WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=S6hA0akpb6E NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: S6hA0akpb6E): - 00:54:40: Meeting Called to Order, Pledge, and Announcements - 00:57:03: Open Forum: Jones River Herring Count Announcement - 00:58:12: Open Forum: Main Street Redesign Workshop and Committee Openings - 00:59:31: Open Forum: Commission on Disability Member Request - 01:00:06: Introduction of New Civil Service Police Officer - 01:01:21: Acceptance and Layout of Roadways as Public Ways - 01:09:50: Road Acceptance: Speed Table Cost and Language Clarification - 01:10:10: Public Comment: Wetland Concerns and Conservation Easements - 01:12:04: Roadways Approved, Public Hearing on Early Voting - 01:14:32: Public Comment: Early Voting, Encouraging Voter Participation - 01:16:15: Public Comment: Convenience of Early Voting and Cost - 01:17:21: Early Voting vs Absentee, Town Clerk Clarifies Processes - 01:19:13: Board Opts Out of Early Voting, Approves Victiller License - 01:20:50: Discussion of Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Status - 01:27:17: Budget Strategy: Silver Lake and Potential Cuts - 01:36:31: Donation Acceptance, Springtown Meeting Warrant Closure - 01:38:11: Town Administrator's Report, Meeting Adjourned Part: 1 1 00:54:40.000 --> 00:55:04.559 Awesome. All right. Again, I apologize for the for the late start. So, I'm going to call our board of selectmen meeting for Tuesday, March 24th to order. And the time is 6:11. And we will start with the pledge of allegiance. 2 00:55:04.559 --> 00:55:24.960 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, we have a few announcements. 3 00:55:24.960 --> 00:55:41.520 Um, this meeting is being recorded by the local scene. Anyone intending to make an audio or video recording of this meeting should notify the chair at this time. Uh financial assistance applications are available on the town's website or by calling the selectman's office. For 4 00:55:41.520 --> 00:55:56.480 anyone interested in volunteering, there are several vacancies on various committees and boards. To see a complete list of the openings, please visit our website at kingstonmma.gov. Also, check the website for any additional events or notices. Um 5 00:55:56.480 --> 00:56:11.839 our annual town meeting will be held Saturday, May 2nd at Kingston Intermediate School. I forget what time is it? Usually 9. >> 9. Yeah, 9:00 a.m. >> Thank you, Will. >> Okay, >> sounds right. Um, and then our town 6 00:56:11.839 --> 00:56:28.720 election will be on Saturday, May 16th. Um, so please see the town's website for more information. Um, I also want to say, um, congratulations to James Reed on his retirement from the fire department. Um he started as a call firefighter in June 7 00:56:28.720 --> 00:56:44.079 of 1991, appointed full-time September 1, September of 1995 and he's retiring March 31st, 2026 with a total of 35 years of service to the town. So Jim will remain with us as a call fighter 8 00:56:44.079 --> 00:57:03.440 firefighter. So congratulations to him and thank you for um all of his service. tonight. >> No. >> Okay. >> But we do have a plaque that we're gonna give him. All right. So, um 9 00:57:03.440 --> 00:57:20.240 >> we can get him in so >> I can ask him. Yeah. All right. So, next up is uh open forum. If anybody has anything they want to say, they can. Um Yeah. Go ahead. Uh, hi. I'm Jimmy Powell, the ecology program director for the Jones River 10 00:57:20.240 --> 00:57:36.079 Wershed Association, and I just wanted to put in a plug for the uh, annual herring count, which begins April 1st. We actually operate two of them in Kingston. One at Souls Pond, which is just off Elm Street, and one at um, Forge Pond, which is just off Lake Street near the high school. Um, we're 11 00:57:36.079 --> 00:57:52.559 going to be doing an in-person training at Jones River Landing, 55 Landing Road. And that's going to be Sunday, March 29th at 100 p.m. Um, it's a pretty easy thing. You just stare at a ladder for 10 minutes, look at some fish, get to enjoy nature. It's just a nice, easy thing. So, we'd appreciate volunteers if 12 00:57:52.559 --> 00:58:08.760 anybody's interested. Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> And starting April 1st, but when does that end? Approximately >> May 31st. >> May 31st. Okay. >> It ends May 31st. >> Uh, anybody else for open forum? Val. 13 00:58:12.799 --> 00:58:28.400 >> Hi, Valerie Msard, town planner. Uh just wanted to make an announcement that we're holding our second workshop on Main Street in terms of planning for future redesign of that a little bit on April 23rd at 6 PM. Anyone from the 14 00:58:28.400 --> 00:58:44.079 public is welcome to join us and it's here at in this room, room 200 at the town hall. >> Awesome. Thank you. And I forgot to mention in the announcement section um and I do this anytime we have uh people actually attend our meeting. Um, some of 15 00:58:44.079 --> 00:58:59.520 you were here before and heard me say this, but we have plenty of openings for um, our uh, boards and committees, um, appointed boards