Duxbury officials are sounding the alarm on a potential summer water crisis while throwing their weight behind a regional push to stall new nuclear development in neighboring Plymouth. During Monday night’s meeting, the Selectboard signaled strong support for Article 19, which seeks an additional $1.3 million to $1.6 million for the design and engineering of PFAS treatment facilities at the Tremont and Depot Wells. The total project, estimated at $2.58 million, is part of a massive town-wide effort to address shifting state and federal regulations regarding "forever chemicals" in the municipal water supply.

Water and Sewer Superintendent Mark Cloud delivered a stark warning regarding the town’s pumping capacity as new limits loom. It looks like we're going to have to shut the Lakeshore Well off... without Lakeshore or something to replace it, we won't have enough water to make it through the summer, Cloud told the board, noting the well will likely be non-compliant by 2031 without intervention. Member Michael McGee questioned the long-term financial trajectory for residents, stating, I want to make sure that we're on track... that the money we've asked people to pay for their increased amount is going to cover these costs going forward. Motion Made by F. Guitart to support and recommend the approval of Article 19, funding design, engineering, permitting, and bid for water quality improvements at Tremont and Depot Wells. Motion Passed (5-0)

The board also shifted its focus toward the future of energy in the region, voting unanimously to support a moratorium on the construction of new nuclear reactors in Plymouth. Representatives from the Nuclear Advisory Committee, including Mary Lambert, expressed deep skepticism regarding Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) currently being considered for the Holtec site. No small nuclear reactors have been built in the United States... it's hard without a track record to be able to say this design or that design is safe, Mary Lambert noted, citing concerns over radiation levels and the lack of a permanent waste repository. Jim Lambert clarified that the article is not a flat ban but rather a set of safety requirements, explaining that What this article does is say, in our view, to keep the town safe if you're going to build these new ones, there are certain safety steps that need to be made.

Chair Brian Glennon expressed caution regarding the broader energy grid, noting he did not want the vote to be misinterpreted as a rejection of all non-renewable base load energy. I just don't want this to be misread to say that we will only accept renewables that require BESS systems or clear cutting of our conservation land for PV systems, Glennon said. However, Member Fernando Guitart supported the measure as a tool for federal leverage. Motion Made by F. Guitart to support and recommend the approval of Article 22, proposed moratorium on construction of new nuclear power plants in Plymouth. Motion Passed (5-0)

The discussion on energy storage continued with Article 18, a proposed zoning bylaw for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Following a recent court decision that limits a town's ability to prohibit such facilities, Planning Director Matthew Heins explained the town must allow them in at least 10 percent of its land area to remain legally defensible. We can't just because our current zones don't allow it... the courts basically said that's too restrictive, Heins said. Vice Chair Amy MacNab raised concerns that the current proposal, which places BESS in dense Neighborhood Business zones, might not survive state review. I just believe that this approach putting these things in areas that are likely to be the most dense is going to not move from town meeting to the AG, MacNab argued. The board deferred a vote on the BESS bylaw pending further recommendations from the Planning Board.

Budgetary pressures also took center stage during a review of the Enterprise Funds. Finance Director Mary MacKinnon highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the "Rock" regional dispatch center, noting that Duxbury’s $615,000 share is a fraction of the cost of a standalone facility. If the town was not part of this regional operation, Joe estimates that it would cost the town $1.9 million to operate it independently... so it's a significant savings, MacKinnon said. Conversely, the Water Enterprise budget is facing a necessary expansion. Mark Cloud requested a new administrative position to manage the workload from quarterly billing and meter analysis, stating, I've requested another admin for the water office... there's nobody to cover that position... especially with the uptick in all the calls. Motion Made by F. Guitart to support and recommend the approval of Article 5A, Operating Budget. Motion Passed (4-0)

Earlier in the meeting, the board held a "post-mortem" discussion on the response to Blizzard Hernando. Member Cynthia Ladd Fiorini thanked town employees and first responders, noting that I think we all want to thank all of our town workers for the past week... our number two priority, number one being mandatory bills, was all of our first responders including specifically the DPW. Chair Glennon added that a formal evaluation would be conducted soon to evaluate what went well and what can use improvement while the details are still fresh.

In other business, the board addressed a citizen's petition from Stan Wheatley to reduce the speed limit on a stretch of Tremont Street to 25 mph. Wheatley described the 20-foot wide road as a hazard for residents and businesses, saying, If you can imagine an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer barreling through that gap at 45 miles an hour... it's just so unsafe that to me it's mind-boggling. Member Guitart voiced concerns that signage alone would not solve the problem without enforcement: People ask for 25. And then when people don't go the 25, then the next thing they do, they come here and say, 'Well, why don't you send policemen over there?' The board opted to invite the Police Chief to a future meeting before making a recommendation. The board also approved a new liquor license for the Art Complex Museum, where Executive Director Peter Melo explained that the museum was hitting the limit of one-day applications for their events. Motion Made by F. Guitart to approve the new all-alcoholic beverages on-premise liquor license application for the Art Complex Inc. Motion Passed (5-0)

The board concluded by approving several transfers for the Special Town Meeting, including $300,000 to the OPEB trust fund and $150,000 for accrued liabilities related to employee separations. Motion Made by F. Guitart to approve Article 3 transfer of $300,000 to OPEB. Motion Passed (4-0) Motion Made by F. Guitart to approve Article 5 transfer of $150,000 for accrued liabilities. Motion Passed (4-0)