Posted on December 10, 2025
In Plymouth, concerned with the way earth removal occurs in town, the Plymouth Stewardship Alliance has been working with the Planning Board to form a bylaw review committee to look at strengthening laws to limit sand mining that can occur during earth removal. Although it’s a Planning Board committee, according to the Chair of the Planning Board, Steven Bolotin, there are also appointments from the Select Board and the Committee of Precinct Chairs.
Planning Board Chair Steven Bolotin:
“This is a committee that is going to be doing a review of our earth removal portion of our zoning bylaw and there were three appointees each from the Committee of Precinct Chairs, the Select Board and the Planning Board.”
And, from the Committee of Precinct Chairs…
“…they appointed Love Albrecht Howard, Michele-Anne Irmen Christensen, and Eric Cody. The Select Board appointed Scott MacMillin, Hampton Lockman and Ed Conroy, and the Planning Board appointed Alan Hemberger, Walter Morrison, III, and Richard Serkey.”
Bolotin says the group’s first call for action is..
“…to prepare a scope of work for the consultant that Town Meeting has approved funds for, who is going to serve as the advisor to that committee on both public and legal issues.”
The Bylaw Review Committee is advisory to the Planning Board…
“…which is the body ultimately responsible for presenting any proposed bylaw changes to Town Meeting. This committee will provide recommendations to the Planning Board regarding changes to the earth removal portion of our bylaw.”
And Bolotin says further:
“It’s charged with looking at scientific data and best practices from other communities in order to help craft regulations that provide for a permitting process that balances environmental protection with development, include better oversight and enforcement of permits that are issued.”
