KINGSTON - October 21 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen voted 3-1-1 Tuesday to authorize Police Chief Brian Holmes to promote an additional full-time sergeant effective January 1, 2026, to oversee a new Family Services Unit that will serve Kingston, Plympton, and Halifax residents dealing with mental health and social service needs.
The Full Story
Chief Holmes explained that the sergeant position will primarily supervise the Family Services Unit as it begins implementation. The unit, which will be housed in Kingston and benefit all three communities, will employ a licensed mental health clinician or certified licensed social worker to work alongside patrol officers responding to calls involving mental health crises, substance abuse, and other social services issues.
The Chief told the board that his original timeline for implementing the unit was “unrealistic” and has been revised. The department is currently working with a facilitation group funded by the state Department of Mental Health that has experience helping police agencies establish clinician programs, including extensive work with the Framingham Police Department.
“This whole entire family unit will have a meaningful impact on not just Kingston, but three communities, if all goes as planned,” Holmes said. “Tonight’s vote is something that will have a meaningful impact.”
The sergeant position will be funded for half the fiscal year—from January 1 to June 30, 2026—using existing budget funds by foregoing one open patrolman vacancy. The Chief indicated he received notice of a retirement in December, and even without that, there is existing funding in the current fiscal year to support the half-year sergeant position.
Next steps include seeking Capital Planning Committee approval for approximately $60,000 or less for office space, and board approval to use opiate settlement funds to pay for that space. Holmes said he plans to solicit opiate settlement funds from Plympton and Halifax to help support the program, though he acknowledged both communities face tight fiscal constraints. He noted that using opiate settlement funds for the supervisor position would not be considered “supplanting” since it supports a new family services unit.
Selectman Carl Pike supported the Chief’s budgetary flexibility but added an important caveat: “This is the type of thing that I certainly believe it’s up to the chief to spend his money in his budget the way he sees fit. And if he believes a sergeant is more important right now than a patrolman, I go along with that, but with the caveat that that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m going to support the request for a patrolman replacement in next year’s budget.”
Selectman Kim Emberg voted against the motion, stating she could not support creating new positions at this time. Selectman Missy Bateman abstained from the vote. The motion passed 3-1-1.
In other significant business, the board approved a transfer of a retail on-premise liquor license from Paisanos Restaurant Inc. to Riverhouse Hospitality LLC, doing business as Duke’s Riverhouse, located at 6 Pembroke Street. The transfer application was reviewed and approved by all appropriate department heads, including the police and fire chiefs.
The board also heard a safety concern from student Will regarding the intersection of Pembroke Street, Lake Street, and Station Street near Silver Lake Regional High School. Will reported that a serious motor vehicle accident occurred on October 17 involving seven patients who required transport for treatment, and noted this location has been the site of multiple accidents including one where a student was struck several years ago.
Chair Eric Crone explained that the intersection was identified in the town’s safety report and has already received safety improvements including new signage, lane painting, school zone signs with flashing lights on Pembroke Street, and flashing stop signs on Lake Street and Station Street. A roundabout is being considered as a longer-term solution but requires state and federal funding and would take years to implement. Will also reported that the pedestrian crossing lights in front of the school malfunction, sometimes staying on continuously and other times failing to activate. The board advised him to use the “report a concern” link on the town’s homepage to notify the highway department of these issues.
The board tackled the long-stalled question of establishing a Department of Public Works. Crone stated that after nearly a year with an Interim Highway Superintendent, the town should table the DPW discussion indefinitely and move forward with hiring a permanent Highway Superintendent. He indicated he plans to pursue a memorandum of understanding between the police, fire, highway, water, and sewer departments to improve coordination without creating a new DPW director position.
“I don’t see us getting anywhere really for another year with a DPW anyway, especially with the break and a town administrator,” the Chair said. “I’d love to get more ideas from whoever we bring in as a new town administrator.”
Pike supported moving forward quickly, suggesting a target of January 1, 2026, for having a permanent highway superintendent in place. Interim Town Administrator George Samia confirmed that once the board tables the DPW discussion, human resources can advertise the open highway superintendent position. The current interim superintendent would be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
Samia provided updates on two urgent staffing matters. The town’s part-time building inspector is completing his term at the end of October, leaving a critical vacancy. Samia reported he is working with human resources to secure two interim building inspectors who together could cover most full-time hours until a permanent replacement is found. He acknowledged this short-term solution “might cost us a little more than what a normal person would be” but is necessary to keep the office operational. The permanent position has been posted.
Samia also emphasized the urgency of beginning budget preparations for fiscal year 2027 and upcoming contract negotiations. He indicated department heads at their morning meeting expressed consensus about moving forward quickly. The board scheduled an executive session for 6:30 p.m. on October 28—before the 7 p.m. Special Town Meeting—to discuss budget parameters and contract negotiations with town labor counsel Kate Feodoroff.
The board approved several routine matters, including declaring a 1998 Ford dump truck as surplus equipment for auction, approving Bo Asci for a razor clam license to replace an individual who did not renew, appointing Grace Mattaliano as a less-than-part-time library technician, accepting a $25 donation to the Council on Aging from Elizabeth Smart, and appointing Paula Fay to the Cultural Council through June 30, 2027.
The Cultural Council appointment generated discussion about the council’s purpose and membership challenges. Town Administrator Samia explained the council distributes approximately $8,900 in state grant funding for arts and cultural programming, but recently lost multiple members. If the town cannot process applications, it will lose the funding. The state has assisted with recruitment and received about 20 applications. Emberg expressed reluctance to appoint a non-Kingston resident but acknowledged the funding can support programs benefiting Kingston residents even if administered by someone from another community. The appointment passed 4-1.
Chair Crone announced the TA Recruitment Subcommittee had its first meeting to review candidates for the town administrator position and has selected some candidates to move forward to executive session interviews.
Finance Director Kathleen Barrette informed the board that the requested funding for the elementary school roof replacement project has increased from $1.2 million to $1.5 million. The increase is due to Massachusetts School Building Authority requirements including preparing the roof structure for solar panels and ADA compliance measures. The town will receive 53% reimbursement from MSBA, meaning approximately $700,000 in state funds. Barrette explained the project covers only a portion of the roof; other sections will need replacement in a future year when they qualify for MSBA reimbursement.
The board discussed whether towns are better off doing school projects independently rather than through the MSBA program, citing a presentation at a recent fiscal summit where some communities are choosing to fund projects entirely on their own because MSBA requirements increase costs beyond the value of the reimbursement.
Why It Matters
The creation of the Family Services Unit represents a significant shift in how Kingston addresses mental health crises and social service needs. Residents experiencing mental health emergencies, substance abuse issues, or family crises will have access to a licensed clinician working alongside police officers, potentially leading to better outcomes and reduced criminalization of mental health issues. The program will also benefit residents of Plympton and Halifax. However, the decision to use an existing patrol officer position to fund the sergeant role means one fewer officer on regular patrol duties, at least through June 2026. Whether that position returns to the budget next year remains uncertain, with Selectman Carl Pike explicitly stating he may not support restoring the patrol position during budget season. The school roof project increase means Kingston taxpayers will need to approve $1.5 million in borrowing at the upcoming Special Town Meeting on October 28, with the town’s share after state reimbursement totaling approximately $800,000. With other sections of the elementary school roof requiring replacement in future years, the total long-term cost could reach $3 million or more.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve one-day liquor license for Stellwagen Beer Company charity event at the Bog, 188 Elmer Street, on November 1, 2025, from 4-10 p.m. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 28:48)
Motion: Authorize police chief to promote one additional full-time police sergeant effective January 1, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 3-1-1 (Emberg voted no; Bateman abstained). (Timestamp: 38:54)
Motion: Declare 1998 Ford L8501 dump truck as surplus equipment and authorize interim Streets, Trees, and Parks superintendent to send to auction. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 41:36)
Motion: Approve Bo Asci for razor clam license for the term October 22, 2025 through June 30, 2026, with a fee of $300. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 44:44)
Motion: Appoint Grace Mattaliano to the position of library technician, a less-than-part-time, grade two, step one, non-exempt position within KTEU clerical with Kingston Public Library, with an anticipated start date of October 22, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 45:47)
Motion: Accept donation of $25 to Kingston Council on Aging from Elizabeth Smart. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 46:32)
Motion: Appoint Paula Fay to the Cultural Council effective immediately through June 30, 2027. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 4-1 (Emberg voted no). (Timestamp: 53:06)
Motion: Open public hearing for transfer of alcohol license from Paisanos Restaurant Inc. to Riverhouse Hospitality LLC. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:19:18)
Motion: Close public hearing for transfer of alcohol license. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:22:01)
Motion: Approve transfer of alcoholic license 07953-RS-0568 from Paisanos Restaurant Inc. to Riverhouse Hospitality LLC, doing business as Duke’s Riverhouse, located at 6 Pembroke Street, Kingston. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:22:46)
Motion: Approve open session meeting minutes for August 26, 2025 and September 23, 2025 as presented. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:01:00)
Motion: Adjourn meeting at 6:05 p.m. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 1:23:42)
Public Comment
Student Will addressed safety concerns at the intersection of Pembroke Street, Lake Street, and Station Street near Silver Lake Regional High School. He reported a serious October 17 accident involving seven patients requiring transport and cited previous incidents including a student being struck. He requested consideration of a crossing guard, updated traffic signals, or other safety measures. Will also reported malfunctioning pedestrian crossing lights that either stay on continuously or fail to activate. The board explained recent safety improvements including new signage, lane painting, school zone flashing lights, and flashing stop signs, and noted a roundabout is under consideration as a long-term solution pending state and federal funding.
What’s Next
The board scheduled an executive session for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, to discuss budget parameters and contract negotiations with town counsel Kate Feodoroff. The Special Town Meeting will follow at 7 p.m. at the intermediate school. The board will continue interviewing candidates for the town administrator position in executive session. The police chief will proceed with next steps for the Family Services Unit including seeking Capital Planning Committee approval for office space and soliciting opiate settlement funds from Plympton and Halifax. Human resources will advertise for a permanent highway superintendent position now that the Department of Public Works discussion has been tabled indefinitely. The town is working to secure interim building inspector coverage before the current part-time inspector completes his term at the end of October. The board chair will distribute a memorandum of understanding to the police, fire, highway, water, and sewer departments regarding inter-department coordination.