The commission’s meeting also saw a discussion about the approval of an updated site plan for a property on Plymouth Street Park Plaza. Members debated the two-year delay in obtaining the updated plan and the motion to send it for peer review as per town protocol was approved. Furthermore, the requirement for a site plan review for a proposed online car selling business on Industrial Drive was considered, with planning board verification sought for both this and an application related to Felipe’s Towing.

Another topic that emerged involved the school’s infrastructure, particularly the CTE Overhead Door project, which had exceeded its budget due to unexpected repairs to the structural frame. The urgency of the situation was acknowledged, considering the safety implications and financial constraints. The commission decided to gather more information and deliberate further on this matter. Additionally, funding for the replacement of two doors was discussed, with concerns about the availability of funds for the remaining three doors. A motion to transfer funds for the door replacement project was passed.

The commission also addressed various updates from the educational sector. The principal of the middle school presented the Improvement Plan, which was moved and approved, and also provided a learning update focusing on assessment of students’ performance in subjects like English language arts and mathematics. High school level updates included positive growth in student performance reported by the English and Math departments and the use of common assessments in science classes. Additionally, the meeting featured updates on student activities and the approval of a list of books from the Kingston Public Library.

Financial matters were not left out of the meeting’s agenda. The discovery of duplicate charges to budget lines, particularly affecting the health insurance line, raised concerns about the potential inflation of the next year’s budget and the urgency of correcting the financial report by June 30th. The issue of understaffing in the business office and the challenges of managing grants and transportation were discussed, with the unresolved issues with the corrective action plan being a particular point of concern.

Personnel changes within the school system were also a topic of discussion. The commission announced Elizabeth McKay as the new assistant director of student services for the Silver Lake Regional School District, expressing appreciation for the outgoing assistant superintendent and discussing ongoing search committees and contract negotiations for key positions. A senior member of the committee hinted at a potential change in leadership, acknowledging it could be their last evening as chair of the Silver Lake Regional School Committee.