MassVoter.com← PlymptonMunicipal votes · 2020–2021 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. Same three members (the 2020 town election was held later than usual because of COVID-19). On June 22, 2020 the board chose Mark Russo as Chair, Christine Joy as Vice Chair and John A. Traynor, Jr. as Clerk (each 3-0). Covers 27 meetings, June 22 to May 12, 2021.
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 →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
"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: 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.
Apr 26Ratify the recommendation of article 35Motion: To ratify the recommendation of article 35Passed 2–1 · see note
April 26, 2021: Ratify the recommendation of article 35
To ratify the recommendation of article 35
The minutes give only the count (2-1), not how each member voted.
From the minutes
“MR made a motion to ratify the recommendation of article 35. Seconded, CJ. Roll-Call Vote: 2/1..” (Motion: Russo, second: Joy)
Apr 6Not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's…Motion: To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website…Passed 2–1 · No: Traynor
April 6, 2021: Not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube
To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorThe minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To not record the meeting for posting on Area 58's website and YouTube. Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..”
Apr 6Proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows:…Motion: To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At…Passed 2–1 · No: Traynor
April 6, 2021: Proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice…
To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk for one-year terms by majority vote of the BOS. The Clerk will preside over the election of the Chair. The newly elected Chair will preside over the election of Vice Chair and Clerk."
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorThe minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To proceed with Mr. Russo's proposed alternate language, as follows: 'At the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections, the first order of business will be the election of Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk for one-year terms by majority vote of the BOS. The Clerk will preside over the election of the Chair. The newly elected Chair will preside over the election of Vice Chair and Clerk." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..”
Apr 6Adopt Ms. Joy's alternate language: open session meetings will…Motion: To read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and…Passed 2–1 · No: Traynor
April 6, 2021: Adopt Ms. Joy's alternate language: open session meetings will be recorded and posted whenever possible, and the minutes remain the official record
To read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and posted". There being no second, Ms. Joy suggested alternate language and Mr. Russo made a new motion. Voted: To proceed with Ms. Joy's proposed alternate language, as follows: "Whenever possible, and as a courtesy to the public, open session BOS meetings will be recorded and posted. The Minutes of the meeting shall remain the official record of the proceedings."
Yes: Joy, RussoNo: TraynorMr. Traynor's motion to record and post all open session meetings got no second; Mr. Russo then moved Ms. Joy's alternate language. No seconder is recorded.
From the minutes
“motion to read: "All open session meetings will be video recorded and posted". There being no second, Ms. Joy suggested alternate language and Mr. Russo made a new motion. Voted: To proceed with Ms. Joy's proposed alternate language, as follows: "Whenever possible, and as a courtesy to the public, open session BOS meetings will be recorded and posted. The Minutes of the meeting shall remain the official record of the proceedings." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Nay..” (Motion: Russo)
Apr 6Proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These…Motion: To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
April 6, 2021: Proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections."
To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections."
The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“Voted: To proceed with Mr. Traynor's proposed language, as follows: "These operating principles will be reviewed, discussed and revoted at the first BOS meeting after annual Town elections." Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Aye. All in favor..”
Mar 29Offer the Town Accountant position to Melanie Whitney (executive…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
March 29, 2021: Offer the Town Accountant position to Melanie Whitney (executive session vote, announced)
Announced in open session after executive session; the minutes say the board "had voted unanimously." No mover or seconder is recorded.
From the minutes
“Chairman Russo announced that the Board of Selectmen had voted unanimously to offer the position of Town Accountant to Melanie Whitney, upon the retirement of present Town Accountant Barbara Gomez, pending final negotiations led by Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy..”
Mar 29End the open meetingMotion: To end the open meetingPassed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
March 29, 2021: End the open meeting
To end the open meeting
The minutes do not say who made the motion.
From the minutes
“motion was made and seconded to end the open meeting. Roll Call Vote: Joy: Aye; Russo: Aye; Traynor: Aye.”
Jan 11Approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right…Motion: To approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right FarmPassed 2–0 · see note
January 11, 2021: Approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm
To approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm
Yes: Joy, TraynorMark Russo recused and did not take part in this vote.
From the minutes
“CJ made a motion to approve the 2021 Common Victualler license for Just Right Farm. Seconded, JT. Roll-Call Vote: 2/0/1 MR recused himself from the vote..” (Motion: Joy, second: Traynor)
Oct 19Appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School…Passed Unanimous, 3 present · see note
October 19, 2020: Appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee to fill the vacant seat until June 30, 2021
Joint vacancy vote: "Roll-Call Vote of 3 Selectmen and Silver Lake Committee member Michael Antoine: 4/0." Only the Select Board members' votes are shown.
From the minutes
“MR made motion to appoint Lukasz Kowalski to the Silver Lake Regional School Committee to fill the vacant seat until 6/30/21. Seconded, CJ. Roll-Call Vote of 3 Selectmen and Silver Lake Committee member Michael Antoine: 4/0..” (Motion: Russo, second: Joy)
Jun 22Appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School CommitteeMotion: To appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School CommitteePassed Unanimous, 2 present · see note
June 22, 2020: Appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee
To appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee
Christine Joy had not yet arrived, so is not counted in this vote.
From the minutes
“MR made a motion to appoint Jason Fraser to the Dennett School Committee, seconded JT. Vote: 2/0..” (Motion: Russo, second: Traynor)
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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