Kingston Select Board unanimously delegates employee investigation authority to town administrator

KINGSTON — April 7, 2026 — Kingston Select Board unanimously authorizes town administrator to investigate unnamed employee and place them on paid leave. The board voted 5-0 at its April 7 meeting to delegate to Town Administrator Scott full authority to place an unidentified employee on paid administrative leave and conduct a formal investigation, including the power to retain outside investigators and labor counsel. The board heard budget presentations from three departments — police, fire, and highway — all of which submitted level-service requests for FY27 while describing unmet needs; Highway Superintendent Sean told the board the town is approximately $9 million behind on road paving, up from roughly $5 million three years ago, and the FY27 operating request includes just $214,000 for contract paving and sidewalk repair on top of uncertain Chapter 90 funds. A Select Board member publicly floated a $5 million to $10 million long-term bond as the only realistic path to closing the road backlog. The consolidated FY27 budget carries a $300,000 deficit, which Scott said he expects to resolve upon receipt of a pending free cash certification before the May 2 annual town meeting.