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Select Board candidates debate housing, Plymouth Foundation and the budget at Cedarville forum
Summary
Four Select Board candidates answered community questions in Cedarville on Apr. 15, 2026, focusing on housing, transparency at the Plymouth Foundation, staffing shortages for police and DPW, and looming budget shortfalls before about 50 residents.
Cedarville — Four candidates for Plymouth’s Select Board appeared before the Cedarville Steering Committee on April 15 to answer pre-submitted questions about housing, town finances and local services.
The forum, opened by Vice Chair and Clerk Marcia Sheridan, followed advice from Town Clerk Kelly McElreath and an ethics opinion obtained from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Ethics Board. "Atty. MacDonald concluded that as long as the Steering Committee did not endorse any one particular candidate, or allow campaigning or fund raising to take place, there would be no ethics violations," the Committee said before questioning began. The committee collected questions in advance and allotted equal time to each candidate.
The candidates presented contrasting priorities on housing and spending. Incumbent Kevin Canty, an attorney, said Plymouth “is in a crisis regarding housing” and argued that affordable-housing opportunities must be created locally: "Everyone needs an opportunity to achieve affordable housing." He proposed tools such as a land bank and strategic growth planning to limit intrusive 40B developments.
Challenger Betty Cavacco, a White Horse Beach resident and two-time former Select Board member, criticized 40B projects as "not affordable" and emphasized protecting seniors from rising taxes. She said the town should consider rezoning and potentially tax portions of the Holtec property if classified as hazardous, and expressed support for a Land Bank.
Incumbent Dick Quintal, a business owner with intermittent board service over two decades, urged implementing the Master Plan and reworking zoning, and said he hopes the town will set aside newly approved State Aid rather than use it to pay down OPEB. Quintal also defended the Plymouth Foundation as a 501(c)(3) focused on economic and workforce development and noted the Attorney General had not found Open Meeting Law violations in 2025.
Scott Vecchi, a former police officer and current EMT, called for stricter spending controls and greater transparency at the Plymouth Foundation. He said he would consider dismantling the Foundation to save money and criticized perceived conflicts of interest, adding he would not support an override and would "go over every line item" to trim the budget.
Candidates also addressed staffing shortages in police and public works. Canty and Cavacco said better benefits and pay are key to retention; Quintal suggested creative scheduling and attention to first-responder mental health; Vecchi recommended an outside consultant and said morale issues were driving departures.
On service questions about snow removal, the candidates acknowledged the town’s recent struggle with a severe storm. Canty proposed direct Select Board engagement with DPW and the Emergency Operations Center; Cavacco noted contractors handle side roads and cited insurance cost barriers; Quintal said the Select Board chair appropriately requested MEMA assistance for what he called a "thirty-year storm;" Vecchi, on duty as an EMT during the storm, said wing plows were not fully utilized.
The Plymouth Foundation prompted sharp differences. Canty raised an "appearance of impropriety" and questioned whether town employees should make certain decisions; Cavacco described the Foundation as a partner that helps the town; Quintal said the Foundation supports workforce development; Vecchi accused it of lacking transparency and of improper raises and oversight.
All four candidates said they would not support selling the Little Red Schoolhouse and expressed support for preserving the village character of Cedarville and South Plymouth. In closing remarks, Vecchi said: "If elected, he will donate his salary to the Animal Shelter," and urged fiscal responsibility; other candidates reiterated service records, fiscal concerns and plans for outreach.
The Committee accepted the March 18 meeting minutes and later adjourned at 8:20 PM. The next Steering Committee meeting is planned for May 20, 2026, when DPW Director Bill Coyle and James Downey are expected to present possible traffic plans for Cedarville.
