In a move described as necessary fiscal housekeeping, Town Meeting voters approved Article 1 of the Special Town Meeting, appropriating $717,428.90 to pay outstanding bills from prior fiscal years. The bulk of the request stems from unpaid Massachusetts unemployment assistance liabilities dating back to before 2020.

Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin explained that the town became aware of the massive oversight in June 2025. The town had not been paying its assessment on unemployment to the state, Morin told the hall. I don't have an explanation for why it wasn't paid, but it is well documented that it is owed. Morin noted that when he arrived, he found no appropriation had been made for the unemployment line item in previous years and suggested invoices may have been sent to the Treasurer-Collector’s office without being processed.

While resident Bonnie McCarthy questioned how such a major oversight occurred without a clear explanation, Advisory Board Chair Chris Roland supported the measure. While this payment is not ideal, it is responsible fiscal housekeeping and the Advisory Board fully supports this article, Roland said, noting that towns cannot legally use current budgets to pay prior year obligations without such a vote. The article required a 9/10ths majority to pass due to its nature as a prior-year bill payment.

Motion: To appropriate $717,428.90 to pay unpaid bills from prior fiscal years.

Vote: Passed by 9/10 Majority