Plymouth officials are bracing for a tightening fiscal landscape as new growth from major developments like Pine Hills and Redbrook nears completion. During a multi-hour session Tuesday night, Finance Director Lynn Barrett warned the Select Board that while the upcoming fiscal year remains balanced, the town faces a projected $1.4 million deficit by 2028 that could balloon in subsequent years. Barrett noted that new growth has historically averaged $3 million annually, but that safety net is expected to constrict. The budget for FY27 is balanced. We are facing fiscal challenges, not necessarily a fiscal cliff yet, Barrett told the board, emphasizing the need for early cost-saving measures. In 2028, we anticipate a $1.4 million deficit, which grows significantly in the out-years.

To navigate these pressures, Town Manager Derek Brindisi proposed moving the annual Town Meeting from April to May, a shift intended to allow the town to use finalized state aid figures from the Governor’s budget rather than estimates. It allows us to use real budget numbers, Brindisi said, adding that the new timeline would foster a more transparent process with detailed budget presentations. Board members expressed varying levels of alarm regarding the long-term forecast. Member Deborah Iaquinto cautioned against complacency, stating, We need to start asking hard questions about what services we can deliver more efficiently. Chair Kevin Canty raised concerns about how the deficit might impact town employees, asking, If we are $1.4 million in the hole in 2028, and we are taxing at the levy limit, are we saying today there is no money for collective bargaining negotiations?

The board also grappled with the town's energy future as Vice Chair David Golden proposed placing a non-binding advisory question on the 2026 ballot to gauge public interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the former Pilgrim nuclear site. Golden argued that the town needs to recoup tax revenue lost since the plant’s closure, noting the residential tax burden has risen 18 percentage points. We are already carrying the burden of the waste; we should explore the benefit of the revenue, Golden argued. However, the proposal failed to gain traction as other members worried about a lack of public education. Member Richard Quintal argued there was no real reason to rush, while Member William Keohan suggested a working group study the issue first. Chair Canty pointed to previous failed ballot questions, noting, This would only give us bad data based on emotional responses. No motion was made to move the proposal forward.

Earlier in the evening, the board heard a frustrating update on traffic mitigation for the Route 3A corridor in Cedarville. Public Works Director Bill Coyle reported that while the town is working to make the project shovel-ready, the state’s current Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) does not slate the work for construction until 2032. Vice Chair Golden called the eight-year wait very unacceptable. State Representative Michelle Badger confirmed the delay, noting that MassDOT has not yet assigned an advertisement date. Bill McNulty of the Old Colony Planning Council explained that cost increases in other regional projects forced the Cedarville project to be pushed back, though he noted that advancing the design could make the town more competitive for federal grants. The more this advances in design, the more attractive it is, McNulty said.

Public comment brought a sharp divide over a proposed land acknowledgement intended for an April 30 ceremony recognizing the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe’s state recognition. Resident Shabbert, speaking as a historian, urged the board to avoid the statement, calling it a ceremonial statement that oversimplifies complex history. Len Levin also questioned the timing, suggesting the decision should be left to voters. When Member Keohan later presented the formal language for the acknowledgement, Member Quintal requested a legal review. I would like Council to look at it and give us an opinion before I vote on it, Quintal said. Town Counsel Marilyn McKay stated she had not yet reviewed the text, and the board deferred the matter to their next meeting. Regarding the April 30 celebration itself, Keohan suggested using the 1820 Courtroom, describing it as a ceremonial, historic room appropriate for the occasion.

In other business, the board approved a compromise between the Cemetery Commission and the Open Space Committee regarding hiker access through the new Freedom Memorial Cemetery to reach the Derby Pond area. Cemetery Superintendent Diane McGuire emphasized that a cemetery is not a park but agreed to a trail along the buffer zone that avoids active burial sections. Diane Pekett, Vice Chair of the Open Space Committee, welcomed the resolution, noting they only sought person gates, not a formal trail through burial plots. The board also moved to reconstitute the Water Conservation Committee, with Water Superintendent Pete Gordon noting that while residential water use is currently below state standards, conservation starts and ends with the consumer. Wastewater Engineer Kendra Martin requested to be excused from the new committee due to an upcoming maternity leave.

The meeting included several routine approvals and a presentation for a memorial bench. Steve Leiden of the Memorial Committee introduced the family of James Joseph Harris, a Vietnam veteran and 50-year Plymouth resident. A family member described Harris as a true patriot and requested the bench be placed along the Stevens Field path. Motion Made by R. Quintal to approve administrative notes 1 through 6, which included the Harris memorial. Motion Passed (5-0-0). Earlier in the session, the board handled license requests. Motion Made by D. Iaquinto to approve a one-day wine and malt license and an amplified music license. Motion Passed (4-0-0). Before returning to a final executive session to discuss collective bargaining and the Great Hall at Hedges Pond, Motion Made by W. Keohan to adjourn open session and resume executive session. Motion Passed (5-0-0).