Rep. Kathy LaNatra and the Massachusetts State Legislature enacted a $56.2 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) The FY24 conference committee report provides for historic levels of investment in local aid, education, housing, regional transportation, health care, workforce development, and more, as part of a broad strategy to grow our state’s economy and make Massachusetts more affordable, inclusive, and competitive.
“I was proud to support this FY’24 state budget, which makes significant investments in many crucial areas, such as education, workforce development, health care, and most importantly, increases investment in our local communities,” said State Rep. Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston). “During these budget negotiations, we were able to secure increased local funding, resulting in millions of extra dollars going to towns in the 12th Plymouth district, many in the form of chapter 70 funds. The increase of $30 of per pupil funding will result in significant improvements in how our towns educate the next generation.
The budget also contains many targeted earmarks that will invest in the 12th Plymouth’s education, infrastructure, climate resiliency, recreation and much more.
Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and Senate Leadership for this historic budget.”

The Kingston Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Selectmen Chair Kimberley Emberg told those assembled that the remaining Sewer Commissioners were in attendance. She said that in July they received a letter of resignation from Tom Taylor following a 14-year run as a Sewer Commissioner. Emberg explained the process to fill the vacancy which culminates in the Sewer Commissioners and the Selectmen voting to appoint someone. There were a total of three letters of interest.
The first applicant was Brian Donahoe. Donahoe, who said he is a 36-year resident of Kingston said, “I’m interested in this because of my past experience in the town as a Sewer Commissioner at the inaugural part of this process… I’m semi-retired so I have more time to spend on something like this… I’ve had 50 years’ experience in this industry.” He also said that he has had an opportunity to talk to the active Sewer Commissioners about the current status of things. One of the Selectmen pointed out that his qualifications would even make him eligible to serve as the Superintendent of the plant. Donahoe confirmed that he is eligible to serve as Superintendent of any plant.
Director of the Kingston Business Association Mark Guidoboni came before the Boards next. He said that his intent was “to ensure that Kingston has adequate infrastructure to stay competitive to bring new businesses into Kingston as well as support the businesses we have with the expansion they need; with our business tax base less than 8 percent of our revenue every year this is an issue that I think we need to make sure that we have a good healthy sewer system and good healthy water as well as the rest of the infrastructure in Kingston.” He noted that since applying for the sewer position he was elected as a member of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee. Given the time constraints he will be under, he instead endorsed Donahoe. “I would yield to the experience Mr. Donahoe brings to the table,” he said.
Applicant Daniel Harlow spoke next saying, “I believe the duty of the Government and representative members, whether they be elected or appointed, is to facilitate the freedoms of the residents and to ensure that all residents have equal treatment, equal opportunity, and transparency of the Government actions.” He continued, “As of today there are currently seven months of meeting minutes that are still missing from the Sewer Commission that have not been posted to the Town’s website… when members of the public do tend to seek answers to questions, they are often met with what I call effective stonewalling.” He said that he believes that Government officials, including the Sewer Commissioners, should never ask questions about who someone is or where they live. He went on to name what he believed to be questionable actions by the Sewer Commission. He said that his main objective would be to “allow information to flow freely from the Government to the people.” One of the current Sewer Commissioners said that the meeting minutes are behind due to staffing issues but noted that all the meetings are recorded.
Donahoe was voted in as the newest Sewer Commissioner by a vote of 6-1.
Cow Plop
The Silver Lake Regional Class of 2025 President Hannah Selig as well as Katie Arnold, Secretary of the Class of 2025 appeared before the Selectmen. “We’re here tonight to ask for the approval of the use of the green out front during the Agricultural Fair to hold a Cow Plop,” Selig said. A cow stands on a series of squares which have been bought by attendees. Winners are declared when a cow defecates or “plops” on a square. Selig said that it was a leading fundraiser in previous years and helps pay for their prom. Selectman Sheila Vaughn asked if there were volunteer opportunities for other students in that class and was told they would just need to reach out to Selig who would find them a role. The Selectmen voted to approve the request.
Police Chief Search and Independent Evaluation
Selectman Tyler Bouchard advocated to his fellow Board members in favor of hiring a firm to conduct the search for a new Police Chief as well as to conduct an independent review of the Department. “I think having something like this in conjunction with interviewing our Command that we have… I think gives us two avenues to pull from – information,” he said. He added that it would give added justification at Town Meeting should the Department need a new patrolman or truck. Regarding the study, Town Administrator Keith Hickey said, “They can review where we stand with policies and procedures, recommendations on if there needs to be some adjustments, modifications, modernization of those polices and procedures.” He said that they would also review command structure, staffing levels, and traffic enforcement. He called the study a “roadmap for the new Police Chief.”
Bouchard also spoke about the accreditation process for the Department. The State describes the process as follows, “The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program offers an accreditation process for police agencies across the Commonwealth.  Like other accreditation programs, the process consists of two major components: (1) the establishment of a body of professional standards for police agencies to meet, and (2) a voluntary assessment process by which agencies can be publicly recognized for meeting those standards considered best practices for the profession.”
