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The meeting opened with an immediate shift in leadership as the committee conducted its annual reorganization. The slate was approved unanimously, installing Gordon Laws as Chair, Amy Cortright as Vice Chair, Lukasz Kowalski as Secretary, and Mark Guidoboni as Assistant Treasurer. With Chair Laws absent, Vice Chair Cortright took the gavel to lead the committee through a series of major fiscal and operational decisions.

The single most critical development of the evening centered on the long-term maintenance of the district’s 21-year-old facilities. Committee Member Mark Guidoboni provided a comprehensive update from the Safety, Fees and Revenues Subcommittee (SFFR) subcommittee, highlighting a major financial milestone for the region. Through a collaborative effort with the finance committees and select boards of Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton, the district successfully recaptured expiring debt capacity to establish a dedicated Silver Lake Stabilization Fund.

This stabilization fund balance sits at approximately $700,000 and can begin to address a daunting backlog of deferred maintenance. Guidoboni warned that while the district’s facilities staff, led by Director Mike Lawless, saved taxpayers an estimated $136,000 by handling items internally, the total remaining “house doctor’s” capital list still sits at a staggering $53 million.

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The Annual Town Meeting, overseen by newly elected Moderator Michael Cowett, moved efficiently through its early agenda by passing a 16-item consent agenda in a single sweep. However, routine proceedings ground to a halt when citizen petitions for private street acceptances hit the floor.

While Article 40 saw the public acceptance of Timber Ridge Lane and Sequoia Drive pass with minimal opposition, the Captain Jones subdivision (Article 41) faced a deeply critical reception from town officials. The Planning Board delivered a unanimous 0-5 unfavorable recommendation, and the Finance Committee voted 1-2-2 against acceptance. Town Planner Valerie Massard clarified that the Planning Board’s opposition is part of a broader strategy to manage the town’s long-term financial liabilities by limiting the intake of new public roads.

The debate intensified when Highway Superintendent Shawn Turner raised operational concerns regarding an existing neighborhood speed hump. Turner noted that the highway department lacked the municipal funding to safely re-engineer the infrastructure. Massard revealed that while the homeowners association had verbally agreed to cover the estimated $27,000 cost to replace the speed hump with two standard speed tables, Town Counsel determined that any such agreement could not be made legally binding or enforceable within the warrant article language itself.

Seeking a compromise, Select Board Chair Kimberley A. Emberg introduced an amendment making the road acceptance explicitly contingent upon the speed hump issue being resolved to town specifications at no cost to the town. Although the amendment passed, subsequent warnings from Town Counsel that the contingency remained legally unenforceable prompted a motion to postpone.

Residents defended the neighborhood’s inclusion, presenting data that showed the subdivision acts as a vital public safety cut-through. A neighborhood traffic sample recorded 241 vehicles utilizing the road during a two-hour morning window on June 3, and 246 vehicles on June 6. Proponents argued the road functions effectively as a public connector between Route 27 and Route 106, which directly relieves congestion at the Cumberland Farms intersection and assists navigating fire apparatus. Ultimately, town meeting members favored financial caution, voting to push the article to the Special Town Meeting on October 21, 2026.

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The Cushman Farms project—proposed near Marion Drive and adjacent to the local elementary school—has frustrated town officials and neighbors for several years. On June 1, 2026, the ZBA finally rendered a decision. Chairman Paul Dahlen reported that the board successfully leveraged conditions to scale back the development’s impact.

The approved conditions mandate wider access roads at the Marion Drive entrance, restrict building heights to three floors, completely block emergency road access to Copper Beach Drive, and enforce strict parameters around groundwater and local floodplains. Most notably, the ZBA forced a 35% reduction in density, chopping the developer’s original proposal of 162 units down to 105 units.

