Weymouth Town Council Approves $7.5 Million Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station Upgrade Following Critical Infrastructure Failure
WEYMOUTH - December 1 - The Weymouth Town Council unanimously approved a $7.5 million borrowing measure to fund critical upgrades to the Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station, a project designed to prevent future sewer overflows following a recent serious incident. The vote came December 1 after Chief of Staff Ted Langill assured councilors that construction would be completed on-site with minimal disruption to residents during an 18-month construction timeline expected to begin in spring 2025.
The Full Story
The borrowing measure, numbered 25106, authorizes the town treasurer to issue bonds for the complete overhaul of the aging Wharf Street facility. The project will add an additional wet well and increase pumping capacity at the station, which has experienced multiple overflow events including one described by Langill as “serious” and fairly recent.
Of the total $7.5 million authorization, approximately $6.6 million is allocated for construction costs, with the remaining $900,000 dedicated to engineering expenses. The project has already received approvals from both the Conservation Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals, clearing regulatory hurdles before the funding vote.
“This is a project that has long been needed,” Langill told the council during the public hearing. He emphasized that a bypass system has already been installed on-site, meaning “all the work will be on site and residents should not be impacted by the construction of this project on Wharf Street.”
The town plans to issue a request for bids during the coming winter months, with construction anticipated to begin in spring or summer and continue for approximately 18 months. The project represents a significant infrastructure investment aimed at preventing future environmental and public health hazards associated with sewage overflows.
When asked about the town’s creditworthiness for the borrowing, Langill confirmed that Weymouth currently maintains a double-A bond rating, which should help secure favorable interest rates for the long-term debt.
The measure required a two-thirds vote and passed with all 11 councilors present voting in favor, demonstrating broad consensus on the urgency of the infrastructure improvements.
Fiscal 2024 Audit Reveals Multiple Control Weaknesses
In a lengthy presentation that dominated the meeting, Scott McIntyre and Zach Nolan of CBIZ CPAs Inc. presented the town’s fiscal year 2024 audited financial statements, revealing what one councilor characterized as “one of the uglier” audits seen in recent years. Despite identifying five material weaknesses in internal controls, the auditors issued an unqualified opinion stating the financial statements were “materially fairly presented” in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
The audit, completed approximately 18 months after the fiscal year end of June 30, 2024, was significantly delayed. McIntyre explained that the firm expected to receive the final trial balance from the town in November 2024, roughly four and a half months after year-end, but did not receive it in final format until March 2025.
The five material weaknesses identified included transactions posted to fiscal year 2024 that should have been recorded in the already-closed fiscal year 2023; improper commingling of town, water, and sewer capital article funds in a single accounting fund; discrepancies in the OPEB trust fund reconciliation between bank statements, the general ledger, and actuary reports; stale Community Development Block Grant receivables that had not been updated since fiscal year 2022; and pension benefit payments from December 2023 recorded in January 2024 for the Weymouth Contributory Retirement System.
“In general, we found the books and records to be in good working order,” McIntyre emphasized, noting that critical controls like cash reconciliations were performed regularly and timely. “Cash, all bank accounts were reconciled to the cash book and the cash book to the general ledger. Receivable accounts were also reconciled on a regular and timely basis as well.”
The audit showed the town’s general fund unassigned fund balance at approximately $14.6 million as of June 30, 2024, a figure that includes both the general fund balance and the general stabilization account. McIntyre indicated this is typically the first number most readers examine when evaluating a municipality’s financial health.
Chief of Staff Ted Langill defended the administration’s response to the identified issues, stating that all findings have been corrected in the financial statements and attributing many problems to personnel who are no longer with the town. “This isn’t financial issues. This isn’t money issues. This is reporting issues,” Langill said, adding that the current leadership team in municipal finance is “completely different” from those responsible for the fiscal year 2024 records.
Langill acknowledged that some issues were known during the fiscal year, while others were only identified through the audit process. He noted that several findings resulted from the handling of American Rescue Plan Act funding, which involved multiple accounts with different deadlines and requirements from county and federal sources.
Regarding the capital article funds issue, both the auditors and administration agreed that properly separating town, water, and sewer capital projects into three distinct funds would likely take until fiscal year 2026 to implement correctly. McIntyre stressed that such a change should occur “on day one of a fiscal year” rather than mid-stream to avoid creating additional problems.
Councilor Kenneth DiFazio expressed concern about whether the administration was confident in resolving the material weakness within the next year. Langill assured him that corrections have already been made, though some procedural changes will require more time to fully implement.
Councilor Arthur Mathews raised concerns about the potential impact on the town’s credit rating, noting the unusual lateness of the audit—the second consecutive year of delayed reporting. “I just don’t want the town’s credit rating to be impacted by reports like the one that’s here before us tonight,” Mathews said. He emphasized the importance of more timely reporting going forward and suggested the Budget Management Committee might need to meet more frequently on a quarterly basis to monitor progress.
