The Kingston Board of Water Commissioners took a firm stance against non-responsive utility customers on Tuesday, authorizing the Water Department to move forward with service shut-offs for residents who have ignored years of contact regarding non-reading meters. Superintendent Chris reported that while five vacant properties are currently showing no water usage, two occupied residences have remained non-responsive to numerous letters for several years. To resolve the impasse, the board opted for a final, direct intervention. Motion Made by R. Loring to send a certified letter to the property owners and have a hand-delivered notice accompanied by a police officer; for vacant properties, the department will send a certified letter and proceed with street shut-offs. Motion Passed (3-0-0). Chris recommended the escalation, stating, if we're not allowed in, we're going to shut the water off at the street.

Progress on the town’s high-priority expansion of the Route 44 well system has stalled due to a combination of heavy snow and technical site constraints. Engineering consultant Kristen from Kleinfelder explained that a specialized drilling rig required for the project faces significant access hurdles. The operator of this rig had concerns with getting down into the site and back out, Kristen noted, explaining that the rig’s axle configuration would likely cause it to get hung up on a ground crest. With the ground currently frozen and the site buried under two feet of snow, necessary grading work cannot yet be completed. Superintendent Chris added that a planned field meeting was unlikely to happen soon, noting, I don't think [the site] is going to improve in a week's time to allow us to get in there other than on foot. Commissioner Richard Loring Jr. emphasized the importance of precision once the thaw begins, stating, We need to do it right the first time.

The board also engaged in a pointed discussion regarding a new water conservation bylaw required by a state Administrative Order of Consent. While MassDEP has provided template language for towns to adopt, Loring expressed deep reservations about wording that references ponds, rivers, and wetlands, given that Kingston’s supply is drawn from wells. He cautioned that the bylaw must be strictly limited to the Water Department’s jurisdiction to avoid overreach from other local boards. We have a very active Conservation Commission that likes to put further restrictions on any open land, Loring said. We need to be very careful that we're talking about the Kingston Water Department... having nothing to do with the Kingston Conservation Commission. Kristen clarified that while the state would prefer to see restrictions on private well users during droughts, they recognize the town lacks the legal authority to enforce such measures. The board agreed to refine the draft before Chair Robert Erlandsen returns from remote participation; Erlandsen, attending via Zoom from Minnesota, noted, I'll just be participating remotely while passing the gavel to Vice Chair Robert Kostka.

Recognition of department staff was a highlight of the session following a grueling leak repair at the intersection of Winter and Pembroke Streets on January 30. Despite extreme cold and a hydraulic line failure on the department’s backhoe, the crew successfully restored service. Chris praised the team, noting, The guys did a great job with limited resources... They were able to navigate around that and get things done. In response, the board voted to formally acknowledge the effort in the workers' permanent records. Motion Made by R. Loring to have the Board of Water Commissioners send a letter of appreciation to the crew for the January 30th leak repair to be placed in their personnel files. Motion Passed (3-0-0).

In other department business, the board addressed a billing error for a residence at 296 Pembroke Street. Vice Chair Robert Kostka suggested the move after hearing the application for abatement had been delayed by administrative oversight. I would accept a motion to abate that particular bill to the lowest price, Kostka said. Motion Made by R. Loring to abate the bill for 296 Pembroke Street to the lowest price tier. Motion Passed (3-0-0). The department is also monitoring infrastructure failures following a fire on Lower Main Street where two hydrants failed—one due to a frozen barrel and another due to corroded fasteners. Additionally, the town is awaiting the final selection of a state-funded consultant to begin a comprehensive M36 water audit.