Kingston select board denies Eversource abatement, appoints two Heritage Commission alternates and flags land-use questions

Kingston27s select board on June 2 voted to deny an abatement request from utility company Eversource and approved two Heritage Commission alternate appointments, while also pressing planning staff to clarify setback and survey issues on several development applications.

The board reviewed a May 30, 2025 letter from the town assessor recommending denial of Eversource27s 2024 abatement application because the utility provided no new appraisal or supporting documentation. Following discussion, the board moved to deny the request and voted in favor of the assessor27s recommendation.

The meeting also recorded a pair of appointments to the Heritage Commission. Connor Von Gennep, who is restoring the former Harlow property, was appointed as an alternate, term to expire March 31, 2028. Steven Souza, a volunteer who produced video for the town27s 300th celebration and contributed heritage content, was appointed as an alternate for the same term. Both nominations were moved and seconded on the floor and approved unanimously.

On financial matters, the board acknowledged prior action to pay the matching portion of a lake-host grant in the amount of $2,500 and reviewed an abatement recommendation for a Half Moon Lane property owned by Gregory and Janet Bartlett (Bartlett Farm Provocable Trust). The assessor recommended reducing the 2024 assessed value from 664,600 to 651,000, producing an abatement amount of $226; that recommendation was presented to the board as part of the packet.

Public commenters raised several non-action items. Rick Russman of Beach Drive urged the board to require an accessible executive summary or to have auditors meet with the board to explain the 2023 audit, saying it was "extraordinarily unusual to have the town not have its audit done" in a way the public can readily understand. Stacy Dion asked for clarification about the HR administrator position27s hours (she said the job description was ambiguous between "40 hours a week" and "40 hours a month"). Board members replied that HR responsibilities are being separated from the finance role and that the salary delta should cover a new part-time or consulting arrangement, but they had not yet decided whether to hire a consultant or add a town position.

On planning and land-use items the board reviewed a series of submissions including: a proposed 12-foot-wide gravel access driveway to a well (with a 4-foot gravel shoulder) off Route 125 near West Shore Park; a complex lot-line adjustment on Mill Road intended to provide frontage for a previously landlocked parcel; and driveway/well setbacks for a property on Church Street (Christie property). Board members asked staff to confirm whether plans comply with shoreland and wetland setbacks, whether well setbacks meet the town27s distance requirement (a 20-foot setback from driveways was referenced in discussion), and whether the submitted plan should be a survey plan or whether a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment is required. The board agreed to add comments or questions to the planning record and to ask appropriate reviewing bodies for clarification.

Procedurally, the board signed a letter from the town of Exeter documenting a May 2025 perambulation of the Exeter2DKingston boundary and approved several sets of minutes (including May 19 and May 23 public portions, with one abstention recorded on one set because a member had been absent). The meeting concluded with the board setting its next meeting for June 16 at 6:00 p.m. and adjourning at 9:13 p.m.

What happens next: staff will follow up on the assessor27s recommendations and the board27s planning questions (shoreland/wetland setbacks, well setbacks, and whether survey plans or ZBA variances are required). The board also agreed to invite the auditors to meet with the board to review the 2023 audit as requested during public comment.