Plympton Selectmen Approve Removal of Towering Pine, Advance Bridge Project

PLYMPTON, MA - August 26 - The Plympton Board of Selectmen has given the green light for the removal of a towering pine tree near 292 Main Street and taken steps to advance a bridge replacement project on Winnetuxet Road during their August 26 meeting.

William Hannigan, a resident of 292 Main Street, presented his case for removing a large pine tree situated on a narrow strip of town-owned land between his property and the convenience store. The tree, estimated to be about 110 feet tall, has become a source of concern for Hannigan and his family.

"It stands alone, it has no peers, there are other small trees around it, it sways greatly," Hannigan told the board. He expressed worry about the potential for the tree to fall, noting that a nearby tree had previously fallen, narrowly missing his mother's bedroom.

Tree Warden Bill Hayes had inspected the tree and recommended its removal. Hannigan offered to cover the cost of removal, which would coincide with other tree work being done on his property for a septic system replacement.

The board unanimously approved Hannigan's request. "I have no issue," stated member Dana Smith before the vote.

In a separate agenda item, the board took action to facilitate the Winnetuxet Road bridge replacement project. They adopted an order of taking for small pieces of property at 81 and 91 Winnetuxet Road, awarding $400 in damages to the affected property owners.

Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy explained, "This is the final step in the process. This was a required taking for two small pieces of property. It's for the Winnetuxet Road bridge project. And the homeowners have been involved since the start of the process."

The land taking is part of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation process, as the project is receiving state funding. Despite some previous opposition to the overall project, the board approved the order of taking without dissent.

"My only comment is I wish they weren't doing the whole project. We, many of us, spoke against it, but I guess it's going ahead," remarked Mark Russo before voting in favor of the motion.

In other business, the board extended their 2 p.m. meeting time pilot program through the end of the calendar year and approved a request from the Friends of the Plympton Garden Club to use the Town Green for their annual flower show on Sept. 1.

The meeting also included updates on grant applications, free cash certification efforts, and flooding issues at the fire department building. Dennehy reported that work is underway to address water intrusion problems at the fire station, with plans to potentially install a French drain system.

The board concluded the public portion of their meeting before entering into executive session to discuss ongoing litigation matters.