Newbury Select Board Accepts 25 Plum Island Beach Easements in 4-1 Vote

NEWBURY — June 9, 2026 — Newbury Select Board formally accepted 25 long-dormant Plum Island beach nourishment easements in a 4-1 vote Tuesday, closing a 17-year administrative gap. The easements, originally signed by Northern Boulevard and adjacent property owners in exchange for dredged sand placed on Plum Island beaches under a 2009 program, had never received the required formal Select Board acceptance vote — a missing action the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife recently asked the town to document. Chair Bill DeMeo told the public that state water quality certification regulations under the Clean Water Act make valid easements a prerequisite for any future dredged-sand placement, saying "if we don't have easements in effect, we'll never get a speck of dredged sand placed in the town of Newbury." Board member Leslie Matthews extended the stakes beyond the beach, warning that Newbury's eligibility for grants covering the Larkin Dam, culvert projects, and bridge replacements in all three of the town's villages depended on its reputation for keeping commitments. Member Jeff Walker cast the lone dissenting vote, citing concerns about the process; member Patrick Heffernan voted yes by video call from a business trip. The 25 parcels, all recorded with the Essex County Registry of Deeds, cover addresses from 6 to 82 Northern Boulevard and nearby streets.