Weymouth Council Approves $250,000 to Replace Aging Water Meters, Launch First Audit

WEYMOUTH -- February 21, 2023, Weymouth Town Council votes 9-0 to spend $250,000 on large water meters and the town's first-ever water audit. The council approved the appropriation from the Water Enterprise Fund's $2.8 million retained earnings balance at its February 21 meeting, acting on a presentation by DPW presenter Dave Tower, who said roughly 500 large meters installed in the late 1990s are at or beyond their 15-to-20-year lifespan and supply-chain delays have stretched lead times to six months. The council also referred two measures totaling $3 million for Beals Park construction and playground equipment to the Budget Management Committee, approved a $330,000 internal transfer to cover Weymouth Police Department overtime, and received a mayoral nomination, conditioned on a resignation from a political-committee officer role, for Joe Fleming to the Board of Registrars. During public comment, resident Tricia Price warned that Weymouth is currently 200,000 gallons per day over its allowable water yield and urged the council not to advance further development until the audit results are in hand.