Cemetery Superintendent Dian McGuire presented a detailed proposal to the Community Preservation Committee for the restoration of the historic Hearse House on Burial Hill, a structure dating back to 1820. McGuire described the building’s transition from a maintenance shed for the town’s horse-drawn hearses to its current state of disrepair and frequent vandalism. I have watched the destruction of that building and the vandalism. If you don't put it fast, we're going to have a problem, McGuire stated, emphasizing that the $568,000 project would transform the site into a focal point for heritage tourism. She envisioned the space being utilized for historical displays and summer internships, noting, We hope to have some, you know, really nice maps to help tell the story of the national historic site.

The high price tag of the restoration triggered an intensive debate regarding fiscal responsibility and "escalation" fees that have increased the project’s cost by 36% since 2020. Bill Keohan led the inquiry into the budget, questioning the necessity of certain overhead expenses and the overall timing of the request. Every penny in my opinion is my role in this committee is to scrutinize how we spend our money because it's not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Keohan remarked, adding that the committee must ensure the best bang for the buck for the community. Despite these concerns, Chair Edward Bradley expressed optimism about the department’s renewed focus on the landmark, saying, I’m really excited the fact that the department is focused on this building. Bradley warned that the committee must decide by next week to meet the town warrant deadline, stating, If we want this to go on the town warrant, we have to either move this request proposal next week or it doesn't.

In addition to the Hearse House discussion, the committee handled several procedural updates and budget adjustments. Len Levin noted technical difficulties early in the session, asking, What's that coming from? as the team worked to resolve audio interference. Paul Churchill, participating remotely, assisted with the troubleshooting, suggesting, Noise removal. Put it on the microphone. No modes. That's okay. Noise removal. Once the meeting was fully underway, Tim Grandy addressed a funding increase for a local digitization project, offering a Motion Made by Tim Grandy to "accept the amended application digitization project increased to 70,500" which resulted in a Motion Passed 5-0. Mike Tubin supported the procedural motions throughout the night, stating Moved by Mike during the approval of the previous month's minutes.

The committee also received updates on ongoing housing and preservation efforts from Coordinator Kristen. She reported that the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless project is 99.82% in and awaiting a certificate of occupancy, with furniture expected to arrive in mid-December. While progress continues at Pilgrim Hall, Kristen noted that the America’s Hometown project is struggling to find specialized labor to refurbish its historic front doors. The committee is scheduled to reconvene next Thursday to finalize their recommendations for the spring town meeting. Members Betty Cavacco and Karen Buechs were not recorded as participating in the evening's votes or discussions.