The Plymouth Advisory and Finance Committee convened to review a landmark effort by the Legislative Oversight Committee (LOC) to inventory every open Town Meeting article currently on the books. Alan Costello, Chairman of the LOC, presented a comprehensive spreadsheet that tracks projects as far back as 2011, admitting his shock at the volume of unfinished business. I in my wildest dream never ever imagined there were over 200 open articles, Costello told the committee, noting that the goal is to ensure taxpayer-funded projects actually reach completion. Town Administrative Assistant Kristen Ford, who spearheaded the data collection by meeting with every department head, detailed the ongoing maintenance of the list. The plan for the completed portion of the project is actually to start a new tab at the bottom of my spreadsheet where they’ll roll over and not actually be lost, Ford explained, adding that the data serves as a snapshot of town progress as of May 31, 2025.

Committee members praised the new level of transparency, which has already yielded financial dividends. The Chairman highlighted that a recent review led to the redirection of $500,000 in unspent police budget funds back into the operating budget, representing a significant save to the taxpayer. Member Everett Malagudi emphasized the long-term utility of the project, stating, The tracking mechanism that we have now I think is vastly overdue. He suggested that the list should clearly state when funds are returned to free cash or return to enterprise fund to ensure full accountability. Member James Remy, while appreciative, noted he intended to scrutinize the details closely, remarking, I am going to be one of those committee members that has two annoying questions.

The session also included necessary housekeeping regarding previous records. **Motion Made by Miss Butler to move the minutes of October 1st.** **Motion Passed 7-0.** During the roll call for this vote, Mr. Renault noted his status as abstain, while Mr. Justinto voiced a supportive yes. Shortly after, the committee addressed the records from October 18th. **Motion Made by Mr. Pizaro to approve the movement minutes of October 18th.** **Motion Passed 6-0.** Reflecting on the vote, Mr. Veky simply stated, Yes, to confirm his stance. The Chairman used the transition to reflect on the season, noting, I just thought I’d take a moment to see if anybody wanted to talk about anything that happened at the fall meeting, adding that most committee recommendations were successfully adopted by voters.

Liaison updates provided critical insights into upcoming school and environmental projects. Kevin Dunn reported on the school department’s preliminary budget, warning that they’re having to pull a lot of money from some revolving funds that will not have that same money available for next year’s budget. On the environmental front, Mr. Malagudi shared news of a $100,000 state grant for Water Street to reduce urban heat island in that vicinity through tree canopy expansion. He also recognized the success of the "stop and swap" program and ongoing school composting initiatives. As the meeting concluded, the Chairman shared his gratitude for the committee's hard work over the year. I have enjoyed my chairmanship so far and I really appreciate the support of all of you, he said. To close the evening, Mr. Trudell confirmed he was present for the final procedural steps, and Ms. Tomkins provided the final vote with a cheerful yes. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM