Plymoutheans, Do Your Duty, II

The Plymouth Town election is only a week away. Next Saturday, May 10th, Plymoutheans will go to the polls to exercise one of their their basic rights. Or as the lawn signs put it, perform "Every Residents Duty."

With the goal of encouraging a better informed voter turnout, the View is providing here, without editorial comment, some basic background information that might allow the voters to give some thought to the ballot issues in advance. This information should be especially helpful to voters new to Plymouth and the vagaries of Town government.

Plymouth is divided into 14 voting precincts. If you are unsure what precinct you live in, or where the polls are located for your precinct, call the Town Clerk's Office at 508-747-1620, X169.

The Board of Selectmen consists of five members elected to three-year overlapping terms and is the Town's chief executive body. This year, three candidates are running for two seats:

Incumbent Richard "Dicky" Quintal has served on the Board for eight years, most recently as chairman. A lifelong Plymouth resident, Quintal runs Quintal Brothers, a Plymouth-based produce company. He also chairs the 1000 Acres Citizens Advisory Committee and is a strong backer of developing a movie studio in South Plymouth (see Question 3, below).

Incumbent Jean Loewenberg has served on the Board for three years, most recently as Vice Chairman. She formerly served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and is a majority member of the Charter Commission that is proposing a new Town Charter (See Question 1, below). She is general counsel for a Boston investment management firm.

John T. Mahoney is making his second run at a Selectman's seat. He serves on the Town's Finance and Advisory Committee as well as the Open Space Committee. Mr. Mahoney has a B.S. Degree in Business from Bridgewater State College and is a member of Local 4, Boston, International Union of Elevator Constructors.

School Committee: two incumbents are running unopposed for two three-year terms: Chair, Linda McAlduff and Vice Chair, John White.

Planning Board: William Wennerberg and Timothy Grandy are running for one five-year term. Grandy is currently a Planning Board alternate. Board member Loring Tripp is not seeking re-election.

Redevelopment Authority: Chester Bagni is running unopposed for three-year term.

Town Meeting Members: Three members from each precinct for three-year terms, plus vacancies in Precincts 7,9, 10 and 13 for partial terms.

For additional information about the candidates including candidate statements, see the ARTICLE in the Old Colony Memorial


The ballot also contains three questions, which are reprinted below from the Local Election Warrant:

QUESTION 1

Shall this town approve the charter revision recommended by the charter commission summarized below?

Summary

This question is being presented pursuant to Chapter 43B of the Massachusetts General Laws, known as the Home Rule Procedures act, which requires that the Charter proposed by the elected Plymouth Charter Commission as set forth in the Commission's Final report be presented for approval to the registered voters of the Town. The proposed charter includes a popularly elected Mayor responsible for the operational aspects of government; a five member Executive Board,including the Mayor, a Representative Assembly comprised of three members from each precinct which shall meet at least four times per year; a popularly elected President of the Representative Assembly with significant authority; standing committees of the Representative Assembly including Finance, Rules, Bylaws and Administration; Zoning and Planning;economic Development and Tourism; and education and Culture and Open Space; a Strategic Planning Board to advise the representative Assembly on strategic goal setting, long-range planning and policy making; a popularly-elected Planning Board with powers not within the scope of Strategic Planning Board, and a revised recall procedure.


A YES VOTE will adopt the Charter proposed by the elected Charter Commission thereby establishing a form of government that includes a Mayor heading the executive branch, a smaller legislative branch known as the representative assembly, and a long range planning group known as the Strategic Planning Board.

A NO VOTE will make no change to the current form of government.

QUESTION 2

This Question is Non-Binding


Whereas, Congress has the sole responsibility to allocate funds and, Whereas Congress is the check to the Executive branch of government which is prosecuting the illegal occupation of Iraq, and Whereas a majority of American citizens call for an end to thee war in Iraq, and; Whereas $480 billion of taxpayer money has already been spent on this war without an end in sight, depriving us of necessary funds for education, housing health care, support for returning veterans, reparations to the people of Iraq, and for other vital human needs,We therefore call upon our Congressional representatives to vote only for funding a safe and rapid withdrawal of all US troops fro Iraq.

Summary

This non-binding question asks voters to advise their elected federal representatives to vote only for funding for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

A YES VOTE will indicate to the Town's elected federal representatives that the voters of the Town wish such representatives to vote only for funding for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

A NO VOTE will take no position regarding funding for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

QUESTION 3

This question is non-binding

Shall the voters of Plymouth recommend to the Board of Selectmen and Plymouth Town Meeting Representatives that they support the location of the proposed Plymouth Rock Studios on a portion of town-owned land at the intersection of Bourne Road and Route 25 in south Plymouth, also known as the 1,000 acres.

SUMMARY

This non-binding question is a result of the proposals by Plymouth Rock Studios to develop movie production studios on approximately 400 acres of the so-called "1,000 acres" parcel of land in South Plymouth. For this project to move forward, several votes of Town Meeting would be required, including zoning change, land conveyance, and tax incentive financing plan. This question asks voters if they want to make a recommendation to the elected officials of the Town that shows support for this specific location for this project.

A YES VOTE will show support for the development of the 1,000 Acres site for the Plymouth Rock Studios.

A NO VOTE will take no position on the Development of the 1,000 Acres site for the Plymouth Rock Studios.

The polls will be open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. This should give everyone plenty of time to "Do their duty."