How the Plymouth Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. John T. Mahoney Jr. joined the board and Charlie Bletzer was re-elected in May 2022; Patrick Flaherty left the board. Betty Cavacco became Chair. The town lists agendas but no minutes for June 24 and July 19, 2022. Covers 40 meetings, May 24 to May 16, 2023.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Select Board do? It is the town’s executive board. It prepares the Town Meeting warrant (the list of articles voters decide), appoints members of many town boards, hires the town’s top staff, signs warrants to pay town bills, and grants licenses and permits.
Town Meeting, not the Select Board, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
From the agendas Plymouth posts on its official site. Agendas can change; the posted agenda is the official one.
What Town Meeting decided
In Plymouth, Town Meeting — not the Select Board — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Town Meeting members are elected by precinct; counts are from the town’s electronic voting.
Special Town Meeting · April 11, 2026 7 votes: 6 passed, 1 failed
Art. 1Appropriate $318,000 from sewer retained earnings to design wastewater plant HVAC systemsPassed“Motion carried · 146-3-0”
Art. 2Add $300,000 from free cash to the police station HVAC replacement projectPassed“Motion carried · 147-1-0”
Art. 3Appropriate $50,000 from free cash for July 4 Plymouth, Inc. (250th anniversary)Passed“Motion carried · 135-15-0”
Art. 4Appropriate $50,000 from free cash for America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration (250th anniversary)Passed“Motion carried · 135-17-1”
5-8Charter and bylaw changes (Articles 5-8, voted together) to move the town election and Spring Town Meeting later in the yearPassed“Motion carried · 117-37-0”
Art. 9Let the Select Board sign solar credit purchase contracts of up to 30 yearsPassed“Motion carried · 144-6-1”
Art. 10Citizen petition: special law ending the 2003 retiree health premium rule for employees hired after it takes effectFailed“Motion failed · 34-112-6”
Art. 29FY2027 Community Preservation budget, debt service and reserves: $1,322,806Passed“Motion carried · 146-0-0”
Art. 30Allow leases for private carport solar at Plymouth North High and South Middle School, with credit purchases up to 30 yearsPassed“Motion carried · 146-1-1”
Art. 34Let the Select Board sign payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) agreements with renewable energy facilities, up to 30 yearsPassed“Motion carried · 136-4-1”
Art. 35Accept M.G.L. c.33 §59 (paid military leave up to 40 days for employees)Passed“Motion carried · 139-4-3”
Art. 36Citizen petition: $28,492.32 from the tax levy for weed treatment at Billington SeaPassed“Motion carried · 145-0-0”
Art. 6Petition the Legislature for a land acquisition account funded by Chapter 61 rollback taxesPassed“Motion carried · 123-17-1”
Art. 7Accept culvert easements and take temporary/permanent easements at Morton Park Road for the Town Brook culvert projectPassed“Motion carried · 83-0-0”
Special Town Meeting · April 5, 2025 14 votes: 13 passed, 1 failed
Art. 1Pay prior-year water bills of $1,691.14 from the FY25 Water Enterprise budgetPassed“Motion Carried · 143-0-0”
Art. 2FY25 budget change: move $20,000 from debt service to Town Clerk expensesPassed“Motion Carried · 141-0-0”
3 A1-A2Appropriate $151,048 from the Environmental Affairs Fund for a vehicle and Black Cat Bog restoration engineeringPassed“Motion Carried · 132-8-2”
3 B1Borrow $6,738,500 for Jenney Pond dam repairs and bypass (Town Brook)Passed“Motion Carried · 145-0-0”
Art. 12Opt municipal buildings and town property out of the new state firearm 'prohibited areas' rule (Ch. 135, Acts of 2024)Failed“Motion Failed · 34-112-5”
Titles are short descriptions of each article from the official record; the quoted words are the Town Clerk’s. A vote at Town Meeting is not the final word on everything: some articles also need a ballot vote (such as a tax override) or the Attorney General’s approval (bylaws).
