KINGSTON - December 2 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen promoted Officer Michael Gallo to the rank of police sergeant during their December 2nd meeting, one of several ceremonial and administrative actions taken as the town prepares for its 300th anniversary celebration in 2026.
The Full Story
The board unanimously approved the promotion of Officer Michael R. Gallo to full-time sergeant, effective December 28, 2025. Lieutenant John Bateman presented Gallo’s qualifications to the board, highlighting his service since joining the department in 2015 and his role as an instructor in multiple areas including firearms, tasers, applied patrol procedures, and RAD. “He’s constantly demonstrated professionalism and his unwavering commitment to service,” Bateman told the board. Gallo also serves as an instructor at the Massachusetts Police Training Council academy, where he helps train officers from Kingston and surrounding communities. His family, including his young daughter, participated in the ceremonial pinning following the board’s vote.
In another celebratory moment, members of the Kingston 300th anniversary book committee presented their newly published commemorative book, Tales of Jones River Village: Kingston’s 300 Years. Ken Brack, Jan Guidoboni, and Jim Farrell, representing the project team, introduced the 372-page volume featuring contributions from over 150 volunteers and more than 700 photographs. “It’s not a dry, old history, but there’s historical items that have come to light that are fresh. It’s the story of the lifeblood of the town, really,” Brack explained to the board.
Jan Guidoboni emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “By any means, we do not say that we three did all of the writing. We had over 150 volunteers who gave us their stories, and we kind of put them all together,” she said. Project editor Jim Farrell noted what makes this history unique: “What makes this one different is that it was told in many different voices. You don’t have just one author.” The book is available for $35 and can be purchased at various town events, including a kickoff event on Thursday, December 5th at 42nd Brew Company starting at 5:00 p.m., where the brewery has created a special Jones River Kolsch beer for the occasion. The book can also be shipped for those who live outside the area through a secure website using the GiveButter platform.
Board Chair Eric Crone praised the publication’s quality. “I was in the Selectman’s office and was thumbing through that book. It’s absolutely stunning. I mean, the vibrant colors, the way it’s laid out, it really blew me away,” he said. The commemorative book is part of Kingston’s broader 300th anniversary celebration launching January 1, 2026, with numerous events planned throughout the year.
The board conducted a public hearing on a request from residents of Nobadeer Villages to have Nobadeer Circle accepted as a public town road. Town Planner Valerie Massard explained that Highway Superintendent Shawn Turner had inspected the road and found no immediate concerns, though the roadway includes temporary speed bumps that residents place in spring and remove before winter. Questions arose about whether these traffic calming devices could remain if the town accepts the road.
Massard outlined the multi-step process that would follow the public hearing. “We would have that first initial discussion, go out and talk with you about what you think, talk to fire, talk to highway, and assess it, come back with rough ideas of what that cost would be,” she explained. Any necessary improvements to bring the road up to town standards would need to be funded by the residents before the town would accept it. The process could eventually lead to a town meeting vote, though Massard cautioned there is “a long, winding road to get to there.”
Board member Kim Emberg noted the significance of road acceptance requests given Kingston’s road infrastructure. According to town records, Kingston has approximately 70 miles of public roads and 35 to 40 miles of private roads, plus additional miles of state roads. Town Planner Massard confirmed that over 150 private roads exist in Kingston according to town spreadsheets. The board unanimously approved moving Nobadeer Circle to the next step in the town’s road acceptance policy.
Resident Megan MacCurtain of Old Mill Road brought forward concerns about traffic safety in her neighborhood, specifically requesting stop signs at the intersections where Stonebridge and Longwood Circle meet Old Mill Road. “We’ve seen a lot of incidences where people coming on to Old Mill haven’t stopped. So we’ve either had some near misses, and now there’s hesitation. When you’re driving on Old Mill, you’re worried that somebody is going to blow through and not stop,” MacCurtain told the board.
MacCurtain also reported that neighbors expressed additional concerns about speeding in the neighborhood, which she described as having many children, dogs, bikes, and pedestrians. “I walk the neighborhood a lot now, and there’s a lot of speeding. And I have a woman, one of our neighbors, who said she actually had to jump off the road because there was a specific vehicle who lives in the neighborhood who almost took her out around a corner,” she said. MacCurtain noted the issues have increased noticeably in the past year.
Chair Crone, who also lives in the neighborhood, acknowledged the concerns but explained that the town typically follows engineering-based standards from the Massachusetts Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for placing stop signs. These standards require consideration of traffic volume, accident data, and intersection design rather than routine placement in residential neighborhoods. “Typically we don’t put stop signs in neighborhoods,” Crone explained, noting exceptions exist only for four-way intersections like those in the nearby Newcomb’s Mill subdivision.
Crone also reminded MacCurtain that Kingston has a townwide speed limit of 25 miles per hour in residential areas unless otherwise posted, with signs at town entry points stating this. However, he expressed concern that installing stop signs in one neighborhood could lead to requests from others throughout town.
Lieutenant Bateman offered an alternative approach, suggesting increased enforcement presence and use of traffic monitoring equipment rather than new signage. “If it’s an enforcement type of issue, no one’s going to care if there’s a JMR unit up there and the information isn’t going to do any good anyways. If there is an enforcement type of action or if you want more presence up there by the police, you’re more than welcome to give me an email,” the lieutenant told MacCurtain. He noted the department has access to programs that can track median speeds, top speeds, and other anonymous data from vehicles passing through the area.
