Police and Fire Positions Restored; Lying Worked on MBTA Communities Zoning

Proponents of fire and police articles plan to form independent committee to focus on developing a fiscally prudent budget that prioritizes key services.

Derek Bennett, the proponent of the articles to

June 16, 2025 (Duxbury) — On Monday evening, a sparsely attended Special Town Meeting approved everything on the warrant but one article. Getting the thumbs up were the following:

• A transfer of about $400,000 from the Stabilization Fund to restore two positions each at the police (241 to 78) and fire departments (260 to 63);

• The MBTA Communities zoning bylaw that allows for the development of 240 additional housing units around Island Creek Villages (255 to 152);

• TwoADU bylaws that require site plan review for proposed ADUs and which bans short-term rentals (296 to 44) and (305 to 25);

• An additional $500,000 appropriation for developing PFAS treatment (235 to 26);

• Funding for next year’s Fourth of July parade (195 to 46);

• A total of $67,950 for additional costs for a boat for the harbormaster and improvements to the audio-visual equipment in town meeting rooms (146 to 18);

• $271,933 for various appropriations related to the DPW Facility, Seawall Construction, PFAS and Fire Breaker Truck projects (135 to 190).

An amendment to the operating budget of the Regional Old Colony Communications Center (ROCC) was indefinitely postponed.

After their success at Special Town Meeting, the proponents of the articles to support the police and fire departments are forming an independent group, tentatively named the Committee for a Sustainable Duxbury.

The group plans to prepare an alternative, fiscally prudent budget for fiscal year 2027 that prioritizes the most important town services such as public safety and the core functions of the school department.

Police and Fire Funding Sets Up Contest Over How to Balance the Budget