MassVoter.com← PlymptonMunicipal votes · 2025–2026 Board
Plympton Board of Selectmen
How the Plympton Board of Selectmen voted, from the Board of Selectmen’s official minutes. 3 Select Board members elected townwide. Nathaniel Sides joined the board after the May 17, 2025 town election; John A. Traynor, Jr. left. On May 19, 2025 the board chose Dana Smith as Chair, Nathaniel Sides as Vice Chair and Mark Russo as Clerk (each 3-0). Mark Russo resigned effective September 26, 2025, and the board served with two members for the rest of the term. The town has posted minutes for this board only through April 6, 2026. Covers 16 meetings, May 19 to April 6, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the Board of Selectmen 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 Board of Selectmen, votes the town budget and town bylaws.
Sources: Massachusetts Select Board Handbook (MMA) · Mass. Division of Local Services: the town budgetYour Plympton ballot: 13 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Vote Transparency Score
Plympton Board of Selectmen: 6 out of 10 · Partly open
How easy Plympton makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the town’s records, not any official. Checked October 4, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are missing for some meetings more than three months old.Part points: 1/2
- Each vote namedSplit votes say how each member voted.Full points: 3/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes take months to go up.No points: 0/2
- Past years onlineBoard minutes from 2010 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are text you can search and copy.Full points: 1/1
- Member photosThe town website shows no member photos.No points: 0/1
How the town can raise its score
- Minutes posted (+1): Post approved minutes for every meeting on the town website. Don’t require a sign-in to view them.
- Posted quickly (+2): Post minutes within 30 days. If approval takes longer, post a draft marked “Draft – not yet approved” and replace it later.
- Member photos (+1): Show a photo of each member on the board’s web page, with their name, the date their term ends and how to contact them. A group photo of the members, with everyone named in the caption or on the same page, earns half a point.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the town made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Board years
Coming up
No upcoming meeting is posted yet. Check the official calendar →
Under the state Open Meeting Law, boards post notice at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays.
What Town Meeting decided
In Plympton, Town Meeting — not the Board of Selectmen — votes the town budget, bylaws and zoning. Here is what it did with each article, in the Town Clerk’s own words. Any registered voter can take part, and most votes are by voice or show of hands, so there is no list of who voted which way.
Annual Town Meeting · May 14, 2025 21 votes: 20 passed, 1 failed
- Art. 1 Hear and act on reports of town officers and committees Passed “Motion Carries”
- Art. 2 Let the Treasurer enter compensating balance agreements for FY2026 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 3 FY2026 wage and personnel classification plan Passed “Pass (All above) Unanimous”
- Art. 4 FY2026 operating budget and elected officers' pay, voted section by section (total voted $15,307,382) Passed “See attached Budget Spreadsheet named FY26 Appropriations”
- Art. 5 CPA: $5,000 for administration and reserves of $10,000 each for history, housing and open space plus $65,000 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 6 CPA: $50,000 for open space land acquisition costs (appraisals, surveys, title work) Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 7 Dedicate part of the library land at 248 Main Street to recreation and spend $65,000 CPA for an outdoor patio Passed “Pass with 2/3 majority declared by the Moderator”
- Art. 8 Raise $38,000 for FY2026 financial audits Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 9 Transfer $30,569 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for yearly lease payments Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 10 Re-purpose $7,542.88 as matching funds for two fire department FEMA grants Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 11 Raise $10,000 for the town buildings emergency maintenance account Passed “Pass Majority”
- Art. 12 Raise $46,500 for the information technology account Passed “Pass Majority”
- Art. 13 Borrow $13,166,000 to design and build a new fire station on Palmer Road, if voters approve a debt exclusion Passed “Pass with 2/3 vote · 108 Approved, 43 Opposed”
- Art. 14 Transfer $200,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for road work Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 15 Accept and spend state Chapter 90 road funds for FY2026 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 16 Raise $2,200 for continued bylaw codification Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 17 Raise $9,000 for the FY2026 interim property valuation Passed “Pass majority”
- Art. 18 Rename the Board of Selectmen the Select Board throughout the town bylaws Failed “Article Fails”
- Art. 19 Zoning: create a Residential Development Overlay District (MBTA Communities law) Passed “Pass majority”
- Art. 20 Zoning: update the accessory dwelling unit bylaw to match new state rules Passed “Pass with 2/3 vote declared by the moderator”
- Art. 21 Adjourn to the May 17, 2025 town election (including a fire station debt exclusion question) Passed “Pass majority”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, May 14, 2025 Annual Town Meeting.
