The Plymouth Advisory and Finance Committee opened its 2026 session on January 14 with a blend of new personnel and old financial challenges. Meeting in the Great Hall at Town Hall, Chair Joe Lally welcomed two new members to the panel, Maria Wrightman and Dennis Freriedman. Wrightman, representing Precinct 7, noted she has recently decided to become way more active in the community after living in Plymouth since 2009. Freriedman, a recent transplant to the Pine Hills, brought significant experience, having served on the advisory committee there [Hingham] for six years and the school committee for three years. Other members shared their diverse backgrounds during introductions, including Scott Veky, an attorney and EMT who said, I hope to help solve our town's financial woes, and Mr. Trudell, who joked, I moved to Plymouth in 2013, vowing never to become associated with anything doing with finance from my previous issue and I'm here again.

The meeting quickly moved into substantive business, starting with a review of town articles. Assistant Director of DPW James Downey presented Article 17 regarding state road funding, explaining, Annually we get money from the state for chapter 90. And this is just housekeeping to accept those funds. Motion Made by Mr. Jento to approve article 17, chapter 90 roads. Motion Passed 14-0. The committee also grappled with the continuation of standing committees under Article 3. Member Everett Malagudi, who noted he serves on town boards for the residents... but I also do it for fun, expressed concern that some groups were already defunct. Motion Made by Mr. Malagudi to table article 3 until a later date. Motion Failed 4-9. Assistant Town Manager Sylvio Genao clarified that the only reason it would be on an article for town meeting to renew is because it was a town meeting formed committee, prompting the committee to move forward with the renewal. Motion Made by Miss Richards to approve article 3 continuation of committees. Motion Passed 13-0-1. Salaries for elected officials were also addressed. Motion Made by Miss Kading to approve article 4. Motion Passed 13-1.

A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to financial oversight. Member Miles Ramy, who shared he did a brief stint at a tech company before entering the legal field, provided an update on the town's delinquent audit reports, noting that the goal is to have current reports by March 31 to maintain the town's bond rating. Following this, Christine Richards highlighted a massive $12 million discrepancy in stagnant project balances, an issue often referred to as "Burks Law" funds. I think we should really think about how long is too long, Richards stated. How long should that project be sitting there not moving forward? Gail Butler, who noted the committee has filled my time completely in retirement, joined other members in discussing how these unused funds might be returned to free cash. Tom Jento, a career lieutenant paramedic for the town of Hingham, and Miss Kading, who works in the nonprofit public health field, joined the consensus to scrutinize these balances during upcoming department meetings.

The committee concluded with a blunt critique of the Select Board's recent budget deliberations. Mark Snider described the lack of substantive cuts to a 6% budget increase as an embarrassment, adding, I think it's our job to make sure that the taxpayers in this town are represented by somebody because this is like we're not representing them. Public participant Al Dinardo agreed, stating, Frankly, this discussion... should have been taking place three years ago. Business owner Miss Okconor, who joined because I wanted to be a part of the town in a more comprehensive way, listened as Emily Tomkins, a member of the master plan committee as well for townwide planning, and other members prepared for a rigorous budget season. Chair Joe Lally reminded the group that the important part of this committee is the diversity of thought and ideas and perspectives that you all bring, encouraging them to be thorough in their upcoming subcommittee reports.