs. We do a lot of things that people aren’t aware of. If you notice the new sign down at Court Street in North Park, that was one of our projects. The lights wrapping the poles, that’s another one of our projects. We also supported Robin Carver and her group to wrap all the light boxes. Our business is to support tourism and that’s what we do. And I don’t see any problem this grant coming every year to support the operation of the bathrooms, that’s what we do, and we’re more than happy to support the town. We do a lot more than just give grants to people who want like the Fourth of July. Ten percent of our budget goes to improvements of the town and that’s what we try to do every year. So, thank you. And thank you, Derek for working on these bathrooms.

Derek Brindisi:

So, again, I’ll keep the board posted on that, but I’m hoping we can extend the use of those restrooms. And then my last report is I just wanted to just remind the Board that a few weeks back, I had announced another grant award through the Police Department, which will now allow a Mental Health Counselor to ride along through the Department of Children & Families to ride along with one of our root causes. That program is going to start this Thursday. It’s going to be a Monday through Friday program during the day where this mental health counselor will help our Police Department respond to calls that are linked to behavioral or mental health issues. So, we know for a fact that many of the calls today and I think more exasperated because of COVID the last two years are related to mental health. And so, we see a greater need in the community to respond in an appropriate manner using counselors. So, that program starts this Thursday. We know it’ll be successful. The chief is already putting in place to expand this program to additional counselors moving forward. So, again, I’ll keep the board posted on the results of that. So, pending any questions, that’s all I have for this evening.

Betty Cavacco:

Me?

Dick Quintal:

Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

Maybe not questions, but some comments. The first one was about the kiosk, and I remember this Board, I don’t think Harry and Charlie were on it, but I don’t know if Patrick and Dick, you remember we were going to try and get like a volunteer to come in, and how they have that work program to offset their taxes.

[1:10:18]

Patrick Flaherty:

Yeah.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah.

Betty Cavacco:

We had talked about it and wanted it, and then it just didn’t happen. So, maybe that’s another way of, I would love for somebody to walk into that glass solarium and maybe even another one here in the back and be able to ask someone like, “Oh, can I help you? Where are you going?” I just think it’s more personal and the kiosks don’t answer you when you ask them questions. But not that I’m saying it’s a bad idea, but I think that was one of the things that the Board discussed previously that just never came to fruition.

And the other is about the trailer for White Horse Beach. I’m all for trying to bring that back to the Board. Hopefully, we can get ARPA funds from it. Those Porta Potties can get pretty gross. So, I know it’s a self-contained. I saw the pictures and there’s also another vendor called William Scott, which I can send that to JB and have him look into that as well or if you can send it over to him, but as long as it’s okay with the Board, I would like to have you move forward with that.

Derek Brindisi:

Happy to do it. Yeah, I’m happy to work with JB and I know that there’s a couple of these vendors that are already on the state bid list. So, we don’t have to go to bid. So, we could place this on the agenda potentially next week, the Board could vote in favor of it, and we could go ahead and order a trailer for summer season. JB doesn’t think it’s going to require much of a lead time, so I think we could definitely have it in short order.

Betty Cavacco:

Well, one of the things too is that something like that we would be able to use for off season events like the Thanksgiving Day parade, and any of the things like. So, I think it would be a good purchase.

Derek Brindisi:

Yeah. That’s a good idea.

Betty Cavacco:

Did you want to–do you want me to talk about Cordage Park?

Dick Quintal:

Let’s open up, if they can.

Betty Cavacco:

Please do.

Dick Quintal:

You’re talking about the stack at Cordage. Betty, myself and Bill Keohan had a meeting with the Jannetty’s last week. Actually, it was the day before they secured a company to remove the stack. The Jannetty’s are very willing to work with a town to see what they can come up with, what the town might be interested with whether it’d be a memorial or a rebuild of some sort. So, I’m sure we’ll have some workshops and discussion on that after the fact as soon as we get to that point. So, we did try. It’s a safety issue and merely that’s the bottom line on that. So, I don’t know if you want to add to that, Betty.

Betty Cavacco:

Well, I think one of the things that people should realize is that they have been very cooperative. They feel terrible that it has to come down. It is a safety issue. Right now, it’s fenced. I think it’s slaughtered to come down on May 9th.

Dick Quintal:

The week of.

Betty Cavacco:

Yeah, the week of May 9th, but just so folks know that they really do want to work with us, and they’re going to as it begins to come down, they want to see if there’s going to be any area that they can like save the bricks that we could reuse it. I mean, I personally would love to see a whole other stack closer to the ocean with a light on top, but that’s kind of a wish list right now, make it look like a lighthouse. But just so folks know that they have been like really cooperative, and they want us to have the bricks if we want it. We’ve already secured a storage location for them if they’re feasible to keep and use somewhere else. But I just wanted folks to know that they have been very cooperative with us.

Dick Quintal:

I just want to add to that because I forgot, it’s not being taken down to put a building there. That’s nothing to do with it. Nothing’s going in its place, and they basically said the space, if you want to put something there or do something of course with their blessings, but it’s not because it’s in the way by any means. So, we just want to be very clear on that, getting the facts out correctly. So, anything else from Board Members on Derek’s report?

