03:23The meeting began with a notable address from a community member who praised a board member for her long-term dedication and leadership. He highlighted her journey from an appointed position to various leadership roles, including vice chair and chair, emphasizing the significant impact she had on the board. The chair reciprocated with gratitude, discussing a recent conversation with a mayor that led her to identify five essential leadership qualities: personal responsibility, initiative, tenacity, organizational sensitivity, and communication.

06:32The board also addressed the appointment of new associate members, Deb and Gail, by the board of selectmen. Deb’s appointment took immediate effect, while Gail’s would begin on July 1st. The board discussed upcoming online training requirements for new members.

08:44A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the board’s code of conduct and the importance of adhering to open meeting laws. The chair highlighted a recent update approved by the select board, adding a paragraph about the reconsideration process for permanently banned individuals. This update was part of an ongoing effort to maintain transparency and public awareness of board discussions. The chair stressed the importance of avoiding violations of open meeting laws, cautioning members against discussions that could be construed as deliberations outside formal meetings.

28:50Attendance and participation were also topics. The board discussed the impact of absenteeism on its effectiveness, noting that some members had missed several meetings. The chair encouraged members to take personal responsibility for their attendance, emphasizing that the board could only function optimally with committed participation. The bylaws were referenced to clarify the board’s authority to address attendance issues, with a consensus to reach out to members with high absenteeism to discuss their commitment.

35:12In relation to board roles and responsibilities, the chair reiterated that no member, including herself, held greater decision-making power. The board planned to reorganize and elect new officers in July, but a motion was made and approved to delay this decision until August. This delay allowed for the consideration of all members, including any new appointees. In the interim, a member volunteered to run the July meeting, a decision that received unanimous support.

47:51The director’s report provided updates on various programming initiatives. Notably, the Kingston Triad Committee was relaunched with the involvement of the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs, and a summer kickoff event featured music and ice cream, creating a positive community atmosphere. Upcoming events included a Father’s Day luncheon with a raffle, mirroring a previous Mother’s Day event. The director also highlighted efforts to diversify programming with new educational and exercise classes led by the assistant director.

A Kingston working group focused on dementia met recently to tailor a community survey. The group planned to launch the survey post-summer vacation to maximize participation, with innovative ideas for distribution, such as including it in school welcome packages for parents.

Operational updates included the café’s successful service of 345 meals in May and the introduction of a new part-time van driver. Changes to the townhouse hours, shifting to a four-day workweek, were announced, prompting discussions about accessibility concerns on Fridays.