Duxbury finance committee approves $37,800 reserve transfer to staff beach after storm-driven reopening

The Duxbury Finance Committee on June 18 approved a $37,800 reserve fund transfer to cover additional beach staffing after storm damage left nesting areas that constrained access at two crossovers, officials said.

Mary McKinnon, finance director, told the committee there was $139,000 remaining in the finance committee reserve and introduced the transfer request to cover seasonal and intermittent wages at the beach. "The request in front of you this evening is for $37,800 for the intermittent and seasonal line basically the part‑time wages line over at the beach," McKinnon said.

Recreation Director Steve Studley explained why the money was needed: storm damage destroyed nests at two crossovers and left crossover three open longer than historically expected, producing "limited openings" that increase staff needs. "We're looking at 30 days of adding five more staff per shift, which we run two shifts per day... so that's 10 employees for seven hours each," Studley said, outlining an approximate daily cost and the county of the transfer request.

Committee members pressed for operational details — why vehicles could not be routed to other crossovers and why monitors were allowed dune access — and were told monitors are trained and authorized to enter restricted dune areas to protect nests. Members also asked about succession planning; Studley said an internal hire, Tori Maduros, will start July 1 to serve as the beach's second‑in‑command.

The committee moved and seconded the reserve transfer and approved it by voice vote; the transcript records the approval but does not include a roll‑call tally.