[1:15:01]

Dick Quintal:

Derek, you talked about the possibility of a dish being on the roof and I started thinking about maintenance and I attended the hearing a public hearing at North High School last night for the redistricting plan. But out of that, what I was really impressed with was the way Chris Jimenall [?] had a feasibility study, I believe it was and correct me if I’m wrong, Brad, I’ll put you on the spot, but I was very impressed on that as it went out 20 years for these buildings that they own and approximately how much it was to put into these buildings. And I don’t know if we have one for the town side and this is why I’m always saying or bringing up consolidation. It’s not so much. Everyone thinks to save money, it’s not. I mean, it would be nice but when I see something like that, I’m saying, “Well, why doesn’t the town have that?” So, I would ask that you ask our facilities–

Betty Cavacco:

Managers.

Dick Quintal:

Managers to at least contact Christine, maybe have a meeting and bring us a proposal for what it would cost to do that study and bring it back. Because I hear this at town meeting too. They want to know what’s going on with the Fire Stations, which I believe they should really have that information already, I think.

Betty Cavacco:

We do.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, what I like to look is however many buildings we have say it’s body. This building I’m sitting in, I know there’s a lot of stuff down downstairs. Is there a maintenance plan for this building? If so, I’d like to see it. I’d like to know who’s in charge of it and what the plan is. So, if I’m sitting here, I don’t have to go say to town meeting, “I need x amount of dollars because we haven’t done anything to this building since, we built it.” I’m not saying that’s the case, but I’d rather be proactive and put it out there, so we can make intelligent decisions. All my years, I’ve never seen one. So, after seeing that last night, I said, “That was a really nice presentation.” So, if we could get the information on how we will obtain that and how much the cost is I think it’ll pay itself time over. It’s really a good presentation.

Derek Brindisi:

Sure. With your permission, Mr. Chairman, I’d like to bring in our Facilities Manager and our DPW Director to present to the Board their due solutions report, which I believe only projects five years. So, possibly May this would be a good opportunity. It would give us to do some more research to see what the schools have done, but then we can piggyback on that and present to the board what we already have in place.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, exactly because I don’t know but I was very impressed by it, so. Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

I’m just going to kind of jump on the whole consolidation thing, and that’s another thing that we’re really not trying to consolidate for to save money. We’re trying to consolidate to make the process better and be more successful. We’ve thrown around this consolidation for five years now. Every single year, we throw it around, we get a little nibble, and then it dies on the vine. So, I think our thoughts at one point was to consolidate town and school to have it as a stand-alone facility department and be able to maintain both sets of buildings. So, I know Mr. Brothers is in the audience, and he will be joining us next week as our full-time Assistant town manager. So, two weeks, sorry, trying to push it along, sorry, but I’m hoping that can be one of the things that he can help us work on because honestly, we do it every year, we’ve done it every year for five years. If it’s not going to happen, just let us know that there’s no interest and we can move on to something else because we have plenty on our plate, so.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Any other comments or questions for Derek? Seeing none–excuse me. Anyone wishing to speak on a public comment? Please identify yourself for the record.

Steven Lydon:

Steve Lydon. You just brought up about the–I know I’m on the Capital Outlay Committee, and we meet every year to set the priorities. We have every Division Head that comes in, and I asked for a hard copy.

[1:20:01]

Steven Lydon:

And the Fire Station, I was very surprised, didn’t pass it first because that station was such in bad shape. I had the paperwork, I looked at it, I read it, and I’m surprised that that information doesn’t get passed on to you know town meeting. Also, I didn’t hear it maybe I missed it, but no one gave what our priorities were. No one said, well, the Capital Outlay Committee, we rated that as number–I think we had 149 things that we had a review and no one said, “Well, this is number one, this is number 149.” To me, this is important information and it doesn’t get out. And then all of a sudden, people say, “Gee, I’m surprised.” I mean, we haven’t spent money on our fire stations for years. And when the division heads come in, they tell us how long this project has been? How many years has this been on the capital outlay list? 5, 6, 7 years, and nothing ever happened. So, I’m not surprised the buildings are in bad shape as they are. I’m glad that they reconsidered, and they are going to fix that fire station because to be honest with you, I wouldn’t let my dog stay there. That place is disgusting. We owe our employees a better place to work. We shouldn’t be jeopardizing. Their health is jeopardized now every time they go into a building, there’s smoke and all the chemicals they have to deal with. They shouldn’t have to be afraid to go into their Firehouses. So, I think we should get this information out. It’s there. A lot of it is there. It never gets out. Thank you.

                                                                                        

Dick Quintal:

Thank you.

Betty Cavacco:

Thanks, Steve. And actually, it’s a great point because I also serve on Capital Outlay and I think the problem that I see, and I don’t know if this board can change that, and I’m sure Derek wants our processes to be easier is that it didn’t matter what we ranked on Capital Outlay. Once it came back to Town Manager, if they think it’s not a worthy project, they would cancel what the ranking was. So, I think there’s a disconnect there. I mean, Capital Outlay is all day. Sometimes it’s long days. So, I think Capital Outlay ranks a project, and they go through their due diligence, and they vet it and then if it comes back when it comes back to town management, the town manager has the authority to say, “Yeah, I’m not going to do that,” even if it’s ranked number two or number three. So, I think we have to do some work with that, because that’s why we have this Capital Outlay group because honestly, I personally don’t think we should be sitting there all day and doing all this work and then the work is futile. I mean, nothing comes of it. It doesn’t raise to the occasion that these people put in to do all this effort to rank these projects. So, I’m hoping that maybe there’s something you can work on with that.