Selectman Eric Crone said that he spoke to his brother who has decades of experience as a Police Chief and said that he was wishy-washy about whether he would want an outside evaluation done of the department were he in those shoes. Regarding the hiring process, Crone said, “He had said you want a Police Chief from a similar size department locally… to sit in on your interview board.” Crone also said that he was still against the study as there are formulas to determine personnel and equipment needs and noted that using those formulas would not cost “tens of thousands of dollars.” Several other Selectmen expressed concern over the cost of the evaluation.
Hickey said that his recommendation would be to bring in the consulting firm MRI to present to the Selectmen regarding the evaluation and hiring process. The Selectmen voted to have them attend a future meeting to continue the discussion.
Grant for Ramp Project
Selectman Tyler Bouchard said that on Thursday of the previous week, the Seaport Economic Council awarded Kingston $344,000 for ramp improvements. “It was through the efforts of Tom Bombardier and the people throughout the town and the Townhouse that wrote that grant and put a ton of time into that grant; it looked like a long shot and honestly, it’s going to save, in my opinion, it’s going to save the whole thing. It’s just a huge, huge deal. We got to present the project to the Lieutenant Governor and the Seaport Economic Council, and they voted in favor of our project and said that it was a no brainer,” he explained.
Fire in Kingston Hotel
Hickey spoke regarding a fire that occurred in a Kingston hotel that has been housing migrant families since last fall. He said that the fire occurred in one of the rooms when two small children left something in a microwave. The fire suppressant system in the hotel did work and everyone was eventually allowed back into the room with the exception of the occupants of the affected room. Everyone was safe following the fire. Hickey said, “That building was not built for extended stay, and it has become that and my fear is, God forbid, were something to happen, did the town do whatever we could to prevent whatever tragedy may occur and are we now liable?” He said that he has been in communication and held several meetings with many involved including the Fire Department and hotel ownership.
Openings and Events
There are openings on the following Boards and Committees: the Finance Committee, the Capital Planning Committee, The Community Preservation Committee, The Cultural Commission, the Ichabod Washburn Fund Trustees, Rent Control Board, Housing Authority, Old Colony Elder Affairs Board of Directors, and the Council on Aging (COA) Advisory Board. The COA is also seeking a driver for the Meals on Wheels program.
Music nights at Gray’s Beach will continue on Aug. 15 and Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. “The History of Kingston Schools Exhibit will be at the Adams Center from August 16 through August 31, and you can see the library website for more information on that,” Emberg said.
Public Hearing
There was a public hearing for Eversource to install conduit underground for new electric service at 15 Kingston St. The Board voted to approve the request.

The Plympton Board of Selectmen met on Monday, July 24. The Selectmen took up a vote to issue a notice of non-exercise for 399 Main Street, Figueroa. “This was a parcel, that I believe is going solar,” Chair Christine Joy said. “We did look at that property – I spent some time with the Open Space Co-Chair and the Conservation Agent and we once had this vision of multi-use property – solar, agriculture, affordable housing and in looking more closely at it, it was clear that there is a lot of wetlands and there just wasn’t going to be room to do it.” “ I don’t think it’s a missed opportunity,” Selectman Mark Russo said.
The Selectmen voted to approve a sign at Harry Jason Park. Selectman John Traynor explained that it was being driven by the Recreation Committee. He further said that the Dennett Elementary School soccer field was in bad shape and the program wished to use the field at Harry Jason Park as the grass was in better shape. While the Selectmen approved the request, the Recreation Commission will be responsible for paying for and installing the sign. Traynor said that the sign will be installed prior to the start of the program in September.
The Selectmen voted to approve a pilot agreement for 61 Upland Road. It was previously approved at the May Town Meeting. Joy said it was vetted by all the necessary parties including Town Counsel and the Board of Assessors.
They also voted to approve a proposed agreement to allow the transfer of ownership of land owned by Crescent Moon Cranberry LLC on Upland Road to SolaREIT. Joy asked them to confirm that they were aware of all of the restrictions including conservation and was told that they did. The conservation restrictions include a permanent habitat for Eastern Box turtles and a conservation restriction the town has on the balance of the bog property. Russo touched on the endangered species restriction and noted that he is on the Board of Wildlands Trust. He also said that the Wildlands Trust Board would like to see the town hold both restrictions, rather than the Wildlands Trust being the holders of the endangered species restriction. The Selectmen agreed that they were open to holding both and that it might help to keep things “cleaner.”
The Board also discussed and approved a proposed easement between Jeff and Michelle Smith and SolaREIT to ensure that the abutting homeowners maintain the needed access to their property.
The Selectmen ended their meeting with their raves for the last few weeks. Traynor said that his rave was for the Fire Chief Search Committee. “What an excellent job they did… I think that process of having a Committee of two Fire Chiefs, a Moderator, the Town Administrator, and the Police Chief resulted in a very good decision,” he said. He also gave a shout out to Project Arts that puts on live music on Wednesday evenings at the Plymouth Waterfront. “So, I think my rave is the way things naturally, organically slow-down during the summer; I think people are on vacation and it gives us all a chance to catch our breath a little, get a bit of perspective, so that we kind of gain some momentum with direction as we head into the fall,” Russo said. Joy said her rave was for the possibility of the town taking ownership over the restriction for the Box turtles. “It’s a beautiful forest area that would be protected,” Joy said.