Kingston’s utility leaders are demanding transparency from Town Hall after discovering the Sewer and Water enterprise funds are being assessed nearly half of the town’s entire IT budget. During a joint meeting on April 14, commissioners expressed disbelief over financial figures that charge the two departments a combined $176,342 for information technology services, despite the departments only operating five computers and a laptop between them.

The controversy centers on "allocated costs"—fees charged by the town to enterprise funds for shared services like accounting, insurance, and IT. Sewer Commission member D. Field noted that under current calculations, the departments are paying roughly $800 a month for internet per computer. If I take the IT budget and divide it by 20 town departments, our contribution should be around $22,000, not $89,000, Field said, pointing to a $67,000 discrepancy in the Water Department’s assessment alone. We need to reach out to the Town Administrator, Scott Lambiase, and get some sunlight on these calculations.

The financial strain extends beyond technology. Sewer Chair E. Fiori reported that the two departments are also being billed for 40% of the town’s total audit costs. Our customers are already paying for these services through their real estate taxes; charging the enterprise fund this much feels like double-charging, Fiori said. Water Department representative C. [Last Name] noted the absurdity of the scale, pointing out that the Kingston Police Department, which maintains a massive technology infrastructure, only pays $13,000 annually for IT. We pay more for IT than we do for our entire liability, property, and fleet insurance, he added. S. [Last Name] of the Water Department confirmed that their specialized SCADA systems are already paid for in-house and are not supported by the town’s IT budget.

In response to the figures, which were provided only a week before the meeting, both boards voted to authorize their chairs to confront the Town Administrator. Motion Made by B. Mulliken to authorize E. Fiori to represent the Sewer Commission in meetings with the Town Administrator regarding allocated costs. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Similarly, the Water Commission moved to join the effort. Motion Made by B. [Last Name] to have B. [Last Name], the authorized representative for the water department, meet jointly with the sewer commission to review the allocated costs and any other associated financial conditions. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Water Chair B. [Last Name] suggested that if the town cannot provide a satisfactory itemized bill, the departments should explore outsourcing their own accounting and IT services. It’s safe to assume we won't get a satisfying answer easily, he noted.

Earlier in the session, the Sewer Commission reviewed a modified contract for a proposed housing project situated on the Duxbury/Kingston border. A primary concern for the commission is ensuring that the upfront connection fees remain "unrestricted" so the town can use the funds for debt or operating shortfalls. One key thing is that this money must be unrestricted for our use, Fiori said, noting that the developer is paying for all infrastructure themselves. Legal counsel L. [Last Name] stated she would review the language to ensure no "betterment" terminology accidentally restricted the funds. I'll review the language to ensure nothing in the agreement restricts it, she told the board.

Technical Lead B. Mulliken raised concerns about the project’s 44,000-gallon daily capacity allocation, emphasizing that unused capacity should not become a tradable asset for the developer. I don't want them thinking they have another 20,000 gallons to build other buildings, Mulliken said. Counsel L. [Last Name] agreed to adjust the contract to ensure capacity rights are project-specific and non-transferable beyond the current proposal. The commission also clarified that the development, which uses Duxbury water, will be billed for sewer by Kingston using a single master meter rather than a hundred individual house meters. We don't want to be reading a hundred different house meters. We send one bill to the owner, Mulliken explained.