Selectmen are reimbursed for their expenses.

Town meeting votes to reimburse the Town’s Men for any expenses of the their duties. According to Arthur Gilman, soon thereafter, “the gentlemen soon found it convenient to ”refresh’ themselves after their arduous duties,” and “in 1647 a charge was made of two pounds eighteen shillings for ‘a selectmen’s dinner,’ and a custom arose that has been followed until very late times.”