and committees, even, you know, elected as well. Uh, finance committee always needs members. You don't have to be an expert. You just 16 00:58:59.520 --> 00:59:16.720 need to be willing to help out. Um, spend some time helping your town and your neighbors. Uh, again, you don't have to be an expert. helps to to just be willing to learn and uh deliberate and talk amongst you know the other board members committee members and and 17 00:59:16.720 --> 00:59:31.440 to help make uh make decisions. >> Will go ahead up there. >> What's that? >> You can go and speak. >> Yeah. Do you want to say something? >> Will Kushman 273 Main Street. I just 18 00:59:31.440 --> 00:59:48.240 want to also put a small memory that the commission on disability is still looking for members. So if anybody wants to join, please contact the votment at the town hall. Thank you. >> Thanks, Will. All right. Uh was there anybody else for 19 00:59:48.240 --> 01:00:06.200 open forum before we move on? >> Anybody online that wanted to speak? Doesn't look like it. Nope. Okay. So, our first appointment tonight is the uh introduction of a new civil service police officer, Dylan Oxen. Police Chief Holmes is here. 20 01:00:14.720 --> 01:00:30.640 >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, honorable members, Miss Tucker, Mr. Lambazi. Uh tonight we're introducing a candidate. Um the candidate has been authorized uh the board has authorized me to uh hire on behalf of the board. So Lieutenant Baitman will be introducing our 21 01:00:30.640 --> 01:00:47.520 candidate tonight. >> Good evening. Uh new candidate for hire is Mr. Dylan Oxen. He's a Plymouth resident. He grew up in Plymouth, went to Assumption College. He's been a post-certified police officer since 2020. He spent his first part of his 22 01:00:47.520 --> 01:01:04.480 career so far uh with Plymouth. He made a transition over to BCI, Plymouth County BCI, and uh now he's going to be uh hopefully working for us as long as he makes the conditional uh requirements. Uh he's strong uh 23 01:01:04.480 --> 01:01:21.040 experience and uh strong uh preferences from his professional uh other professional people. Um so with that, that's Mr. Oxen and uh we'll be lucky to have him. Awesome. 24 01:01:21.040 --> 01:02:24.000 Just say quick. stand. >> Thanks, Chief. >> All right. Uh, moving on. Our next uh appointment is uh 6:05 p.m. to discuss the acceptance of and layout of certain roadways known as Captain's Jones Way 25 01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:39.280 and Barrowsbrook Circle as shown on a plan entitled Jones River Estates Subdivision as built plan two sheets prepared by McKenzie Engineering Group of Norwell Mass dated January 1, 2024's public ways and Timber Ridge and Sequoia 26 01:02:39.280 --> 01:02:56.480 Drive as shown on a plan entitled Tall timber estates bay 5 comprehensive permit planing sheet uh three sheets Kingston Mass prepared by McKenzie Engineering Group of Norwell Mass dated July 19th 2018 as public ways. Um Val, 27 01:02:56.480 --> 01:03:13.440 did you want to um introduce all this narrowing down coming through the process which is lengthy of um dealing with the possibility of accepting some private streets as public ways. Uh at 28 01:03:13.440 --> 01:03:30.400 this point we've gone through a public hearing. We've gone through the planning board. We've gone through department review and um we've had a lot of back and forth with the residents and we have a pretty good idea now of the um costs that might be associated with the um 29 01:03:30.400 --> 01:03:46.400 acceptance of these as public ways. They're not very expensive and um what we've talked with residents about is that they're willing to pay those costs. Um, so the stage that we're at tonight is the final stage before this would go 30 01:03:46.400 --> 01:04:03.200 on to the warrant. You're acting as the as road commissioners, if you will. You are the road commissioners for the town and this is your opportunity now to um and everyone's been noticed through a constable. Are you uh willing or do you 31 01:04:03.200 --> 01:04:18.720 want to lay these ways out as public ways? >> Okay. So, um just just to be clear, so we're at um step six, I think, as you have in here, right? So, um we've received the planning board's report, 32 01:04:18.720 --> 01:04:34.480 and just to be clear, the planning board voted against accepting these. Right. >> Right. The planning board's position is that we don't have enough funding to maintain the public ways that we have now. that the um residents who are 33 01:04:34.480 --> 01:04:51.760 buying into these subdivisions are aware that they are um to be managed by the HOAs that that are formed with the subdivision and that so they didn't give you a report on the condition of the waist. Um I'll give you a report of the condition of the ways. They're new. They 34 01:04:51.760 --> 01:05:08.799 were constructed as um requested and per the design that was uh approved by the planning board. Uh we have had discussions with Captain Jones way folks about getting rid of the speed hump and putting in speed tables. 