"At X of Y meetings" counts the members the minutes list as present at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: Select Board minutes from January 2021 through September 1, 2026, as posted on the town’s Agenda Center. Not here yet: earlier years, and meetings the town lists without posted minutes (several each year, and meetings after September 1, 2026). Three 2021–2022 minutes are scanned documents, which we read with text recognition. Most votes are recorded by roll call with each member’s name. In 2021 and 2022 many votes show only a count such as “Voted 5/0”; when the count equals the members present we show each member as voting yes, and when it does not (for example 4/0 with five members listed as present), we show the count only. Some appointments were made by each member naming a choice or by ballot; those show the result only, with a note quoting who chose whom as the minutes record it. Where the names in the minutes do not match the recorded count, name a member the minutes list as absent or as having left, or list a member twice, we show the count only and add a note. Votes by other boards at joint meetings (Planning Board, School Committee, Housing Authority) and votes taken as Water Commissioners are not included. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
May 2Request the Town Manager to determine a staff representative…Motion: to request the Town Manager to determine a staff representative for…Passed 3–2 · No: Helm, Quintal
May 2, 2023: Request the Town Manager to determine a staff representative for the CPC
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To request the Town Manager to determine a staff representative for the CPC
Yes: Bletzer, Cavacco, MahoneyNo: Helm, Quintal
From the minutes
“On a motion by Charlie Bletzer and seconded by John Mahoney, the Board voted to request the Town Manager to determine a staff representative for the CPC. Mr. Helm said that he does not feel comfortable with not knowing which staff representative would be in attendance. Mr. Brindisi stated that having CPC staff support was positively favored by the Department Heads, at their meeting this morning. Ms. Patricia Adelmann said that she believes that CPC is independent by State law, and she questioned how the Board can dictate what the CPC does. Mr. Mahoney said that CPC is a public committee, with a revenue stream of over $4 million annually. Mr. Mahoney said that the CPC recommends funding and projects, the Town Meeting approves the projects, and then the Town Manager has to determine how to accomplish the projects. Mr. Mahoney said that he believes it would be beneficial to the Town to have staff support at the CPC meetings, so that the Town is aware of future projects, and provide insight. Mr. Steve Lydon, Visitor Services Board Chair, said that VSB is similar to CPC because VSB has paid staff support, with an operating budget. Mr. Quintal said that he is in support of CPC having paid staff support for the Committee. Mr. Brindisi said that there is no committee independent of the Town government. Mr. Brindisi said that there is a Community Preservation Coalition, that has resources for Massachusetts CPCs. Mr. Brindisi said that several CPCs in Massachusetts have paid staff. Voted 3/2 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-Yes, Helm-No, Quintal-No, Bletzer-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Mahoney)
“On a motion by John Mahoney and seconded by Richard Quintal, the Board voted to approve Administrative Notes 2 through 7 as a group. Voted 4/0 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-Yes, Helm-Abstain, Bletzer-Yes, Quintal-Yes.” (Motion: Mahoney, second: Quintal)
Apr 25Approve the ARPA Amendment to allocate an additional $10,000…Motion: to approve the ARPA Amendment to allocate an additional $10,000 for…Passed 4–1 · No: Helm
April 25, 2023: Approve the ARPA Amendment to allocate an additional $10,000 for outdoor dining parklet flowers as presented
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To approve the ARPA Amendment to allocate an additional $10,000 for outdoor dining parklet flowers as presented
Yes: Bletzer, Cavacco, Mahoney, QuintalNo: Helm
From the minutes
