The Plymouth Select Board entered a new chapter Tuesday evening as Deborah Iaquinto was unanimously elevated to Chair, marking a leadership transition intended to heal community divisions following a contentious election cycle. Former Chair Kevin Canty, who nominated Iaquinto, declined a counter-nomination to remain in the seat, stating, I think that we need someone in this chair who can bridge the divides that have happened over the last 12 months. I think we need someone who can create some healing for our community. Motion Made by K. Canty to elect Deborah Iaquinto as Chair. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Following her appointment, Iaquinto thanked the board for the opportunity to continue to do wonderful things for Plymouth. The reorganization also saw Richard Quintal, fresh from re-election alongside William Keohan, named Vice Chair. Motion Made by K. Canty to elect Richard Quintal as Vice Chair. Motion Passed (5-0-0).

The meeting’s primary briefing focused on the massive $2 billion Sagamore Bridge replacement project. Luisa Paiewonsky of MassDOT confirmed that the Sagamore portion is now fully funded through a combination of federal grants and over $700 million in state contributions. David Anderson of H&TB explained that the goal is to maintain four lanes of traffic throughout construction by building a new twin bridge adjacent to the existing 90-year-old structure. The sooner they're out of service, the less likelihood there is that some maintenance action will be necessary that will cause... a profound effect on the region, Anderson noted. Construction is slated to begin in late 2027. Member David Golden pushed for regional benefits during the massive undertaking, stating, I'd love to see some way that we can take advantage of this situation and provide some relief for the folks in Cedarville who have been waiting a very long time... for some kind of traffic mitigation.

The board also grappled with resident frustration over the pending sale of the Simes House for $40,000. Public commenter Rich Ciri highlighted the discrepancy between the sale price and the property's $1.7 million assessment. This board has apparently agreed to sell it to the bird observatory for only $40,000... a sale of 2% of its assessed value is throwing away the town's money, Ciri said. Member William Keohan, who has consistently opposed the sale, requested a formal forensic audit and staff presentation on previous expenditures at the property to provide transparency to taxpayers. I feel as a select board member, I should know about any signatures representing the town as it relates to the cleanup of these materials at a playground, Keohan added during a related discussion on park contaminants.

Fundraising for the town’s Independence Day celebrations remains a concern, with the July 4th Committee reporting a $27,175 gap toward their $175,000 goal. Committee Chair Matt Tavares noted that while 90 individuals have donated—a record for the group—more support is needed to fund the planned three-barge fireworks display. This will be the first year that we'll have three full barges of fireworks. We've never been able to attain that goal, Tavares said. On the logistics front, Jeff Metcalf warned that parade staging will move to Mayflower Business Park due to construction at Cordage Park, suggesting that parents dropping off children should come to North Spooner Street.

Internal board debates turned to the Conservation Commission’s structural struggles. To prevent quorum issues, the board moved to seek a Charter amendment to add two alternate members. Motion Made by D. Golden to submit an article to the Fall Town Meeting to amend the Charter to add two alternate members to the Conservation Commission. Motion Passed (5-0-0). However, a proposal to mandate specific state training for commissioners met resistance. I think that creating another barrier to someone volunteering for the town in an unpaid role is unfair, said Kevin Canty. Member William Keohan disagreed, arguing the commission's role is uniquely technical: They're ruling on decisions that are affecting our wetlands, our vernal pools... I think it's something that we should definitely encourage board members to take.

The session concluded with sharp words from Vice Chair Richard Quintal regarding the town’s business climate. Expressing extreme frustration with the Zoning Board of Appeals over the delayed "Costco" project, Quintal alleged that the town’s regulatory hurdles are stifling economic growth. This community has a bad reputation for attracting business. It's a lot of hoops, Quintal remarked. Meanwhile, Town Manager Derek Brindisi reported a record-breaking 16% turnout for the recent local election, with 8,800 votes cast. According to the town clerk, that's the highest local election that has been recorded, Brindisi said, noting that 43% of participants utilized early or mail-in voting.