35 01:05:08.799 --> 01:05:25.440 That's part of the agreed upon costs that would be incurred. We're not doing any of that work unless and until you first vote these as public ways and then that makes them eligible to go on to the warrant for town meeting to then vote. 36 01:05:25.440 --> 01:05:41.920 >> We didn't receive any comments from any other departments. Okay. Um, any questions? >> Well, just based on what you said, do we need that report before we can move forward? >> You've received it. >> Oh, we have. Okay. Because I was looking at this and I didn't see it in here, but that's fine. I see the asbuilts, but if 37 01:05:41.920 --> 01:05:56.480 that's what we consider >> they voted against >> I saw the I saw that vote, but the policy says >> the reports. >> Oh, that's it. >> Yep. Yeah, >> because it just says, you know, once the approvals and signatures, the approved conceptual layout plan will be forwarded 38 01:05:56.480 --> 01:06:13.280 to landing board review to advise if the road is adequately built and constructed. So, I guess that's the part that was confusing to me is if they voted against moving forward, it almost implies that it's not adequately. >> So, I'm clarifying for you that they are 39 01:06:13.280 --> 01:06:28.640 adequately built. Good. >> The planning board chose not to report. >> Understood. And um I spoke to the highway department and um they're not concerned um well there's two different roads um two different >> the captain well two different areas. 40 01:06:28.640 --> 01:06:44.480 Captain Jones way and Barrows Brook Circle he said those are short roads. He's not really worried about um um the the the winter maintenance. >> Um and then the um what do you call it? The sweepers in the in the summer. It's 41 01:06:44.480 --> 01:06:59.359 they're relatively short roads. Um obviously the the one downside is the uh speed humps which will become speed tables which are a little bit easier to work with. Um so they didn't seem to have an issue 42 01:06:59.359 --> 01:07:17.280 with it. He said it wasn't going to um be that much more costly than doing the rest of the town. I mean obviously there is a cost associated with it. My only question is I'm assuming from what you've said that 43 01:07:17.280 --> 01:07:32.720 and in initially right now or in the next 3 months or 6 months whatever it takes the town will not be asked to spend a dollar to get these roads in shape or to do anything on these roads for us to accept them. 44 01:07:32.720 --> 01:07:50.720 >> That's correct. that the cost that the planning board is concerned with is going forward plowing the roads and repairing potholes or doing things like that. I personally don't like going against the planning board. However, in 45 01:07:50.720 --> 01:08:08.400 a circumstance like this where the roads are going to be 100% in the position in the way that we expect our roads to be when we accept them, I um probably am willing to go 46 01:08:08.400 --> 01:08:24.319 against the planning board in this situation. I think it would be different if the planning board said no because they thought it wasn't constructed well or they thought it was a liability of some kind in that way. >> I think that would be a different conversation. >> And keep in mind we're coming off of a 47 01:08:24.319 --> 01:08:41.279 winter where we're um how much in the hole in our snow removal budget. 700,000. >> Correct. Approximately 700,000. >> So this bad timing. >> It's Yeah, exactly. >> If you had asked last year, it wouldn't have been a problem. 48 01:08:41.279 --> 01:08:58.880 And Val, if this um is a you know approved tonight and it gets onto the warrant, what is required of them in the form of the table, does that have to happen before the next winter? Is there a timeline when that has to happen? >> I think there's a timeline that we have 49 01:08:58.880 --> 01:09:14.799 to act after town meeting to >> actually record the street layout plans. >> Okay, that's >> So there is some timeline. I'm not familiar with it off the top of my head. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> No. I think the last meeting we talked 50 01:09:14.799 --> 01:09:31.440 about there would be language put into the um article, right, that says like that table needs to be done. Well, I went back and forth with town council today and town council has put language into the layout petition that you have 51 01:09:31.440 --> 01:09:50.159 before you that states that the the uh owners of the road that you have before you would be uh at their sole cost preparing the street acceptance plan and doing the title work and that they would um put the money aside for the speed 52 01:09:50.159 --> 01:10:10.880 table, speed hump. if they don't do them themselves. So, that language is in your street layout vote. >> Okay. >> Okay. Any other questions, comments? Emotion. >> Can Can I ask a question? >> Yes. Who was that? 53 01:10:10.880 --> 01:10:27.040 >> Thank you very much. At Pine Duba, 93 Elm Street. Um, I was involved a little bit in uh both of these projects. Um and uh primarily on Captain Jones