Selectmen Chairman Andre Martecchini announced at the board’s Monday meeting that the 29 homes tied to the system will soon see their first bills. The first set of bills will cover September 2002 to May 2003. Another bill will be sent out soon after to bring the accounts up-to-date.

The total of the first round of billing is $7,892.69. The annual user charge is $13.86 per 1,000 gallons of water used based on 80 percent of metered water usage. There is a minimum charge of $30, or $60 annually.

The reason the town was so late in billing the Bay Rd. users is “policy development,” said Town Manager Rocco Longo. Selectmen’s adoption of the revised regulations for the town’s three shared septic systems at the Bluefish River, Snug Harbor, and Bay Rd. had been postponed twice in the fall. First it was because Duxbury’s town counsel discovered that the hearing had not been properly advertised. Later it was because the new regulations were not posted in each voting precinct before the hearing. The rules were updated to better define user charges for system construction and operation costs.

Longo said the town is also working on sending out the bills for the Snug Harbor shared septic system.{sidebar id=4}

In other business, selectmen:

*Voted to open and close the Special Town Meeting warrant to add a housekeeping article for rescinding debt that was authorized but never used. Selectmen Chairman Andre Martecchini and Selectman Betsy Sullivan voted 2-0 in favor. Selectman John Tuffy was not at the meeting.

*Approved the 9th annual Powder Point block party for September 12. Weston Rd. will be closed from Powder Point Ave. to Moulton Rd. from 2-6 p.m.

*Appointed Brendan Keohan of the Housing Authority to the Community Preservation Committee. He will fill the un-expired term of Housing Authority member Diane Bartlett and continue to serve his own three-year term ending in 2007.

*Appointed Barbara Kiley and Anne Hill to three-year terms on the Duxbury Historical Commission effective July 1.

*Accepted the resignation of Nancy Melia from the Duxbury Cultural Council.

*Approved a Mother’s Day flower sale for the Appalachian Service Project for May 8 at four locations around town.