How the Plymouth Select Board voted, from the Select Board’s official minutes. 5 Select Board members elected townwide. Kevin Canty joined the board in May 2023; Betty Cavacco left the board. Richard Quintal Jr. became Chair. Covers 41 meetings, May 22 to May 14, 2024.
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 14Approve the Annual All Alcohol Club LicensesMotion: to approve the Annual All Alcohol Club LicensesPassed 3–2 · No: Canty, Quintal
May 14, 2024: Approve the Annual All Alcohol Club Licenses
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To approve the Annual All Alcohol Club Licenses
Yes: Bletzer, Helm, MahoneyNo: Canty, Quintal
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Bletzer and seconded by Selectman Helm. Discussion ensued, Vice Chairman Canty expressed his reasons for not supporting the non-profit, West Plymouth Social Club. Selectman Bletzer reviewed his reasons for supporting the Club. The Board voted to approve the Annual All Alcohol Club Licenses. Voted 3/2 By Roll Call: Quintal-No, Canty-No, Bletzer-Yes, Helm-Yes, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Helm)
Apr 30Approve Honey Baby (8) or The Tasty (9) outdoor…Motion: to approve Honey Baby (8) or The Tasty (9) outdoor dining…Passed 3–1 · No: Helm
April 30, 2024: Approve Honey Baby (8) or The Tasty (9) outdoor dining allowing the business owners the right to pick which location will utilize the license
ApprovePassed · 3–1
To approve Honey Baby (8) or The Tasty (9) outdoor dining allowing the business owners the right to pick which location will utilize the license
Yes: Bletzer, Canty, MahoneyNo: Helm
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Bletzer seconded by Selectman Mahoney, the Board voted to approve Honey Baby (8) or The Tasty (9) outdoor dining allowing the business owners the right to pick which location will utilize the license. Voted 3/1 By Roll Call: Canty-Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm-No, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Mahoney)
Apr 23Approve the policy as written with the addition of…Motion: to approve the policy as written with the addition of a…Passed 4–1 · No: Helm
April 23, 2024: Approve the policy as written with the addition of a sentence at the end that reads; any position, committee, or board previously granted special municipal employee status that does not…
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To approve the policy as written with the addition of a sentence at the end that reads; any position, committee, or board previously granted special municipal employee status that does not resubmit a request to renew their special municipal employee status by June 30th shall lose the status effective July 1st
Yes: Bletzer, Canty, Mahoney, QuintalNo: HelmThe minutes record this vote as “4/5”; the roll call names show 4 yes and 1 no, so we show the roll call. We will ask the town to confirm.
From the minutes
“Vice Chairman Canty made a motion to approve the policy as written with the addition of a sentence at the end that reads; any position, committee, or board previously granted special municipal employee status that does not resubmit a request to renew their special municipal employee status by June 30th shall lose the status effective July 1st. The motion is seconded by Selectmen Bletzer. Voted 4/5 By Roll Call: Quintal-Yes, Canty-Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm-No, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Canty, second: Bletzer)
Feb 27Recommend to Spring Special Town Meeting ARTICLE 11 -…Motion: to recommend to Spring Special Town Meeting ARTICLE 11 - LOITERING…Passed 4–1 · No: Canty
February 27, 2024: Recommend to Spring Special Town Meeting ARTICLE 11 - LOITERING BYLAW as presented
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To recommend to Spring Special Town Meeting ARTICLE 11 - LOITERING BYLAW as presented
Yes: Bletzer, Helm, Mahoney, QuintalNo: Canty
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Bletzer and seconded by Selectman Helm, the Board voted to recommend to Spring Special Town Meeting ARTICLE 11 - LOITERING BYLAW as presented. Voted 4/1 By Roll Call: Quintal - Yes, Canty - No, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - Yes, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Helm)
Feb 20Approve the seasonal beer/wine license for Bramwell's Country StoreMotion: to approve the seasonal beer/wine license for Bramwell's Country StorePassed 3–2 · No: Helm, Quintal
February 20, 2024: Approve the seasonal beer/wine license for Bramwell's Country Store
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To approve the seasonal beer/wine license for Bramwell's Country Store
Yes: Bletzer, Canty, MahoneyNo: Helm, Quintal
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Bletzer and seconded by Selectman Mahoney, the Board voted to approve the seasonal beer/wine license for Bramwell's Country Store. Voted 3/2 By Roll Call: Quintal - No, Canty - Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - No, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Mahoney)
Feb 6Approve the associated license requests for Vitamin Sea as…Motion: to approve the associated license requests for Vitamin Sea as originally…Passed 4–1 · No: Helm
February 6, 2024: Approve the associated license requests for Vitamin Sea as originally requested
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To approve the associated license requests for Vitamin Sea as originally requested
Yes: Bletzer, Canty, Mahoney, QuintalNo: HelmHarry Helm asked to add "acoustic only" to the licenses; that amendment was not seconded.