Way there's a very large wetland uh storm water system. Uh is that part of the 54 01:10:27.040 --> 01:10:42.239 agreement with the property owners that there's going to be you know uh that that uh maintenance of that because it does it does take work. Um >> the so the town already owns those and right now the HOA is responsible for 55 01:10:42.239 --> 01:10:58.880 maintenance of those. If we were to accept these as public ways, we're talking about the acceptance of the drainage as well as the road itself and uh any associated sidewalks. We are not in the case of Captain Jones talking about the underground 56 01:10:58.880 --> 01:11:15.360 uh septic lines that run up from each house through the pump and up to the leeching field. >> Yeah. No, I'm just I'm just referring to the storm water. as long as as long as we're going to take good care of that because it is a direct uh impact on the Jones River and we do I think have a 200 57 01:11:15.360 --> 01:11:32.320 foot riverfront area that's under conservation if I'm not mistaken on that. You're correct. >> Okay. and on tall timbers. Um I don't know about the storm water up there, but I do also know that there was a open space and I'm not sure if it was ran all 58 01:11:32.320 --> 01:11:49.040 the way to um uh to Ring Road as it was supposed to. Um does the planning board have um that record? >> The planning board was not involved whatsoever in in this subdivision. It was done zoning board of appeals through 59 01:11:49.040 --> 01:12:04.320 40B. >> Right. So, who who would have um the record of the easement there? The conservation easement. >> That is on record. We have it. >> Okay. Great. Excellent. Thank you very much. 60 01:12:04.320 --> 01:12:21.199 >> Uh any other questions? No. Uh would anybody like to make a motion? So, I move to uh vote to lay out the Timber Ridge subdivision and Captain Jones subdivision as detailed in the agenda 61 01:12:21.199 --> 01:12:37.679 appendix. >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> That's unanimous. All right. Thank you. Um, >> in in case you're curious, it's like two pages long and I didn't think you guys 62 01:12:37.679 --> 01:12:55.840 needed to sit through me reading all of that. So, >> I looked at it. That's why I was talking to him about like, do I have to read this whole thing? >> Thank you, Val. >> So, now this goes to on the warrant and to town meeting. 63 01:12:55.840 --> 01:13:12.719 >> Yes. Okay. >> All right. Our next item is a public hearing to vote to opt out of early voting for annual town elections. So, the town has the option to offer early voting for annual local elections. If approved, early voting would permit 64 01:13:12.719 --> 01:13:27.520 registered voters to vote for at least one week prior to the May 16th election. There be additional costs for election workers and and poll pad programming. Town clerk is recommending that the selectman not approve early voting. So, um, we have 65 01:13:27.520 --> 01:13:44.640 >> to read the public hearing notice, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I'm just not there yet. >> That's fine. Sure. >> Um, so I'll just skip over that. Um, so the public hearing notice, the Kingston Board of Selecmen will hold a public hearing at the Kingston Townhouse, 26 Evergreen Street, Kingston, Mass on 66 01:13:44.640 --> 01:14:00.640 Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 6:15 p.m. for public um input concerning opting out of early voting by mail for the May 16th, 2026 annual town election. State law allows cities and towns to opt out of early voting by mail and local 67 01:14:00.640 --> 01:14:16.719 elections. A town can only opt out of vote for by mail for a local election after the board of select hold the public hearing and take a recorded vote to do so at least 45 days before the election. Um, someone want to make a motion to open the hearing. 68 01:14:16.719 --> 01:14:32.480 >> I move the board of selectman open the public hearing. >> Second. >> All right. Would anybody from the public like to speak to this? >> Yes. Let's take a vote on that. You second that. I did. >> And all those in favor? I. >> All right. Sorry. 69 01:14:32.480 --> 01:14:51.440 >> My name is Marsha. I live at 141 Lake Street and I'm here to urge you to not >> You have to hit the mic. Sorry. >> Do I have to start again? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> My name is Marcia Meek. I live at 141 Lake Street and I'm here to urge you to 70 01:14:51.440 --> 01:15:08.000 not opt out of early voting um at our local elections. Um, the town suffers already from a lack of participation. I think this would be a signal in the wrong direction. I believe that we 71 01:15:08.000 --> 01:15:26.480 should encourage voting, more voting, easier voting, and I think that early voting is one way in which the town um affords its residents many, many avenues to vote. Um, I didn't see any data in 72 01:15:26.480 --> 01:15:41.280 the uh agenda other than uh some anecdotal comments by the town clerk. I believe that there would be some cost associated with it. I think the town has borne 73 01:15:41.280 --> 01:15:59.520 those cost in the past. Um, I don't think the town is so strapped for cash that it it it should take this step. Um, I know it is strapped. I see the town manager over there. However, um, I think 74 01:15:59.520 --> 01:16:15.199 this is definitely the wrong step to take even in very tight financial times. