Kingston school officials presented a shift in their capital priorities Wednesday night, requesting nearly $100,000 for specialized landscaping and snow removal equipment to address mounting maintenance challenges. The request comes as the Town faces a $700,000 deficit following recent major storms, a financial hurdle that Chair Heath Emberg warned will constrain this year’s capital allocations.

Facilities Manager Mike explained that a planned elevator upgrade was pulled from the list after state inspections revealed a vendor error regarding the building’s control board. In its place, the department is seeking a $60,000 Ventrac machine and a $38,000 Kubota RTV. Mike noted the current 1999 John Deere is sitting dead in the water, and the new equipment would allow crews to keep up with snow removal without outside help. Business and Finance Director Stephanie Hatton noted that the equipment requests were pivoted specifically to address these immediate operational needs while larger facility issues remain under review.

Principal Carrie emphasized the human cost of the current equipment gaps, stating, There was a significant amount of overtime because we don't have the right equipment. If we have a better machine, we'd reduce that cost. Principal Jake added that the manual labor involved in the current setup poses safety risks, noting that People have cardiac arrest just using a snowblower. The Ventrac, which features an enclosed heated cab and dual wheels for mowing hills, is prioritized for the Kingston Intermediate School soccer fields and campus-wide sidewalk clearing.

The committee scrutinized the necessity of the purchase given the town's tight finances. Member Wayne Bouley observed that existing equipment has been unreliable, stating the current Kubota has been in the shop at least twice or three times since I've been here. Member Chris Brielman questioned if outside groups like youth soccer could assist with field maintenance, though Mike clarified that while they handle fertilization, the town is responsible for mowing. Meanwhile, Member David Fuller raised questions about previous high-dollar purchases, asking the committee to remind me, at Fall Town Meeting, we purchased the Trackless with Streets and Parks, and that was supposed to take care of some of this.

The discussion also touched on significant deferred maintenance at Kingston Elementary School (KES). Mike reported being very worried about mortar lines and masonry work near the preschool, while Emberg shared a first-hand account of a major roof leak. I was in a meeting at KES and it sounded like somebody opened a hose in the ceiling, Emberg said. We had to run a barrel over to catch it. It was like a running faucet for about a minute and a half over the cafeteria.

Town Administrator Scott Lambiase updated the board on Information Technology requests, which include approximately $28,000 for new servers at the Townhouse and Police Department, plus a $10,000 installation fee. Lambiase admitted the multi-year IT plan remains a work in progress, stating, When I asked them to send this over, I was more confused than before. With the town warrant set to close on March 24, Lambiase urged the committee to prepare for final deliberations. The warrant is going to close on the 24th. So, you really have very little time between now and then, he cautioned.

Emberg noted he would assemble a draft list of all capital requests and estimated costs to prepare for the upcoming warrant. The committee still seeks a resident to fill a vacancy and is directing interested parties to reach out to the Kingston Finance Committee.