The Kingston Board of Selectmen met Tuesday, Dec. 17. The Selectmen donned festive holiday sweaters. Kingston Police Chief Brian Holmes attended the meeting to speak on the appointment of special police officers and matrons. “We’ll be increasing the number and at the next scheduled meeting, I’ll be requesting that the Board authorize me to call for a list of permanent intermittent civil service part timers; there’s a functional difference between that and special police officers and I’ll be happy to explain that prior to and on the evening that I request that,” Holmes explained.
Selectman Kimberley Emberg read the list of appointments including Michelle E. Beck and Taylor A. O’Neill as Matrons and Darren J. Martin, Marks J. Brenner Jr., and Sean Percy as Special Police Officers. All terms begin January 1, 2025 and end December 31, 2025.
Due to a recent vacancy in the Veteran’s Agent position, Town Administrator Keith Hickey recommended the appointment of Sara Lansing following the recruitment process. The anticipated start date is February 3. Emberg noted that the Wage and Personnel Board, which currently only consists of two members, was split on the paygrade. Emberg said, “I get that we [the Selectmen] are the hiring authority and at the end of the day we can hire people at whatever step we think is appropriate… I can’t support a step 7 given the information we have before us this evening and what was discussed at the Board [Wage and Personnel] meeting last night.” The Selectmen decided to schedule a joint meeting with the Wage and Personnel Board to discuss further prior to approval of the appointment/hiring.
Emberg reviewed the Boards and Committees with openings including two on Capital Planning, one on Wage and Personnel, and a few openings on the Finance Committee. “There are more, but I wanted to call a couple by name,” Emberg said.
Hickey said the flashing school zone lights will be installed on December 26 and 27. “Weather permitting the school zone will be operational and all the necessary lighting up and running by the end of the calendar year so that’s good news,” he said.
Hickey praised the Council on Aging for their Christmas lunch where they served over 100 meals. “Everyone who attended seemed really, really pleased and had a great time. Holly Nighelli, the acting Director, and her staff did a tremendous job as did Santa Clause… everyone had a great time, ate well, laughed – it was nice to see,” Hickey said. Emberg also thanked those involved with the Santa ride through town and for all the donations for Toys for Tots.
The Selectmen reviewed a draft of a timeline for the annual town meeting. Selectmen Chair Eric Crone reminded those in attendance that the Selectmen elected at their December 3 meeting to move the date of town meeting earlier to April 26. Crone said that the Town Clerk has recommended that the election be held on May 17. They voted to approve the schedule as proposed.
The Selectmen also accepted a $1,000 donation to the Kingston Public Library for books, $10,000 to the Kingston Animal Shelter, $100 grocery gift cards to the Veteran’s Department, and $1,100 donation to the Veterans Department.