Derek Brindisi:

If I could through the Chair and respond to that. What was just described regarding the Capital Outlay Committee, Cap Improvement Committee is very unique to Plymouth. Most communities don’t do what Plymouth does with an all-day session. Typically, you have a capital improvement plan. Most communities have a five-year capital improvement plan. The last community I came from, we developed a 10-year capital improvement plan, and it’s very clear what rolling stock and what capital equipment and facilities needed to be replaced in what year. And so, I think that’s something that I know Mr. Brothers and I have already talked about. That’s something that he’s very interested in looking at our process and making it a little bit more efficient and then again, bringing that back to the Board. But at the same time, I want to also say that we’ve had a committee that has been empowered to do this. So, I don’t want them to believe that they are no longer used because they will be. And the way I look at a capital budget community or Capital Improvement Committee is to determine whether or not that product, that item is beyond its useful life and then just to decide yes, it is. And then the Advisory and Finance decides whether we can afford that item if it’s been approved by Capital. So, that’s kind of the process. And again, Plymouth does a little bit different. So, I think this is an opportunity for us to revisit our processes that are maybe a little antiquated and see how we can do things a little bit better, a little bit more efficient.

Betty Cavacco:

Perfect.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, I just hope it’s clear. It wasn’t really I found fault with anything on Capital Outlay, that’s after pretty much you know what they’re asking for and what it costs. What I’m actually was really looking for was projected to re-out. I think the schools did it out to 20 years, right? Five-year mark, 10-year mark, 20-year mark. They had all their buildings in one column, and it was telling you what you’re going to be putting in each building.

[1:25:11]

Dick Quintal:

I mean, it was very–I’ve never seen anything like that, and I think that would add to the Capital Outlay if you had that I think even Lynne Barrett–

Male:

That school solution has costs us 115 grand that was (inaudible) when I first started. So, that was three to five years ago on 115,000 capital (inaudible). This program has 20 schools and 13 buildings, 115 grand.

Betty Cavacco:

And I think that the facilities due solutions and the school due solutions actually work together. So, I think there’s something that we can connect there.

Dick Quintal:

I just know if I was in Administration, I’d like to have that report to put my hands on to make decisions, that’s all. So, the last thing I have–well, it can wait till new business because now it’s almost seven o’clock. I’m sorry. Any more public comment? And I see this one on the screen too, so I’ll do that one next, Chris, I believe.

Connie Melahoures:

Good evening Mr. Quintal and members of the Select Board. My name is Connie Melahoures. I’m a lifetime resident and concerned citizen of Plymouth. I’m here on behalf of myself and of the many others in this community who are opposed to bringing horse racing to Plymouth. Mrs. Cavacco, you stated on your Facebook page that all members of the Select Board said no to horse racing. I’m here tonight to ask that the Select Board take a stand and make it official by putting forward a motion to oppose the bringing of horse racing and gambling to our town.

Dick Quintal:

Anyone else wishing you to speak on a public comment?

Female:
Thank you, Chairman for allowing me to speak tonight. Before I express my concern, I want to just comment that I think the town’s being very proactive by having a mental health counselor drive with the Police. I think that is a wonderful program. I commend you for that. But this is my regard, and it’s to the letter you wrote and posted on Facebook, which stated that you approved of moving the Boston South project forward while some of you admitted to not having read the proposal. The Boston South proposal clearly stated that it was to build a thoroughbred horse racing facility and a gambling establishment on the county wood lot. As a concerned citizen, I’d like to know to whom that letter was sent? And if it was sent to the state, to whom did it go?

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. I’d like to go online. Chris, if I could to that one person. I believe it’s one person. Henrietta, did you want to speak on the public comment?

Henrietta Cosentino:

Yes, I did. I first would like to thank you for hearing me. Thank you to all members and I would like to second Pat McCarthy’s question. I do think it’s very important for us to hear a public position from the Select Board. But I’m actually here to talk about a different subject that also requires a public statement of support and that is–may I move on then to my subject?

Dick Quintal:

Before you do, could you identify yourself for the record then please? Yes, that’s okay.

Henrietta Cosentino:

Henrietta Cosentino.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you.

Henrietta Cosentino:

I am on the Board of the Plymouth League of Women Voters. I am Chair of their Nuclear Affairs Committee and a member of their Sustainability Committee, and I’m also a member of the Nuclear Decommission Citizens Advisory Panel. And my reason for being here tonight is that as you all know, I believe, there was quite an amazing event on Saturday in front of the woods on the wharf.

[1:30:06]

Henrietta Cosentino:

It was a rally to voice opposition to the Holtec plan of dumping a million gallons of radioactive nuclear waste into Plymouth, into Cape Cod Bay. And it was fantastic to see so many people come out from a wide range of communities. Most of those communities are completely dependent on the resources and beauties of our beautiful bay. And Betty, when you showed up and gave a very rousing speech, it was wonderful. I thank you for making that rousing speech, and you said not one drop, and you talked about an injunction, and you talked about a class action suit. And my question really is, what are you going to do to follow up with that? But before you answer the question, I wanted to say that in my mind, the very first and most important thing that the Town of Plymouth can do is to make its position on this issue public. A statement that could be put on the town website, that could be released in a press release and sent to various newspapers. A statement that could be sent to the governor, to the AGO, to the Heads of Mass DPH and MassDEP, those are the agencies most concerned with this issue. And the truth is that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has quite a lot of legislation that make it very obviously illegal to dump waste into the Bay.

