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Pilgrim Memorial State Park |
Mayflower II |
However, what's important about the Pilgrim's landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts is not Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower, it's Thanksgiving and the Mayflower Compact.
Of the original 102 passengers on the Mayflower, 46 died of starvation and disease during that first winter. The Pilgrims harvest festival of 1621 is now celebrated every year in the U.S. as the national holiday of Thanksgiving.
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"The First Thanksgiving" (1914) |
The signing of the Mayflower Compact aboard the Mayflower on November 11, 1620, was the first written declaration of self-government in the American colonies, an idea that would later became the corner stone of American democracy.
The Mayflower Compact
IN The Name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. In WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620
Government
The town's form of government is limited (representative) town meeting. "Town Meeting" functions as the legislative branch while an elected Board of Selectmen serves as the executive branch. Day to day operations are performed by an appointed Town Manager.
Plymouth currently has 14 precincts each having nine (9) elected Town Meeting Members. The town will be redistrict in 2011 to form 16 precincts.
Great Island is in the 14th Precinct.
Voting
The voting location for Great Island residents is in the gymnasium at the Indian Brook Elementary School, 1181 State Road (Rt. 3A). Both the 7th and 14th Precincts vote at this location.
NOTE: There are two doors into the gymnasium, the right hand door is for the 14th Precinct. Don't make the mistake of getting into the 7th Precinct's line since there are far more residents in that Precinct and the line is usually very long.
Representation
Decisions made at Town Meeting often have a direct impact on the Great Island and The Pinehills since changes to the OSMUD (see NOTE below) requires approval at Town Meeting. Consider becoming a Town Meeting Member.
Great Island has one (1) resident that is currently a Town Meeting Member.
John C. DeCoste, 209-0774, 38 Canoe Landing, Plymouth, MA, 02360 2011
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NOTE: The Pinehills open-space, mixed-use development (OSMUD) zoning overlay was established under Section 205-63 of the Plymouth Zoning Bylaw to "preserves open space and mandates smaller lots and roads to protect and to reflect the rural character of Plymouth and provides protections to existing forest roads and particularly to Old Sandwich Road, an existing scenic street". |
The official Town of Plymouth web site is here. You can also find detailed government information about the Town of Plymouth here.
County Government
The town of Plymouth is in Plymouth County. The Plymouth County Registry of Deeds was the first in the nation.
Taxes
By state law, all homes in Massachusetts must be assessed at full value. The Town of Plymouth has a single tax rate for commercial and residential property. In 2006, the voters approved a Proposition 2 1/2 override to fund school improvements and a new senior center.
The town's fiscal year (property tax year) runs from July 1 to June 30. The town issues quarterly property tax bills. The first two tax bills, due on August 1 and November 1 are estimates, based on the prior year's value. The third quarter tax bill, due February 1, is the bill that shows the assessed value for the property (as of January 1 of the property tax year) and the tax rate. The fourth quarter tax bill is due May 2.
NOTE: You pay the full year's property tax, even if the first two quarters were billed at the lower pre-construction assessed value (for example, if you close on July 1, your third and fourth quarter bill will almost double to 'catch-up' to the full amount).
Plymouth's 2008 Tax Challenge
Starting in Fiscal Year 2008 (July 2007), Boston Edison's schedule of payments in lieu of taxes under utility deregulation will drop by $10 million per year. This represents a loss of about 7% of the town's total revenue. Plymouth would have to decide in 2008 between drastic cuts in town services or huge tax hikes.
Property Ownership
You can find online information about property in Plymouth at the following;
- Plymouth County Registry of Deeds TITLEVIEW Service (requires Internet Explorer)
- Town of Plymouth Property Value Search
- Town of Plymouth Assessors' Map (Great Island)
Statistics
The cost of living in Plymouth is 25% higher than the national average and the median income is 36% higher. Utility costs are 30% higher than the national average. The crime rate in Plymouth is 29% of the national average. Here are more statistics about Plymouth.
Plymouth's Master Plan [1, 2] is a plan for "smarter growth" that balances preservation of our exceptional natural and cultural heritage and our quality of life with pursuit of new and exciting opportunities for economic growth. Smarter growth means the right development in the right place. The model for new development would be Plymouth's historic village centers. Plymouth outside the Village Centers should remain rural in character.
NOTE: Unlike the other five (5) Village Centers in Plymouth, The Pinehills does not currently (2010) have a Steering Committee.
Copyright © 2004 by Goody Goody, Clancy & Associates
[Source: Plymouth Strategic Action Plan – 2004 / 2024]
Plymouth Rock Studio
The Plymouth Rock Studio project would build a film studio on the site of the Waverly Oaks Golf Course on Long Pond Road.
The major negative impact of this project would be vehicle traffic at Exit 3. The proposed changes to the Exit 3 interchange include the addition of an entrance ramp to Route 3 North from The Pinehills and an exit ramp from Route 3 South to The Pinehills. They also propose a traffic light (a red dot on the image below) at the end of the Exit 3 North ramp.
NOTE: The Plymouth Rock Studio project is in limbo.
[Source: Town of Plymouth]
