The Kingston Select Board met Jan. 13 to review draft warrant articles for the 2025 town meeting, approve routine contracts and administrative requests, and consider citizen petitions and capital items.

Key votes and actions at the meeting included approval of a new assessing contract with Whitney Consulting Group LLC; approval of a $150 temporary notetaker reimbursement for the museum (to cover three months at $50 per month) charged to the part‑time salaries line pending budget enactment; and unanimous approval of a motion to place on the warrant an article to rescind town meeting article 46 (1995), which required voter approval for the creation of any permanent full- or part-time town position. The board also approved meeting minutes for Jan. 6 and voted to enter nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A for reputation matters.

The board discussed the draft warrant articles in detail: zoning amendments, the operating budget (Article 9), a separate contingency fund article (Article 11) citing RSA language presented during the meeting, and a bridge reconstruction grant article the board framed as a non-tax-impact, non‑lapsing appropriation tied to previously raised matching funds. Select Board members and staff clarified that some articles remain drafts and may be revised following budget‑committee action at a scheduled hearing.

Votes at a glance
- Assessing contract (Whitney Consulting Group LLC): approved by voice vote.
- Museum notetaker ($150 from line 4130‑S3): approved by voice vote; funds to be reclassified to museum account if the budget passes.
- Rescind Article 46 (1995): motion carried unanimously to place rescission on the warrant.
- Landfill solar warrant authorization (Revision Energy): motion to place authorization on the ballot was defeated by voice vote (failed for lack of majority).
- Contra-dance facility use (monthly dates Feb–Jun): approved pending completion of front steps; rental fee applies.
- Minutes (Jan. 6 public and nonpublic): approved.
- Motion to go into nonpublic (RSA 91‑A): approved.

Why it matters: The assessing contract establishes the town’s property valuation services for the coming period; the rescission article seeks to modernize the town’s staffing approval process under state law; and the bridge grant language aims to preserve a state or federal grant without raising local taxes. Several items were time-sensitive because of the town’s warrant filing deadlines.

Next steps: The Select Board and town staff will finalize any edits to warrant language before the posting deadline, reclassify the museum notetaker funds if the budget is adopted, and schedule follow-up public information about any major capital items (notably the bridge grant).