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um, anybody else >> uh online? >> Yep. Go ahead, Pine. 75 01:16:15.199 --> 01:16:32.560 >> Hi. Hi. Pine Devois, 93 Elm Street. I I agree with u the former speaker there. I you know I have voted early um for convenience for no other reason really but I can imagine somebody being out of town or or needing to you know take 76 01:16:32.560 --> 01:16:47.280 advantage of that and um if it's if it's such an issue was there did did uh the clerk give us a you know a cost to us that would demonstrate that it was so beyond our reach to be able to offer 77 01:16:47.280 --> 01:17:05.280 this as a as a tool for for citizens I think we really need to, you know, engage the public and and um try and try and get everybody to be able to participate. Um so I I would be in favor of keeping early. 78 01:17:05.280 --> 01:17:21.280 I did find it convenient and and um I I like being as flexible as possible. >> To be clear, absentee ballots is ballots are always available. Correct. Okay. >> Yeah. And actually um to the point of the previous speakers, thank you very 79 01:17:21.280 --> 01:17:38.000 much for speaking your opinion. Um access to voting is imperative and something that we strive for every day in the clerk's office. Um the legislature and their infinite wisdom created early voting when we in fact we 80 01:17:38.000 --> 01:17:53.360 already have absentee voting. So if you're not able to come to the polls on election day, you have the option to vote absentee. You can come into our office early um or you can request a ballot be mailed to you for absentee voting. Early voting 81 01:17:53.360 --> 01:18:09.280 kind of just it it's another term uh that the difference is it's it's no excuses voting, but this would only be this opt out of mailing. We're not required to do in-person early voting and we won't and have never offered that 82 01:18:09.280 --> 01:18:26.800 for our local elections for the annual town election. Um, so but as soon as the ballots are ready, you are able to come into the office and vote an absentee ballot, which is why we were comfortable with not opting in for early voting. The 83 01:18:26.800 --> 01:18:42.400 additional cost is uh postage is going up. Yes, you're right. It's not it's not $10,000. It's also bandwidth of our staff in the office as well. So, thank you. 84 01:18:42.400 --> 01:18:58.560 Uh, is there anybody else online or or here that want to speak? >> No, I'm thankful for the clarification because at first I I was thinking the same thing that it would negate the absentee ballot and it's not that. Okay. Right. Thank you. >> All right. Doesn't look like anybody 85 01:18:58.560 --> 01:19:13.679 else wanted to speak up. Um, >> what? >> I was just going to close it. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> I move board of select close the public hearing. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> All right. uh any discussion. 86 01:19:13.679 --> 01:19:31.040 I'm I'm fine with not with with opting out. Yeah, >> I've always felt that it's kind of a duplication of the absentee ballot process so that I have no objections to opting out. 87 01:19:31.040 --> 01:19:46.800 >> Somebody want to make a motion? >> I move the board of selectman do not approve early voting for the May 16th, 2026 annual town election. >> Second. All those in favor? >> I. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, um, we have an 88 01:19:46.800 --> 01:20:02.880 approval of a new common, uh, Victiller license. Did I say that right? >> Yeah. >> Um, >> finally got it close. Um, for Jersey Mike's. Uh, so Mass Sub6 >> LLC um is requesting a new common 89 01:20:02.880 --> 01:20:18.560 Vicweller license for Jersey Mike's sub sandwich shop. The set application is for 182 Summer Street, Sweet 100 for the hours of 10 to 9:00 p.m. daily. All departments have signed off on this request. The building department will provide the occupancy permit once 90 01:20:18.560 --> 01:20:35.840 reviewed and approved by the board. So, any questions, comments? >> I'm very excited. That's my comment. >> Yeah, >> very excited that Jersey Mits is coming this way. >> Um >> hopefully. >> Right. All right. I move the board of 91 01:20:35.840 --> 01:20:50.640 selectment approve the new common visuals license for Mass Subs 6 LLC for Jersey Mike's Sub Sandwich Shop. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I Well, welcome to Kingston. 92 01:20:50.640 --> 01:21:08.320 >> Thank you very much. We're excited to be here. >> I'm I'm looking forward to a a large mic's way, I think it is. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you and good luck. >> Thank you very much. Have a great night. 