Breaking: Joyce resigns
Shelagh Joyce resigns from Plymouth Select Board without explanation after casting sole vote against Quintal for Chair and Cavacco for Vice Chair, there were no other nominations.
Town welcomes new fire truck
The chairman of the Plymouth Board of Selectman Ken Tavares and candidate for re-election this Saturday, welcomed the Town’s newest fire truck Friday, along with Liam Larivee, son of Fire Fighter Larivee. The new truck, Engine 4, features a 1500 gallon per minute pump and 1000 gallon water tank plus a 10 kilowatt hydraulic generator.
“Without the support we received from Town Management, the Finance Committee, the members of Select Board, Town Meeting members and of course the citizens of Plymouth, the addition of Engine 4 to our fleet would not have been possible,” Fire Chief Ed Bradley said.
The Florida built truck will serve Station 4 on Bourne Road.
Helm favors new tax on residential development
Selectman candidate Harry Helm endorsed the concept of a tax on new residential development to combat the “cost” of growth in Plymouth. Helm, a real estate salesperson, opposes a building moratorium and supports raising the commercial tax base to 30% of property tax revenue.
Helm is challenging incumbent Selectman Kenneth Tavares in the May election. All candidates are encouraged to contact 1620Today with news and announcements relative to this year’s Town elections.
In comments made on Facebook Helm said, “Our current new home construction scenario is untenable. Given that it costs about $15,000 before Chapter 70 funding to educate 1 student for 1 year ( and Plymouth is not out of the norm here) it’s not difficult to see that, even before figuring Police, Fire and DPW costs, nearly every new residence with even only 1 child is a net tax loss and increases everyone else’s taxes.”
Any local development tax would likely require legislative approval.
“I feel safe in my belief that developers would pass this on to buyers,” Helm added. The money raised from the proposed tax would go into a fund to “help offset the net tax loss these [new residences] represent,”
BREAKING: Coalition of Town employees endorses Helm
A four thousand member coalition of Town employees and retirees has endorsed Harry Helm for Selectman in his race to unseat incumbent member and Board Chairman Kenneth Tavares.
In announcing their endorsement the Coalition of Organized Plymouth Employees wrote, “Sometimes a new perspective with fresh ideas creates a better opportunity for our community to thrive.”
The endorsement comes two days after Mike Heath withdrew from the selectman race and also endorsed Helm, a real estate agent who has served on the Town’s Finance Committee.
All candidates are encouraged to contact 1620Today with news and announcements relative to this year’s Town elections.
The Coalition of Organized Plymouth Employees (COPE) represents teachers, the Plymouth Brotherhood of Police, fire fighters, a local SEIU affiliate and other Town employees.
Heath drops out, endorses Helm for selectman
In a Facebook post last night, candidate for Plymouth Selectman Mike Heath withdrew from the race and endorsed fellow candidate Harry Helm. Helm will now face with incumbent and Board Chair Selectman Kenneth Tavares.
Heath wrote in his post, “I am going to step aside and let the candidate who has more experience, is better informed and has the best chance at overtaking the incumbent selectman for his seat.”
Only one selectman seat is up for election this May.
In a subquesnt post accepting Heath’s endorsement Helm added, “Mike and I share strongly the view that our Town needs to change direction for our residents, taxpayers and employees. And we share many of the same thoughts on how to go about getting that job done.”
Did you miss Town Meeting?
Did you miss Town Meeting? Yeah, we did too. Hey, it was Easter Weekend! Here it is in all its glory.
