Weymouth Council Refers Electricity Aggregation Proposal to Committee

WEYMOUTH -- January 17, 2023, Weymouth Town Council unanimously referred a municipal electricity aggregation plan and two audit measures to committee at its January 17 meeting. CFO James Mallory presented Measure 23-004 on behalf of Mayor Robert Hedlund, which would authorize the town to negotiate bulk electricity contracts for residents and businesses under the state's 1997 deregulation law, with all participants retaining the right to opt out; the council sent it to the Economic Development Committee 10-0. Town Auditor Brian Conley referred both the completed FY21 audited financial statements and a two-year independent audit services contract to the Budget Management Committee, with a full council presentation expected February 6. Councilor Heffernan reported that Weymouth has received $250,122.63 of an expected $1.2 million in opioid settlement funds from the Johnson and Johnson case, with payments running through 2038 and potential additional dollars from CVS, Walmart, and Teva settlements still pending. A voter registration flexibility measure was referred to committee rather than acted on the same night after Councilor Abbott cited "the scrutiny that is going on at the moment right now with this Town Council on surrounding elections."