Town of Duxbury Website: www.town.duxbury.ma.us Town Hall At-a-Glance Please refer to the list below for a brief list of some of the services available through various Town Hall departments. For more information, please stop by or call the appropriate office and we will be happy to assist you! 781-934-1100 Telephone Department Extension x149 Selectmen/Town Manager: Address specific concerns to the Selectmen or the Town Manager; pay Parking Citations to the Parking Clerk; obtain Talent Bank Applications; obtain Employment Applications x150 Town Clerk: Obtain Birth, Death, Marriage certificates; Marriage licenses, dog licenses, business certificates, voter registration and election information. “0” Receptionist: resident (non-commercial) clamming permits; beach horseback riding permits; mooring applications, waiting lists and payments, conservation maps and general information. x134 Conservation: questions regarding ecology/conservation, whether or not in conjunction with building construction. x148 Planning Board: questions regarding development of property. x125 Inspectional Services: obtain building, zoning, plumbing, gas, wiring, home occupation, business occupation, sign, certificate of occupancy permits, and zoning and building code enforcement. x140 Board of Health: Obtain Title V septic information; file plans and obtain permits for septic systems; obtain well permits; obtain permits for the keeping of farm animals; report health issues and obtain information on a variety of health-related subjects. x142 Department of Public Works: You may refer general questions to the DPW office, or specific issues can be addressed to the appropriate department: Cemetery 934-5261 Highway x 131 Lands and Natural Resources x 133 Water Department x 129 x115 Assessing Department: Obtain records and information pertaining to real property, motor vehicle excise tax, personal property, the boat excise tax and other matters. x132 Accountant’s Office: Obtain information on the financial health of the town. View Town’s website. x147 Treasurer/Collector: Pay tax and water bills; obtain beach and transfer station stickers. Municipal lien requests. Town ofAbout Duxbury, the Cover: We would like to give special thanks to Holly Morris for providing the cover photo. This spectacular oak treeMassachusetts stands in the Berrybrook fields. Voters at the 2008 Annual Town Meeting authorized the purchase of these fields from Community Preservation Funds. , Massachusetts ANNUAL REPORT JULY 1, 2007 – JUNE 30, 2008 www.town.duxbury.ma.us TABLE OF CONTENTS TOWN ADMINISTRATION Board of Selectmen …………………………………………………………… Town Manager ………………………………………………………………... TOWN CLERK’S REPORT Town Officials ………………………………………………………………... Presidential Primary Election – February 5, 2008 ……………………………. Special Town Meeting – March 8, 2008 ……………………………………… Annual Town Meeting – March 8, 2008 ……………………………………… Annual Town Election – March 22, 2008 …………………………………….. Deaths Recorded in Duxbury …………………………………………………. Marriages Recorded in Duxbury ……………………………………………… DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Cemetery ……………………………………………………………………… DPW Operations (Highway) …………………………………………………. Lands & Natural Resources ………………………………………………….. Transfer Station ………………………………………………………………. Water & Sewer Division ……………………………………………………… Water Advisory Board ………………………………………………………… FINANCE Assessing Department ………………………………………………………… Fiscal Advisory Committee …………………………………………………… Finance Committee …………………………………………………………… Finance Director ……………………………………………………………….. Town Accountant …………………………………………………………….. Financial Reports ……………………………………………………………… Treasurer/Collector …………………………………………………………… Trust Funds ……………………………………………………………………. GENERAL GOVERNMENT Cable Advisory Committee ……………………………………………………. Duxbury Cultural Council ……………………………………………………… Fourth of July Committee ……………………………………………………… Information Services ……………………………………………………………. Personnel Board ………………………………………………………………… War Monument Committee ……………………………………………………… HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Council on Aging ……………………………………………………………….. Duxbury Housing Authority (State Agency) …………………………………… King Caesar Advisory Committee ……………………………………………… Local Housing Partnership Committee …………………………………………… Municipal Commission on Disability ……………………………………………… Veterans’ Services …………………………………………………………………. LAND USE & RESOURCE PRESERVATION Agricultural Commission …………………………………………………………… Alternative Energy Commission ……………………………………………………. Community Preservation Committee ………………………………………………. Conservation Commission ………………………………………………………….. Duxbury Bay Management Commission …………………………………………… Historical Commission ……………………………………………………………… Inspectional Services Department …………………………………………………... Board of Health ………………………………………………. Building ………………………………………………………. Design Review Board ………………………………………… Weights & Measures …………………………………………. Zoning Board of Appeals …………………………………….. Open Space & Recreation Committee ……………………………………………….. Planning Board ……………………………………………………………………….. Sidewalk & Bikepath Committee ……………………………………………………. Town Historian ……………………………………………………………………….. LIBRARY & SCHOOLS Duxbury Free Library …………………………………………………………………. Duxbury Public Schools ………………………………………………………………. PUBLIC SAFETY Animal Control ………………………………………………………………………… Duxbury Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) …………………………………. Fire Department ………………………………………………………………………… Harbormaster …………………………………………………………………………… Highway Safety Advisory Committee …………………………………………………. Nuclear Advisory Committee ………………………………………………………….. Police Department ……………………………………………………………………… Public Safety Building Feasibility Study Committee ………………………………….. RECREATION Recreation Department ………………………………………………………………… North Hill Country Club ……………………………………………………………….. Percy Walker Pool ……………………………………………………………………... Percy Walker Pool Committee ………………………………………………………… TOWN ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF SELECTMEN TOWN MANAGER board of selectmen Left to Right: Andre Martecchini, Jonathan Witten, Elizabeth Sullivan Unlike in many previous years, in 2008 Duxbury experienced a dramatic reduction in revenue due to a slowing regional and national economy. This decrease in revenue and revenue sources was coupled with on-going financial obligations related to special education, health care and pension costs. Together, the reduction in income and increase in costs highlighted the need for both short and long term vigilance and careful stewardship of the Town’s resources by elected and appointed individuals, boards, committees and departments. As a sign that past stewardship efforts have been successful, in 2008 the Standard and Poor’s agency awarded the Town the highly coveted rating of triple A (“AAA”), reflecting the Town’s financial health and stability. This rating has significant long-term benefits and is indicative of the Town’s commitment—short and long term—toward responsible financial management. Similarly, the Town is committed to its employees and their families, and is in the process of completing a compensation study to ensure that our employees are paid competitively and equitably and that the Town can continually guarantee the highest quality municipal workforce in the Commonwealth. While the slowing economy and increased non-discretionary spending caught the region by surprise, historic issues of land use, affordable housing and long term planning remained (and remain) a topic of continuous discussion. Accordingly, the Board of Selectmen held an extremely well attended and represented “Land Use Summit” in the summer of 2008, to be followed by additional meetings in 2009. The goal was and remains to focus on the Town’s long-term land use goals and how land use decisions made today have a dramatic impact on the future quality of life of Duxbury residents for generations to come. Related to land use issues, the Town adopted an Affordable Housing Trust to work with Town boards and departments to expand and improve affordable housing opportunities for qualified individuals and families, purchased land for open space and affordable housing purposes (including a large portion of the “Camp Wing” property and the “Berrybrook School” property), invested in the Town’s municipal water supply and adopted a “Right to Farm” bylaw, reflective of the Town’s historical commitment to the agricultural industry. The Board of Selectmen similarly adopted procedures designed to review comprehensive permit projects that are submitted to the Town in a cooperative manner. The completion of the Wright Building renovation marked the continuation of an exciting partnership between the Town, the public school system and the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society and the dedication of the beautifully restored focal point of the Town’s school campus. In addition to completing the Wright Building, the Town was actively engaged in the analysis and recommendations regarding an expansion and/or rehabilitation of the Town’s Police and Fire Stations, the historic Tarklin Building and the Percy Walker Pool complex. Although complicated by financial limitations, recommendations on these projects are expected in 2009 and 2010. We thank the numerous volunteers that have worked on these projects and contributed their varied and exceptional skills and expertise. Respectfully Submitted, Jonathan D. Witten, Chair Elizabeth H. Sullivan Andre P. Martecchini town manager I am pleased to present the Town Manager’s Annual Report for FY 2008. Despite a very challenging fiscal climate, our goal is to consistently move the Town forward. We are focused on providing the high quality services that the people of Duxbury