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Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken
KENT — The Board of Finance took reviewed town spending proposals at its April 16 meeting.
In total, the Town of Kent’s 2025-26 spending plan showed a bottom line of$16,526,073, up by $826,828 or 5.27%.
The budget is split into three primary parts: town expenses, elementary school expenses and regional school district expenses.
The proposed municipal spending plan totaled $5,377,501, up $245,966 or 4.79% from 2024-25.
Kent Center School’s proposed spending was up to $5,222,492, an increase of $101,335 or 1.98%.
Region One’s assessment for Kent came to $2,615,310, an increase of $88,399 or 3.50%.
Combined educational expenses are up to $7,837,802, a hike of $189,734 or 2.48%.
After reviewing the numbers, the finance board requested cuts to the municipal and elementary school proposals. Specifically, the selectmen were asked to reduce spending by $30,000 and the school was asked to cut $25,000.
Additionally, BOF planned to transfer $100,000 from the unassigned general fund to balance the budget.
These changes would result in a mill rate of 16.93 in Kent, which would be an increase of 8.55% compared to last year.
Updated spending plans were to be presented to the finance board April 23.
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Ted Perotti edits a project at his North Canaan-based studio, Pig Iron Films.
Patrick L. Sullivan
NORTH CANAAN — Filmmaker Ted Perotti’s cinematography captures the Northwest Corner with pride.
Perotti, who graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 2016 and Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, in 2020, has a video production company, Pig Iron Films, and a look at the projects listed on the website underscores Perotti’s commitment to his hometown and the Northwest Corner.
He has made his presence known.
Recently Perotti was there, camera in hand, when two new affordable housing units were being delivered to the building site on Perry Street in Lakeville.
Visitors to any of the Region One school websites will find videos about the schools created by Perotti.
Other local clients include the American Mural Foundation, Great Mountain Forest and Freund’s Farm’s CowPots.
Going further afield, Perotti has made videos for the Connecticut Children’s Hospital.
Affable and chatty, Perotti speaks with knowledge of the technical aspects of his craftand with real enthusiasm for cinema history and for North Canaan and environs.
With a poster for “Citizen Kane” in the background, Perotti showed a visitor raw footage he had just shot at his family’s plumbing business, and demonstrated how to sync the image and sound.
He segued effortlessly from obscure horror movies to the plans he has for a YouTube channel dedicated to North Canaan.
One project in the works is for the Friends of Beckley Furnace group.
“It’s going to be in a Ken Burns style,” he said. “And there will be QR codes at different parts of the furnace” so visitors can watch video segments on their phones while standing in front of the artifacts.
He said he has no plans to relocate to a big city, because he has plenty of subject matter here.
“Our town is so cool,” he said. “And so unique.”
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A landscaping truck got stuck in West Cornwall’s covered bridge Thursday, April 3.
Shepherd Myers
CORNWALL — Another truck got stuck in West Cornwall’s covered bridge this month, prompting the town selectmen to discuss solutions at a meeting of the Board April 15.
The bridge, located over the Housatonic River on Route 128, is maintained by Connecticut Department of Transportation.
“Luckily, it was not damaged heavily,” said First Selectman Gordon Ridgway. “I have contacted our liaison with the state about trying to get something better, or different anyway, warning motorists.”
He explained the bridge is tallest at the entrances and structural supports in the middle can snag trucks halfway through.
Suggestions to the state included better signage, laser beam height detectors, flashing lights, sound triggers and metal beam rails.
Ridgway said solutions may be somewhat restricted because the bridge is listed on the state’s historic registry.
Selectman Rocco Botto proposed a sensor prior to the bridge that can warn and redirect drivers of vehicles exceeding the height limit.
“They call it an ‘over height warning system,’” said Botto.
Selectman Jennifer Markow encouraged residents to submit letters of support or suggestion to Town Hall.
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SHARON — At a town meeting that lasted about five minutes Thursday, voters approved renewing the lease for town-owned 67 Main St., the building adjacent to Town Hall that houses Robin Hood Radio.
The rate will increase from $1,975 to $2,250 per month.
First Selectman Casey Flanagan said the selectmen felt this was a reasonable amount, given that the rent had remained at the same level for a few years.
The radio station subleases office space to other entities.
The meeting also accepted the town’s financial report ending June 30, 2024.
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