Plymouth and other communities around the state could raise taxes on meals, hotel stays, and motor vehicles under a proposal by Gov. Maura Healey aimed at helping boost local budgets. The Municipal Empowerment Act would allow Plymouth elected officials to hike the lodging tax on hotels, motels and other rentals from 6 to 7 percent. […]
Category: Government
Posted inGovernment
Badger was the only Democrat to vote in favor of auditing the Legislature
Newly elected state representative Michelle Badger was the sole Democrat this week to vote in favor of cooperating with Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s proposed audit of the Legislature. Legislators voted 24-127 on Tuesday to reject a Republican-sponsored amendment to House rules that would have forced compliance with DiZoglio’s audit. The plan was wildly popular […]
Posted inGovernment
Number of polling sites dramatically reduced
Plymouth voters who prefer to cast their ballots in person will likely have to do more driving, starting with the May 17 town election. The Select Board Tuesday voted unanimously to reduce the number of polling sites from 14 to just 5, following Town Clerk Kelly McElreath’s earlier recommendation to consolidate voting locations. The […]
Posted inGovernment
Here’s an easy way to have your say on Plymouth’s priorities
Want to weigh in on where the town is – or should be – headed? Here’s an easy way to do it that’s more constructive than a Facebook rant. But you have to act soon. The town is inviting residents to take its online “visioning survey” by Feb. 16. It’s part of a lengthy process […]
Posted inGovernment
A place for those who served the country to connect, prosper, and contribute
Bryan Wille wants everyone – not just veterans – to know about the Plymouth Area Veterans Center. “It’s my passion,” said Willie, who is site manager at the facility, which opened its doors at 20 North Park Ave. in October. “I absolutely love doing this.” “Everything that the state of Massachusetts will offer a veteran, […]
Posted inGovernment
Part of Water St. to be dug up for the third time
For the third straight year, Water Street will be dug up and traffic detoured, this time because the new sewer line that was thought to be completed last year needs repair. It’s the latest in a series of setbacks and complications that have plagued the costly project. Town officials say part of the new line […]
Posted inGovernment
Differing opinions on rift between town manager, Independent aired at Select Board meeting
The town’s frayed relationship with the Plymouth Independent dominated Tuesday’s Select Board meeting, with some residents defending the nonprofit news organization and others backing town manager Derek Brindisi. For about 45 minutes, comments focused on an edict issued by Brindisi in December that all appointed town officials “cease all communication with the PI,” except for […]
Posted inGovernment
Town manager responds to the Independent
To the Plymouth Community, I am writing to you today to address the recent column written by Mark Pothier, editor of the Plymouth Independent (PI). His column accuses me of undermining their efforts to report on Town business. While I freely admit this situation was not handled perfectly, I want to clarify the background of […]
Posted inGovernment
After six months, Planning Board vacancy is filled
Six months after Birgitta Kuehn resigned from the Planning Board, the combined Select and Planning boards filled her seat Tuesday night. They chose Joseph Higgins, a criminal defense attorney who specializes in drunk driving cases, to take a place on the five-member board until the May town election. “We need to change the bylaws [to] […]
Posted inGovernment
MacRae moves to drop lawsuit over her narrow primary loss in Senate race
Defeated state Senate candidate Kari MacRae has asked a Plymouth County judge to dismiss her lawsuit alleging that election officials failed to properly verify the identity of voters in last year’s primary. MacRae, a Republican from Bourne, sued six towns in October – including Plymouth – asking judges in Plymouth and Barnstable Superior courts to […]