“[The developer] made very clear that they would not yield on density, and we diminished their approved density of 162 units by 35% down to 105 units. We’ll see if it sticks.” [01:28:04] — Marsha Meekins, ZBA Member

However, the regulatory victory was instantly overshadowed when ZBA member Marsha Meekins took to the microphone to explain why she abstained from the vote. Marsha leveled a stunning accusation against her own board’s leadership and Town Counsel, revealing that a private meeting had been held with the developer from which the public was completely barred.

Meekins argued that because the public hearing officially closed on March 18, 2026, state law mandated a final decision within 40 days (by April 27). She alleged that a critical extension agreement from the developer was not filed with the Town Clerk until April 30, meaning the project may technically be “deemed approved” via a procedural lapse, rendering the ZBA’s newly imposed conditions legally vulnerable.

Chairman Dahlen vigorously defended the process, explaining that the applicant requested the continuation to negotiate concessions after realizing the board was prepared to deny the project over a 100-year floodplain issue. Dahlen asserted that because the developer provided written consent to waive the deadlines via email, the cancellation of the public meeting was entirely legal, adding that a meeting could not have been held anyway due to the difficulty of securing a voting quorum.

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The meeting opened with the completion of the School Committee’s annual reorganization led by Chair Megan Cannon. By unanimous votes, the committee elected Jesse A. Keith as Vice Chairperson and Sheila Vaughn as Secretary. Committee members were also meticulously distributed across regional boards and local subcommittees, filling critical vacancies on policy, technology, and health and safety teams to align with incoming member Jennifer Krowchun’s arrival. Following a brief executive session to handle personnel and collective bargaining strategy, the board shifted entirely into operational performance, launching its comprehensive year-end reporting cycle.

The cornerstone of the evening was a data-driven presentation tracing a three-year upward trajectory across early literacy and mathematics. Reporting fresh data from spring benchmarks concluded just days prior, administrators revealed that Kingston’s foundational reading metrics—tracking phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and decoding for grades K through 3 via DIBELS—climbed steadily from a 66% baseline in the fall to finish at 79%. While kindergarten through second-grade cohorts surged to an 83% proficiency rate, outpacing the district’s 80% goal, third-grade scores lagged slightly at 72%. To address this specific gap, officials outlined an immediate summer action plan to train third-grade educators in “Classroom OG” (Orton-Gillingham) phonics interventions.

“We started co-teaching like five years ago at KES, and for the first time since starting co-teaching, we had our first co-taught first grade classroom end the year with no students needing intensive support. Nobody in red on DIBELS.” — 00:25:35 Kingston Elementary Principal Jake Galewski

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The meeting commenced with the standard annual post-election reorganization of the board. Selectman Carl Pike nominated Kim Emberg to serve as the new chairperson of the Board of Selectmen, a motion that carried unanimously. Missy Bateman was subsequently appointed as the vice chairperson, and newly returned board member Sheila Vaughn accepted the role of clerk. Joe Cunningham Jr., also elected to the board in the recent Saturday municipal race, was welcomed to his first official session.

The board immediately stepped into an adjudicatory public hearing regarding three separate annual restaurant all-alcoholic beverage licenses issued to the Indian Pond Country Club for its Function Room, The Grill Room, and the Members Pub. Town Counsel Kayla Venckauskas explained that the town became aware on April 27, 2026, that the underlying real estate of the country club had been transferred from Indian Pond Country Club Inc. to Palmer IPCC Inc. on May 1, 2026, without prior municipal or Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) approval of the accompanying liquor licenses.

Albert DiNapoli, attorney for the new property owner Bobby Palmer, presented an interim management agreement executed between Palmer’s corporation and the historical club owner. DiNapoli argued that while the physical property was conveyed, the liquor business itself had not technically changed hands. He noted that the prior license holder, Fred Tonsberg, remains on-site, rents an office, maintains primary liquor liability insurance, and holds total fiscal and operational control over ordering alcohol until a formal license transfer can be fully executed. Palmer, also present, noted he is actively shadowing operations to revamp the club’s vision.