“On a motion by Charlie Bletzer and seconded by John Mahoney, the Board voted to approve the ARPA Amendment to allocate an additional $10,000 for outdoor dining parklet flowers as presented. Voted 4/1 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-Yes, Helm-No, Bletzer-Yes, Quintal-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Mahoney)
“On a motion by John Mahoney and seconded by Harry Helm, the Board voted to recommend Article 11 for Special Town Meeting. Voted 3/1 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-Yes, Helm-Yes, Quintal-No.” (Motion: Mahoney, second: Helm)
Feb 7Approve and execute the Change of Location request for…Motion: to approve and execute the Change of Location request for the…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Quintal
February 7, 2023: Approve and execute the Change of Location request for the Craft Beer Cellar
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To approve and execute the Change of Location request for the Craft Beer Cellar
“On a motion by John Mahoney and seconded by Harry Helm, the Board voted to approve and execute the Change of Location request for the Craft Beer Cellar. Voted 4/0 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-Yes, Helm-Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Quintal- Abstain.” (Motion: Mahoney, second: Helm)
Jan 31Approve Harry Helm as the Board representative at the…Motion: to approve Harry Helm as the Board representative at the PACTV…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Helm
January 31, 2023: Approve Harry Helm as the Board representative at the PACTV Proposed Town Charter Forum
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To approve Harry Helm as the Board representative at the PACTV Proposed Town Charter Forum
“On a motion by Richard Quintal and seconded by John Mahoney, the Board voted to approve Harry Helm as the Board representative at the PACTV Proposed Town Charter Forum. Voted 4/0 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Helm-Abstain, Bletzer-Yes, Quintal-Yes, Cavacco- Yes.” (Motion: Quintal, second: Mahoney)
Jan 10Not recommend Article 16D be added to the Annual…Motion: to not recommend Article 16D be added to the Annual Town…Failed 2–3 · No: Bletzer, Cavacco, Helm
January 10, 2023: Not recommend Article 16D be added to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant
ApproveFailed · 2–3
To not recommend Article 16D be added to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Yes: Mahoney, QuintalNo: Bletzer, Cavacco, Helm
From the minutes
“On a motion by John Mahoney and seconded by Harry Helm, the Board voted to not recommend Article 16D be added to the Annual Town Meeting Warrant Voted 2/3 By Roll Call: Mahoney-Yes, Cavacco-No, Helm-No, Bletzer-No, Quintal-Yes.” (Motion: Mahoney, second: Helm)
The roll call lists Richard Quintal Jr., but the attendance list in the minutes shows this member absent, so individual votes are not shown.
From the minutes
“On a motion by Mr. Bletzer and seconded by Mr. Helm, the Board voted to approve the Licenses as a group. Voted 5/0. Mr. Helm, Yes; Mr. Mahoney, Yes; Mr. Bletzer, Yes; Ms. Cavacco, Yes; Mr. Quintal, Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Helm)
The roll call also says: "with an abstention of Administrative Note #1".
From the minutes
“On a motion by Mr. Bletzer and seconded by Mr. Helm, the Board voted to approve the Administrative Notes as a group. Voted 4/0. Mr. Helm, Yes; Mr. Mahoney, Yes with an abstention of Administrative Note #1; Mr. Bletzer, Yes; Ms. Cavacco, Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Helm)
The names in the minutes do not match the recorded count (5-0), so individual votes are not shown.
From the minutes
“On a motion by Ms. Cavacco and seconded by Mr. Helm, the Board voted to approve Administrative Note 8. Voted 5/0. Mr. Helm, Yes; Mr. Mahoney, No; Mr. Bletzer, Yes; Ms. Cavacco, Yes; Mr. Quintal, Yes.” (Motion: Cavacco, second: Helm)
From the Plymouth Select Board’s official minutes, posted on the town’s Agenda Center. We check every vote against the Select Board members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos of current members: Deb Iaquinto and Bill Keohan from the Plymouth Independent (April 2025); David Golden Jr.’s campaign photo, via the Plymouth Independent (May 2024); Kevin Canty’s campaign photo and Richard Quintal Jr. (PACTV interview), via The Plymouth County Observer (2023). Former members show initials.