Kingston Selectmen Reject Police Override Request, Water Moratorium to Last 5-7 Years
Board votes 2-2 on police funding proposal while water officials explain lengthy timeline for new well
KINGSTON - March 11 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen has rejected a proposal to place a Proposition 2½ override on the town meeting warrant that would have funded additional police positions. The board deadlocked in a 2-2 vote March 11 on the measure that would have asked voters to approve $575,000 for one sergeant and two patrol officers.
Police Chief Brian Holmes requested the override, citing officer safety concerns and potential burnout among current staff due to overtime demands.
"Officer safety is a concern, it is my biggest concern," Holmes says. "I'm very serious about the safety of the people who serve the community. What ends up happening a lot is you have a burnout factor that's happening now and again, with overtime and forced overtime just constantly happening because we're operating with a skeleton crew."
The chief notes that the department has already scaled back its original request, which included a deputy chief, three patrolmen and a dispatcher.
"These are not a list of wishful thinking and wants. These are needs," Holmes says.
Selectman Tyler Bouchard, who voted against the measure, expresses concern about the town's ability to sustain the positions financially in future years.
"What makes me nervous is running very, very frugally versus pumping up a department without any projection of resources to be able to fund that in the future," Bouchard says. "The last thing you want to do is pump up a department from basically taxing, in my opinion, overtaxing to get to that point without the projected revenue to cover it and then have to lay people off."
Selectman Kim Emberg, who also votes against the override, acknowledges the chief's dedication but cites financial concerns.
"The people of this town can't afford this right now. Even a slight increase right now is more than people can handle," Emberg says.
The override would have cost the average homeowner approximately $100 per year, or about $25 per quarter.
Despite the rejection, the board discusses potentially using $200,000 in available tax levy capacity to fund some positions partially for the upcoming fiscal year. The chief requests this be added as an agenda item for the next meeting.
"We would figure out a way to fund one sergeant and two patrol officers for a partial fiscal year. Moving the needle," Chief Holmes says.
In a separate matter, Kingston Water Commissioner Robert Kostka informs the board that the town's water moratorium will likely continue for five to seven years due to the time required to bring a new well online.
The moratorium, implemented in 2023, prevents new water service connections to protect the existing water supply for current customers. Kostka explains that Kingston is currently in violation of Department of Environmental Protection requirements.
"DEP requires us to be able to provide potable water if our biggest well is offline," Kostka says. "Right now, we're actually in violation of DEP orders to have enough potable water in the event that our largest producing well is offline."
A chart presented by Kostka shows that water demand has increased significantly since 2017, when the department first approached the town about purchasing land for a new well. The situation became more critical in 2020-2022 with continued growth.
The Water Department has already purchased land for a new well and selected a designer for the well and pump station, with contract terms under negotiation.
"We encourage our customers to conserve water," Kostka says. "If we have a dry summer, it could be potentially very difficult for us. So don't use more water than you have to use."
Water Department Superintendent Chris Veracka explains the lengthy timeline is due to the permitting process with the DEP.
"The current timeline right now is, we're in the process of finalizing the agreements with the design firm. And then it's the permitting process. So it could take five to seven years," Veracka says.
Veracka clarifies that the moratorium is not intended to halt development in Kingston.
"It is not the Kingston Water Department's position or intention with the moratorium to stop or prevent any building going on in town," Veracka says. "You can build all that you need to, but at this time, you cannot tie into town water. There's no water capacity available for additional customers."
Developers can still build homes with private wells, and the Water Department allows installation of water lines to properties for future connection when capacity becomes available.
The Board of Selectmen will meet next on March 25.