Special Town Meeting · May 14, 2025 4 votes: 2 passed, 1 no action, 1 other
- Art. 1 Accept G.L. c.44 §54(b)-(d) so town trust funds can be invested under the prudent investor rule Passed “Pass majority”
- Art. 2 Dedicate part of the 5 Palmer Road land to recreation and spend $42,000 CPA for fencing and ball field work Passed “Pass with a 2/3 Vote declared by Moderator”
- Art. 3 Transfer $40,000 from the Rural Aid Grant account to the Special Education Reserve Fund (passed over) No action “Pass majority”
- Art. 4 Add money to the FY2025 elementary school budget (motion to pass over) Other “Move to pass over”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, May 14, 2025 Special Town Meeting.
Annual Town Meeting · May 15, 2024 43 votes: 43 passed
- Art. 1 Hear and act on reports of town officers and committees Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 2 Let the Treasurer enter compensating balance agreements for FY2025 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- 3 (Clerical) FY2025 wage plan: clerical/election worker and constable pay ranges Passed “UNANIMOUS”
- 3 (Elder Affairs) FY2025 wage plan: Elder Affairs pay ranges Passed “Pass by majority”
- 3 (Highway) FY2025 wage plan: Highway Department pay ranges Passed “UNANIMOUS”
- 3 (Library) FY2025 wage plan: Library pay ranges Passed “Pass by majority”
- 3 (Police Other) FY2025 wage plan: special police officer and matron pay Passed “Pass by majority”
- 3 (Professional) FY2025 wage plan: professional staff pay ranges Passed “UNANIMOUS”
- 3 (Town Hall) FY2025 wage plan: Town Hall support staff pay ranges Passed “Pass by majority”
- 3 (Town Labor) FY2025 wage plan: transfer station, custodian and laborer pay ranges Passed “UNANIMOUS”
- 3 (Veterans) FY2025 wage plan: Veterans Agent stipend Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 4 FY2025 operating budget and elected officers' pay, voted section by section (total voted $14,433,145) Passed “See attached Budget Spreadsheet including”
- Art. 5 CPA: $5,000 for administration and reserves of $10,000 each for history, housing and open space plus $65,000 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 6 CPA: $60,500 to design and begin restoring the Town House front entrance Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 7 Transfer $38,000 from free cash for FY2025 financial audits Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 8 Transfer $98,882 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for yearly lease payments Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 9 Re-purpose $3,500.88 and add $4,042 from free cash as the fire department's FEMA grant match Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 10 Add $30,000 from free cash to the town buildings emergency maintenance account Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 11 Add $7,000 from free cash to the information technology account Passed “Pass unanimous”
- Art. 12 Add $1,100 from free cash to the management recruitment / human resources account Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 13 Add $9,000 from free cash to the consultant and preliminary design services account Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 14 $10,000 from free cash for recreation field and facility maintenance Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 15 Transfer $150,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund for road work Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 16 Lease-purchase a Ford 150 or similar truck for the Highway Department, first year paid from grant funds Passed “Moderator declared Pass with 2/3 Vote (Unanimous)”
- Art. 17 Lease-purchase a police patrol vehicle, first year paid from grant funds Passed “Moderator declared pass by 2/3 vote”
- Art. 18 Create a Police Cruiser revolving fund from detail fees with a $60,000 limit Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 19 $2,500 for continued bylaw codification Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 20 Transfer $9,000 from free cash for the FY2025 interim property valuation Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 21 Approve a solar PILOT agreement with Ring Road Solar, LLC Passed “Passes by majority”
