The Wareham Housing Authority has to pay late fees, too.

On Tuesday evening, the Housing Authority was denied an abatement on $4,400 of sewer bill late fees after Selectmen carefully deliberated on the issue.

Acting as the Board of Sewer Commissioners, the Selectmen heard an abatement request from Jackie Hickey and Bob Powilatis of the Housing Authority.

"Because of problems unforeseen and no fault of ours, fiscal year 2013 was abysmal," said Powilatis.

Because of the Housing Authority's deficiencies at that time, its subsidy from the state was withheld until this past June. Powilatis said when they received the money, they immediately cut a check to the town for $75,000 -- what they owed the town for 2013 and 2014 in sewer bills -- not counting $4,400 in late fees.

"We were hoping that for this one time, we could get some relief on that… and we would not be delinquent in the future," said Powilatis.

Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said he didn't want to set a precedent of giving abatements on late fees. However, he said the Housing Authority residents were not responsible for the mismanagement of the prior Housing Authority administration.

"This is a tough one for me," said Selectman Patrick Tropeano.

He initially said he would be go along with accepting or denying the request depending on what the other Selectmen said.

"This is the type of thing where we have to make decisions with our head instead of the heart," said Selectman Alan Slavin.

Eventually the two joined Slavin and the three voted unanimously (Selectmen Judith Whiteside and Stephen Holmes were absent) to deny the abatement request.