93 01:21:08.320 --> 01:21:24.080 >> Speaking of good luck. >> Yeah, >> it's run out. >> We're We're almost done. This next one's quick. Um >> discussion of the FY uh 2027 budget. Um >> um not just I want to make sure that you 94 01:21:24.080 --> 01:21:40.640 do have the latest copy. I think that we do probably. Um but this one does reflect um the numbers as we know of them to exist today. Um so this is this is just a um a status 95 01:21:40.640 --> 01:21:57.040 update. This isn't a full um you know complete budget at this point. Um I want to say that it is behind schedule as we have mentioned probably six to eight weeks and there's been a lot of transition as you are all well aware in 96 01:21:57.040 --> 01:22:14.239 um certainly in my position that's led to a lot of this um but all the departments have submitted their level service budget. So uh by definition level service budget reflects cost required to maintain existing services at their current levels. Um this 97 01:22:14.239 --> 01:22:31.760 accounts for contractual obligations, inflationary pressures, and known cost drivers. Um what this does not include is any new programs, expanded services, or additional staffing requests. And many departments um identified programs 98 01:22:31.760 --> 01:22:47.440 and enhancements and operational improvements that they would like to pursue um in recognition of the current financial constraints. They have uh been deferred for this year. Um, that being said, I would encourage that maybe at our next meeting we have 99 01:22:47.440 --> 01:23:03.679 we start bringing in uh some of those departments starting with probably police and fire and streets and trees to let them at least have an opportunity to explain what those programs were that they did that they would have liked to ask for but they couldn't. Um, so based 100 01:23:03.679 --> 01:23:20.159 on the most recent iteration, the one that I I just handed out, we're currently projecting a de deficit of a little over $300,000. And this gap that is there now is is largely driven by the school committee's request uh to include the additional 101 01:23:20.159 --> 01:23:35.120 $400,000 contribution to set up and start a capitalized stabilization account. Um, so I want to emphasize that overall the requests from both the school districts are not unreasonable. In fact, they they um the 102 01:23:35.120 --> 01:23:51.920 you know idea of having a capital stabilization program is a sound long-term strategy that we shouldn't dismiss. Um but given our current fiscal environment, uh it does present some challenges and we really need to um try 103 01:23:51.920 --> 01:24:07.280 and work on that and and work within what we can balance right this year. On the revenue side, um you'll see that the, you know, we're moderately optimistic with our forecast. Um I do feel that we do have the appropriate 104 01:24:07.280 --> 01:24:25.679 level of conservativism in there. Um you know, we don't want to push our push it too far, but I think that what we are estimating um for our our receipts is is viable. Um we have not had certified free cash 105 01:24:25.679 --> 01:24:42.960 at this point. We're actively working um we have work working with some consultants now to try and um speed up the process and get us through um and get it done. But some of the um key decisions that we're going to have to make in in the 106 01:24:42.960 --> 01:24:59.840 very near future will be um you know what we're going to do as far as capital um in capital funding. Um, we do have a snow and ice deficit that we've been talking about that's in the 700,000 plus area and we need to um deal with the 107 01:24:59.840 --> 01:25:14.960 Silver Lake Regional School District request. So, I do plan to engage with the school committee to explore some options that may work for them and I'm sure there are some that we can come together and uh and I and I think that we're in a in a in a good place right 108 01:25:14.960 --> 01:25:31.360 now that we can balance this budget. The school committee is actually coming to the finance committee Thursday night. Uh so we're looking forward to starting that discussion then with them. Um overall I do want to you know thank 109 01:25:31.360 --> 01:25:46.880 the finance director. I want to thank the department heads and and um uh George. I think you all remember George. He's been working diligently with me also um to put these put this budget together and and you know considering that we as he said we started it late 110 01:25:46.880 --> 01:26:05.040 but we are in um overall I feel like we're in a good position that we can get this over the hump relatively soon. >> So same question as last time. Do we need to move town meeting? >> I don't feel that we do have to move move town meeting. I think it if we want to revisit that um you know in two weeks 111 01:26:05.040 --> 01:26:20.800 when we meet again we certainly can. But I feel that we we would be able to get this budget prepared and balanced and and good to go. >> Um >> is there I know that the free cash is 112 01:26:20.800 --> 01:26:35.920 not certified yet and I know you know I understand that. Is there any detriment to us for not