Kingsboro delays rush to rebuild fire station, makes two associate committee members full voters

The Kingsboro Select Board on June 15 directed the Fire Station Building Committee to gather more public input and produce a post‑mortem analysis of last month’s failed ballot question, while immediately converting two associate (non‑voting) committee members to full voting members.

Chair Jackie Gilfas opened a wide discussion after several residents and committee members urged the board to avoid rushing a replacement plan into an October special‑town‑meeting timeline. “We need to conduct a retrospective,” said Adam Murphy, a member of the Fire Station Building Committee, arguing the town must understand who turned out to vote and why the measure failed before advancing a successor proposal.

Town Manager Colin Moiselle told the board the committee has drafted a public input form and plans a listening‑and‑reshaping process; the committee will meet June 22 to refine outreach plans. Chief Russell, the town’s fire chief, told the board the committee already has broad subject‑matter expertise and emphasized that a target of October is a useful goal but not a fixed deadline if more public work is needed.

Board members outlined three competing timelines to balance: (1) the immediate occupational‑safety needs of firefighters, (2) the fiscal reality that costs rise over time, and (3) the need to develop a plan that can win voter support. Several Select Board members said they favored urgency but not at the cost of leaving major questions unanswered.

After extensive debate about committee makeup and charge, the board voted to convert two associate members of the Fire Station Building Committee to full voting members effective immediately. The motion passed unanimously (vote announced as 5–0–0). The board also set a target for the committee’s post‑mortem and a presentation back to the Select Board at the Aug. 10 meeting.

What’s next: The committee will review and finalize its community input form on June 22, conduct multiple listening sessions and outreach, and return to the Select Board with a summarized post‑mortem and recommended next steps on Aug. 10. The Select Board said it will keep the fire station matter as a standing agenda item and provide continued oversight and periodic updates.