However, those bills, those regulations are only as good as their enforcement and there are a lot of red herrings being floated out there to distract our attention from the fact that the dumping is illegal, and the Commonwealth has a right to enforce its own regulations by the very nature of the contract that Holtech signed with the AGO. So, I’m very, very eager to see the Select Board take the action that Betty promised. First of all, in a statement a public statement and secondly, yes, an injunction against the consideration of dumping as an option. I think that should be enjoined and all Holtec has to do is take the other option. The other viable option is shipping the water offsite to a place probably in Idaho. It’s a registered licensed radiation waste facility, and it is the appropriate place for this highly radioactive water. Well, very little is more important than this. There was a reference earlier in the meeting to the dream of having Plymouth oyster’s famous all over the East Coast and further, and that would be indeed wonderful but if there’s even a hint that those oysters are contaminated, that’s not going to happen. And talk about economic consequences to the Town of Plymouth, the consequences of radioactive dumping into our bay would be truly catastrophic. It would severely damage even devastate all those industries from aquaculture to marine recreation to tourism to real estate. It just cannot be allowed to happen. And the truth is, unless we take a very strong stand starting today, it’s going to happen, because we must persuade Charlie Baker and Maura Healey to make this a high priority. And they won’t do so because they have so many things on their plate, and you know how that is because you too have many, many things on your plate. But unless they make it a high priority, it will happen. Holtec has already said, it won’t do it in 2022, but it could start on January 1st of 2023. So, time is truly of the essence and any kind of legal activity is going to take time.

[1:35:06]

Henrietta Cosentino:

The most important thing right now is to get Plymouth out there in public in opposition to the plan and then use that statement for a wide variety of PR. Meanwhile working behind the scenes with your councilor to see what it would take to have an injunction. Ideally, this injunction would be in cooperation with all the other towns of Kingston, Duxbury, Marshfield, all the towns on the Cape, Bourne, all of these towns, all of these other towns have already made their public statements either in town meeting or in letters or both. And I’m just very eager to see Plymouth do the same. And thank you, Betty, for raising the issue Saturday.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on the public comment?

Henrietta Cosentino:

I did ask a question, so I’d love to–

Dick Quintal:

Right. I’m just going to let you all know that the Board’s not going to correspond with open public comment any longer. I allowed it for two weeks and I noticed I didn’t do it in the school committee. I know that I didn’t do it in the FinCom and well, I heard what you said. I’m sure we all did. We’re going to get our answers, and we’ll bring them back through the Town Manager. We’ll answer them especially when it comes to legal stuff, which a lot that you touched on. You know what I’m saying? But I don’t want to get into going back and forth every week in public comment. I try to do it to be polite and respectful, but it’s just not the way it should be. Somebody’s going to get in trouble somewhere. So, I want to get the right information and I think that if you give us until next week on some of the questions we can answer. Some legally we can’t. So, that’s my thinking on that. There’s a green light on? Okay. Try to pull the speaker, yeah, to you a little closer.

Pat McCarthy:

Oh, that one? Okay. Sorry it wasn’t on. Anyway, well, it’s great to be back in the Great Hall. Anyway, following up on some of the things I spoke about a little while ago tonight is that informing the citizenry in town in light of the fact that tonight on the agenda, you’ll be discussing a non-binding referendum question that I think it’s important for the citizens to know about the land that the county currently owns, not the land that the proponent wants to buy, but the currently owned land where what’s called the Wood Lot. And the Wood Lot then also includes the extra lot that they bought on Long Pond Road. So, I don’t even know how many people out there know who don’t live in the general vicinity of Exit 5. If you live down say on the border line, you might not know about the Wood Lot up here. So, when you put the question on the ballot, I think information is really important and I think information to the public that the county owns the land that we don’t own the land and that the issue with regards to the zoning of the land, which about 75% plus or minus of that land is residentially zoned. So, with regards to the proposal from Boston South Development not only with its primary focus being on the racetrack issue, they also have a comprehensive discussion with regards to other amenities were possibilities that to me fall within a commercial use of the land. So, I would like you to, at some point hopefully, and I know that last week Lee Hartman said that since there was no real plan in place, but there’s discussions of what ideas they want to use in light of that, I would hope that you could at least request and formally request in a motion or however the town council review at least the uses of the land now, the county owning land now and then the developer what the ideas that they want to use certainly right now are not residential, and the light industrial is only about 25-30% of the land.

[1:40:22]

Pat McCarthy:

So, I think those issues I hope you would clarify before, when and if you decide tonight to put a non-binding question on the ballot so that people will know a little bit more. Like you are posting information as I complimented you earlier, this could be also additional information that you put on your town website for all of us to see. Thank you.

Charlie Vautrain:

May I speak?

Dick Quintal:

Please.

Charlie Vautrain:

Testing one, two. Okay. Well, actually, what I have to say Pat actually covered a lot of it, but I’m Charlie Vautrain. I’ve been a resident in town for 50 years, raised three kids here. We actually have three of the grandchildren living here too, and I do believe that many people in town that we know are so concerned about this whole Wood Lot thing and the horse racing. So, regarding the non-binding question on a referendum, we really hope that the Select Board votes to include the use of the Wood Lot going by the RFP, which does say horse racing, casino and other types of buildings. In fact, I’ve learned a new slang word now “Racino,” that’s a combination, right? Racing and casino. This really should be on the non-binding question. And also, as Pat said, you should really identify that it’s county property and where it is, because there are a lot of people have no idea where the Wood Lot is. They might think it’s down in Cedarville or down by Bourne or Wareham, and it’s not. It’s right up here at Exit 5, which is now Exit 13. The traffic is horrendous already, it’s terrible and they’re going to try to put something like that there? So, anyway, I hope that you will consider these things about before you put the non-bonding question out. Okay? Thank you for listening to me.

