Kingston Selectmen Approve Family Services Unit, Authorize $66,000 for Police Mental Health Initiative
KINGSTON - November 18 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen on Tuesday unanimously approved a sweeping mental health initiative for the police department, authorizing the expenditure of up to $66,000 in opioid settlement funds for a modular office trailer and approving the hiring of a co-response clinician fully funded by a state Department of Mental Health grant. The moves establish a new Family Services Unit within the department, addressing what officers estimate represents 40 percent of their call volume.
The Full Story
Detective Lieutenant Michael Skowyra presented the comprehensive Family Services Unit proposal to the board during the November 18th meeting, outlining how the new unit will fundamentally change how Kingston addresses mental health and substance use disorder calls. The initiative comes after a department-wide survey revealed that 92 percent of officers support having an on-staff mental health clinician, and 100 percent of respondents supported developing the Family Services Unit.
The unit will consist of a Family Services sergeant position, recently approved by the board, along with a co-response clinician funded entirely through a Department of Mental Health grant worth up to $70,000 for the remainder of fiscal year 2026. The unit will also oversee the department’s four certified School Resource Officers, who currently serve at the high school, middle school, Kingston Elementary, Kingston Intermediate, and Sacred Heart schools.
The $66,000 expenditure from opioid settlement funds will purchase and install an 8-foot by 32-foot modular office trailer on the east side of the current police station. Skowyra explained that the aging police station, which has been considered for replacement in previous unsuccessful town meeting votes, lacks the space to accommodate the growing department’s needs. The trailer, which costs approximately $52,845 with the remaining funds allocated for installation, electricity, and furnishings, will house offices for both the Family Services sergeant and the clinician, as well as provide a “soft room” interview space for juveniles and individuals in crisis.
“This goes into the opioid abatement funds and how they can be used,” Skowyra said, explaining that state officials confirmed this expenditure qualifies because the primary purpose is helping individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. The town currently has just over $100,000 in opioid settlement funds remaining after earmarking approximately $18,000 for Plymouth County Outreach, a substance use disorder support organization.
The co-response model represents a significant shift in how the department will handle mental health calls. When an acute mental health incident occurs, such as someone experiencing suicidal ideations or hallucinations, police officers will respond as usual, but the clinician and Family Services sergeant will also respond when available. The clinician will serve in an advisory role, helping officers determine whether situations are criminal or mental health-related and identifying the best course of action.
“The intent really of that DMH grant is a jail diversion program,” Skowyra told the board. “It’s really to take instances where individuals should not be getting locked up, and we can offer them services instead.” The goal is to stabilize individuals within the community, potentially reducing use-of-force incidents and call volume if people receive consistent support.
The clinician position will serve as a regional resource for Kingston, Halifax, and Plympton. The three-town partnership was necessary to meet the Department of Mental Health’s call volume requirements for grant approval. Skowyra explained that he received letters of support from both the Halifax and Plympton police departments during the application process. The clinician will be a Town of Kingston employee, with Kingston serving as the lead party with DMH, but will provide services to all three communities.
The board authorized Skowyra and Police Chief Brian Holmes to negotiate an intermunicipal agreement with Halifax and Plympton to formalize the arrangement. The proposed cost-sharing formula for startup expenses related to the trailer uses the same percentage breakdown as the Silver Lake Regional School District assessment: Kingston would bear approximately 54 percent, Halifax about 32 percent, and Plympton roughly 14 percent. Skowyra requested approximately $18,000 from Kingston, just under $10,000 from Halifax, and about $4,500 from Plympton.
“My goal, my hope, is that the board will approve me to spend up to the $66,000 tonight to be able to purchase this trailer, and if I’m able to get from Plympton or Halifax any of these dollars, great, and we can use that towards allowable expenses,” Skowyra explained. Selectman Eric Crone confirmed the board’s authorization would allow the department to proceed regardless of whether the neighboring communities contribute.
The intermunicipal agreement includes provisions for renegotiation if call volumes shift significantly among the three towns, operating essentially as a fiscal year-by-year contract. It also includes a termination clause if DMH funding is cut or eliminated in the future. The DMH grant operates on a reimbursement basis, with the town submitting expenses monthly or quarterly for reimbursement. Skowyra confirmed that all salary, benefits, health insurance, and equipment costs including radios, vests, laptops, and cell phones are covered by the grant.
