Fiscal tension took center stage at Tuesday night’s Select Board meeting as members sparred over a $100,000 funding request for Plymouth’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The debate highlighted a growing divide between board members eager to mark the historic milestone and those wary of the town's precarious financial position following the "Blizzard of 2026," which left a $3 million deficit in the snow and ice budget.

The controversy centered on two $50,000 requests from Free Cash to support the July 4th and America’s Hometown Thanksgiving celebrations. Member Richard Quintal Jr. championed the expenditure, noting the historical significance of the upcoming year. It's our 250th anniversary and I thought it would be a nice gesture to help out... especially where we lost the 400th due to COVID, Quintal said. Member William Keohan agreed, suggesting the investment would drive local commerce, while Vice Chair David Golden Jr. also signaled support. Motion Made by W. Keohan to include Article 3 on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Motion Passed 5-0. Motion Made by W. Keohan to recommend approval of Article 3. Motion Passed 3-2 (Canty and Iaquinto opposed).

The recommendation faced sharp pushback from Chair Kevin Canty and Member Deborah Iaquinto. Both cited the town's "fiscal cliff" and the urgent need to address crumbling infrastructure over parade funding. Free cash isn't really free... there are going to be other demands for free cash that far exceed the value of a parade, Iaquinto cautioned. Canty was even more direct regarding the town's priorities. I am not in a position where I can support spending an additional $100,000 on the July 4th celebration or on America's Hometown Thanksgiving celebration, Canty stated. A identical split followed for the Thanksgiving funding. Motion Made by W. Keohan to include Article 4 on the Special Town Meeting warrant. Motion Passed 5-0. Motion Made by W. Keohan to recommend approval of Article 4. Motion Passed 3-2 (Canty and Iaquinto opposed).

The board also confronted a contentious citizen petition aimed at altering retiree health insurance for future hires. Petitioner David Peek argued that the amendment to the 2003 Special Act would provide the town with necessary flexibility to manage long-term liabilities. This does not abrogate any existing agreement. All it's doing is creating an opportunity for future bargaining, Peek said. However, the proposal met fierce resistance from labor representatives. Tom Pinto, President of the Education Association of Plymouth Carver, labeled the move an end-run around traditional negotiations. This is an attack on your employees... it's taking away a benefit and eroding it without negotiation, Pinto said. Resident Dale Weber added that the petition does nothing but create division and dissension in the workplace.

While Iaquinto supported the measure as a way to address the town’s Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability—warning that we can't keep kicking the can down the road—the majority of the board felt benefits should remain at the bargaining table. Canty described the petition as an attack on working people. Motion Made by D. Iaquinto to recommend approval of Article 10 to Town Meeting. Motion Failed 2-3 (Golden, Quintal, and Keohan opposed).

Infrastructure woes were further laid bare during a presentation by Wastewater Manager Doug Bernard regarding the treatment plant’s failing HVAC system. Bernard explained that a 20-year history of neglected maintenance led to untreated glycol turning into organic acid, which has corroded the system to the point of failure. It's gotten to the point now where I can't patch it anymore... we had a fire suppression system freeze, Bernard reported. Canty expressed frustration at the astronomical cost stemming from historic neglect. Motion Made by D. Golden to include Article 1 in the Special Town Meeting warrant and recommend approval. Motion Passed 5-0.

Facilities Director Carl Anderson presented a similar need for the Police Station HVAC project, requesting a $300,000 supplemental appropriation from Free Cash to cover a 20% price hike since 2021. The accepted bid left a small contingency margin of only about 5%, Anderson noted. Quintal linked these requests to a broader pattern of underfunding maintenance. The town never had enough... this is what happens when you just prolong and kick the can down the street, Quintal said. Motion Made by R. Quintal to include Article 2 on the spring special town meeting warrant and recommend its approval. Motion Passed 5-0.

In a brighter financial update, Climate Resilience and Sustainability Planner Mike Cahill detailed a proposed 20-year Power Purchase Agreement for an out-of-town solar array in Walpole. Cahill estimated the deal would yield a fixed discount on town energy bills, translating to $3.5 million in savings over the life of the contract. Motion Made by R. Quintal to add Article 9 to the spring special town meeting warrant and recommend its approval. Motion Passed 5-0.

The board also reviewed the draft 10-year Comprehensive Plan. Director of Planning and Development Lauren Lind emphasized that the document is designed to be proactive. The implementation plan is really where the rubber meets the road. It's the action plan... we want it to be a living document, Lind said. Planning Board Chair Steve Bolatin noted the heavy resident involvement in the draft, stating, This was the resident's plan. It's not the committee's plan. During public comment, Dale Bryan, Chair of the Climate Net-Zero Committee, urged the board to include a digital appendix in the plan to link it with other climate and housing policies. Such an appendix will allow the proposed implementation committee... to quickly access these high-level policy documents, Bryan said.

Related to planning, Lind and Interim Conservation Planner Patrick Farah discussed streamlining the town's land donation process, which currently lacks a standard procedure. Farah noted that the current months-long delays often lead donors to back out. The property owner finds out that they have to keep paying the taxes and pay closing costs... they're like, 'Why would I give you a piece of property?' Farah said. Canty urged staff to cut down on some of the red tape to encourage conservation gifts.

The meeting concluded with a debate over significant procedural changes. Canty proposed moving the Spring Town Meeting to May and local elections to June to ensure the town has better data on state aid before finalizing the budget. Moving town meeting into May would provide the town with greater clarity when making budgetary decisions, Canty explained. Motion Made by W. Keohan to include Articles 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the Special Town Meeting warrant and recommend approval. Motion Passed 5-0.

The evening ended on a tense note as Member Keohan expressed extreme frustration that several of his requested agenda items had been delayed for months. I've been patient... I'm prepared to take votes tonight, Keohan said during a heated exchange with the Chair over scheduling. Town Manager Derek Brindisi separately noted that athletic fields are set to open April 1st and pay stations will expand to Morton Park and Fresh Pond this season.