Board of Finance pays bills, tries to clear up confusion

KENT — An outstanding balance of $6,600 created some confusion at the Board of Finance meeting that was held at town hall this past week. The money, which is owed for last years audit, is slated to be paid jointly by the Board of Finance and the Sewer and Water Commission.

The Board of Finance has $1,900 available on their line that they could use to help pay the tab. However, the confusion with the situation was generated by the question of whether or not the Sewer Commission had paid the $2,500 that they are required to. The Board of Finance planned to appropriate the $2,200 that would remain on the bill, after their $1,900 and the Sewer Commission’s $2,500 had been paid.

“This is nuts, this is crazy,� Todd Cole, Chairman of the Board of Finance, said. “Did the Sewer Commission pay their money directly to the auditor?�

Tax Collector and Sewer Commission Clerk Deborah Devaux said that she was sure that the commission had paid but the mystery still remained. Ultimately, the issue was resolved when Town Treasurer Monty Besmer vowed to check as to whether the commission’s money had been paid. The board also noted that it could make an appropriation that would not exceed $6,600 to pay the balance while the question of whose money had gone where was resolved.

In other news, the board also discussed paying a $7,152 bill that is owed to A&A Windows for work that was done at Kent Center School. Originally, $20,000 was appropriated for the project, but it was  later learned that an additional $7,152 was needed. The board assessed that the money could be taken out of the contingency fund and commented that the project was covered by a grant for $32,000 that would be awarded as soon as A&A had been paid for their work.

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