At Town Hall last night, about 75 townspeople gathered to talk about the Resident State Trooper or the current lack thereof.  The discussion went back and forth, with some in favor and some opposed to the reintroduction of the position.  The possibility of constables was raised.

This is Kent’s first year without a Resident State Trooper.  First Selectman Bruce Adams started the meeting by reiterating his earlier position that the Resident State Trooper was not needed, but he indicated  that was just one opinion.  He wanted to listen to the collective group.  He said, “The purpose of this evening is for us to hear what people think.”

Many residents were concerned with the recent chimney service scam.  A show of hands indicated that over half the audience had received calls from these thieves.  Adams noted that, in one incidence, $3300 had been scammed from an older couple in South Kent.  Many of those called by the scammers favored a Resident State Trooper because this seemed to be the only way to get action in the matter before someone gets hurt.  Some noted that only a resident trooper can enforce town ordinances effectively.

Part of the discussion centered around a letter, from residents Ken Cooper and Jim Perkins, that mentioned the possibility of town constables.  Town Constables are town, not state, employees that can enforce all laws.  They receive state training, although at town expense.  However, Adams was unsure whether Kent could have constables without a resident trooper.  The Town of Washington was cited as an example, with both a resident trooper and two constables.

The failure of the previous resident trooper was hashed over.  Several citizens noted that communication with the resident trooper and the barracks had broken down.  Resident Betty Krasne said, “Many of the resident businesses in town wanted to do away with it.”  Business owner and resident Jack Kinney said, “We had problems that were addressed with Troop L and never got satisfaction. The supervisors of the resident state trooper let us down.  We should be asking for our money back.”  Resident Sherman Green added, “If we got another trooper like the last one, it would be a waste of money.”

Several people noted the increased presence of state troopers since the town stopped the resident trooper program.  Resident Bud Brady noted that the troopers from the barracks had done much more to quell the recurrent problems at South Commons.  However, resident Andy Ocif, a former resident state trooper, said, “I don’t see good police service with the patrolling troopers.”  Resident Scott Harvey, a state trooper, outlined the official duties, responsibilities, and communications brought by a resident trooper, while noting the failure of the previous situation.  He also distributed letters by himself and Ocif on the subject.

Several people noted that the resident trooper only covers the town for 35 hours per week; the other 133 hours are covered by patrolling troopers who have responsibility for Kent, Warren, and Washington.

Adams noted that the yearly cost of a resident trooper is now $101,429 for a senior trooper with at least 11 years experience, and $75,107 for a sixth year trooper.  That amount is 70% of the real cost; the state pays the rest.  (The state’s budget woes have occasioned the move to stop even that payment.)

Ms. Ryan, who has won 26 Emmys, has been a radio reporter, a legislative aide in the United States Senate, and an editorial assistant at Rolling Stone Magazine working with Hunter S. Thompson. Her first mystery, “Prime Time,” won the Agatha for Best First Novel. Her other two mysteries, “Face Time” and “Air Time” have all been mystery book bestsellers. Her latest mystery, “Drive Time,” (out in February and available for purchase at the Library, the day of the talk) just earned a starred review from Library Journal.

Her talk will be about mixing the worlds of fact and fiction – how her career has changed from a “just-the-facts” journalist – the obstacles and the rewards, the challenges as a newbie reporter in 1971, as well as the challenges of an experienced senior reporter when the focus is on youth and beauty. At the age of 60, she’ll talk about making a career change at mid-life – can it really work to follow your dreams?

Please register for the discussion by calling the Library, 860-927-3761; emailing the Library, kmlinfo@biblio.org; or by stopping in person to sign-up. Seating is limited.

Last night, the Sewer Commission discussed the ongoing improvement in their operation.  Chairman John Casey went to considerable lengths to educate the Commission.  Their first grant application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been submitted.  Treasurer Jennifer Weigl gave a very positive report on their accounts.  And they considered a physical audit of their users to verify that all accounts are being properly billed, having discovered a failed billing of High Watch for $24,000.

The first grant to the USDA was submitted, and Casey said that the feedback was very positive.  The grant application includes relining of the Maple Street line from the Monument to the bridge, rebuilding the pump station near the river, and several retrofits at the plant.  If awarded, the grant would provide $657,000 in a combination of money and loans.  The grant application for the sewer line up Maple Street Extension for an estimated $1,155,000 will be filed separately because its effect on rate payers is different.

Weigl reported that the current operations are under budget in total; the problem with the generator is the only overage.  The Commission also has $373,760 cash on hand, with $30,000 being part of the operating budget and the rest for capital outlay.  Up to $40,000 of the capital account is currently committed to filing the application to the USDA, which requires up-front engineering reports.

The Commission spent some time discussing the  release of such information.  Casey said, “We need to be open about this.  If somebody has a question, lets answer it.”  However, two members of the Commission were adamant about keeping the accounts hidden.  Of course, such information is always open to the public by State law, as pointed out by First Selectman Bruce Adams.

Casey also brought up a field audit of all accounts, that is, having someone go door to door to verify the information used to bill the accounts.  He has already pointed out that the apartments in town are under billed as reported here.  Apparently, he also discovered that High Watch has not been billed for some time for their use of the septage lagoon.  When contacted about the oversight, they readily agreed to rectify the error and pay $24,000 that was unbilled.

The Commission als0 approved job descriptions for the Plant Superintendent and Assistant Plant Superintendant.

Debbie Devaux, clerk for the Commission, submitted two job descriptions for herself, one for clerk and one for tax collector for the Commission.  However, Casey objected, “It’s very clear that this is a use fee and not a tax.”  Of course, if user payments were a tax, they would be deductible from federal income tax; they are not.  Devaux was not convinced.

