Residents packed the Cedarville Fire Station Tuesday evening for the first in a series of Select Board meetings to be held in Plymouth’s neighborhoods, starting with those farthest from Town Hall.
“I wanted, personally, to come to Cedarville first because I know that Cedarville often feels ignored and not heard by people at 26 Court Street,” Chair Kevin Canty said to applause from the audience. “I think there is a benefit to hearing residents where they are and hearing the concerns that they have in their community. Some people have said recently that the business of Town Hall is supposed to be conducted at Town Hall, and I could not agree less with that statement.”
At the previous Select Board meeting, former chair Dick Quintal opposed moving the location of meetings without prior discussion from the board. Quintal – who told the Independent he’s on vacation – was absent from Tuesday’s Cedarville meeting. He believes it’s the first meeting he’s missed since July 2024.
About 40 people were in the room at the fire station, with more in an adjoining hall, and the small parking lot was full.
Canty has said that subsequent meetings will be held at South Elementary School on July 15, at either Plymouth South High School or Plymouth South Middle School on Aug. 12, and at Manomet Elementary School on Sept. 16.
For two hours, the board heard questions and concerns from residents on issues, including traffic and safety concerns at the intersections of State and Hedges Pond roads, State and Herring Pond roads, and Long Pond and Halfway Pond roads.
There were also questions about the town’s possible purchase of Atlantic Golf Club. Town Manager Derek Brindisi explained that the town has a right of first refusal to buy the property, which is for sale for $20 million. The initial purchase and sale agreement with a private developer was defective, Brindisi said. On May 20, the owners entered into a second agreement, he said. The town has 120 days to match the offer.
Addressing residents’ concerns that a developer could build housing at the golf club, Canty said that if the town buys the property, it would not be with the intention of building housing.
Doug Wood, who lives in the Ponds of Plymouth neighborhood, urged the board to consider following the example of Hingham, which converted a private golf club into a public one.
There was also praise for Plymouth’s first dog park, not far from the fire station.
“Best dog park I’ve ever been into,” said Lori Downs, a precinct 17 Town Meeting member. “It’s so well designed. My dog just loves the jumping, and the dogs run in packs around the trees.”
People came from other parts of Plymouth, as well. Steve Lantagne, who lives in West Plymouth, urged the board to hold a meeting there. Canty said a West Plymouth meeting is possible for the fall or winter.
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org.