The Kingston Budget Committee elected Stacy Dion as chair, selected a vice chair and named Trish Sitt secretary, and voted to appoint Joseph Gagnon to fill a committee vacancy during its organizational meeting Wednesday, March 26.

The votes were routine and largely unanimous. Members approved Dion as chair by voice vote with one member registering an abstention. The committee likewise approved a vice chair by voice vote and approved Sitt as secretary; the secretary vote included a single abstention noted by the chair. The committee also voted to appoint Joseph Gagnon to the committee; that appointment carried with one abstention.

The committee convened for the organizational agenda after brief introductions from members. Dion opened the session and led nominations: “Motion for chair, Stacy,” was moved and seconded before the voice vote. During the appointment discussion the chair read a letter of intent from Joseph Gagnon recounting his prior attendance at February’s meeting and interest in serving.

The appointee will serve until the next election, at which point the town ballot will determine whether he continues in the seat, the chair explained. The committee confirmed that write-in candidates who were elected serve the remainder of their statutory terms; appointees fill the seat only until the next election.

Members closed the organizational business and moved to assign liaisons to department budgets and other committee business.

The actions were procedural and established the committee’s leadership and membership for the coming year; no policy changes were made in these votes.