The Kingston Board of Selectmen met on Monday, Aug. 19. Chair Eric Crone said that there was a retirement and a resignation for the two administrative assistant positions within the Veterans’ Department. As a result, the Selectmen would be appointing a Veterans’ Agent. He noted that the position was advertised and interviews held. Town Administrator Keith Hickey said that they looked at a few options including a joint position with a neighboring community. He continued saying, “We also found out… that the Veteran’s Administration had added a certification that was necessary for Veteran’s Agent to submit reimbursements to the VA. Our two former admins did not have the background to do that… you’ve got to be a Veteran’s Agent and not just an admin.”
Hickey said that they were making a recommendation to appoint Lisa Eriksson to the position as a Grade 5, Step 4 paygrade. He noted that it was $1,772.00 more than what they have in the fiscal year budget for 2025. He did say however, that due to the retirements the money was there. “I think she’s a great candidate; she worked in the Veteran’s office in the town of Carver… and she is a veteran,” Hickey told the Selectmen. The Selectmen voted unanimously to appoint her. It was said that there were no plans to replace the administrative assistant role.
Crone also said that they would be looking to appoint someone to the position of public safety dispatcher. Kingston Police Chief Brian Holmes introduced Andrew Burke, who he said is an undergraduate at Curry College. Holmes said he was vetted by a Committee which included himself and dispatch. He further stated that he was chosen from a pool of 50 applicants. The Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint him.
Holmes also addressed the request to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pay for items for the Department that he called “needs” not “wants.” Among the items needed was a portable breath test and body worn cameras. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the use of ARPA funds no greater than $28,756.00 to purchase the necessary equipment.
Hickey said that he watched the August 13 Water Commissioners’ meeting where they discussed the proposed funding request for a new well. The Water Commissioners plan to bring an article to the fall town meeting to fund the design portion of the new well, but not the actual building of the well. Hickey said he would like to see them reconsider the decision to hold off asking for funding for the building of the well until the spring. Hickey said, “There’s current property owners that need water that can’t get it, there are other property owners that are looking to either develop or redevelop their property but can’t. We just passed this past spring an accessory dwelling unit bylaw that if a person has an accessory dwelling unit and they want to bring it forward, if it’s a new unit they can’t connect to water. There are some real financial challenges that not being able to connect to water brings.”
The town and school department staff met to establish a school zone for the Silver Lake campus. He said that they would have a recommendation on it at the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Hickey said that in conjunction with the Streets, Trees, and Parks, The Superintendent’s Office, The Planning Department, and the Police Department, they have come up with a plan that they believe will meet all State requirements. An engineering firm is going over the plans to make sure it is feasible. Hickey said in addition to signage for the schools, he included a design for a “welcome to Kingston” sign. “The Planning Board supports the designs you see in front of you this evening,” he told the Selectmen. Hickey said the project would be ongoing for a few years as funding sources, such as CPC grants, become available. He said they would be looking to get approval from the Board of Selectmen in the near future.
Hickey also provided a personnel update. A van driver for the Council on Aging has resigned. Additionally, the School Committee would be interviewing candidates for the vacancy on the Kingston School Committee.
Hickey said that the Conservation Agent and himself plan to meet with Brockton’s mayor to discuss Brockton’s withdrawal of water from Silver Lake. “Brockton is withdrawing far greater water than they are supposed to be. Silver Lake is down about 2 feet.” He continued, “The concern that some of the Conservation people have in town is that the fish won’t be able to swim to the ocean this fall because the water levels won’t be high enough so we would like to at least have a conversation to try to address at least the issue Kingston is having.”
He noted that DEP had been reached out to, but called them “hesitant” to enforce the existing agreement.