Report on 1/5/26 Kingfield Select Board Meeting

Important Topics for Town Residents Noodled

In a regularly scheduled select board meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, discussion included calling a special Town meeting, establishing a social media policy, the gift of land by the late Town resident David Holmes, transfer station stickers, and Town revaluation.

Select Board members Morgan Dunham, Chris Rushton and Hunter Lander were present. Members Wade Brown and Kim Jordan were absent.

Special Town Meeting

January 20, 2026 • Webster Hall • 6:00pm*

Voters will be asked to discontinue a sewer easement located at 368 Main Street, property owned by Hammond Lumber. Hammond plans to install its own septic.
Waste water superintendent Travis Targett explained that the septic field being discontinued served the two buildings owned by Hammond that were taken down to make room for the proposed new retail store and therefore does not need to be replaced.

Social Media Policy for Town Officials

Subject to the Freedom of Access (Right-to-Know) Act to secure public record and transparency, the Town of Kingfield must adopt a social media policy. All content related to Town business on social media is a public record. All posts made by Town officials and employees including committee and board members must be retained according to state record retention schedules.

Towns are allowed to create their own policies; they might include restrictions such as: posts must be non-partisan and non-commercial, and prohibit obscenity, hate speech, defamation, threats, harassment, and promotion of illegal activity.

If identifying as an official, a clear disclaimer is needed (e.g., “Views are my own, not the Town’s”). Local policies must align with state laws (like records retention and right-to-know) but towns can add their own specific content rules and procedures.

David Holmes Gift of Land to the Town of Kingfield

Holmes, a late resident of Kingfield, has left the Town 20 acres of property to be used by residents as a recreational site for walking, hiking and biking. ATV and snowmobile use will not be allowed.

The tax loss would be a little over $1000. According to TM Targett, Holmes wished to keep it “forever wild.” All select board members were grateful for the gift. How to best maintain the land and enforce Holmes’s wishes for its use will be discussed at a later meeting when the full board is present.

Transfer Station Sticker Check

According to Town officials present at the transfer station sticker check held on Saturday and Sunday, January 2 & 3, 75 non-residents were turned away. Most understood, although there were a few angry reactions. SB members are hopeful that this action will allow the transfer station to cover all costs rather than costing the Town money, as it has been doing.

Stickers are now required to use the Kingfield Transfer Station in any capacity. Residents who do not yet have a sticker can stop by the Town Office to pick one up; without the sticker entry will be denied.

Kingfield Town Revaluation

TM Targett reported that the Town’s on-going effort to find someone to do a revaluation came up nearly double what the Town had budgeted. Eighteen businesses were contacted; only one answered with a bid of $275,000; the Town had budgeted $150,000.

Resident Polly MacMichael asked if the Town might drop revaluation entirely. TM Targett responded that because the Town is currently over the 70% threshold that requires a revaluation, it is not necessary or mandated at this time.

There seemed to be agreement that because of the increase in Town taxes, local residents experiencing hardship, school district issues and the on-going work being done on a comprehensive plan, that maybe the Town should put it off at least until the comprehensive plan is completed.

*The Registrar of Voters will be available every weekday from 8:30am to 12:30pm, 1:30pm to 4:30pm in the Town Office and on Town Meeting Day from 8:45 AM until Town Meeting to accept the Registration and vote of any person eligible to vote in Town affairs. A person who is not a registered voter may not vote in any election.