Kingston Approves $1.6 Million Elementary School Roof Replacement, Requiring Debt Exclusion Vote
KINGSTON - October 28 - Kingston voters at a special town meeting approved borrowing $1,591,856 to partially replace the deteriorating roof at Kingston Elementary School, contingent on both state grant approval and voter passage of a debt exclusion at the spring 2026 election. The Massachusetts School Building Authority grant would reimburse the town for 53% of the project cost, but state requirements added $300,000 to make the roof “solar ready” – even though no solar panels are planned.
The Full Story
The October 28 special town meeting, held at Kingston Intermediate School with 104 registered voters present, tackled ten articles ranging from the major school roof project to routine budget adjustments and a contentious debate over changing the town clerk position from elected to appointed.
School Committee Chair Megan Cannon presented Article 1, explaining that the project addresses only 11% of the elementary school’s roof – the portion that qualified for state funding because it exceeded 25 years of age at the time of application. The project had been years in the making, with multiple rejected applications to the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
“We’ve been applying for this MSBA grant for the entire time I’ve been on the committee, almost nine years,” said School Committee member Jeanne Coleman. “We have been rejected for the reasons already stated, but just to clarify, just because a portion, 89% of the roof, is not eligible for that 25-year [threshold], the roof was all put on at the same time.”
The urgency of the repair became clear during the discussion. School Committee member Sheila Vaughn, who has served on and off for 11 or 12 years, emphasized the roof’s deteriorating condition. “It is literally falling apart at the seams. We have patched it and patched it and patched it and patched it a million times over. It cannot be patched any longer,” Vaughn said. She noted the town has known about the need for a new roof for at least 11 years.
Sarah Hickey, Director of Finance and Operations for Silver Lake Regional School District, explained the complicated grant requirements. The original application covered the entire roof, but the MSBA rejected 89% because it hadn’t yet reached the required age threshold. The agency had changed its criteria from 20 years to 25 years, creating delays in qualifying for funding.
A late development added $300,000 to the project cost. Board of Selectmen member Kim Emberg explained that MSBA required the roof to be “solar ready” – structural reinforcements to support potential future solar panels. “We were notified by MSBA that that number had to include solar readiness, which is an additional $300,000 cost,” Emberg said. The requirement is mandatory to receive the grant, even though the town has no current plans to install solar panels.
This late addition caught some residents off guard. David Fuller questioned why the estimate increased by over $200,000 in the last 24 hours, expressing frustration that the change came too late to be reflected in the printed warrant. Emberg clarified that the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee had already voted on the higher amount, but the warrant had already been posted before they could amend it.
Several residents questioned the project’s scope and timing. Will Cushman asked why the town wouldn’t wait and replace the entire Kingston Elementary School building, noting it’s approximately 60 years old and older than the intermediate school where the meeting was held. Hickey responded that building a new elementary school would cost close to $50 million, compared to the roof replacement’s net cost of roughly $750,000 after the state grant.
Board of Selectmen Chair Eric Crone assured voters that the board would not authorize the borrowing if the MSBA grant doesn’t come through. “If the grant didn’t come through, we would start over,” Crone said.
The article passed with minimal opposition, receiving unanimous favorable recommendations from the Board of Selectmen (5-0), Finance Committee (4-0), and Capital Planning Committee (3-0). However, the project’s future depends on two critical steps: MSBA grant approval and voter passage of a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion at the spring 2026 election.
Before the main business, the meeting honored Paul Armstrong for over 40 years of service to Kingston in various roles including field driver, building inspector, local inspector, plumbing and gas inspector, and service on numerous committees. Crone presented Armstrong with a plaque recognizing his “unwavering love for this community.”
The meeting also approved nine other articles with varying levels of discussion. Article 5, replacing a failing 2011 trackless sidewalk machine for $235,000, generated debate about using snow and ice budget funds for the purchase. The machine performs multiple functions including plowing sidewalks, mowing conservation land and the landfill cap, and cutting roadside brush. Heath Emberg, Chair of the Capital Planning Committee, explained the machine “has essentially exceeded its expected service life” and is no longer road safe.
Article 4 drew interest for its innovative approach to regional services. The town approved $13,000 to fund a part-time administrative position in the Veterans Department as part of creating a shared veterans district with Duxbury. Under the agreement, Duxbury will reimburse Kingston for 50% of wages and benefits for both the veterans agent and the new administrative position, saving Kingston approximately $70,000 annually. Veterans Agent Sara Lansing explained the office would operate two days per week in each town, with Kingston veterans able to access services at either location.
Perhaps the evening’s most contentious debate came on Article 9, which proposed changing the town clerk position from elected to appointed. The article failed after lengthy discussion, with Town Clerk Paul Gallagher speaking against the change despite initial support for the concept.
Crone introduced the article by explaining that making the position appointed would allow the town to recruit from a larger, qualified pool rather than depending on who chooses to run for election. “Many other Massachusetts communities have already made this transition to modernize operations,” Crone said, noting that approximately 117 towns and cities had switched to appointed town clerks as of 2020.
However, Gallagher expressed concerns about the position losing its independence under an appointed structure. “If it reports to the board of selectmen and the town administrator, the clerk loses its autonomy and may actually need to do what they’re told on a regular basis to protect the position,” Gallagher said. He argued that keeping the position elected helps protect it from political pressure, though he acknowledged there are benefits to appointed positions such as structured salary increases and employee benefits.
