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Zipping through a lighter than usual agenda, Duck Town Council members held one of their shortest ever meetings on February 5.

While calling the meeting to order in the Paul F. Keller Meeting Hall, Mayor Don Kingston advised that both Mayor Pro Tempore Monica Thibodeau and town manager Drew Havens would miss the meeting with pre-approved schedule conflicts.

In the absence of any special presentations, quasi-judicial public hearings, legislative public hearings, town attorney comments nor any old business or items deferred from previous meetings, the only business left for council was approval of a consent agenda and discussion on filling two board vacancies.

With no changes and little discussion, the consent agenda with December 4, January 8 and January 15 council meeting minutes, a contract with VHB to oversee bidding and construction administration of breakwater sills and marsh fill along about 1,000 linear feet of Currituck Sound shoreline at Town Park as part of a shoreline protection project, and a $60,396 beach nourishment debt service budget fund transfer passed on a 4-0 vote.

Kingston then explained that the unexpected passing of Joe Blakaitis on January 27 created a Duck Planning Board vacancy and that Edward F. Sadler had moved away and resigned his position on the Board of Adjustment.

Council agreed to request applications due February 26 for those two positions to be filled at the March 5 council meeting.

Attorney Robert Hobbs reminded council that Town Code has an advertising requirement with no specific publication time frame and Kevin Lingard pointed out that applicants need to be aware they are expected to attend the March meeting with a brief introduction statement.

During department reports, staff members informed council that applications to the free six-session FLOCK Academy providing an in-depth look at how local government works were being accepted until Feb. 14, the next Sound and Park cleanup takes place at 9:45 a.m. on March 1 starting at the north lot shed, Coffee with a Cop scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 4 at Ducks Cottage Books at 1240 Duck Road, preliminary steps for the 2027 beach nourishment project are already underway, and the current town cash balance is just above $10.8M.

Before closing out the meeting, Kingston reminded everyone that the next meeting is the annual retreat at 9 a.m. on February 19 and 20.

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