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In the race for the Selectmen board, Joseph Paul Cunningham Jr. led the field with a total of 498 votes, followed by Sheila Marie Vaughn with 416 votes to secure the two available three-year terms. Candidates Paul B. Dahlen and Timothy Patrick Ballinger fell short of election, receiving 330 and 281 votes respectively.

The most significant upset of the election occurred within the Board of Health race. Challenger Lauren A. Hache captured 556 votes to win a seat on the board alongside incumbent Heidi Marie Whipple, who led the tally with 577 votes. However, fellow incumbent Dennis N. Randall lost his bid for re-election, gathering only 255 votes across Kingston’s four precincts.

Incumbents in other primary roles safely maintained their seats. Town Clerk Paul M. Gallagher secured an overwhelming victory to continue his three-year term, capturing 726 votes against just 7 write-in votes. For Town Moderator, Michael E. Cowett won a three-year term by securing 637 votes. Incumbent Stephen J. Dunn also won another three-year term as Assessor with 628 votes.

The Kingston School Committee will see Peter T. Fitzgerald and Jennifer Rose Krowchun take the two open three-year terms, securing 554 and 548 votes respectively. Fitzgerald also successfully ran for the open three-year seat on the Silver Lake Regional School District (S.L.R.S.D.) School Committee, earning an additional 590 votes from Kingston voters.

In the Planning Board races, incumbent Jonathan Jacob Barnett Sr. held his five-year seat with 601 votes. Notably, a concentrated write-in campaign emerged in Precinct 2, yielding 78 of the election’s 81 total write-in votes for that office. Robert A. Ketter won the four-year Planning Board seat with 613 votes.

Further down the ballot, Jennifer L. Lavoie (573 votes) and incumbent Matthew Richard Donohue (567 votes) captured the two open seats as Library Trustees. Joseph P. Cunningham III (626 votes) and Carl William Peer II (492 votes) secured positions as Recreation Commissioners. Mark R. Guidoboni won the open Sewer Commissioner seat with 591 votes , and incumbent Robert Raymond Kostka retained his role as Water Commissioner with 616 votes.

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Official Minutes & Data

Official Election Results

• Office: Moderator (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Michael E. Cowett elected

  • Vote: 637 votes (Blanks: 235, Write-Ins: 4)

• Office: Selectmen (two for three years)

  • Outcome: Joseph Paul Cunningham Jr. and Sheila Marie Vaughn elected

  • Vote: Cunningham Jr. (498), Vaughn (416), Dahlen (330), Ballinger (281)

• Office: Assessors (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Stephen J. Dunn elected

  • Vote: 628 votes (Blanks: 240, Write-Ins: 8)

• Office: Town Clerk (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Paul M. Gallagher elected

  • Vote: 726 votes (Blanks: 143, Write-Ins: 7)

• Office: Board of Health (two for three years)

  • Outcome: Heidi Marie Whipple and Lauren A. Hache elected

  • Vote: Whipple (577), Hache (556), Randall (255)

• Office: Kingston School Committee (two for three years)

  • Outcome: Peter T. Fitzgerald and Jennifer Rose Krowchun elected

  • Vote: Fitzgerald (554), Krowchun (548)

• Office: Library Trustees (two for three years)

  • Outcome: Jennifer L. Lavoie and Matthew Richard Donohue elected

  • Vote: Lavoie (573), Donohue (567)

• Office: Planning Board (one for five years)

  • Outcome: Jonathan Jacob Barnett Sr. elected

  • Vote: 601 votes (Blanks: 194, Write-Ins: 81)

• Office: Planning Board (one for four years)

  • Outcome: Robert A. Ketter elected

  • Vote: 613 votes (Blanks: 257, Write-Ins: 6)

• Office: Recreation Commissioners (two for three years)

  • Outcome: Joseph P. Cunningham III and Carl William Peer II elected

  • Vote: Cunningham III (626), Peer II (492)

