After a detailed presentation from the director of assessing, the Select Board voted unanimously to adopt a unified FY26 tax rate of $12.55 per $1,000 and declined proposed residential or small‑commercial exemptions.

Town staff described 22 active projects tied to the climate action adaptation plan and funding options including grants, environmental affairs funds, land‑trust partnerships and potential district financing; the board requested a prioritized list of projects and economic analysis in January.

The school committee unanimously accepted $18,651 (STEM equipment), $13,725 (arts/culture), $10,000 (Safe & Supportive Schools), $5,000 (interpreter in education) and two fair‑share earmarks—$150,000 and $250,000—totaling $447,376 to support curriculum, translation, and facility upgrades.

Committee members discussed a pared‑down draft fiscal‑reserve policy (DIB) that would discourage regular use of Excess & Deficiency (E & D) as operating revenue and recommend maintaining 3–4% of operating budget (statutory cap 5%); legal review and a joint subcommittee/workshop were proposed.

Special-education director Erin Upton reported a shift to Aspen for IEP management, expanded translation tools, staffing vacancies, partnerships with Landmark School and NEC, and an early $1,300,000 reduction in out‑of‑district tuition costs since July 1, while noting the number remains fluid.

After a review of the Framingham Compass model for students in foster care, the district recommended not adopting Compass wholesale. The committee debated two motions (to file and to hold for more information); both failed on tied votes. Staff will instead consider incorporating Compass elements into existing wellness rooms and improve DCF coordination.

District leaders described anti‑bullying initiatives and a new translated anonymous reporting form. The committee asked staff to return to the full committee with separated reporting on bullying, harassment and conflict, examples of each, and documentation of parent outreach; administration said there have been 21 confirmed bullying incidents so far this year.

The district reported a 538‑application uptick across Chapter 74/CTE programs and provided October 1 snapshots; the committee asked staff to analyze lower seat fill rates at Worcester Tech, provide demographic breakdowns by school level, and list internships.

The WPS subcommittee reviewed a district dual‑language program design and voted to receive a timeline and next steps in January, citing teacher certification and budget as key implementation challenges.

Dozens of residents, clinicians and industry representatives gave testimony for and against kratom at a Town of Plymouth public forum; speakers described deaths attributed to mitragynine, clinical use for chronic pain and recovery, and urged either full municipal bans or strong regulation distinguishing natural leaf from concentrated synthetic 7‑OH products. The board took no vote and said it will continue deliberation at future meetings.

Superintendent and staff briefed the committee on Year‑1 progress of the district strategic plan: three new literacy curricula rolled out (K–4, 5–8, 9–10), multilingual learner placement changes at Lowell High, a chronic‑absenteeism pilot in design, and an RFP scoping study for facilities capped at $450,000.

After testimony from a union leader and the fire chief about overtime, vacancies and service risks, the council amended a proposed $500,000 supplemental appropriation to $750,000 and asked the chief and city manager for a definitive figure to prevent company brownouts for the rest of FY2026.

District leaders told the School Committee that recent residential and out‑of‑district tuition costs have spiked and that state 'circuit‑breaker' reimbursements arrive next fiscal year, creating cash‑flow pressure even where reimbursements will eventually offset costs.

City officials referred a $39,850,848 amendment to the Lowell High School loan order to a Dec. 2 public hearing; administration and the CFO said the increase will add roughly 1.6% to next year’s tax levy for this component of the project and stems from slab/foundation and contingency work tied to MSBA requirements.

A three-justice panel questioned whether the Supreme Judicial Court’s remand left only a single statutory counterclaim live and whether the bank is barred from later seeking a deficiency; the court asked appellee counsel to file a Rule 22 letter and took the case under advisement.

After a public hearing with one resident speaker and extensive council debate about legality and public health evidence, the council voted on and adopted an ordinance to ban supervised drug consumption sites in Lowell; Board of Health staff said the board has not taken up the issue because the enabling state legislation has not passed.

Ahead of a Dec. 1 DESE civil-rights site visit, the Pembroke School Committee approved first reads and revisions to policies (ACB/ACBR; JKK A/R), updated the district bullying prevention plan and edited student handbooks to comply with DESE feedback. Some members criticized the changes as overreach, while others said compliance would prevent a formal finding.

Two parents addressed the Attleboro School Committee alleging repeated restraints and the use of an illegal seclusion room for students, naming district leaders and calling for transparency and accountability; the committee did not address the accusations on the public record at the meeting.

Airport staff told the committee the airport’s repair budget is nearly depleted and requested transfers of $20,500 from runway surplus and about $4,600 from an FAA fee return to cover a tree‑cutting safety project and a leaking hangar roof; members discussed revolving accounts for MIT fees and contractor licensing liabilities.

A multi-stakeholder panel at the Access to Justice Commission symposium highlighted progress in court technology — from MassCourts and Wi‑Fi to guided interviews and public dashboards — and emphasized plain‑language forms, usability testing, expanded language access and human oversight for AI.

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell told the Access to Justice Commission symposium that technology can expand access to courts but must be paired with oversight, transparency and youth-focused safeguards; she cited AGO guidance on AI, ongoing lawsuits against social platforms, and a new youth council and Study Act to inform policy.

CityLab High School presented a plan to host secondary educators from Revere and neighboring districts in a non-evaluative instructional hub aimed at improving teacher practice and reducing attrition; committee members asked for funding and logistics details after a scheduled Barr Foundation meeting.

Commission voted to increase the airport's fuel revolving fund cap from $6 million to $8.5 million after staff reported first-quarter revenue gains driven by fuel sales and noted recent PFAS expenditures exceed $10 million.

At the Nov. 19 meeting, BPS leaders reported a mid‑October enrollment of 46,824 (about 1,700 fewer students than last year), described transportation on‑time improvements, and the committee approved five grants totaling $18,775,752, including a nearly $18.2M IDEA award.

The committee considered two energy-commission dockets (mandatory and voluntary reporting of small-residence energy use). City solicitor Andrew Lee said state law and DPU rules likely preempt municipal mandatory disclosure of identifiable household energy usage; the committee voted to take no action while staff and commissioners pursue legal memos and possible home-rule petition options.