having it done at a certain timing? Is there >> um yeah certainly we need to know sooner or later that that does drive a lot of the decisions that we want to make. It 113 01:26:35.920 --> 01:26:52.800 will d drive decisions um with maybe what we can do with the schools. It will drive decisions obviously on any capital programs. It will drive decisions on our snow and ice deficit and you know what we want to do if we have to request money from um the 114 01:26:52.800 --> 01:27:09.280 stabilization account to help with some of those um issues. the, you know, obviously that the uh snowstorms were uh much much bigger this year than ever expected and if there was ever a time to maybe consider using stabilization funds, this would be a time that I would 115 01:27:09.280 --> 01:27:26.639 probably recommend it. So, um yeah, it it does it it is important in a lot of the future decisions that we have to make. >> And so, um you know, to that extent, I will continue to update the board frequently. Yeah. >> Um certainly um anything that comes up 116 01:27:26.639 --> 01:27:42.320 within the next couple weeks, I'll make sure the board's aware of it and then um you know, we'll have this discussion again in two weeks. >> And I do want to thank Carl because he's actually been helping quite a bit on this budget as well. 117 01:27:42.320 --> 01:27:59.920 The only comment I'd like to make is the in in relation to Silver Lake and the assessment that I we need to recognize that Silver Lake did a 2 and a half% bottom line 118 01:27:59.920 --> 01:28:17.199 operating expense budget and it go they you know put this line item in for their capital for the 400k or thereabouts. for the town of Kingston. I'm a little concerned that if we push back too hard, 119 01:28:17.199 --> 01:28:34.560 if they do decide or if they uh want to try to do anything with this 400k that they may say, "Hey, we tried to offset that by doing a 2 and a.5% increase. we have some reductions because of that two and a half percent 120 01:28:34.560 --> 01:28:50.320 increase. So that if you're not going to approve us doing the 400k as a line item, then we're going to increase other items in the budget. So that I believe we'd probably end up with 3.3% 121 01:28:50.320 --> 01:29:07.440 as the assessment no matter what. I would kind of challenge the administration here to continue to look at the operations to pick up 3 to 400K. For instance, public safety it has 122 01:29:07.440 --> 01:29:25.760 police and fire has salaries of $9.2 million including overtime of a million 250 or thereabouts. So, you know, I if we were to ask for 100k of overtime 123 01:29:25.760 --> 01:29:44.400 reduction, that's 100K coming out of a million3 coming 100K coming out of 9.2 million. Um employee benefits um is the um 7 124 01:29:44.400 --> 01:30:03.520 uh 9.5 million which is up $750,000 or 8 and a half%. I would look at taking a challenge there. Maybe I can't support it but I'll take a ch if I'm running running the show take a challenge of reducing that by 100k or so. uh public 125 01:30:03.520 --> 01:30:21.120 works, human services, recreation, all put together have a budget of um I don't know three4 million. Okay. Can I find a h 100,000 there? Um 126 01:30:21.120 --> 01:30:39.360 waste water and water. Um, can can we you know, we we really don't have finalized what the charges to them are going to be, so that may pick up something. Uh the 127 01:30:39.360 --> 01:30:56.560 um streets, trees, and parks. Okay. There's a 200k line item in there above and beyond the um the state aid that we use to surf resurface roads. So if we have to make a 128 01:30:56.560 --> 01:31:13.679 sacrifice one year to you know cut that 200k in half, there's another possible 100k. A lot of these items that I'm talking about are to me a an effort to say, "Hey, we're going to get by one more year without a Proposition 2 and a 129 01:31:13.679 --> 01:31:31.600 half." Recognizing that tightening up everything this year may make it more necessary that we have a two and a half override next year. Um the final item I think we've discussed before um 130 01:31:31.600 --> 01:31:49.280 is the possibility of we I'll get back to this 400k line item from the schools for their um um for their um capital going forward. 131 01:31:49.280 --> 01:32:05.440 I if if we wanted to do an override just for that item, you can do an override for that item with no impact to the taxpayers because what you've done is you've taken 132 01:32:05.440 --> 01:32:21.440 400k of revenue out. Okay? So that means you have less ability to spend. You can't spend that 400k in the budget. So, if you did a reclassification in the form of a uh override just for that 133 01:32:21.440 --> 01:32:38.560 item, think of it as I had a million dollar of revenue including $100,000 for this particular for for the debt financing. Now, that $100,000 went away. So, I've 134 01:32:38.560 --> 01:32:54.239 only got 900. So that last year I could have have expenses of a million dollars because I had a million in revenue. Now if I added back that 100k then I'm back to being able to spend the million 135 01:32:54.239 --> 01:33:11.360 dollars but I don't have an impact to taxpayers. My concern with that is I can see the strange looks here. getting people to understand it at a town meeting >> may be it certainly will be difficult 136 01:33:11.360 --> 01:33:28.480 possibly impossible. I think my last item on my wish list is to work with the um assessing the people and say hey uh c can I find another 50k of uh new growth? 