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Bletzer and seconded by Vice Chairman Canty, Selectman Helm asked additional questions of the Board about the music/noise issues that had been expressed earlier. He asked that the live entertainment license be limited, and the Town Manager responded that "acoustic only" could be added to the license. After further discussion, Selectman Helm asked for an amended motion to add "acoustic only" to the licenses. This motion was not seconded. The original motion to approve the licenses as originally requested was then approved by the Board. Voted 4/1 By Roll Call: Quintal - Yes, Canty - Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - No, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Bletzer, second: Canty)
“On a motion by Selectman Mahoney and seconded by Selectman Bletzer, the Board voted to approve the liquor license for the applicant. Voted 4/0/1 By Roll Call: Quintal - Yes, Canty - Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - Abstains, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Mahoney, second: Bletzer)
Feb 6Establish a policy for outdoor dining for 2024 which…Motion: to establish a policy for outdoor dining for 2024 which waives…Passed 4–0 · Abstained: Quintal
February 6, 2024: Establish a policy for outdoor dining for 2024 which waives any labor relating to Highway and Facilities staff, requires uniformity of flower displays and permits sidewalk tables at $100 per…
ApprovePassed · 4–0
To establish a policy for outdoor dining for 2024 which waives any labor relating to Highway and Facilities staff, requires uniformity of flower displays and permits sidewalk tables at $100 per seat with standards to be set by Inspectional Services. This motion includes a licensing structure of $1000 for existing parklets and $2900 for new parklets
“On a motion by Vice Chairman Canty and seconded by Selectman Helm, the Board voted to establish a policy for outdoor dining for 2024 which waives any labor relating to Highway and Facilities staff, requires uniformity of flower displays and permits sidewalk tables at $100 per seat with standards to be set by Inspectional Services. This motion includes a licensing structure of $1000 for existing parklets and $2900 for new parklets. Voted 4/0/1 By Roll Call: Quintal - Abstains, Canty - Yes, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - Yes, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Canty, second: Helm)
Jan 30Authorize the Town Counsel and Town Manager to move…Motion: to authorize the Town Counsel and Town Manager to move forward…Passed 4–1 · No: Canty
January 30, 2024: Authorize the Town Counsel and Town Manager to move forward with this effort and return to the Board and potentially Town Meeting at a later date with a revised draft
ApprovePassed · 4–1
To authorize the Town Counsel and Town Manager to move forward with this effort and return to the Board and potentially Town Meeting at a later date with a revised draft
Yes: Bletzer, Helm, Mahoney, QuintalNo: Canty
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Helm, seconded by Selectman Bletzer, the Board authorized the Town Counsel and Town Manager to move forward with this effort and return to the Board and potentially Town Meeting at a later date with a revised draft. Voted 4/1 By Roll Call: Quintal - Yes, Canty - No, Bletzer-Yes, Helm - Yes, Mahoney-Yes.” (Motion: Helm, second: Bletzer)
Jan 23Recommend to Town Meeting ARTICLE 16C Housing: RedbrookMotion: to recommend to Town Meeting ARTICLE 16C Housing: RedbrookPassed 3–2 · No: Bletzer, Canty
January 23, 2024: Recommend to Town Meeting ARTICLE 16C Housing: Redbrook
ApprovePassed · 3–2
To recommend to Town Meeting ARTICLE 16C Housing: Redbrook
Yes: Helm, Mahoney, QuintalNo: Bletzer, Canty
From the minutes
“On a motion by Selectman Mahoney and seconded by Selectman Helm, after further discussion, the Board will vote to recommend to Town Meeting ARTICLE 16C Housing: Redbrook. Voted 3/2 By Roll Call: Quintal - Yes, Canty - No, Bletzer-No, Helm - Yes, Mahoney - Yes.” (Motion: Mahoney, 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.