Dick Quintal:

Anyone else wishing to speak on the public comment? Okay. Mr. Donato, can you hear us?

Mr. Donato:

Mr. Chairman, can you hear me?

Dick Quintal:

Here we go, yes.

Al Donato:

Mr. Chairman, my name is Al Donato, I’m a town meeting member of Precinct 12. And first of all, if the Board is doing following the proper process with public comment, I don’t want the public to feel that the Board is doing something wrong right now. They can comment on issues that are on the agenda. We can come here; I can speak here tonight about any issue. I don’t expect the Board to answer my questions because of Open Meeting Laws. And this is due to that the public needs to know what you are talking about. So, I thank you, Mr. Chairman for not commenting on these issues and if there are issues that the public wants to look forward to comment on, that should be put on the agenda so the whole world knows what we’re discussing. So, the Board is just following Massachusetts General Law. I don’t want the public to feel that they’re not commenting on this. When these issues come up later, we can discuss it.

I’ll be very brief, Mr. Chairman; 2 major issues. We passed the budget, it’s balanced, that’s great. The Office of the State Auditor, Suzanne Bump, has come out with a report that is pretty damning about Beacon Hill that there have been 29 laws that had a negative effect on local governing to the fact that 20% of all local aid in the Commonwealth has been affected by unfunded mandates. We know that the politicians love this. They want to promise Disney World every day, but unfortunately, as I’ve examined our budget and relatively new to the town has had a negative effect on our budget. Now, that things have settled, the contracts are settled, I would just like to make a suggestion. I know we have a Finance Committee that is very capable. According to Massachusetts General Law, they are the financial watchdogs of our community. I would like to see if not our Finance Committee, or maybe they could appoint a subcommittee, or they could hire, I hate to use the word auditor, but I think we need to know what that number is, because that is part of our problem with our budget.

[1:45:05]

Al Donato:

And I would suspect it’s a problem with most communities. And I think once we figure out that negative impact on our budget, I think we need to sit down with our local Legislators and let them know and to put in a layman term to kind of knock it off with unfunded mandates, and we could potentially have a joint session with other communities. And we’re not even talking about federal unfunded mandate. So, I just wanted to put that out there. There are people talking about the town budget of these impacts, the Administrators of this town just deal with those issues and a lot of them could be righteous and holy matters from Beacon Hill, but the bottom line is they have to be paid for. And I think we need to identify that and begin to deal with that issue. So, that issue that is quickly on the racetrack issue. In this issue, I would say, we are putting the horse before the cart. I’ve expressed this on Facebook. There are groups like the Dukakis Center for Public Policy. I’ve reached out to Selectman Helm, and I’ve had a discussion on this. I reached out to Mr. Hartman’s office as well, that they will come in to Plymouth and plug in all our information. This racetrack group or this group that’s petitioning to come in town, they’re doing it for themselves, they’re going to have a public process for themselves. Well, as a community, we should be doing that. You are the gatekeepers of this town. I don’t think anyone would support two more nuclear power plants or use car lots up and down long on that. We are the gatekeepers, and we say what comes into our town through zoning, through town meeting, through this party, through that process. But I think we should put this on hold and us as the community with business people, with civic groups, with legal women voters are plugging in this information that makes Plymouth unique to other communities. It’s called branding. What will they think of Plymouth if we’re branded, if we go down with this project? What do we think when we think of Wellesley or Hingham about Cape Cod? Why aren’t these folks going to those communities? Because their zoning won’t allow it and the townspeople, the gatekeepers will not allow it. So, in closing, I want to say I think we need to identify in this community what we don’t want. I don’t think we want another nuclear power plant and this town has done well this past Saturday voicing that. And we need to voice to what we want in this community, how we want to brand Plymouth going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you, sir. Anyone else wishing to speak on a public comment, Chris? Online?

Henrietta Cosentino:

I think–may I speak?

Dick Quintal:

Yes, can you hear us? We can hear you. Okay.

Henrietta Cosentino:

Just a quick post script to Mr. DiNardo’s excellent thoughts. I think it is of the greatest importance that the community itself be well-informed and given plenty of time to express what it does or what it wants to come in and what it does not want to come in. And I do find myself rather horrified by the idea that Plymouth would be branded as a racetrack or was it a racino? Or whatever the blended term was of a casino and a racetrack. It surely would bring in lots of income, but I think we should stick with the income we already have and make sure it doesn’t get contaminated. That’s all, thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on the public comment? Okay. Let’s move back to the board for discussion and vote on the Wood Lot Referendum question? Patrick?

Patrick Flaherty:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, we have–I know there’s a couple, I don’t want to go ahead and just jump into making a motion because I know there’s a couple at least two types of questions versions of the question that are there that went to council and back.