137 01:33:28.480 --> 01:33:45.920 Can I find can I get by with 50k less of the overlay? So there's 100k. So I I just, you know, would encourage us to all be working together to find ways to um 138 01:33:45.920 --> 01:34:03.440 the local schools. I'd rather try to work with the local schools for than the Silver Lake. the local schools, you know, I if we have extra free cash, which we probably not, but let's say we free cash comes in stronger than we expect. Okay, schools, can we deal with 139 01:34:03.440 --> 01:34:20.320 you? You reduce your budget by 100K, we'll give you a line item of 100K of free cash to go out and buy some of your technology, which we used to do all the time. >> Okay. So that I agree 100% with Scott 140 01:34:20.320 --> 01:34:36.000 that there are ways to take care of this 3 to 400k of a challenge that we have right now. And I just wanted to put some of those items out on the table for us to all be thinking about so that the 141 01:34:36.000 --> 01:34:52.239 next time around if Scott comes back and says I can't do anything with Silver Lake. Okay. I've still got a 300K problem. Okay, Scott. Okay, fire, police, we're asking you to reduce 100k. And of course, my I'm expecting my 142 01:34:52.239 --> 01:35:06.880 finance committee, I see the finance chair here, to come up with some reductions in the budget uh along the way. But u anyway, >> I think so. Our finance committee doesn't always cut stuff though 143 01:35:06.880 --> 01:35:24.639 in my experience in the past. >> I'm looking at you, Carl, >> up until the last year. All right. All right. >> It always did. >> But anyhow, that that's just my two cents worth from my experience in dealing with the budgets, etc. 144 01:35:24.639 --> 01:35:41.840 >> And and I do I was hoping to come in here and meeting with um Scott and George this morning. I was hoping to come in and say, "Oh, we've so conservative in excise tax revenue and ambulance revenue. by far the two 145 01:35:41.840 --> 01:35:58.000 biggest ones that we have local control over that we could say, "Hey, come on guys, give pick up some revenue." But I agree with Scott. Um I I think that he's got those numbers about as high as I dare to go on them. 146 01:35:58.000 --> 01:36:14.000 >> I would say the one caveat to this conversation of just squeaking by is that we have contracts to negotiate and we're not talking about the content of that obviously because negotiations are in progress. But right now this is assuming no anything. Right. 147 01:36:14.000 --> 01:36:31.199 So I mean we have to consider that that's a piece of this puzzle that we just don't have. >> Yeah. >> And um I would like to say we cross that bridge when we come to it. >> We're pretty much on the bridge >> fall town meeting. >> Okay. 148 01:36:31.199 --> 01:36:48.800 >> Right. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you, Scott. Um moving on. Uh, we have an acceptance of donation to Council on Aging. Um, somebody like to make a motion. >> I move the board of selectmen accept the donations made to the C Kingston Council 149 01:36:48.800 --> 01:37:04.000 on Aging. $25 from Robert and Melody Tasinari, $50 from John and Katherine Koko. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> um close annual Springtown meeting warrant. So, we don't have any articles 150 01:37:04.000 --> 01:37:21.280 yet, but are we are we closing it? >> We're closing it. reopen to put the opportunity for submission or any other. >> So, keeping in mind we can um we can edit them but we can edit the language of them but the idea is that the articles that we are expecting to 151 01:37:21.280 --> 01:37:37.520 receive we've received so that we can start working with legal counsel and work out all the details. >> Okay. Somebody like to make a motion. >> My comment before that's made and I've said it every year. I like the idea of closing the warrant and keeping it 152 01:37:37.520 --> 01:37:54.000 closed unless there's major items that we don't reopen it because we need to >> do something for $10,000 here, there, or wherever. >> Yep, >> that's it. >> Plus, if we have to open it, you can always reopen it. You can always vote 153 01:37:54.000 --> 01:38:11.159 no. >> Yes. I'll let someone else close it. I move the board of selectment to close the 2026 annual town meeting warrant. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I >> I >> uh town administrator's report. 154 01:38:11.280 --> 01:38:27.280 >> Yeah. No, that's a good that's a good report. Uh selectman comments. Anything? No. Next regular meeting April 7th, 2026. And a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I 155 01:38:27.280 --> 01:38:31.719 >> That's it. 54 p.m.