Residents of Fremont Street will soon navigate a new traffic pattern as the Select Board initiated a two-month experiment to resolve chronic safety issues on the narrow corridor. Assistant DPW Director James Downey explained that the street’s 22-foot width is insufficient to support its current volume of two-way traffic alongside on-street parking. The proposal is to have the flow of traffic in the easterly direction... and formalize the no parking zone along the northern side, Downey stated. The change comes after resident petitions highlighted the danger to pedestrians and homeowners. Resident Connie Melahorus supported the pilot, noting the hazards of residents backing out of driveways into congested traffic, while Jerry Suro urged the board to follow through on the recommendations of recent traffic studies. Member W. Keohan, who lives on the street, expressed caution regarding the speed of vehicles and emergency access but supported the trial to gather data. Motion Made by W. Keohan to give the engineering department the 60 days experimental one way for Fremont Street followed up by a public meeting with the select board to discuss the results. Motion Passed 5-0.

The board also confronted a looming $750,000 financial request to save Memorial Hall from structural decay. Town Manager Derek Brindisi presented a sobering report on severe water intrusion that threatens to shutter the historic venue. Water is penetrating the building through the east wall... during a heavy rain event, it's getting on the stage, Brindisi warned, adding that the Building Commissioner cannot guarantee the building will remain open without immediate repairs. Director Joe Goldberg noted that while the building is physically failing, its business performance is soaring, with attendance climbing to 11,000 to 12,000 per cycle for national acts. Member W. Keohan emphasized the need to protect the home of the Plymouth Philharmonic, calling it the town's premier cultural entity. Chair Kevin Canty expressed concern over the lack of a long-term vision, stating, I think we need to know what we want Memorial Hall to be before we start funding repairs... I don't think town meeting is going to sign off on any significant dollar figure without a clear plan. The board reached a consensus to pursue a $750,000 stabilization plan to keep the doors open for the next five years while a permanent strategy is developed.

Infrastructure concerns extended to Water Street, where DPW Director Bill Coyle revealed that a 400-foot section of the recently installed sewer interceptor is defective. Coyle reported a sag in the pipe near the Visitor Center that causes sewage to pool rather than flow. The camera is actually going underwater and is flowing much fuller than it should be because there's negative pitch, Coyle said. The town is currently withholding payment for the work, and Northern Construction is slated to return in December to replace the failing section at no additional cost to the town. Member W. Keohan voiced frustration over the engineering failure, noting, Water Street is called Water Street for a reason. We're basically digging into a beach... I just don't want to see this happening again.

Financial realities clashed with neighborhood quality of life during a lengthy discussion on the town’s chip seal program. Director Coyle defended the maintenance strategy, noting that chip sealing costs $125,000 per mile compared to $1.1 million for full road reclamation. The easy thing to say is then we just won't chip seal anymore. But there's a big expense to doing that, Coyle explained, noting the town has 235 miles of accepted roads to maintain. However, residents like Greg Tvaris described the treatment as a nuisance for residential areas. I'm still picking the rocks out of my driveway... Chip seal is not made for residential neighborhoods, Tvaris said. Member R. Quintal sided with frustrated homeowners, stating, The number of residents in this town that is a lot more than 17 are very unhappy with this... it's a slap on our face to our neighborhood. While the board took no formal vote, they directed the DPW to improve neighborhood outreach and allow residents to potentially opt for different, though perhaps delayed, road treatments.

The board began weighing new regulations for electric bicycles, including a proposal to require riders to be at least 16.5 years old with a valid driver’s license. Town Counsel Kate McKay presented a draft act that would also limit speeds to 5 mph in certain congested areas. A point of contention emerged regarding a proposed ban on e-bikes on rail trails. Member D. Iaquinto argued against the restriction, noting, People with mobility issues really count on these. I would suggest we get some additional public input. Vice Chair D. Golden took a different view, suggesting that bike paths are not walking paths. They're bike paths, so folks should be able to use them as such. The board requested further refinements to the draft before a final vote.

During public comment, Joe Paulson expressed mounting frustration over delays involving the Zero Spooner Street firehouse project. Paulson told the board he was awarded the bid in April and has assumed liability for the site but has seen little progress from the town. Additionally, Michelle Christensen reported from the Ponds of Plymouth that recent chip seal projects had left behind excessive loose gravel, reinforcing the need for better quality control. The board also processed several licensing items, including a new common victualler license. Motion Made by R. Quintal to approve the licenses as presented. Motion Passed 5-0.