Kingston’s new Town Administrator Scott Lambiase committed to resolving chronic parking shortages at the Senior Center during his first official visit to the Council on Aging (COA) Advisory Board on February 10. Lambiase, who took office in January as part of a town-wide administrative transition, noted that he is currently assessing municipal facilities and departmental needs during a high-pressure budget season. Facing a 3% growth cap mandated by the Board of Selectmen, Lambiase told the board he is looking for creative ways to address facility hopes and community needs. So far so good. I come in every day, checks cleared. That’s great, Lambiase said of his first month in the role.

The board quickly pressed the new administrator on the lack of accessibility at the Council on Aging building. Board member Lucy highlighted the struggle for elderly residents, asking, Is it possible to ask him to pull a miracle out of his pocket to create more handicap parking here? Board member Kathy added that the current situation is inequitable for residents in their 80s who must carry equipment from distant spots. It's not fair to other people in their 80s who have to park far away and walk to the center. Isn't there something that says if you take some wetland and fill it in, as long as you have another section somewhere in the town, it's a trade-off? Kathy asked. Lambiase acknowledged that while many towns allow for wetland replication, the process is labor-intensive. I'll put it at the top of the list to try to find something for parking, Lambiase promised, noting he would consult with conservation and facility officials to see if the town could exceed minimum handicap parking requirements.

The urgency for facility improvements follows the completion of a major community survey for the Livable Kingston initiative. Kathy reported that the town received 571 responses from residents of all ages interested in aging in place. This data will form the backbone of a new action plan developed in coordination with the Old Colony Planning Council. Lambiase encouraged the board to present these findings to the Board of Selectmen soon to maintain momentum. Director of Elder Affairs Holly Nighelli noted that the plan would also focus on home safety, mentioning that a recent speaker discussed home modification loans for accessibility upgrades. It’s not just for the aged group; it's for any group, like a mom with a challenged child who has become a teenager, Kathy noted regarding the universal need for home safety education.

Nighelli also proposed a significant shift in the center’s food assistance programming. She suggested replacing the current Bag and Go program with a Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market in the cafe. The market would allow Kingston residents to select fresh and frozen donated items in a shopping-style environment rather than receiving pre-packed bags. This comes as the outreach department reported high demand for fuel assistance and food insecurity support in January. The board expressed support for the pilot program, provided it remains restricted to Kingston residents. Motion Made by Kathy to approve the secretary's report for January 13th. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

Maintenance and staffing updates rounded out the meeting. Nighelli reported that the Senior Center’s furnace, which dated back to 2010, was replaced on February 2. The transportation department also saw relief with the hiring of a new part-time van driver, Tim Ballinger, who is expected to start in mid-March. This follows a busy January in which the COA provided 288 rides and served 300 meals. Board members also discussed the growing need for caregiver support. Chair Donna emphasized the necessity of workshops for those caring for Alzheimer’s patients, noting, This has become an epidemic, and some families are afraid to ask for help. Nighelli suggested that the COA could pursue grants through the Mass Council on Aging to fund such professional support groups.

In a final safety alert, Donna urged all residents to re-enroll in the town’s emergency alert system. Following a data breach with the former Code Red system, resident information did not transfer to the new Smart 911 platform. Even if you were in the old Code Red system, you must re-enroll, Donna warned, directing residents to contact the fire department if they need assistance with the registration process. The board ended the meeting by remembering long-time community member Rosemary Gallagher, a regular at bingo and meditation classes, who recently passed away.