- Art. 22 Borrow up to $978,000 to design and bid a new fire station Passed “Moderator declared pass by 2/3 vote”
- Art. 23 Let the Selectmen acquire easements along Winnetuxet Road for a state highway project Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 24 Accept and spend state Chapter 90 road funds for FY2025 Passed “Pass Unanimous”
- Art. 25 Transfer $15,000 from free cash for a part-time school resource officer at Silver Lake Middle School Passed “Pass by majority”
- Art. 26 Zoning: add a definition of Accessory Dwelling Unit Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 27 Zoning: no more than one dwelling per lot, except accessory dwelling units Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 28 Zoning: add mobile homes to the trailer special permit section (7.2 W) Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 29 Zoning: remove 'tourist home' from the guesthouse special permit (7.2 N) Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 30 Zoning: change 'maximum' to 'minimum' in section 7.1 A(1) Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 31 Zoning: replace 'accessway' with 'Access Area' in section 5.8 E Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 32 Zoning: define 'Access Area' for retreat lots Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 33 Add a bylaw requiring house numbers on homes, and on a post for homes 50 feet or more from the road Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 34 Zoning: replace the off-street parking section (300-6.4) Passed “Moderator declared the article passed with a 2/3 vote”
- Art. 35 Adjourn to the May 18, 2024 town election, then dissolve the warrant Passed “Pass unanimous”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, May 15, 2024 Annual Town Meeting.
Special Town Meeting · May 15, 2024 3 votes: 3 passed
- Art. 1 CPA: $70,000 for ball field lighting and upgrades by the Recreation Commission Passed “Pass unanimous”
- 2a FY2024 school budget: move $87,000 from general education to special education Passed “PASS unanimous”
- 2b FY2024 school budget: transfer $184,000 from General Stabilization to special education Passed “Moderator declared 2/3 vote (unanimous)”
Source: Town Clerk's minutes, May 15, 2024 Special Town Meeting.
Not here yet: the 2026 Annual Town Meeting (no minutes or warrant posted online yet).
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).
Members
ChairDana SmithChair · Elected townwide · at 16 of 16 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Vice-ChairNathaniel SidesVice Chair · Elected townwide · at 16 of 16 meetings"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.
Attendance
5 full-board meetings so far this year, through April 6. Ties share a rank.
1Nathaniel Sides5 of 5 meetings Every meeting100%1Dana Smith5 of 5 meetings Every meeting100%20 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Dana Smith20 of 20 meetings Every meeting100%1Mark Russo15 of 15 meetings · served until Sep Every meeting100%1Nathaniel Sides11 of 11 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%4John A. Traynor, Jr.8 of 9 meetings · served until May89%25 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Mark Russo25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1John A. Traynor, Jr.25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Dana Smith16 of 16 meetings · served from May Every meeting100%1Christine Joy9 of 9 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%23 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Mark Russo23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%2Christine Joy22 of 23 meetings96%3John A. Traynor, Jr.21 of 23 meetings91%30 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Mark Russo30 of 30 meetings Every meeting100%1John A. Traynor, Jr.30 of 30 meetings Every meeting100%3Christine Joy28 of 30 meetings93%27 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Mark Russo27 of 27 meetings Every meeting100%1John A. Traynor, Jr.27 of 27 meetings Every meeting100%3Christine Joy26 of 27 meetings96%33 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1John A. Traynor, Jr.33 of 33 meetings Every