Water Rates Surge: Duxbury Approves 30% Annual Increases for PFAS Remed
Selectboard votes 4-1 to implement significant rate hikes starting April 1; MBTA Communities Working Group presents compliance options
DUXBURY - March 24 - The Duxbury Selectboard approves a significant increase in water rates to fund potential PFAS remediation projects, with rates set to rise 30% annually for the next three years. The board votes 4-1 in favor of the new rates, which will take effect April 1.
The rate increases aim to address aging infrastructure and prepare for potential PFAS contamination remediation projects. The decision follows a comprehensive water-sewer rate study conducted by consultant Raftelis Financial Consultants.
"If we are going to move forward with PFAS investment, then those numbers look radically different," explains Finance Director Mary MacKinnon, who presents the study findings. "That would require that we set our rates so that we are generating revenue to support a 30% increase in FY26 of our revenues, a 30% increase of our revenues in FY27, and a 30% increase in our revenues of FY28."
For the average household using 60,000 gallons annually, water bills will increase from approximately $350 per year to over $800 by fiscal year 2028 if PFAS remediation proceeds.
Selectboard member Fernando Guitart supports the increase, noting: "By putting in the rates for full PFAS remediation up front, we have the opportunity to better understand what consumption is. If this rate increase adjusts people's behaviors, we may not need to build any PFAS [treatment facilities]."
The lone dissenting vote comes from Michael McGee, who expresses concern about the scale of potential projects. "To adopt the PFAS [rate increase] is to also almost dictate that we'd be doing $40-$80 million projects without the will of town meeting," McGee says.
The board also approves a transition from semi-annual to quarterly billing, which officials say will help detect leaks faster and provide more timely consumption data.
In addition to water rate increases, the board approves standardized sewer rates based on the Gurnet Road service area model, with 8% annual increases for the next three years.
The MBTA Communities Working Group presents three overlay zoning options to comply with state law requiring multi-family housing districts. The presentation follows the town's rejection of previous zoning proposals at a November special town meeting.
"We continue to honor the result of the November 2024 special town meeting, which will be addressing voter concerns and will prepare a proposition for town residents to vote on that if approved, a proposition that will comply with state law," says Steve Gandt, chairman of the MBTA Communities Working Group.
All three options focus on overlaying existing developed areas to minimize potential new construction:
- Direction A: Island Creek plus the Village of Duxbury on Route 53
- Direction B: Island Creek plus the Southscape condominium development on Lincoln Street
- Direction C: Island Creek plus portions of the Deacons Path and Bay Farm developments
Each option meets the state requirement to zone for a minimum of 750 multi-family housing units and maintain a density of at least 15 units per acre across a minimum of 50 acres.
"The possibility of large-scale development going on at any of the sites that we're looking at here, the possibility of that happening is far less than it would have been under the scenario that we had looked at last November," Gandt explains.
The working group schedules public outreach sessions at the Duxbury Free Library on March 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and March 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to gather community input on the proposed locations.
Town Manager René Read reports that the town faces immediate budget impacts following the narrow defeat of a proposed override by less than 5% of votes.
"The override was intended to provide sustainability for the next several years while the town decides on structural changes to services, aesthetics, and more," Read says. "However, in the absence of an override, the impacts will be felt immediately and will last for several years."
Read confirms that five employees will be laid off as of June 30:
- Assistant town accountant
- Administrative assistant in the assessor's office
- DPW office manager
- Administrative assistant for the Board of Health and ZBA
- Administrative assistant in the Selectboard's office
Additional positions in public safety and DPW will remain vacant due to retirements and resignations. "Those positions will not be filled, so there is a reduction," Read notes.
The board also:
- Reorganizes with Brian Glennon elected as chair, Amy MacNab as vice chair, and Fernando Guitart as clerk
- Postpones discussion of Selectboard goals until next week
- Declares 13 armchairs and 19 wooden folding chairs as surplus items
- Announces that recreational shellfish license applications are available on the town's website, with the current season expiring March 31, 2025
- Reminds residents that 2025 dog licenses are available, with late fees assessed after April 1
- Notes that 2025 beach and transfer station stickers, effective April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026, are available for purchase
The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 31, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.