The Plymouth Committee of Precinct Chairs (COPC) convened on January 15 to prepare for what members anticipate will be the most scrutinized budget cycle in decades. Chairman Matt Tavares opened the session at Town Hall, stating, I'd like to call this meeting of the committee of precinct chairs to order as representatives gathered to set a rigorous schedule for the Spring Town Meeting. The roll call featured a touch of community spirit, with Dale Weber of Precinct 3 noting he represented where it all began, while Carmen Lee Fieri of Precinct 18 identified herself as being in the middle of it all. Early procedural steps included a Motion Made by Russell Brewster to accept the minutes for September 29th and November 20th, 2025. Following a roll call where members like Christine Pratt, Robert Freeland, Greg of Precinct 7, Ron Riley, and Janette Kelly each noted they approve, while Mike Liry, Sybil Holland, and Pompy Delafield chose to abstain, the Vote Passed 15-0. Katherine Holmes added a lighthearted moment during the roll, telling a colleague he was jumping ahead of the gun during the count.

The League of Women Voters presented plans for a February 5 workshop designed to demystify town government and recruit new candidates. Deb Edel explained that our aim is to help educate and engage more people to take an active interest and get involved, specifically targeting unfilled Town Meeting seats. Emily Tompkins, who will facilitate the workshop, emphasized her commitment to civic engagement, noting that Increasing participation in local government and helping people understand it is a passion of mine. When Pompy Delafield asked, will it be televised? the presenters clarified the workshop would remain informal and off-camera to encourage open dialogue, though a separate "Where do your taxes go?" session on February 12 will be live-streamed. Chairman Tavares supported the initiative, noting, I thought it would be a good idea to have them in... just to discuss what they're going to be talking about to assist chairs in identifying neighbors who might run for office.

As the committee pivoted to the upcoming budget season, the gravity of the town's financial state dominated the conversation. Members debated how to best oversee the complex allocation of funds before the April 11 Town Meeting. Russell Brewster argued for proactive involvement, asserting that now's the time if we to wait till town meeting to really dig into this budget and we're going to be sitting there going, 'Well, either thumbs up or thumbs down.' Pat Telman echoed this sentiment, reminding the committee that the buck stops here regarding final approvals. To accommodate the expected depth of these discussions, the committee addressed the meeting schedule. Motion Made by Pompy Delafield to move the next four meetings to 6:00 p.m. Charlie B. Vrain provided the second, and the Vote Passed 18-0. The earlier start times will apply to sessions on February 9, February 19, March 9, and March 19.

The session concluded with requests for specific data from town departments to ensure transparency. Joe Hutchinson expressed frustration with the volume of current documentation, noting, I went looking today for their list of items that they're proposing and there's a packet that's 532 pages. He requested that the Capital Committee clarify how they prioritize projects, adding, I'd like to know what their priorities are. Christopher Merrill suggested that early collaboration with FINCOM... [is] something to definitely consider for next fiscal year, though he worried the committee might be a little too late to the ball game for the current cycle. Allan Costello requested a breakdown of miscellaneous revenue streams, such as field rentals and marijuana host taxes, specifically asking of the fields, I'd like to know if that materialized. The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.