Department of Labor decision goes against town

KENT — The Department of Labor has ruled against the town and in favor of a former road crew employee over unemployment benefits.

During the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Nov. 4 at Town Hall, First Selectman Bruce Adams said the town filed objections to the former employee receiving unemployment benefits after the employee was fired in December 2008. Adams would not say who the former town employee was.

In October, Adams and Highway Foreman Rick Osborne and town attorney D. Randall DiBella traveled to the state’s Department of Labor office in Waterbury.

“We wrote the department a letter of protest and we cited documentation,� Adams said. “After we met with the department representatives, both Rick and I thought we did pretty good. But as we walked out of the room we were told by [DiBella] that things were stacked against us.�

Adams would not go into specifics of the decision, but said the department decided in favor of the former employee.

Adams said the town stands to lose $12,000 because of the decision, but the decision will probably be appealed.

“We feel that the benefits go to a date way farther back than they are supposed to,� Adams said.