[1:50:03]

Patrick Flaherty:

So, I just wanted to understand and hear from where that other question came from. Maybe we could put that out there just to talk about it and understand what we’ll be voting on and how we want to do this. I’ll just read the question that I would propose that says; do you support a development project that includes a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Plymouth on the land known as the Plymouth County Wood Lot? That would be the question that I would propose for this May, but I don’t want to jump into a motion until everyone’s had an opportunity to speak on their thoughts on that.

Dick Quintal:

Anyone else wishing to speak?

Betty Cavacco:

I have a question. So, although the original motion, I understand the RFP says it, the original motion did not say a horse track, a racetrack. It said a gaming and sports complex. So, where is that in this motion? So, maybe Derek, you can, you know? So, everybody says, let’s just say, everybody says they don’t want a horse track. Would that cancel out the entire project or do we still give the people the ability to change what they propose kind of thing? I guess is what I’m thinking about.

Patrick Flaherty:

Can I say something, Mr. Chairman?

Dick Quintal:

Absolutely.

Patrick Flaherty:

So, we know this is a non-binding question. They as the developer could still do anything they want going through the process. I think one of the things that we’ve known is very important whether it’s the issue of the water at the power plant or this type of issue that the residents are really looking to be heard, and I think this is the opportunity to have the residents heard on this concept of a question. We know that we had our motion as a Board but separately from that, there’s the proposal that came from the developers. I think that’s where the focus of the question roots from, from the language that they have in their proposal. So, I know it’s very separate from our motion, but that’s where I think this question is relevant to the proposal that they put forward.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, who’s they? Who’s they who put the question forward, I’m just curious?

Patrick Flaherty:

“They” is the RFP that says, “The Developer would like to seek to enter into a long-term lease with the anchor activity in the site to always consist of thoroughbred racing.” That’s they, Boston South.

Betty Cavacco:

But, I’m just a little–I don’t mind your question, I’m just a little confused because that was not the motion that we put forward. So, I mean, maybe I’m wrong, I just–

Dick Quintal:

Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

The issue at hand here is not the motion that we put forward. It’s a non-binding. It’s a resolution for a non-binding ballot question. It’s not necessarily about what the proposal was put forward. I would argue that it’s about the clear perception that the actual RFP response has created. And I said last week, one plus one equals two and two is a racetrack. So, the racetrack is an essential concept in this non-binding ballot question. It is outside of how we responded going forward. It is a question that the residents have clearly stated they have about a racetrack, because they’ve read the RFP response, and it says a racetrack. So, I mean, I understand the reason for this question or this version that Patrick has proposed. Just so that we have a clarity of discussion here, there is another proposed question or resolution that is similar but still at the same time different.

[1:55:13]

Harry Helm:

So, I’d like to be able to read that now so that we can have a clear discussion about the two and the difference of them. Is that all right? Or whoever proposed it can bring it up. Okay. This question, the other question to see if the voters will support the planning process to examine the creation of a racing sports and entertainment complex. Its anchor use being thoroughbred racing as a future use on land owned by Plymouth County known primarily as the County Wood Lot, and then it goes into a lot of details of the parcel ID, the addresses, all that sort of stuff. So, once again, so we have, do you support the development project that includes a thoroughbred racetrack in Plymouth on the land known as the Plymouth County Wood Lot? And the other is to see if the voters will support the planning process to examine the creation of a racing sports and entertainment complex, its anchor use being thoroughbred horse racing as a future use on land owned by Plymouth County that’s known primarily as the Wood Lot, etc. So, they’re kind of the same, but they’re different. And the reason that I wanted to read both of them is because I wanted to give you my perspective because we’re going to be considering both of them, I think. The first one, do you support a development project that includes a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Plymouth on the land known as the County Wood Lot, is very direct and simple. It’s a simple question. It’s very targeted. It doesn’t mention anything about do you support other uses? Okay? It doesn’t mention anything about sports complex, a convention center, anything. It is specifically about horse racing, a horse track.

The other one to see if the voters will support the planning process to examine the creation of a racing sports and entertainment complex, its anchored use being thoroughbred horse racing as a future use, does ask the same question, but the results of that could be interpreted to go beyond just the racetrack. Okay? And I’ll just say my problem is the question that people want to know is, want to vote on is a horse track. If they vote no on the one that’s lengthier and more open, they will be voting no to support the planning process. Okay? Whereas the first one, Patrick’s for lack of a better name to it or identifier, is very specific, it’s a racetrack. That’s what they’re asking. That is what they’re going to be voting on. Once again, I’ll say if the other one is put on, it can be seen if it is voted “no” that the residents of Plymouth are saying no to anything related to any. It would be basically saying no to what the letter that Dick sent, the resolution that the Board of Selectmen passed two Tuesdays ago. So, I just thought, I would say that so that we could have some clarity of discussion about what kind of non-binding ballot referendum we would create here and vote on for May 21st. Thank you.

Charlie Bletzer:

Mr. Chairman?

Dick Quintal:

I’m sorry. Mr. Bletzer?

Charlie Bletzer:

I’d just like to say that I didn’t vote for the approval of a racetrack. That’s never come before us, okay? An approval for a racetrack. What came before us was a developer that wanted to come in and develop the 110 acres. And I can tell you right now, I wouldn’t approve anything on those 110 acres until the infrastructure is fixed. The roads are terrible there, the traffic is awful there. Okay? So, I wouldn’t vote to prove anything there right now no matter what the proposal was. But that being said, the lack of economic development in the last 10 or 12 years in this town has caused our taxes to go high. Okay? We have to listen to any developer that comes into town, and at least listen to what they have to say. And I can tell you, I’m going to say this, I’ve said it on Facebook, I’ve said it at a public meeting.