meeting100%2Mark Russo31 of 33 meetings94%3Christine Joy29 of 33 meetings88%26 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1John A. Traynor, Jr.26 of 26 meetings Every meeting100%2Mark Russo24 of 26 meetings92%3Christine Joy23 of 26 meetings88%34 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1John A. Traynor, Jr.34 of 34 meetings Every meeting100%2Mark Russo33 of 34 meetings97%3Christine Joy32 of 34 meetings94%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Loaded: every Board of Selectmen meeting with minutes on the town website from January 2018 through April 6, 2026 (2018 to 2024 from the town's Document Center, 2025 and 2026 from its Agenda Center). Not here: minutes before 2018 (the Document Center has them back to 2010), executive-session minutes, and minutes the town has not posted yet (every meeting after April 6, 2026, so nothing yet for the board chosen in May 2026). Some minutes are posted twice or in a revised version; we load each meeting once, using the revised version. One file posted as December 6, 2018 is really the May 6, 2019 minutes, and one posted as February 10, 2022 repeats the January 10, 2022 minutes. One 2025 minutes file does not open on the town site. Seven 2020 to 2024 files are scans, which we read by computer text recognition. Plympton's minutes are typed and usually name members by their initials ("CJ made a motion ... Seconded JT. Vote: 3/0"). We match initials to members only where, on that board, the initials fit exactly one member. When the minutes give a count equal to the number of members present with no one voting no, or say a vote was unanimous or "all in favor", we show every member present as voting yes; when they list how each member voted, by name or initials, or name the member who voted no, abstained or recused, we show each member's vote as recorded. When the minutes only say the board "voted", with no count, we show the result only and never assume it was unanimous. Where the minutes give only a count that does not match the members present (for example 2-1 with no names, or 3-0 with two members listed as present), or name a mover or seconder the minutes do not list as present, we show the count only and add a note. Members the minutes say had not yet arrived or had left are not counted in those votes. From September 26, 2025, when Mark Russo resigned, the board had two members. We will ask the town to confirm any noted vote.
Votes where members disagreed
Most board votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Mar 23Remove the Town House Front Entrance Project from the…Motion: To execute the Contract Amendment with Habeeb & Associates for additional…Failed 1–1 · No: Smith
March 23, 2026: Remove the Town House Front Entrance Project from the Town Properties Committee list
To execute the Contract Amendment with Habeeb & Associates for additional services re. the Town House Front Entrance Project NS made a motion to remove the project from the TPC list
Yes: SidesNo: SmithThe minutes read: "DS made a motion to execute the Contract Amendment with Habeeb & Associates ... NS made a motion to remove the project from the TPC list. Roll Call NS aye, DS nay. Vote: 1-1." The roll call is shown on Mr. Sides's motion, the last one made; the minutes do not record a second or a separate vote on the contract amendment. A 1-1 tie fails.
From the minutes
“DS made a motion to execute the Contract Amendment with Habeeb & Associates for additional services re. the Town House Front Entrance Project NS made a motion to remove the project from the TPC list. Roll Call NS aye, DS nay. Vote: 1-1.” (Motion: Sides)
Nov 5Approve the one-day liquor license request for the Dennett…Motion: To approve the one-day liquor license request for the Dennett 6th…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
November 5, 2025: Approve the one-day liquor license request for the Dennett 6th Grade Fundraiser to be held on December 3, 2025 at Colchester Farm
To approve the one-day liquor license request for the Dennett 6th Grade Fundraiser to be held on December 3, 2025 at Colchester Farm
The minutes name Dana Smith as both the mover and the seconder; the seconder is left blank.