The department will work with William James College, which provides Training Technical Assistance funded by DMH specifically for rolling out co-response clinician programs. Skowyra acknowledged that implementing this program is “outside of my wheelhouse,” but expressed confidence that the technical assistance organization will provide crucial support for hiring, clinical supervision, and licensing issues.
Selectman Carl Pike raised the department’s standard concern about new positions, noting that while he supports the initiative, it will be “considered with everything else in the police department for budgets for future years.” This acknowledgment reflects the town’s ongoing budget challenges, though the clinician position remains entirely grant-funded for the foreseeable future.
The Capital Planning Committee reviewed the trailer purchase and unanimously supported it, as required by town bylaws for capital expenditures. Vice Chair Kim Emberg confirmed with the Finance Director that the town can absorb the reimbursement model’s cash flow requirements, paying expenses upfront before receiving grant reimbursements.
Tax Classification Decision Maintains Single Rate
In the evening’s second major action, the board conducted its annual public hearing on property tax classification and voted unanimously to maintain a single tax rate for all property types in fiscal year 2026. Principal Assessor Maureen Clark presented the classification options, recommending against splitting the rate between residential and commercial/industrial/personal property.
Clark explained that Kingston’s property base is overwhelmingly residential, comprising 88 percent of total assessed value. Commercial property represents just 6.88 percent, industrial property 0.68 percent, and personal property 4.43 percent of the town’s $3.6 billion total valuation. This composition makes splitting the rate impractical, as there is insufficient commercial and industrial property to significantly shift the tax burden away from residential property owners.
The estimated single tax rate for fiscal year 2026 is $12.83 per thousand dollars of assessed value, representing a decrease of 14 cents from the fiscal year 2025 rate of $12.97. This reduction comes despite increasing property values. The average single-family home value rose to $679,727, up $46,318 from last year’s average of $633,409. The average tax bill is projected at $8,721, a decrease of $506 from the previous year’s average of $9,215.
Clark cautioned that these averages don’t reflect variations across neighborhoods and property types. “Colonials might go up more than different neighborhoods might go up more than other neighborhoods. Some may go down,” she explained. Properties also experience depreciation cycles, with houses typically seeing depreciation adjustments every seven years.
The board also voted not to adopt three optional exemption programs: the open space discount, residential exemption, and small commercial exemption. Clark explained that the open space discount made no sense for Kingston because property owners already participate in state programs under chapters 61, 61A, and 61B, which provide superior tax reductions ranging from 75 to 98 percent, far exceeding the 25 percent maximum open space discount.
The residential exemption and small commercial exemption received more discussion. These programs shift tax burden rather than reducing overall revenue, and both require significant administrative effort. Board of Assessors member Ken Stevens explained that the residential exemption, which would benefit owner-occupied homes at the expense of rental properties and second homes, makes sense primarily for communities with substantial numbers of non-owner-occupied properties, such as Cape Cod towns with many summer homes or urban areas with numerous rental units.
Finance Committee member Marsha Meekins attended the hearing and questioned whether the residential exemption deserved further consideration. She referenced the Department of Revenue’s online calculator suggesting some homeowners might benefit. However, Crone explained that without data on how many Kingston properties are owner-occupied versus rental properties, the tool’s estimates are unreliable. He noted that collecting such data would require expensive surveying efforts with uncertain accuracy.
The assessors estimated that Kingston has perhaps 100 to 120 non-owner-occupied residential properties out of approximately 4,500 total residential parcels. Shifting tax burden from 4,300 owner-occupied homes to 100 rental properties wouldn’t generate significant savings for residents but would require substantial administrative costs.
Clark’s presentation revealed that new growth for fiscal year 2026 totaled $395,974, significantly lower than previous years. She attributed this decline to two factors: the water moratorium limiting new construction permits, and reduced personal property from utilities National Grid and Eversource. These companies’ equipment inventory in Kingston on January 1st, the assessment date, was substantially lower than in previous years when they had major projects underway.