• Office: Sewer Commissioner (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Mark R. Guidoboni elected

  • Vote: 591 votes (Blanks: 273, Write-Ins: 12)

• Office: S.L.R.S.D. School Committee (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Peter T. Fitzgerald elected

  • Vote: 590 votes (Blanks: 280, Write-Ins: 6)

• Office: Water Commissioners (one for three years)

  • Outcome: Robert Raymond Kostka elected

  • Vote: 616 votes (Blanks: 252, Write-Ins: 8)

Source Document: Town of Kingston Official Election Tally Sheet

Statement from the town:

We are aware that a story was published in the South Shore News that repeated the assertions of a zoning board member that the Cushman Farms affordable housing project has been constructively approved due to the missing of a deadline to file a decision. Those assertions are factually and legally incorrect. Town Counsel is working closely with the ZBA to ensure that they have the maximum amount of leverage possible in rendering a decision on this project. To that end, a contractually binding extension, to Mid-June, was previously secured from the Developer. Town Counsel affirmed that extension this morning. With the extension, the Board has the time it needs to arrive at a decision that best protects the Town and the affected Copper Beech neighborhood. While c. 40B projects can be difficult for Towns to manage, we believe that the ZBA has the time and the tools to manage this process effectively.

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During the public comment period of Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, resident and Associate Zoning Board member Marsha Meekins informed the Selectmen of a significant procedural failure regarding the Cushman Farms development.

According to Meekins, the Zoning Board allowed a critical 40-day deliberation deadline to expire on April 27 without calling a meeting, taking action, or requesting an extension from the developer. Under Massachusetts Chapter 40B law, failing to act within this window means the project is automatically approved “by operation of law” exactly as the developer initially applied for it.

The lapse effectively erases substantial changes and conditions that neighbors and town officials had spent months successfully pressuring the developer to accept. Meekins stated she had circulated a memo to the Zoning Board and Town Administrator Scott Lambiase on April 17 warning of the impending deadline, but a scheduled meeting was abruptly canceled without explanation, and no subsequent action was taken.

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The meeting opened with a significant focus on the town’s financial health. Town Administrator Scott Lambiase reported that the state has officially certified Kingston’s free cash at $3.1 million. This certification, along with the successful submission of the town’s balance sheets and Schedule A, ensures Kingston remains in good standing for its state aid allotments. [19:05]

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The Silver Lake Regional School Committee meeting opened with a somber tone as Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx and committee members addressed recent “awful and tragic” events involving faculty conduct that occurred within the past week. Committee member Jeannie Coleman (Kingston) raised specific questions regarding the youth protection training required for district employees, asking for public clarification on how the district vets and monitors staff interactions with students.

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The primary focus of the April 15 brief special meeting was the logistical challenge of preparing for the Annual Town Meeting (ATM). Town Administrator Scott Lambiase opened the session with positive financial news: the town’s free cash has finally been certified by the state. Despite this milestone, Lambiase and Acting Finance Director Carol McCoy advised the board that the town is not yet ready to go before voters.

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The primary focus of the April 7 meeting was a series of budget discussions that laid bare the strain on Kingston’s municipal resources. Highway Superintendent Shawn Turner [15:33] provided the most visceral assessment, detailing a department that is currently operating at lower staffing levels than it was in 1995.

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The meeting began with a public hearing on “school choice,” a state program that allows students from other districts to attend Kingston schools. Chair Megan Cannon noted that the district historically has not participated in the program, and the committee saw no reason to change course this year. Member Sheila Vaughn made the motion to withdraw from school choice, citing concerns over current staffing levels and classroom capacity. The committee voted 4-0 (with Jeanne Coleman absent from the roll call) to maintain Kingston’s schools for residents only. [41:00]

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In a detailed report to the Board, Selectman Carl Pike outlined a proposal from the Silver Lake Regiona…

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