Kingston Board Adopts Hybrid Police Hiring Model, Advances School Regionalization Study
New civil service program offers flexibility in recruitment while 18-month regionalization study moves forward with UMass Amherst partnership
KINGSTON - July 15 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen approved a hybrid civil service hiring model for the police department Tuesday, providing new flexibility in recruitment while maintaining civil service protections for officers.
The Massachusetts Civil Service Local Register Hiring Program allows the town to hire up to 50% of its police force from non-civil service candidates after a five-year period. Lieutenant John Bateman of the Kingston Police Department presented the proposal, emphasizing it provides another tool for addressing hiring challenges.
"It's just hard to hire people," Bateman said. "Things happen, the hiring process, and then you spend almost a year, and then all of a sudden that candidate doesn't work out."
The hybrid model enables the department to pursue lateral transfers from officers in non-civil service communities, potentially reducing training costs and filling positions more quickly. Under the traditional civil service process, new hires typically require academy training and a year-long process from start to finish.
"We don't have to pay for an academy. They get right online quicker, and they fill a spot a lot quicker than a year process from start to finish with civil service," Bateman explained.
Town Administrator Keith Hickey described the program as "just another tool in the toolbox" that makes it easier for the police department to maintain full staffing and move more quickly to fill openings when qualified lateral transfer candidates are available.
The board unanimously approved both the hybrid model adoption and authorized Chief Brian Holmes and Hickey to engage in impact bargaining with affected labor units. Bateman noted the impact bargaining would focus primarily on language rather than financial demands.
The department plans to continue using the traditional civil service process as its primary hiring method, with the hybrid option serving as an alternative when beneficial. Kingston has experienced relatively low turnover compared to other communities, with no recent departures from the force.
In other business, the board received updates on a school regionalization study that continues to advance through a committee representing Kingston and neighboring communities. The regionalization committee has met four times and interviewed the Collins Center from UMass Amherst to conduct the comprehensive study.
Hickey reported the committee was "very satisfied" with the Collins Center and expects to sign a contract next month. The study will span approximately 18 months, meaning results will not be available for next spring's town meeting.
"The results of the study will be factual, and people will take the information that's provided in those reports, and they'll make decisions on their own whether they believe regionalizing or not regionalizing is good for the Kingston schoolchildren," Hickey said.
The Collins Center plans to hold public forums in each of the three participating communities at the beginning of the study to gather public input, followed by a final presentation of recommendations to all communities together. The study will include demographic and financial analyses, as well as input from teachers and administrators.
Board member Melissa Bateman noted the importance of including educational staff in the study process. The demographic component will examine population trends and student enrollment projections, providing valuable data for future planning regardless of regionalization decisions.
The board also addressed several other municipal matters during the meeting. Four one-day liquor licenses received approval for Forty Second Brew Co. events, including a Gears and Beers event at Jones River Storage and South Coast Cruisers events at Kingston Collection on July 19, 26, and Aug. 2.
The board appointed Krystal Rich as Assistant Town Treasurer, with an anticipated start date of July 28. The appointment followed a competitive interview process conducted by Town Treasurer Ken Moalli.
Board members approved several end-of-year budget line item transfers totaling approximately $250,000, which the Finance Committee had reviewed and endorsed the previous evening. Board member Carl Pike noted the transfers represent less than 1% of the annual budget excluding education expenses.
"Anybody that thinks they can budget within 1% on an annual basis, I'd like to hire them," Pike said, praising the fiscal management.
The board also approved an amendment to a pilot agreement with Kearsarge Kingston LLC for solar panels on the town landfill. The modification clarifies language regarding land ownership while maintaining the same fee structure, making the change revenue neutral.
Hickey announced upcoming sidewalk repairs on Main Street from Elm Street to Summer Street, funded through Chapter 90 money. The temporary repairs will address safety concerns by removing tree roots causing sidewalk damage and applying asphalt overlay.
"We've had a couple of people trip and fall, and we want to address that before it comes to liability," Hickey said.
The board set Oct. 28 as the date for the fall special town meeting, timed to meet Massachusetts School Building Association requirements for the school roof project.