The maximum allowable levy for fiscal year 2026 is $46,609,493, including the debt exclusion recently approved by voters for partial school roof repairs. This represents the total amount the town can raise through property taxes, and Clark indicated she expects the final levy to come very close to this maximum amount.
Other Appointments and Business
The board conducted numerous personnel actions during the meeting. They appointed Adam Roy as a full-time permanent civil service police officer, effective November 24th, 2025. Roy, already a certified full-time officer with the Plympton Police Department, passed all background checks and requirements. Lieutenant Bateman presented Roy to the board, stating, “I’m sure you guys will be very happy with him.”
The board appointed William Horrocks as interim building commissioner for approximately three months, from November 24th, 2025 through February 24th, 2026. Interim Town Administrator George Samia explained this temporary appointment allows time to complete the search for a permanent building commissioner. He noted that interim positions typically cost more per hour than permanent positions, making it important to move quickly with hiring. The position may be extended if needed.
Ann Marie Stasinos was appointed as public health nurse to fill a vacancy created by a resignation. Health Agent Joyce Krystofolski recommended Stasinos for the less-than-part-time, grade six, step seven position within the wage and personnel bylaw. The appointment is effective November 24th, 2025.
Cindy Mace was appointed as Council on Aging van driver, a grade three, step three non-exempt position within the KTEU labor union. COA Director Holly Nighelli recommended Mays following the recruitment process. The position becomes effective November 24th, 2025.
The board also appointed George Greenwood as plumbing and gas inspector alternate, effective immediately through June 30th, 2026. Greenwood had not responded during annual renewals but subsequently requested reappointment.
Sean Hagan was appointed to the Waterfront Committee, effective immediately through June 30th, 2027. The committee voted at its November 4th meeting to recommend Hagan’s appointment to fill a vacancy.
The Fire Department received approval to accept a donated 2005 Cadillac Escalade from Kathleen Hildebrand for use in auto extrication and stabilization training.
Recycling Committee Achievements
Recycling Committee Chair Jean Landis-Naumann and member David O’Connell presented an extensive update on the committee’s activities and accomplishments. Landis-Nauman emphasized that the all-volunteer committee works closely with the Superintendent of Streets, Trees, and Parks, the Facilities Department, and DEP Municipal Assistance Coordinator Todd Koep.
The committee has installed recycling bins in all town facilities, developed a recycling information display in the town hall’s main entrance, participated in community events including the agricultural fair and National Night Out, and held two fix-it clinics encouraging repair and reuse of items rather than purchasing replacements.
Each year, the committee applies for and receives Recycling Dividend Program grants based on residents’ recycling activities. This grant money funds initiatives that benefit residents and improve recycling rates, generating additional grant funding in a positive cycle. Recent purchases have included reusable shopping bags distributed before the plastic bag ban took effect, jar scrapers to help residents use entire contents of containers, multi-use openers, and contributions to the Library of Things at the town library.
The committee established an organic waste collection program, purchasing collection buckets with lids for the first 100 participants in the pilot program. “Twenty-five to thirty percent of our trash is organic, and sometimes it’s the heaviest and messiest part of the trash,” Landis-Naumann explained. The program currently costs $344 monthly, paid through grant funds, with bins at the transfer station and Council on Aging.
Looking ahead, the committee is exploring co-digestion of food waste at the wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater Department Commissioner Elaine Fiore viewed a recent webinar on the topic and plans to consult with engineers about feasibility. This exploration is urgent because state grants only cover organic waste disposal costs for five years, and the town is entering its fourth year.
The committee replaced the old swap shop trailer, which was condemned after COVID due to mouse infestation and water intrusion, with a new shed purchased through grant funding. The Highway Department helped by storing shelving from the old trailer and installing it in the new facility. However, Landis-Naumann noted that operating the swap shop previously consumed about 20 hours of her volunteer time weekly just cleaning and organizing.
The new swap shop will operate differently, opening only in decent weather, probably starting in April, and requiring volunteers to staff it at all times. Items will be reviewed upon entry to ensure they’re suitable, then dated for periodic inventory and removal if they sit too long. Anyone interested in volunteering can use the special email address posted on the swap shop door and the committee’s webpage.
