Republic Services lost its authorization to haul trash in Kingston on Monday night as the Board of Health voted to revoke the company’s permit effective immediately. The decisive enforcement action follows months of non-compliance regarding mandatory quarterly reporting requirements. Health Agent Lori informed the board that despite a formal warning letter sent in September stating they would be barred from local business, the company failed to comply or attend recent hearings. Member Dennis Randall took a firm stance on the oversight, stating, They are losing their right to do business in this town under that license. Period. Motion Made by D. Randall to revoke Republic Services' permit to operate immediately and schedule a hearing for permanent revocation. Motion Passed 5-0. Vice Chair Heidi Whipple emphasized the need to protect public facilities during the transition, noting, We need to make sure the trash is still picked up at the schools so we don't create a health hazard. To ensure the company receives the notice, the board authorized the Health Agent to have the revocation served by a constable.

The board also presided over three tobacco violation hearings, navigating state regulations that have removed local discretion regarding monetary penalties. South Shore Vapors faced a hearing for a December 2025 violation. The owner, who acquired the business in April 2025, noted that while it was the facility's first violation, he has since implemented an ID scanner. I've watched the film; there were quite a few customers, and I'm super apologetic. I'm very vigilant now, the owner said. Member Sheryl Antoine confirmed the sale involved a person under 21 before the board moved to finalize the proceedings. Motion Made by S. Antoine to close the public hearing for South Shore Vapors. Motion Passed 5-0. Under state law, the business faces a non-negotiable $1,000 fine and mandatory training.

Brazilian Point faced a hearing for its second tobacco violation, which occurred while the business was undergoing a lengthy ownership transfer. The current owner accepted responsibility for a family member’s error but expressed concern for the incoming proprietors. Since then, I've had all employees trained and signed documents stating they won't sell without an ID, the owner stated, noting a seven-day suspension of sales would not significantly impact the business. Health Agent Lori clarified that because the new owners had not yet submitted permit paperwork, the current owner remained legally responsible. Motion Made by H. Whipple to close the public hearing for Brazilian Point. Motion Passed 5-0.

The board opted for a different path regarding a contested violation at Kingston Liquors. The owner, whose family has operated the store since 1961, disputed state claims of an illegal sale, citing POS records that showed no matching transactions on the day in question. We take this very seriously... We refuse people regularly if they don't have proper ID, the owner said, pointing out that state notices often arrive weeks after an alleged incident, making it difficult to review camera footage. Member Rosemary Donahoe joined the board in a unanimous vote to delay a decision until state inspectors could be questioned. Chair Joseph Casna observed, You're not saying it didn't happen; you're saying you're taking preventative measures to ensure it doesn't happen again. Motion Made by J. Casna to continue the hearing without a finding to a date to be determined. Motion Passed 5-0.

Departmental updates included the launch of a CPR training program in partnership with the Council on Aging. To increase accessibility and reduce costs for participants, Vice Chair Whipple suggested a loaner program for the books to drop the cost and get more people certified. Health Agent Lori agreed, noting, I'm fine with that. We got dummies through a grant. The department is also securing new AEDs for the library, highway department, and Town Hall. The meeting carried a note of transition as Member Randall, a 30-year veteran of Kingston public service, marked what may be his final meeting before the upcoming election. It's been a pleasure because we probably won't meet before the election, so I may not be back, Randall said. Member Antoine expressed interest in joining the upcoming CPR training as the board concluded its business for the evening.