KENT, Conn.—The selectmen will present a $5,309,163 budget to the Board of Finance Wednesday, March 11. The figure is based on last-minute decisions made in a special meeting held Wednesday, March 4. The budget reflects an increase of $286,203, or 5.70 percent.
During the meeting, the selectmen were divided on most decisions with Selectman Lynn Harrington largely insisting on reduced spending.
Unanimity was voiced early in the meeting when the board agreed to add $40,000 to the Schaghticoke line item, funding to be used in opposition to recognition of the tirbe by the federal government. The line item now stands at $85,000.
There are two rival factions of the tribe, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation (STN) and the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT). The STN’s quest for federal recognition was denied in 2005 and the STN is seeking the right to re-petition. The much-smaller SIT has received a proposed favorable finding for Phase I of its application.
First Selectmen Eric Epstein said the town will need legal counsel in the matter in the coming fiscal year. Recognition of one or the other of the splinter groups’ sovereignty would bring economic opportunities such as developing casinos or possibly renewed efforts to reclaim tribal lands in Kent.
Discussion became divided when the board redirected its attention to pay for the town’s cemetery sexton. When the town took over management of the local cemeteries in early 2024 the sexton’s annual salary was set at $28,000 a year.
This year, the selectmen have discussed making it an hourly rate rather than a salary. Harrington argued that the sexton works about 20 hours a month, which would make his wages $120 an hour. “That’s obviously way overpaid,” she argued, adding that the average hourly pay for sextons in Connecticut is $26.52.
But Selectman Lynn Mellis Worthington said she had no confidence that the hours reported reflected all the work the sexton did. “I think he needs to use the system for reporting his hours,” she said.
She is afraid if town leaders cut the pay so drastically, they will lose the current sexton, who is generally conceded to be doing an excellent job.
Worthington suggested a salary of $18,480, about two-thirds of the original amount. In the end, the board voted 2-1 to set the salary at $18,000 for the year.
“I’m okay with $18,000 and working with the Cemetery Committee to get a more accurate figure,” said Epstein. “Then we will have a better idea for next year.”
Harrington also objected to allocating $2,000 for the Broadband Subcommittee to enable it to communicate with the public through mailings and the like. “It doesn’t seem fair when we are cutting salaries,” she said.
Worthington, who heads the Broadband Subcommittee, suggested that the $2,000 be put into a separate line item specifically labeled “communications.” This line item, under the selectmen’s supervision, could be tapped by any commission or committee, she argued.
Harrington continued to argue against the idea and Worthington said, “It sounds like you don’t agree with what this subcommittee is trying to do. Do you want a line item for communications that any subcommittee can apply for, or do you want to strip it out?”
Epstein moved to rename the appropriation and put it under the Board of Selectmen’s purview. Again, the motion passed 2-1.
Harrington raised concerns about the Registrar of Voters budget and the fact that one registrar regularly works twice as many hours as the other. She noted that one registrar has received overtime and pay for holidays because her hours fall on a Monday while the other registrar works Fridays.
This issue of uneven hours has been raised before with Republican Registrar Sal Lilienthal explaining that he has other jobs and cannot always be available.
Worthington noted that registrars are elected and that the selectmen do not manage the department. “The previous first selectman worked closely with the ROVs. They have to get the job done and do have to work together,” she concluded.
Epstein moved to reduce the salaries for department employees by $4,000 to a total of $45,000.
The Parks and Recreation Commission was also directed to reduce its salaries by $5,000 for hourly employees. Harrington said she had analyzed the commission’s proposed budget, just as she did when she served on it, “trying to get it down to the penny.”
She particularly questioned the salary for a new combined After School Program/Camp Kent director and suggested eliminating the coordinator position for a proposed Counselor in Training program. Staffing for events and programs could also be reduced if commission members help at some events, she said.
It was noted that some employees were given mid-year raises. “If there are funds for mid-year raises, I feel the line has been over-budgeted,” she said.
Director Matt Frasher said the $5,000 reduction would reduce the number of counselors and eliminate the intern positions.
Harrington said that the budget request as submitted was for $245,000. She calculated the department’s needs at $236,000, $9,000 less. “I am only asking for a $5,000 reduction,” she concluded.
Members of the Parks and Rec Commission questioned whether they had discretion as to where to cut the budget. “Can we make a recommendation, so we have flexibility in case the After School Program grows as is anticipated?” asked member Heidi Wilson.
Epstein said they would act on the motion to reduce salaries and, if the program grows, the commission can come back for additional funds.
A motion by Epstein to budget $23,400 for a new town website social media position drew ire from Town Clerk Darlene Brady, who has administered the website for a number of years. She previously reported that the work demanded eight to 10 hours of her time each week in addition to her traditional town clerk duties.
Harrington asked if some of the $23,400 could be allocated to the Town Clerk’s office and Worthington, the only member of the Board of Selectmen who has served a previous term, responded, “We have a clear communication from the Town Clerk’s office, so we don’t need to go there.”
Brady was incensed, saying she had been trying for years to resolve the issue of the additional work through repeated conversations with the selectmen. “I am insulted by how it has been managed,” she said. “I am concerned that we are at the end of a budget and we are quickly picking a number that doesn’t even reflect a job description. I am on record as I having continuously tried, so for you to say ‘We’ve received communication from the town clerk’ is a continuous [example] of your disrespect to me and my role as town clerk and all I have brought forward.”
Worthington apologized if she had misunderstood Brady’s efforts to communicate and asked if she was willing to continue with the website if she had a job description and additional pay and Brady said yes.
But Epstein said he would still like to see a separate position funded at $23,400. “I would like to get the money approved,” he said. “If the process needs to change, we would have the money available,” he said.
Brady can apply for the position if she wishes. “That would be a whole other discussion,” she replied.
Harrington abstained from the vote “because I’m not happy about either solution.”
She was more decided about a non-salary issue—the request to help fund measures to keep hydrilla out of Lake Waramaug. The town’s contribution to the Lake Waramaug Interlocal Commission would rise from just under $2,600 to $23,000 to inspect boats coming into the lake. The sum represents 20 percent of the cost for the effort, with the remaining 80 percent split by Warren and Washington, the other towns bordering the water.
Harrington insisted it is an inflated figure. “I don’t disagree with keeping hydrilla out of the lake,” she said. “But only 20 boats are allowed in each day—13 from the state park and seven from public. We would be paying $52 an hour for two people to inspect eight or 10 boats a day. That’s my problem.”
“I understand your concern and I hope our questions are answered,” said Epstein, “But I think it is important to support them.”
Again the vote was 2-1.
The selectmen take the budget to the Board of Finance Wednesday, March 11.