The committee hired a social media manager who posts recycling information to Facebook two to three times a week, improving outreach to residents. The committee wrote the plastic bag ban bylaw passed at town meeting and worked with the Health Department to implement it. They also collaborated with the Board of Health on regulations requiring private haulers to offer recycling services in addition to trash collection.
Landis-Naumann regularly attends South Shore Recycling Cooperative board meetings, representing Kingston among 17 South Shore communities, though she recently stepped down from the executive board after several years of service. She joined the Silver Lake Regional School Wellness Advisory Committee last year, conducting an on-site assessment and making recommendations for increasing recycling of several materials at the schools.
The committee designed and manufactured new “Kingston Recycle Street” signs visible around town, sharing costs with similar Agricultural Commission signs by having the Highway Department install both on the same poles. The town receives monthly reports on textile recycling volumes at the transfer station and schools, earning $140 per ton from Bay State for textiles collected at schools. Some of this revenue goes to the PTO. A statewide ban prohibits textiles in trash.
While the state is promoting pay-as-you-throw programs, and Kingston explored this option several years ago, the measure did not pass at town meeting. Landis-Naumann noted there’s renewed interest because pay-as-you-throw has proven effective at reducing trash disposal costs as residents learn to recycle more when they understand disposal expenses. Kingston’s current contract with SEMASS runs through 2029 at just over $80 per ton, but new contracts are being renewed at $140 per ton, indicating what the town will face when the current agreement expires.
“All of this is done by the volunteers on the committee, utilizing the grant money that the residents earn through their recycling activities,” Landis-Naumann concluded. “We’re very pleased with the amount of money that we receive every year. We try and use it as judiciously as we can, spread it out, to benefit as many residents as we possibly can.”
Special Events and Other Matters
The board approved a request from 42nd Brew Company to hold a 5K race on Saturday, December 13th, 2025, from 9:15 a.m. to noon. The route will follow Maple Street, Landing Road, River Street, Jones River Drive, Marsh Road, back down River Street, Linden Street, back down Landing Road, and finish on Maple Street. The approval requires the brewery to work with the Kingston Police Department on hiring officers along the route and notify all residents and businesses in writing. The board also approved use of the Maple Street Fire Station and townhouse parking lot for event parking.
Larry Iarossi of Iarossi Painting received public recognition for generously donating time to paint two machine guns and light poles at the island near the library for Veterans Day. Last year, his company provided the same volunteer service and power washed all stones at the war memorials.
The recent special election saw narrow passage of a debt exclusion for partial repair of the school roof. Selectman Emberg thanked everyone who voted and encouraged residents to join town committees, particularly highlighting that the Finance Committee seeks three members. “You don’t need to be a finance expert, just be willing to look at the budgets and ask questions and show up,” she said, directing interested residents to email the moderator at moderator@kingstonma.gov.
Will, a regular meeting attendee and active community volunteer, encouraged the board to consider additional Main Street sidewalk projects for the 2026 spring-through-fall season. He acknowledged the cold weather prevents work now but asked the board to explore possibilities for next year. He also wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving, thanking the board for their service. Crone reciprocated, thanking Will for donating his time throughout the community.
Emberg provided an update on the Department of Public Works Memorandum of Understanding. She attended the Sewer or Wastewater Commissioners meeting that same evening, where commissioners reviewed the draft MOU and suggested minor edits, primarily rearranging wording rather than making substantial changes. They expressed general agreement with the MOU’s provisions.
The only issue involved using sewer department staff for snow plowing. While the department hired a laborer years ago with the intention of lending them to the town during snow events, they’re now understaffed and need the laborer for their own cleanup work during storms. The MOU originally stated the department “shall provide” at least one, preferably two people for snow plowing assistance. The commissioners changed “shall” to “may.”
The Water Department meets next week, and Crone plans to attend that meeting to gather feedback on the MOU. Once all departments have reviewed the document and provided input, the town will finalize and sign the agreement. The Sewer Commissioners noted that years ago, especially during the first sewer expansion project, communication between departments was excellent, allowing effective coordination of traffic management and police department support. The MOU aims to return to that level of cooperation.
Selectman Missy Bateman provided updates on the regional school committee regionalization study. The committee had to reschedule its planned November meeting to early January due to posting requirements and agenda timing. The group received approval to extend its grant through 2026. Subcommittees are forming, and a call-in center is on board to gather data for presentation to all participating communities.
