Duxbury's Powder Point Bridge Slated for Extended Closure
Town announces full shutdown for repairs from January 20 to March 31, 2025
DUXBURY - January 13 - Duxbury's Powder Point Bridge will be fully closed to all traffic from Jan. 20 to March 31, 2025, to facilitate necessary repairs. The closure, affecting motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, was announced during the Jan. 13 Selectboard meeting.
Town Manager René Read informed the board that the bridge "will remain closed to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists throughout the construction with the bridge slated to reopen on or before March 31st, 2025."
The closure is part of a planned repair project for the iconic structure that connects Duxbury Beach to the mainland.
In other business, Selectboard member Amy MacNab proposed implementing a moratorium on sand mining operations in the town, citing unintended consequences of current bylaws.
"I think it's important to address some of the issues that are on people's mind, specifically with this," MacNab said. "We have brought it up numerous times about the sand mining. Again, I think that there were unintended consequences with what we did."
MacNab suggested the board consider putting a moratorium on sand mining activities until the town can "wrap our arms around that bylaw and make some changes."
The board agreed to place the issue on the agenda for their next meeting to discuss potential changes to address community concerns.
MacNab also raised concerns about anonymous letters she has received from residents expressing "legitimate, serious concerns" about various town issues. She requested that letter writers give permission to share their concerns with the full board to allow for open discussion within the constraints of open meeting laws.
"I certainly don't want to do that without the permission of the writers," MacNab said. "So I think if I could ask the writers of the letters if they would like us to address these issues ... let me know if it's OK to share the concerns, the letters, the documents."
The board also discussed the upcoming town election and annual town meeting. Nomination papers for various town offices, including one Selectboard seat, are available at the Town Clerk's office and due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 31.
The annual town meeting is scheduled for March 8, with the town election to follow two weeks later on March 22.
Selectboard Chair Michael McGee requested that when the board votes on the beach lease funding article at town meeting, they also vote on the terms of the lease itself. This would allow voters to understand the full terms before appropriating funds.
"I think that's a better way to do it. And I think we could do it on the night that we endorse the article, too," McGee said.
Several budget meetings with the Finance Committee were announced for the coming weeks, focusing on various town departments including police, fire, municipal services, inspectional services, harbormaster, and facilities.
In other actions, the board:
- Approved a one-day wine and malt license for an artist reception at the Duxbury Art Complex Museum on Feb. 2.
- Closed the warrant for the annual town meeting scheduled for March 8.
- Announced town offices will be closed Jan. 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The next regular selectboard meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Mural Room, with executive sessions beginning at 6 p.m.