From the minutes
“DS made a motion to approve the one-day liquor license request for the Dennett 6th Grade Fundraiser to be held on December 3, 2025 at Colchester Farm. Seconded DS. Vote: 2/0..” (Motion: Smith)
Aug 18Send a notice to Town Properties Committee to show…Motion: To send a notice to Town Properties Committee to show care…Passed 2–1 · No: Russo
August 18, 2025: Send a notice to Town Properties Committee to show care in being fiscally responsible with management of the project
To send a notice to Town Properties Committee to show care in being fiscally responsible with management of the project
Yes: Sides, SmithNo: Russo
From the minutes
“DS made a motion to send a notice to Town Properties Committee to show care in being fiscally responsible with management of the project. Vote: DS/NS 2-1 (Russo nay).” (Motion: Smith)
Jun 9Appoint Timothy Johnson as a full-time Patrolman, effective July…Motion: To appoint Timothy Johnson as a full-time Patrolman, effective July 1,…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
June 9, 2025: Appoint Timothy Johnson as a full-time Patrolman, effective July 1, 2025 until dissolved and to appoint Keelin Smith as a member of the Town Properties Committee, effective June 9, 2025…
To appoint Timothy Johnson as a full-time Patrolman, effective July 1, 2025 until dissolved and to appoint Keelin Smith as a member of the Town Properties Committee, effective June 9, 2025 until dissolved
Nathaniel Sides had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote. The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint Timothy Johnson as a full-time Patrolman, effective July 1, 2025 until dissolved and to appoint Keelin Smith as a member of the Town Properties Committee, effective June 9, 2025 until dissolved. Seconded MR. VOTE: DS/MR 2-0.” (second: Russo)
Jun 9Appoint the non-union, non-contract BOS-appointed Town Employees effective July…Motion: To appoint the non-union, non-contract BOS-appointed Town Employees effective July 1,…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
June 9, 2025: Appoint the non-union, non-contract BOS-appointed Town Employees effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the list of said employees to be filed with the Town Clerk's Office and included…
To appoint the non-union, non-contract BOS-appointed Town Employees effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the list of said employees to be filed with the Town Clerk's Office and included as an attachment to the minutes of this meeting
Nathaniel Sides had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote. The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Motion to appoint the non-union, non-contract BOS-appointed Town Employees effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the list of said employees to be filed with the Town Clerk's Office and included as an attachment to the minutes of this meeting. Seconded MR. VOTE: DS/MR 2- 0.” (second: Russo)
Jun 9Re-appoint the BOS-appointed Board & Committee members effective July…Motion: To re-appoint the BOS-appointed Board & Committee members effective July 1,…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
June 9, 2025: Re-appoint the BOS-appointed Board & Committee members effective July 1, 2025 through the end of their respective terms, the list of said Board & Committee members, including term end dates,…
To re-appoint the BOS-appointed Board & Committee members effective July 1, 2025 through the end of their respective terms, the list of said Board & Committee members, including term end dates, to be filed with the Town Clerk's Office and included as an attachment to the minutes of this meeting
Nathaniel Sides had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote. The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Motion to re-appoint the BOS-appointed Board & Committee members effective July 1, 2025 through the end of their respective terms, the list of said Board & Committee members, including term end dates, to be filed with the Town Clerk's Office and included as an attachment to the minutes of this meeting. Seconded MR. VOTE: DS/MR 2-0.” (second: Russo)
Jun 9Authorize Mark Russo to execute the next Electrical Aggregation…Motion: To authorize Mark Russo to execute the next Electrical Aggregation Contract…Passed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
June 9, 2025: Authorize Mark Russo to execute the next Electrical Aggregation Contract and to continue serving as the Board of Selectmen's representative on this project
To authorize Mark Russo to execute the next Electrical Aggregation Contract and to continue serving as the Board of Selectmen's representative on this project
Nathaniel Sides had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote. The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Motion to authorize Mark Russo to execute the next Electrical Aggregation Contract and to continue serving as the Board of Selectmen's representative on this project. Seconded MR. VOTE: DS/MR 2-0.” (second: Russo)
Jun 9Approve and execute the Emergency Dispatch Services Contract between…Motion: To approve and execute the Emergency Dispatch Services Contract between the…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
June 9, 2025: Approve and execute the Emergency Dispatch Services Contract between the Town and the Regional Old Colony Communications Center for fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028
To approve and execute the Emergency Dispatch Services Contract between the Town and the Regional Old Colony Communications Center for fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028
The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Motion to approve and execute the Emergency Dispatch Services Contract between the Town and the Regional Old Colony Communications Center for fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028. Seconded MR. VOTE: DS/MR/NS 3-0.” (second: Russo)
From the Plympton Board of Selectmen’s official minutes, posted in the town’s Agenda Center and Document Center. We check every vote against the members present and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades or scores officials. Photos: Dana Smith cropped from a captioned Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express photo (June 2025); Nathaniel Sides and Daniel Cadogan from Area 58 video of the May 18 and June 29, 2026 Board of Selectmen meetings (identified by the nameplate in front of each member).
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