KINGSTON - September 23 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Tuesday night to continue winter plowing of Post Court after reaching a compromise with a property owner whose fence runs close to the road, resolving a contentious issue that had threatened to leave the private road unplowed this winter.
The Full Story
The agreement came after heated exchanges between Selectmen and frustrated Post Court residents during the September 23 meeting at the Town House. Under the compromise, the fence owner will hold the town harmless for any potential damage during snow removal operations, allowing the town to continue plowing the narrow private road without fear of liability.
The dispute stemmed from a policy adopted in August 2023 requiring private roads to meet specific criteria for winter maintenance to continue. Post Court’s challenge involved a fence on the south side of the road owned by a Main Street property owner who doesn’t use Post Court for access. The fence, installed in 1983 and reportedly moved closer to the road during sewer betterment work, creates tight clearances for plowing equipment.
“The concern we had was potentially damaging private property by having a fence as close as it was to the road,” explained Town Administrator Keith Hickey. “Because of the generosity of the property owner being willing to not hold the town, or excuse me, hold the town harmless for any potential damage that hopefully won’t happen but could, to me, it’s kind of a win-win, a reasonable resolution.”
The meeting also addressed similar concerns on Lantern Lane, where residents face potential loss of winter maintenance due to road width issues. Selectmen authorized the Interim Town Administrator and highway superintendent to work directly with Lantern Lane property owners to find a solution, with the matter expected to return to the board at a future meeting.
The broader context involves Kingston’s struggle to secure private plowing contractors, a problem affecting towns statewide. “The real problem is that a lot of these guys who have their own trucks, just in the past five years, the cost of a pickup has more than doubled. Insurance has gone through the roof,” Board Chair Eric Crone explained. The town now has only two pickup trucks capable of navigating narrow streets like Post Court, compared to having additional private contractors in previous years.
The meeting also marked the end of Hickey’s tenure; he is leaving Kingston next week to become Fairhaven’s Town Administrator. Board members praised his leadership through COVID-19 challenges and his hands-on management style. “You definitely made your mark here with that. And like I said, you helped guide us through quite a few things, some public, some private,” Crone told Hickey. Interim Town Administrator George Samia will take over while the town conducts a search for a permanent replacement.
In other significant business, the board approved formation of a veterans services district with Duxbury that is expected to save Kingston approximately $78,000 annually. Under the agreement, both towns will share the costs of a full-time veterans agent and part-time administrator, while maintaining separate benefit budgets for their respective veterans.
The board also made several personnel appointments, including Georgianna Minenna as assistant conservation agent and Parker Yurisitas as teen and emerging technology librarian. They appointed Pauline Dodd to the Council on Aging Advisory Board and recognized Police Sergeant Mike LaNatra with a letter of merit for his years of K-9 handler service.
Selectmen closed the warrant for the October 28 special town meeting, which includes 11 articles addressing various municipal needs. The most significant is a potential elementary school roof replacement project that could qualify for 53% state funding through the Massachusetts School Building Authority, though approval timing remains uncertain.
Why It Matters
The Post Court resolution ensures that residents on this private road will continue receiving municipal snow plowing services this winter, maintaining emergency access and daily mobility. The compromise approach may serve as a model for resolving similar issues on other private roads throughout Kingston, where aging infrastructure and narrow roadways create ongoing maintenance challenges.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Authorize continuing plowing of Post Court road with fence owner holding town harmless for potential damage. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 54:16)
Motion: Appoint Georgianna Minenna as assistant conservation agent. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:10:43)
Motion: Appoint Parker Yurisitas as teen and emerging technology librarian. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:11:29)
Motion: Appoint Pauline Dodd as regular member of Council on Aging Advisory Board. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:12:02)
Motion: Close October 28, 2025 special town meeting warrant. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:26:03)
Motion: Approve veterans district agreement with Town of Duxbury. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:34:55)
Public Comment
Post Court and Lantern Lane residents expressed concerns about losing winter road maintenance, with some heated exchanges over responsibility for road conditions and infrastructure modifications. Will Gershman thanked the outgoing town administrator for sidewalk improvements completed this year.
What’s Next
The Interim Town Administrator and Highway Superintendent will work with Lantern Lane residents to develop a solution for continued winter maintenance. Applications for the permanent town administrator position are due October 10th. The special town meeting is scheduled for October 28th at Kingston Intermediate School, and the joint school committee meeting to interview school committee candidates will be held October 7th at 6:30 p.m.