[2:00:01]

Charlie Bletzer:

I’ll say it again, I will never vote for any proposal that comes before me that the residents of Plymouth do not support. Okay? I make that promise to you. So, I can’t say, am I going to vote against the racetrack? Because there’s no racetrack before us right now. I don’t care. I really–the non-binding question, I think it should be worded. If they come up with it with a better proposal other than a racetrack or a casino maybe something that you folks might be for, you might be in favor for it, but I don’t want to discourage. This is the problem in this town, the developers come, and they try and do light industrial commercial development, and they have such a hard time getting things done in Plymouth. That’s why you got the 40B up at Home Depot because the developers tried to put a couple of commercial projects in there and the Planning Board gave them such a hard time that they went 40B and there’s nothing we could do about it. Now, you’ve got about three or four hundred units up there and that’s going to be as big a problem as a racetrack or anything in that area. Those 400 units when they open up. Also, Colony Place, came thing, another commercial area that we had commercial space that should be commercial tax coming in to help with our residential taxes, 40B up there too. So, believe me, I hear you, I hear the 10 people in this room and the 20 people last week, but I’m going to tell you, I represent–I’m not a politician by the way. Okay? When I tell you something, if I tell you, if I promise you something, I’ll stick to it, okay? I’m not going to go against the proposal that the residents aren’t for. So, that’s why I’m not afraid of the non-binding ballot, but we have to be open-minded to light industrial commercial developments because we need to stabilize our residential taxes. I’m all for open space. When I was a town meeting member for seven years, I voted in favor every time open space came before me, I voted affirmative in that every single time. And so, I’m all in favor of that. But right now, I just want them to do their due diligence and they’re not going to have answers for you next week in that meeting. They’re not going to have answers for me for probably six months, eight months. Until they come back to us and say, “This is what we’re doing for the infrastructure there. This is what we’re going to do.” A Cloverleaf there or whatever they’re going to do, I don’t want to hear any proposal there. And that’s me telling you this right now tonight, and I don’t want to listen to the–I don’t want us to listen to the folks on Facebook putting words in my mouth that I didn’t say. I am not, I’ll say it one more time, I am not in favor of any proposal that the residents of Plymouth do not support. Thank you.

Dick Quintal:

Any other comments? I will just go as far as the second wordings you had on the motion Harry, not the racetrack one but the one that racetrack plus other things. I mean, I’m not going to support that. I’ll never support that that motion. The horse racing one, yes, I will support. I haven’t heard anybody now but just to let everybody out in TV land know, there were actually seven responses to the RFP. Five of them were for housing. Okay? Five. One of them was the RFP that you saw that’s still in work and the other one was a gravel operation. So, to the county’s credit, I’ll give them credit for at least picking one that wasn’t housing and wasn’t a gravel operation because there was one prior and for whatever reason, that all blew up. But just to let the public know that. I don’t think the public with the traffic and when they put in a 40B, people, they don’t need to check the traffic. Okay? So, be careful what you’re wishing for. And let’s look at all the information. I always hear about information. I can sit here and tell you right now, I don’t know as much as everyone else knows about this project, but I’m going to learn. I don’t know anything about horse racing or horse tracks or whatever you want to call it. Racinos, I don’t know. I know what a casino is, but I don’t know about a racino, but I will go check it out. That’s how we learn but give the process a chance and there’s going to be workshops.

[2:05:08]

Dick Quintal:

And at the end of the day, the town may say no. In order for that racetrack as you all calling it to go forward, the transmission lines have to come down. Okay? That’s just one thing. The infrastructure has to be in place to handle traffic. So, there are a lot of hurdles before this. It’s all emotional about it. It’s tearing the town apart. And I got to say, when my daughter comes to me in tears because some of the clowns on Facebook and I use the word clowns very honestly. If you got something to say to me, come by and say it or call me on my personal phone, don’t put it on Facebook.

We all talk about diversity and mentors, really? Take a look at it. Take a look at the garbage. I’m going to tell you about it. That’s just what I think about it. They’re already on there tonight. They have nothing to do. I can’t keep up trying to breathe doing this job because my fingers are all over the place: Cordage Park, Hedge School, racing track and I know that’s part of the job, but people don’t have to be nasty. If you don’t agree with the project, I get that, I understand that. And I’m just asking for the community to calm down and act civilized. Have we forgotten about COVID already? You’ve seen a community come together. How much family meant? How much your neighbor meant? Because that’s how I live. I know at the end of the day, I look up and say, “Give me strength, watch my family and help me make the right decisions for this community,” at least right now. There you have it, but calling people Pinocchio, whatever he’s doing tonight. Yeah? Oh, please. It really hit me this week when my daughter came to me in tears, was in her 30s with three children. Okay? And that was the same daughter that said, “Dad, you’re really going to do this?” When I decided to run for this office and Ken will tell you, I reached out to him. I reached out because I wanted to be here for 2020. I love this town and I thought I’ve done a lot, and I’m not patting myself on the back so save those funnies. I’m never in the limelight for that stuff. And she said to me, “Dad, are you serious?” I said, “Why? What’s the matter?” She says, “The time that goes into that, and I know how you are,” and I think she was being a little selfish because she liked me being around on the grandkids and the family. So, all I’m saying is, if you don’t agree with at least me, I’m not speaking for anybody else here, stop by, pick up the phone. My number is on all the business cards, it’s on the website. Let’s have a conversation, but can you please stop bashing each other?

