Author Archives: Richard M. Serkey

Matt Sheridan is a Plymouth real estate developer who has signed a P&S to purchase 138 acres in Cedarville that are classified under MGL Chapter 61. That statute provides that, in return for reduced real estate taxes, the Town has a right of first refusal to purchase the land.  As a result, the owner has […]

The Simes House is assessed for $1,710,500. On May 16, the Independent reported that the Select Board have agreed to sell it to the Manomet Bird Observatory for $40,000 (2% of its assessed value)! The Uniform Procurement Act provides that any municipality that wishes to sell real estate must first:  (1) appraise its value using […]

On April 9, 2026, a Superior Court Judge issued the following Preliminary Injunction sought by the Airport Commission: “The Town Manager  and the Town are restrained and enjoined, directly or indirectly, from acting in any manner involving the care, custody of the   [airport], or its management, retaliating in any way against the [Commission] or its […]

The project eligibility letters for the Pulte project state that the total number of units approved was 163, which is the total number of project units presented to the ZBA by Pulte, but left unanswered is the number of units set forth in the Purchase and Sale Agreement because that number was redacted by Pulte […]

I believe that the Select Board made a mistake when it voted (3-to-2) on Sept. 16 to reorganize to oust Mr. [Kevin] Canty as chair. The stated basis for the majority’s vote was “dissatisfaction with how Canty was running meetings.” As Mr. Canty candidly acknowledged during the board’s discussion, “I can be too rigid on […]

Although certainly well intentioned, I believe it would be a mistake for Town Meeting to enact a moratorium (for 11 ½ months) on the issuance of zoning permits and special permits for earth removal. I believe that the moratorium would be both (1) ineffective and (2) injurious. I was a member of the committee that […]

On Aug. 19, Town Moderator Steven Triffletti asked the Select Board to allow his law firm to represent clients before town committees by designating the moderator as a “special municipal employee.” a designation that would enable him to do so, even   though less than two years ago the Board had unanimously voted to deny him […]

On July 31, the Select Board, through the director of inspectional services, commendably started to play hardball with the owner of Bert’s. Strike one was a letter to the owner pursuant to state law, ordering him to secure theproperty by installing a six-foot chain-link fence around the structure within 24 hours of his receipt of […]

In June, 2024, the Plymouth Independent published a letter from me urging the Select Board to take action to remove the [former] Bert’s restaurant eyesore. Three months later, in September 2024, I spoke to the Select Board during public comment to urge them again to do the same thing. At that time, I proposed taking […]

The June 26 article in the Plymouth Independent about the 163 condo units proposed for North Plymouth by Pulte Homes of New England LLC on land currently owned by L. Knife & Son, LLC and Eight Mates LLC states that Meg Sheehan, a beneficiary of trusts having an interest – but not a controlling interest […]