Kingston Select Board plans 300th anniversary celebration for Plains Cemetery

The Kingston Select Board convened on April 7, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including a lease renewal for a solar project, updates on a compensation study, and preparations for an upcoming cemetery celebration.

The meeting began with a discussion regarding the renewal of a lease agreement with Revision Energy for a site investigation related to a potential solar field at the closed landfill. The board noted that the lease, which allows for annual renewals, is part of a five-year agreement. Questions arose about the lease's terms, particularly concerning the landlord's right to terminate the agreement. After some deliberation, the board decided to table the item until the next meeting to allow for further review of the original lease documents.

Next, the board turned its attention to the status of a compensation and benefits study. Paula provided an update, noting that she had sent the relevant information to the town's attorneys for review. A question was raised about the number of positions included in the study, with a preliminary count of approximately 46. The board agreed that having a current count of positions would be beneficial for their upcoming discussions.

In new business, the board discussed the upcoming celebration of the Plains Cemetery's 300th anniversary, which is set for May 31. The cemetery has recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the Heritage Committee proposed sending invitations to dignitaries for the event. The board agreed that the invitations should be sent from the Select Board to enhance the event's prestige. A draft letter was reviewed, and a minor typo was noted for correction.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the board's commitment to community engagement and thorough review of important agreements and studies, with plans for further discussions in the coming weeks.