And then the kids see this, and they wonder why kids shoot schools and why we need mental health and all this other stuff counselors. Think about it. I’m sorry, I know that’s not on the subject, but I wanted to get it off my mind. And I’m not responding on Facebook so type away. Back to the racetrack.

Betty Cavacco:

Well, I can’t agree with you even more. It’s very sad because I know how hard this board works. And even if we don’t all agree with each other, we’re respectful and civilized. My family is not allowed on social media. My kids aren’t allowed, they’re 16 and 18. My husband hasn’t been on social media for over a year. They were on, they’ve seen some comments and when your 18-year-old son says to me, “Mom, why do you do this? People are so mean.” And you know what? I don’t know what to say because I got into this because I just wanted to help people. Nothing more. I just wanted to help people, and you know what? I think I’ve done everything that I’ve said I was going to do. I’ve done everything that I promised I was going to do. And I’ve taken advice from my friend, Mr. Quintal and the Chairman, and I’m just not going to respond anymore because it’s not worth it.

[2:10:02]

Betty Cavacco:

I’ve had to file police reports. It’s been it’s been a rough year and no one should have to go through that because I would do anything to help anyone, and I think everybody on this board feels the same way. And just the mere, we’re incompetent and we’re this and we’re that, I welcome anyone to put their name on a ballot and sit in this chair because it’s not easy.

Dick Quintal:

Okay.

Betty Cavacco:

Back to the horse track.

Dick Quintal:

Back to the horse track question, ballot question. Did you want to make a motion, Patrick or do you want–wait, before we do that, has this been checked by council just for the language or does that come back after? I just want to make sure we do it right, so.

Derek Brindisi:

Excuse me, yes, the two motions that Selectman Helm had referenced both have been reviewed by council.

Dick Quintal:

Okay. So, somebody want some–

Betty Cavacco:

Giddy up.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, giddy up.

Harry Helm:

I’d like to make a motion for a non-binding ballot question to appear on the May 21st local ballot. The question would read as follows: do you support a development project that includes a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Plymouth on the land owned by the Plymouth County known primarily as the County Wood Lot located off Camelot Drive in the Plymouth Industrial Park consisting of the following parcels: Parcel ID Number: 088.000.054.000, 63 Camelot Drive, 106.24 acres. Parcel ID Number:088000.023.042D0, Camelot Drive, 2.8 acres. Parcel 088.000.042.001, 144 Long Pond Road, 2.969 acres, all located within the Township of Plymouth in Plymouth County. That is the motion.

Dick Quintal:

Thank you. Do I have a second?

Betty Cavacco:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mrs. Cavacco. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous. Moving on. Where are we?

Betty Cavacco:

License and administrative notes.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah. Thank you. All right. Second Wind Brewing Company, looking for a One Day Wine and Malt License for April 28th from 4:30 to 10:30 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Charlie Bletzer:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Second Wind Brewing LLC, One Day Wine and Malt License for May 14th and 15th, from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Betty Cavacco:

Motion.

Harry Helm:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous. Redbrook, Amplified Music Permit for April 23rd from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Charlie Bletzer:

Move it.

Betty Cavacco:

Second.

Dick Quintal:

Discussion? Mr. Helm?

Harry Helm:

Sorry, I was voting.

Dick Quintal:

Just moving straight along? All right, no problem. All those in favor? Unanimous.

Administrative notes one, two and three. Any questions, corrections, take any separate?

Betty Cavacco:

Move as a group.

Dick Quintal:

All three, do I have a second?

Charlie Bletzer:

I’ll second it.

Dick Quintal:

Second by Mr. Bletzer. Discussion? All those in favor? Unanimous.

Committee Liaison updates? Designee updates?

Old business? Letters?

Here we go. New business? Mrs. Cavacco?

Betty Cavacco:

So, obviously, everyone knows that we had a discussion regarding Holtec in our Executive Session with our legal team and our special council.

[2:15:04]

Betty Cavacco:

So, I would actually like to through the Chair, direct the Town Manager to work with Town Council, Special Counsel and the Federal and State Legislative Delegations to take all means necessary including pursuing legislation or legal action to prevent the dumping of wastewater from Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant into the Cape Cod Bay, and to ensure the long-term safety and security of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power site. And if the town would also, we’d like to have the Federal and State delegation come down and meet with us to discuss. If the Town Manager, if you wouldn’t mind through the Chair doing that. And one more thing, not one drop.

Dick Quintal:

Did you–Betty, was that the Federal delegation also?

Betty Cavacco:

Yes, that’s Marky Keating and Warren.

Dick Quintal:

Well, if they couldn’t come, would it be all right for like Zoom? I mean, I didn’t know what you were–

Betty Cavacco:

Sure.

Dick Quintal:

Okay, all right.

Betty Cavacco:

But I’d like to have them in person to come down and see our beautiful Town Hall.

Dick Quintal:

I’m good with that.

Betty Cavacco:

You can buy lunch.

Dick Quintal:

Yeah, no problem. Anything else under new business? No? Okay. Then seeing nothing, we’re going to adjourn, and I’d like to say thank you for watching. Have a good week and keep the people of Ukraine in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.