The 250th Anniversary Committee approved minutes from June 4, July 18, and July 16. Total spending was $2,792.68 on the event, which raised $4,281, leaving $1,878.32 for distribution. The committee voted to donate $1,000 to the Sons of the American Revolution, $150 to the Daughters of the American Revolution, $150 to the Kingston Fire Women’s Auxiliary, and approximately $678 to the Heritage Association. Plans were made to present the Sons' donation at their upcoming meeting. Remaining supplies will be donated to the Heritage Days event and the Rec Center. A flag donated by the Sons was given to the museum. Financial documents will be submitted to Bob next week for finalization.
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The Kingston Select Board met on July 13. Skip Sansfoozy reviewed a tax abatement request for Unitil Energy Systems involving a solar field valuation dispute. The board directed Sansfoozy to negotiate with Unitil regarding payment terms for a refund between $178,000 and $190,000, with a report due by the August 10 meeting. Police Chief Joel Johnson requested authorization to accept $130,000 in federal funds from the 287G program for officier stipends and vehicles. Regarding a resident's request for town reimbursement for missing trash bins at a Rella's Ridge Road property, the board voted unanimously to deny payment. The board also reviewed an estimate of $13,600 to replace a rec center heat pump, with Tom suggesting it could potentially wait until fall. They signed a $559 purchase for fire department medical supplies.
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The committee tabled approval of previous minutes. SPEAKER_3 moved to donate any remaining event proceeds to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Heritage Commission, and one other organization. SPEAKER_6 amended the motion to include all three groups, and the committee approved it. Currently, the committee has approximately \$1,500 remaining in the budget, with potential allocations of \$250 to each organization after further expenses like swag and t-shirts. A stone for a "black hole" was ordered, with confirmation pending. SPEAKER_1 will contact the Congregational Church regarding bell ringing and coordinate with the Timberlane Community Music Association to finalize a traditional song list for the orchestra. SPEAKER_4 will arrange to cut a check for the musicians via the Heritage Commission's town approval process. The evening's schedule and setup logistics for Friday and Saturday were discussed.
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The Kingston Select Board met June 29, 2026. June Philbrook was introduced as the new Select Board Administrator, beginning a two-week transition with Robin Carter.
The board voted 3-1 to award the five-year solid waste management contract to ELM starting January 1, 2028, estimating annual savings of $50,000. SPEAKER_12 voted against due to cost concerns regarding curbside recycling.
Auditors from AAF CPAs presented findings on 17 months of financial records, identifying over 500 deleted transactions and the need for 14 journal entries to correct $1.6 million in interfund transfers. They recommended new software and further investigation into deleted transactions.
The board unanimously approved signing the 2024 draft audit report. They approved a $7,500 purchase order for Highway Department I-Works software renewal. The board also approved a $23,800 purchase order for Verdantis stormwater compliance services for permit year nine (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2028).
An informational meeting regarding Long Pond dam repairs, scheduled for July 1, 2026, was noted. The board agreed to allow a YMCA Camp Lincoln banner at the fire station for two weeks prior to July 26th, contingent on the Fire Chief's approval.
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Speakers approved minutes from May and April. The committee learned the minute taker resigned effective August 1st; the hiring process is underway, requiring applicant interviews and a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen. A review of year-to-date finances revealed projected overages: gasoline ($18,000), trash ($48,000), and recycling ($28,000). Fringe benefits were underutilized due to a filled fire department position, while increased fire overtime offset an unfilled full-time role. Heating fuel budget consolidation into one line item was confirmed. A request was made to clarify police detail fund transactions. The committee must now prepare the default budget under new legislation (HB 1575) instead of reviewing a Selectmen-prepared version. The next meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 6:30 PM.
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