Giving Town Manager Richard MacDonald the authority to negotiate the next contract for the town-owned North Hill golf course will be up to voters at the annual Town Meeting beginning March 8.{sidebar id=4}

Selectmen supported Article 31 this week, which will direct MacDonald to issue a request for proposals and enter into a lease for the nine-hole golf course on Merry Avenue. The current 10-year contract with Johnson Turf and Golf management expires December 31.

Duxbury purchased 326 acres for the golf course in 1977 for $800,000. The course consists of 56 acres.

According to Recreation Director Gordon Cushing, the North Hill Advisory Committee is considering recommending a three- to five-year contract instead of a 10-year one. The advisory committee is also thinking about requesting a new driving range near the 9th hole as part of the new contract. This could cost as much as $300,000.

Under the terms of the town’s ten-year contract with Johnson Golf Management, the town receives $101,000 a year in revenues along with a $4,000 payment in lieu of taxes and $2,000 for a liquor license. Also in 2000, Johnson built a $500,000 clubhouse at North Hill and a new septic system. The ten-year contract allowed the operator to recoup some of its investment, said Cushing, whose department oversees the golf course.

Selectmen Chairman Andre Martecchini said he would like the annual payment to stay the same or increase, if possible.{sidebar id=1}

Cushing said he expects the town to open bidding on the contract in May. This will give the town enough time to re-bid if there are any problems, as there have been in the past.

“The bid process has a history of being somewhat litigious in municipalities at times,” said Cushing.

In October, the North Hill Committee recommended the town continue with the same type of management and contract with one company to provide all services. The committee rejected the options of having the town run the golf course or having separate vendors run different aspects, such as one overseeing the golfing and another the restaurant in the clubhouse.

In other business, selectmen:

∑ Approved five 10-year license extensions for aquaculture grants for the following: Arthur William “Billy” Bennett, Stephen Gilbert, Michael George, Greg George and Christopher Phillips. The men have met the requirements of the program and the Shellfish Advisory Committee and Harbormaster Donald Beers support their license extensions.

∑ Approved the transfer of an all-alcoholic liquor license from Paula and Ken Durfee of the Wine Depot on Depot Street to Casey’s Fine Wine and Spirits, managed by Bonnie Casey. Casey and her husband Bob Casey of Washington Street have lived in Duxbury for 20 years. The transfer will take place after state approval.

∑ Met in executive session at 7 p.m. to discuss the King Caesar Fund.

∑ Granted a change of date for a one-day liquor license for the Duxbury Student Union fundraiser from Feb. 9 to March 1. There was a conflict with Duxbury Idol on the upcoming Saturday.

∑ Learned that MacDonald has appointed Lands and Natural Resources Director Peter Buttkus to be the acting Department of Public Works Director as DPW Director Tom Daley is leaving in mid-February to take his new job as DPW Commissioner in Newton. Daley will attend Town Meeting in March to assist with the DPW budget and other projects.

∑ Approved two event permits: for the Best Buddies Challenge Bike Ride to pass through Duxbury and use the middle school for a rest stop on May 17 and for the Kids Pan-Mass Challenge to ride around Powder Point on Sunday, June 15 from 8 am to noon.