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Council presses for options to audit past invoices from former solicitor firm; seeks unredacted records in executive session
Summary
Councilors discussed next steps for reviewing invoices and records from the former solicitor (Angel Law). Members asked finance staff for options on an internal or external audit and requested unredacted invoices be presented in executive session so the council can determine whether recovery or other action is warranted.
Council members pressed town staff for concrete options to review invoices and contracts with the former town solicitor's firm (referred to in meeting as Angel Law), and asked for unredacted invoice copies to be made available in executive session.
President Verducci said he had spoken with state officials to get initial guidance and that municipal staff had retrieved unredacted invoices. Council members asked the finance director to present options, including a high-level review versus a full forensic audit, and to provide price estimates and timelines. Several councilors expressed frustration at delays: members said they had requested options weeks earlier and asked for a firm deliverable by the next meeting.
Councilwoman Capaldi and others asked that the unredacted invoices be shared with the council in executive session so members could review the material together. Councilman Houle said he wanted the council to decide whether to pursue recovery of funds or other remedies but acknowledged that investigation costs could exceed likely recoveries. The council asked the finance director (and solicitor as appropriate) to return with documented choices, cost estimates and an executive-session presentation of the unredacted invoices to inform the decision on whether to commission an audit or take other steps.