Board members discussed several alternatives, including sending letters from town officials to all neighborhood residents reminding them of traffic laws and speed limits. “I think everybody wants a safe neighborhood, safe roads for sure. We just may want to look at how best to handle this,” Crone said. The lieutenant agreed to work directly with MacCurtain and the neighborhood on enforcement solutions. Board member Emberg noted that previous requests for stop signs elsewhere in town had been denied by Old Colony Planning Council due to liability concerns and visibility issues, emphasizing that “putting in a stop sign is a seemingly simple solution that is never as simple as it seems.”
In other business, the board unanimously approved a one-day liquor license for 42nd Brew Company for their winter market event on December 20th from noon to 5:00 p.m. at 26 Wapping Road (Jones River Storage). Board members noted this event falls on the same day as the town’s luminaries event and asked organizers to be mindful of potential road closures and timing.
The board also revisited a previous decision regarding electric vehicle charging stations. In September, the board had voted to enter a contract with EVSE Solutions to replace existing charging stations at the town house and Kingston library. However, after further discussions with the vendor, the town facilities manager, facilities assistant, and a finance committee member, new information emerged that led the board to reconsider. Board member Emberg, who requested the reconsideration, moved to withdraw approval of the contract. “More information has come up in the vendor after conversations with both the town facilities department as well as our member of finance committee who had input on EV charging stations. We should probably withdraw that contract because as things stand now, we could just move forward with that even though it’s not in the best interest of the town,” she explained. The board unanimously voted not to approve the contract at this time, with Emberg emphasizing that work continues to find alternative solutions. She also took the opportunity to thank facilities manager Rob and assistant Melissa for their work, specifically praising new signage installed on the front of the town building.
Interim Town Administrator George Samia provided a brief report, noting that staff has been working on preliminary budget numbers for the upcoming fiscal year. “It’s going to be a challenging year. No matter how you look at it,” Samia told the board, though he did not provide specific details about budget pressures during the meeting. He indicated he keeps board members updated in real time on various ongoing matters.
At the meeting’s opening, Chair Crone made several announcements, including extending condolences for longtime resident and Agricultural Commissioner Barry Mathias, who passed away recently. Mathias served on the Agricultural Commission from 2006 through 2025, the Conservation Land Review Committee from 2006 through 2007, and the Earth Removal Bylaw Advisory Committee in 1991. The board also announced that several committee and board vacancies remain open, with applications available on the town website. Board member Kim Emberg reported receiving two letters of inquiry about the finance committee, noting that budget season is beginning. “This is a great time to join finance committee if you’re interested in getting involved and digging into the budget,” Emberg said.
Crone encouraged residents interested in volunteering not to be intimidated by lack of expertise. “You don’t have to be an expert. Finance committee, it would be great to understand some finance, but if you get involved, we really just need people who are going to use common sense and deliberate and discuss and be open to ideas, offering ideas,” he said. He noted that town employees who are professionals in their fields help guide new volunteers, and many experienced volunteers are willing to mentor newcomers.
Why It Matters
The promotion of Sergeant Gallo strengthens leadership capacity in the Kingston Police Department as the officer brings nearly a decade of experience and specialized training expertise to his new supervisory role. For residents, the discussion of traffic safety concerns in the Old Mill Road neighborhood highlights ongoing challenges with speeding and intersection safety in residential areas throughout Kingston. While stop signs were not immediately approved, the commitment from police to increase enforcement presence and work directly with affected neighborhoods demonstrates the town’s responsiveness to safety concerns. The decision to reconsider the EV charging station contract shows the board’s willingness to reassess decisions when new information emerges that better serves taxpayer interests. The publication of the 300th anniversary book provides residents and former residents an accessible, comprehensive look at three centuries of Kingston’s history as the town prepares for a year-long celebration beginning January 1, 2026.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve promotion of Michael R. Gallo to full-time police sergeant, effective December 28, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 51:35)
Motion: Open public hearing for street acceptance of Nobadeer Circle. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:05:56)
Motion: Close public hearing for street acceptance of Nobadeer Circle. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:12:47)
Motion: Approve request from Nobadeer Villages to move to next step within road acceptance policy. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:12:59)
Motion: Approve one-day liquor license for 42nd Brew Company winter market on December 20, 2025, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 26 Wapping Road. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:27:50)
Motion: Vote not to approve entering into contract with EVSE Solutions to replace existing EV charging stations at town house and Kingston library. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:29:56)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:33:37)
Public Comment
One resident, Megan MacCurtain of Old Mill Road, addressed the board during a discussion of traffic safety concerns. She requested installation of stop signs at two intersections in her neighborhood and reported increased speeding issues over the past year. MacCurtain noted several near-miss incidents at intersections and described neighbors’ concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly given the number of children, dogs, and cyclists in the area. She indicated many neighbors supported both stop sign installation and additional speed limit or caution signage at neighborhood entrances. The board did not hold a formal open public comment period with other speakers.
What’s Next
The town planner and highway department will proceed with the next steps in evaluating Nobadeer Circle for potential acceptance as a public road, including consultations with fire and highway departments and assessment of any necessary improvements. The police department will work directly with Old Mill Road neighborhood residents to develop traffic enforcement strategies and monitoring programs. Town staff will continue exploring alternative solutions for electric vehicle charging station upgrades. The Board of Selectmen will continue working toward finalizing a memorandum of understanding for the Department of Public Works, with plans for a joint meeting involving water, highway, sewer, and potentially police and fire departments. The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for December 16, 2025.