Ms. Beller-Smith was born and raised in New York City. Her father’s hobby was photography, and at the age of seven, she began helping him in the darkroom. Although she now works with digital cameras, she still has fond memories of developer, hypo and fixer.

She began her career as a dancer with the Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas and then with American Festival Ballet, both of which toured extensively in Europe. After that, she studied photography.

She became the staff photographer for McCann Erickson, an ad agency in NYC. There she did the preliminary pictures that were presented to clients such as, Coca Cola, Nabisco and Buick for their ad campaigns. A photo of hers for Nabisco Vanilla Wafers won a Communications Arts award. After four years at McCann, she decided to free lance, and worked predominately for the major publishers of grade school text books. She photographed children in activities to illustrate math, science, music, etc. For her work in that field, she was the recipient of a certificate of excellence awarded by The American Institute of Graphic Arts.

She frequently took pictures for Lincoln Center and Juilliard. Her photographs have appeared in Dance Magazine, The New York Times, Esquire, Scholastic Magazine, and the Waterbury Republican. Recently , she has exhibited at Northern Exposure Photographic Gallery in West Cornwall, CT and at the Center for Fine Art Photography, in Colorado.

Recently, she has “become interested in magical patterns that I discover in trees. In them it seems as if all sorts of imaginary creatures have been preserved.” Her photographs at the Kent exhibit reflect her interest in nature, as well as presenting pictures of Paris and New York. The Kent Memorial Library welcomes Victoria Beller-Smith’s photographs to its Gallery.

Our thanks to all who participated and business owners who gave us space for our boxes.

Bill Rundall
Chairman of the Kent Ice Watch

The Book Sale volunteers are looking for both fiction and non-fiction books. They would especially like large donations. The books must be in good condition (no moldy, damp, or marked-up books), with covers intact. We do not accept encyclopedias, textbooks, or Reader’s Digest Condensed Books. We also do not accept magazines, though some exceptions are made. Small donations may be dropped off at the library during open hours, but please call the Library at 860-927-3761 if you have a large donation or any questions.

The Kent Memorial Library’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and community by providing materials, programs and services to encourage reading, learning, and imagination. Visit www.kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information.

The comments submitted by Kent Library patrons sum it up best. Here are a few of them:

“I consider the library to be the social and cultural center of the community. This is the place where we go to learn and grow as a family and as individuals.”

“Great people … great books…things I don’t know!”

“We are here for adult programs and children’s programs. It is a vital resource to my family. We visit 4 out of 7 days a week. Thank the Gods for our library.”

“1. Fabulous community focal point and resource. 2. 4 generations of our family have found a home here.”

“My grandfather came here a poor man and his education was cut short for he had to go to work. He used his local library to educate himself and now his granddaughter pursues her graduate studies with the help of her local library.”

“Focal point of information and resources for a rural community.”

“It’s a place where people come enjoy the great atmosphere and meet friends.”

“Because of the wonderful services they provide – the Library has great books, resources, and a fantastic staff. They’re always willing to help you find what you need. The Kent Library is very central and essential to our community.”

Also on Snapshot Day, the Library sponsored two children’s programs, and, in the evening, welcomed Terry Walters, author of “Clean Food” for a cooking demonstration and talk.

The Kent Memorial Library’s mission is to enrich the lives of individuals and the community by providing materials, programs, and services to encourage reading, learning and imagination. Visit www.kentmemoriallibrary.org for more information.

Snapshot Day was sponsored by the Connecticut Library Association, the Connecticut State Library, and the Connecticut Library Consortium, and was based on a project of the same name done in New Jersey.

Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Film Division Director George Norfleet observes, “We are extremely gratified and thrilled not only by the Kent Film Festival’s contributions over the past five years to the arts and culture of Litchfield County but also to the entire State of Connecticut. The Festival continues to attract visitors both from around Connecticut and across the country and abroad”.

“The quality of the films submitted each year is phenomenal. Deciding which films to eliminate is a painstaking process. Now that it’s completed I’m extremely excited about this year’s selections”, remarks Festival Artistic Director Frank Galertio.

Among the impressive list of nominated films this year are Earthwork, a feature that tells the story of real-life Stan Herd’s journey to create a massive environmental artwork; Baghdad Diary, a documentary on the Iraq war and its aftermath told from the unique perspective of an Iraqi man and an American journalist; Mow Crew, an impressive feature about a young Martha’s Vineyard landscaper by first time director Taylor Toole; Funny Business, this documentary film explores artists published in the New Yorker Magazine some of the most celebrated cartoonists to date; and Mezzanotte Obscura, an inside look into an artist’s all consuming passion and creative process as he meticulously constructs an innovative body of work.

The 2010 festival schedule includes four days of screenings, workshops, and celebratory events, with tickets on sale now and available at several levels of access, from per-screening selection, to the full-immersion festival experience.

For more festival information, 2010 film descriptions and ticketing, please visit kentfilmfestival.org. Interact with us at Facebook and Twitter. 3 Kent Green Boulevard, Kent, CT 06757

Jerrilynn is urging Kent residents to call her to see if they might qualify. She can be reached at: 860.927.1586. Do not assume that you are not eligible for one of these programs. Call Jerrilynn and find out!

If you are currently receiving energy assistance for deliverable fuels, and you have not exhausted your benefit, please remember that the deadline for fuel authorizations or deliveries from the basic benefits, crisis assistance or safety net assistance is March 15th.

Please call CACD in Danbury @ 203-748-5422 to make sure your oil/propane tanks get filled up before this deadline.

Faced with high, painful unemployment as far as the eye can see, the government naturally is here to help.[Full Story at the Wall Street Journal]