Bateman also discussed Kingston’s 300th anniversary celebration approaching in 2026. The 300th Committee has been working diligently to plan a festive year with numerous events. Tickets for the gala are being sold through the recreation website. Emberg indicated the first event may be at 42nd Brewery on December 4th, though residents should check the website for confirmed details.
The board approved open session meeting minutes from September 9th and November 4th, 2025.
Why It Matters
The Family Services Unit represents a fundamental shift in how Kingston addresses mental health and substance use disorder, conditions that police officers estimate are involved in 40 percent of their calls. The co-response model provides professional mental health support at crisis scenes, potentially diverting individuals from jail to treatment services and reducing use-of-force incidents. For residents experiencing mental health crises, this means receiving care from a trained clinician rather than exclusively law enforcement response. The regional partnership extends these benefits to Halifax and Plympton residents while meeting grant requirements, and the entirely grant-funded position means no immediate tax impact for establishing this critical service. The property tax rate decrease, despite rising home values, provides modest relief to homeowners, though the town faces a sharp increase in trash disposal costs when the current contract expires in 2029.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Appoint Adam Roy as full-time permanent civil service police officer effective November 24th, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 25:31)
Motion: Approve request from 42nd Brew Company for December 13th, 2025 5K race with conditions including police coordination and resident notification. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 28:32)
Motion: Allow use of Maple Street Fire Station and townhouse parking lot for 42nd Brew Company 5K on December 13th, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 28:52)
Motion: Open public hearing for classification of property tax for fiscal year 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 30:10)
Motion: Close public hearing for classification of property tax. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 58:07)
Motion: Set residential factor at 1.0 with corresponding CIP shift of 1.0 for fiscal year 2026 tax rates, pending DOR approval. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 58:54)
Motion: Authorize expenditure of up to $66,000 in opioid settlement funds for modular office trailer at police station for Family Services Unit. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:32:21)
Motion: Authorize use of Department of Mental Health grant up to $70,000 for remainder of FY26 to hire co-response clinician and continue in subsequent years while funding available. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:34:26)
Motion: Authorize police chief to negotiate intermunicipal agreement with Halifax and Plympton for shared co-response clinician and seek startup funding from those towns. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:35:17)
Motion: Appoint William Horrocks as interim building inspector effective November 24th, 2025 through February 24th, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:37:19)
Motion: Appoint George Greenwood as plumbing and gas inspector alternate effective immediately through June 30th, 2026. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:37:49)
Motion: Appoint Ann Marie Stasinos as public health nurse effective November 24th, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:38:34)
Motion: Appoint Sean Hagan to Waterfront Committee effective immediately through June 30th, 2027. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:38:59)
Motion: Appoint Cindy Mace as COA van driver effective November 24th, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:40:13)
Motion: Approve open session meeting minutes for September 9th, 2025 and November 4th, 2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:43:19)
Motion: Adjourn at 7:35 p.m. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:48:54)
Public Comment
During open forum, Will, a regular attendee and community volunteer, requested the board consider additional Main Street sidewalk projects for the 2026 spring and fall seasons, acknowledging current cold weather prevents immediate work. He also wished the board and community a happy Thanksgiving and thanked selectmen for their service. Finance Committee member Marsha Meekins questioned during the tax classification hearing whether the residential exemption deserved further policy consideration, suggesting it might benefit some homeowners based on Department of Revenue calculations, though the board explained insufficient non-owner-occupied properties exist in Kingston to make administrative costs worthwhile.
What’s Next
The police department will begin the hiring process for the co-response clinician with assistance from William James College’s Training Technical Assistance program. Police Chief Holmes and Lieutenant Skowyra will negotiate the intermunicipal agreement with Halifax and Plympton for shared clinician services and seek startup funding contributions from those communities, returning to the Board of Selectmen for final approval. The department will also proceed with purchasing and installing the modular office trailer. The Water Department will review the Department of Public Works Memorandum of Understanding at its next meeting, after which all department feedback will be compiled for finalization and signatures. The TA search committee will present a finalist candidate to the Board of Selectmen at a special meeting on November 25th at 5:30 p.m. The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for December 2nd, 2025.