The Kingston Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, March 26. Chair Kimberley Emberg noted the large police presence there that evening for the potential signing of the agreement between the town and the final candidate for the position of Police Chief, Brian Holmes. The official swearing in will take place on April 11 and Holmes will begin working for the town as of April 15. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the agreement. The Police officers present that evening gave a round of applause. Holmes was previously employed by the Stoughton Police Department. Holmes spoke saying, “I’m overwhelmed at the turnout of the men and women of the Kingston Police Department. I want to thank them for being here and I’m truly looking forward to working with all of them. I have a goal and my goal comes from a guiding principle that I received from a sergeant way back in the day… leave people better than you found them.” He also thanked the Selectmen and the Search Committee.
Emberg addressed a dog that was voted a nuisance dog at a previous meeting. The owner is currently in the process of rehoming the dog and asked for an extension to come into compliance. Town Administrator Keith Hickey said, “he believes he has somebody that is familiar with the breed – he has to introduce to the dogs he has now. The owner also let me know that he has reached out to the Kingston Animal Hospital to make arrangements that, if in two weeks from today, the dog has not been rehomed, he will go in a different direction.” Given the past extensions, Hickey said that he did let the owner know that while the Board didn’t want to see a dog put down, he did believe they were at the end of their rope with granting such extensions. Selectman Eric Crone said he was in favor of the extension. The Board agreed to delay the decision until their next meeting.
The Selectmen appointed Brian Payne to the Conservation Commission effective immediately to a term ending in June of 2025. Payne is currently a member of the Open Space Committee and the Community Preservation Commission.
Hickey spoke on the need to reconsider the Town Meeting schedule. He said that given the extensive conversation around the schools’ budget and the need for them to acquire more time to present to the Finance Committee and communities, he suggested moving Town Meeting from May 4 to May 11. This would extend the closing of the warrant as well from March 26 to April 23. This will require the Selectmen to close and vote on the warrant at the same meeting. The Selectmen unanimously voted to approve the amended May 2024 Town Meeting schedule.
Hickey provided a Town Administrator’s update. He said that the boat ramp project is underway. He commended the contractor on working with the Conservation Agent to make sure that the materials were anchored during the recent rainstorms to prevent anything from spilling into the lake.
Hickey said that with the IT Manager retiring, he is looking into contracting the services out. He noted that while it was less money for the town, it also reduced the number of minutes a person is available in the building. He said that he would bring forth a proposal to the Selectmen in coming weeks. Emberg asked if the company would be able to remote into computers and provide IT tech support over the phone, etc. Hickey said that they could offer an employee in the building 8 hours per week to address things that can’t be done remotely. Crone said that in the past they had explored sharing IT staff with the schools amongst other ideas. He recommended doing a shorter contract of just one year as opposed to a longer contract in case things didn’t work out. Hickey also told the Selectmen that the Assistant Town Planner is seeking employment elsewhere.
Finally, Hickey told the Selectmen that he hoped to have the Memorial Day cookout after the parade again behind the town offices. He said that if anyone was interested in assisting or participating, they would love to have the help. He called the previous year’s event “amazing.”