Councilor Gary MacDougall stressed the importance of periodic check-ins between the auditing firm and town staff to ensure best practices are understood and followed, particularly as accounting standards and recommendations evolve. “These processes do change and some folks just don’t know, and that’s the things that we need to find out,” MacDougall said.
Councilor Rick Coughlin noted that some of the findings resulted from changing accounting standards rather than wrongdoing, specifically referencing the capital articles fund issue. “The way it had been done before is having it combined was fine. Now, well, things have changed, and no, we don’t want to see it that way,” Coughlin explained.
Councilor Fred Happel asked whether such audit findings were common in other municipalities. McIntyre responded that such issues often occur during periods of turnover or major system conversions, and he provided context by noting that some clients had gone an entire year without reconciling cash—a far more serious problem than what Weymouth experienced.
Mayor Michael Molisse addressed the council near the end of the discussion, acknowledging the concerns and pledging to work closely with Town Auditor Brian Conley to prevent similar issues in future years. “There are changes being made. I can understand your concerns,” Molisse said. “I assure you that this will be taken care of.”
Town Auditor Brian Conley confirmed he would work to establish a review calendar for coming months to ensure proper implementation of corrective measures and would report back to the council periodically on progress.
The council voted unanimously to accept the fiscal year 2024 audited financial statements despite the identified control weaknesses, with the understanding that corrective actions are already underway and will be monitored closely.
Acceptance of Estate Gift for Scholarship Fund
The council also referred a measure to the Budget Management Committee authorizing acceptance of a bequest from the estate of William Allison. Town Solicitor Richard McLeod explained that Allison’s trust directs one-third of his remaining estate assets to benefit the Weymouth High School Scholarship Fund, though the exact amount is not yet determined as the estate is still liquidating stock holdings.
“Because of this particular estate, they’re liquidating stock. They don’t know what the final amount will be, but his request is one-third of the remaining assets to go to the Town of Weymouth, on the Weymouth Scholarship Fund,” McLeod explained. The measure will establish the William Allison donation account once the final amount is determined, with specific distribution instructions to be developed later with consent of the mayor and school department.
Tree Lighting Ceremony Announced
Councilor Carrie Palazzo announced that the annual town tree lighting celebration will take place Saturday, December 4, at Town Hall. The event will run from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will include special guests.
Why It Matters
The Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station upgrade directly protects Weymouth residents and the environment from sewage overflows that have already occurred at the aging facility. The $7.5 million investment will be repaid through the sewer enterprise fund over the life of the bonds, meaning costs will be distributed among sewer ratepayers rather than general taxpayers. For the approximately 18-month construction period beginning in spring 2025, residents near Wharf Street can expect minimal disruption thanks to the on-site bypass system already in place. The fiscal year 2024 audit findings, while concerning, do not indicate any missing funds or financial mismanagement, but rather point to procedural and reporting issues that the administration has committed to resolving. For residents, the most important takeaway is that the town’s general fund balance remains healthy at $14.6 million, and the identified accounting problems are being addressed with new personnel and improved oversight procedures to prevent recurrence.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve Budget Management Committee meeting minutes of November 10, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:42)
Motion: Approve Town Council meeting minutes of November 10, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:59)
Motion: Approve Budget Management Committee meeting minutes of November 17, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:13)
Motion: Approve Town Council meeting minutes of November 17, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:28)
Motion: Open public hearing on Measure 25106, Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station Improvement Project borrowing request. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:55)
Motion: Close public hearing on Measure 25106, Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station Improvement Project borrowing request. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 5:26)
Motion: Refer Measure 25110, acceptance of gift and creation of donation account (William Allison bequest), to Budget Management Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 7:36)
Motion: Approve Measure 25105, reserve fund transfer of $250 for unpaid elevator maintenance bill. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 8:10)
Motion: Approve Measure 25106, authorize borrowing of $7,500,000 for Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station Improvement Project. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 11-0 (roll call vote). (Timestamp: 10:51)
Motion: Accept fiscal year 2024 audited financial statements (Measure 25076). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 48:13)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 48:56)
Public Comment
The public hearing on the Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station borrowing measure drew no comments or questions from residents in attendance.
What’s Next
The town will issue a request for bids on the Wharf Street Sewer Pump Station project during winter 2025-2026, with construction anticipated to begin in spring or summer 2026 and continue for approximately 18 months. The Budget Management Committee will review the William Allison bequest acceptance measure at a future meeting. Town Auditor Brian Conley will establish a review calendar for implementing corrective measures identified in the fiscal year 2024 audit and will report periodically to the council on progress. The administration expects fiscal year 2025 audit work to proceed now that the fiscal year has been closed. The next regular Town Council meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2025.