Duxbury Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Sheila Sgarzi and Operations Manager Norm Smith opened a three-night budget review with the Finance Committee by painting a sobering picture of the department's current state. Following a 10% reduction in staff in the FY26 budget, Sgarzi reported that morale has suffered and essential maintenance, such as catch basin cleaning and street sweeping, is falling behind. We absolutely cannot promise the same level of service. It’s inevitable, Sgarzi told the committee, noting that the loss of institutional knowledge from recent and upcoming retirements creates a perfect storm for winter operations. Chair Betsy Sullivan acknowledged the heavy lift ahead for the department, stating, It's a lot of material for you guys to digest. We try to do it in seconds but we know this is fundamental to the operation.

The conversation heavily featured the transition to the new $27 million DPW facility, which is slated for substantial completion by next fall. While the move will centralize disjointed operations, it brings significant new utility expenses. Sgarzi estimated a combined $230,000 for electricity and gas, driven largely by the need to heat vehicle storage to protect the town's fleet. Town Manager René Read explained that that vehicle storage is heated in order to protect those vehicles which increases the footprint beyond what the existing building was for heat capacity. Finance Committee member Mark Hokanson questioned the sustainability of these new costs, asking, Does any of that 58 get to go away once you're fully in the new building? to which officials responded that while the old barn's costs might vanish, the net increase remains a major budgetary factor.

Beyond utilities, Sgarzi advocated for the reinstatement of an equipment operator and a mechanic, along with the creation of a Town Engineer position to handle over $95 million in ongoing projects, including sea wall repairs and water treatment upgrades. Finance Director Mary MacKinnon clarified the staffing strategy, noting, The select board had a goal to reinstate the highway safety positions, so that’s what's reflected in these spreadsheets. Member Theodore J. Flynn sought clarification on new roles, asking, Is the water administrative assistant part-time or full-time? while Ashley Maher noted the visual success of recent projects, saying, The sidewalks look great on Washington Street. I'm curious as you look at them... some are beveled, some are squared.

The committee also touched on the Transfer Station's fiscal health, which currently runs at a deficit of approximately $100,000. A fee hearing is scheduled for December 15th to discuss raising the prices of stickers and trash bags to make the operation break-even. Norm Smith highlighted the difficulty of maintaining the facility with skeleton crews, noting, I was for a while I was working with one guy that could actually run the sweeper... you can’t be everywhere at once. Friend S. Weiler, Sr. looked for operational updates, asking, Do you have any updates on when the East Street Bridge might be reopening? while Charles J. Weilbrenner lamented the town's competitive disadvantage in hiring, stating, Working for Duxbury is not a premium, it isn't a luxury... we apparently aren't paying fair enough wage to attract people.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that the department's lean staffing and aging infrastructure require urgent attention to avoid an "environmental crisis," particularly regarding the 30-year-old steel tanks at the fuel depot. Kathleen Glynn, Al Hoban, Jackson S. Kent., Jr., and James Hartford each voiced their support for the continued review during the final vote. Motion Made by Charles J. Weilbrenner to adjourn. Motion Passed 10-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 PM