Several residents spoke against the change. Paul Basler noted Kingston has had only three town clerks in 86 years, suggesting the elected system works well. “If something doesn’t need to be fixed, why break it?” said Chris Blake, praising the professional operation of elections and town clerk services under Gallagher’s leadership.
Jeanne Coleman raised concerns about timing, noting that under the proposal, someone could win election to a three-year term only to learn after a year that voters had approved switching to an appointed position. “I really appreciate and love that our town clerk is one of us. He’s a Kingston resident,” Coleman said.
Tyler Bouchard offered a contrasting perspective, arguing the change represents necessary modernization. “We are not seeing civic engagement for somebody that wants to work for $73,000 a year in a position that’s very, very difficult,” Bouchard said. He expressed concern about what would happen if a critical elected position became vacant with no candidates willing to serve.
The article would have required two steps to take effect: approval at town meeting (which it received) followed by a ballot question at the spring 2026 election. However, town meeting voters rejected the proposal, voting it down by voice vote.
The meeting also approved routine budget supplements for planning ($12,800), assessing ($100,000 from overlay surplus), and wastewater ($82,000). The wastewater article underwent a last-minute revision when officials clarified the funds were already in the department’s existing budget and just needed reallocation rather than new appropriation.
Wastewater Superintendent David Walsh made an impassioned case for the additional staff, describing daily struggles to maintain the 25-year-old collection system. “For me, it’s a struggle every day to keep up with the workload that we have at the plant,” Walsh said. He explained that without proper preventative maintenance, the town risks major infrastructure failures like what happened in Plymouth, where neglected air relief valves led to corroded pipelines costing $52 million to replace.
Other approved articles included establishing a police revolving fund for managing proceeds from stolen or abandoned property, creating a “no solicitation registry” for residents who don’t want door-to-door salespeople, and replacing the harbormaster’s boat engine for $32,000 after an unforeseen failure.
Town Moderator Sean O’Brien kept the meeting moving efficiently, beginning at 7:05 p.m. with 104 voters present and adjourning around 9:35 p.m. after completing all ten articles. George Samia attended as Interim Town Administrator, replacing Keith Hickey who recently left the position.
Why It Matters
The elementary school roof project represents a significant investment in maintaining basic educational infrastructure, with the net local cost of approximately $750,000 spread over 20-30 years through bonding. However, the debt exclusion vote in spring 2026 means taxpayers will see a permanent increase in their tax bills until the debt is paid off, unlike a debt exclusion which is temporary. The remaining 89% of the elementary school roof, now also over 25 years old, will likely require replacement in coming years, representing future funding requests. The defeat of the town clerk article preserves the current elected structure, maintaining voter control over the position while potentially limiting the candidate pool for future elections as civic participation continues to decline.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Appropriate $1,591,856 for partial roof replacement at Kingston Elementary School, funded through borrowing subject to debt exclusion vote and MSBA grant. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote with minimal opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0, Capital Planning 3-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 00:44:34)
Motion: Raise and appropriate $12,800 to supplement FY26 operating budget for Planning Department administrative wages. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, no opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 00:46:03)
Motion: Transfer $100,000 from overlay surplus to fund Assessing Department revaluations. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, no opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 3-1 favorable. (Timestamp: 00:49:17)
Motion: Raise and appropriate $13,000 to fund Veterans Department part-time administrative position for shared veterans district with Duxbury. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, no opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 00:53:52)
Motion: Transfer $235,000 from various sources to purchase trackless sidewalk machine for Streets, Trees, and Parks Department. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, minimal opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0, Capital Planning 4-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:03:13)
Motion: Establish police revolving fund for managing proceeds from stolen, lost, or abandoned property. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, minimal opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:05:31)
Motion (Amended): Utilize $82,000 in existing FY26 wastewater operating budget for full-time operator and part-time clerical assistant positions. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, minimal opposition. Board of Selectmen 4-1, Finance Committee 3-1 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:13:02)
Motion: Amend Chapter 231 of General Bylaws to establish No Solicitation Registry. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, no opposition. Board of Selectmen 4-1 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:16:12)
Motion: Change Town Clerk position from elected to appointed, subject to ballot question at 2026 election. Outcome: Defeated. Vote: Voice vote. Board of Selectmen 4-1 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:35:59)
Motion: Transfer $32,000 from Waterways Improvement Fund to replace harbormaster boat engine. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Voice vote, minimal opposition. Board of Selectmen 5-0, Finance Committee 4-0 favorable. (Timestamp: 01:37:19)
Public Comment
Multiple residents spoke on Article 1 regarding the elementary school roof, with questions focusing on the percentage of roof being replaced (11%), solar readiness requirements, project financing, and whether the entire building should be replaced instead. Article 9 drew the most extensive public comment, with residents debating whether the town clerk position should remain elected or become appointed. Speakers emphasized the value of maintaining local control and the professional service provided under the current elected system, while others argued for modernization to ensure qualified candidates. Veterans and wastewater residents also spoke briefly in support of their respective articles. No organized opposition groups spoke against any articles.
What’s Next
The $1.6 million elementary school roof project requires two additional steps before proceeding: Massachusetts School Building Authority must approve the grant application, and voters must approve a debt exclusion at the spring 2026 election. The Board of Selectmen has indicated they will not authorize borrowing without the MSBA grant approval. The No Solicitation Registry will be implemented by the Kingston Police Department, allowing residents to sign up to prevent commercial door-to-door solicitations. The new Veterans District with Duxbury will begin operations once administrative positions are filled. All approved budget items and purchases will be implemented for fiscal year 2026.