Lightning PC contract under scrutiny

 KENT — The contract between the company that provides computer technical services to Town Hall came under scrutiny at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, June 1.

Mark Wither of Lightning PC in Prospect provides computer technical services to 17 computer users in Town Hall.

 According to First Selectman Bruce Adams, the town pays $6,745 a year for Wither’s services.

 However, Adams said he is confused by the terms of the deal.

 â€œThe contract states that all maintenance annual support fees are due by July 1, 2010, and all contracts renew yearly until 2013,†Adams said. “That doesn’t make any sense to me. Does that mean they automatically renew each year?â€

Adams told the board that he plans to meet with Wither to discuss the terms of the contract.

 He said he also plans to ask Wither to make changes to the contract so that, instead of all 17 computer users in Town Hall being covered with one contract, each one would “break out†and be separate from each other.

 â€œAlso, as of last week, I have implemented a new form for Town Hall employees,†Adams said. “I have asked every employee who has a computer issue to fill out the form, sign it, then give it to me or [Administrative Assistant Joyce Kearns]. Then we will contact Mark. This will eliminate all sorts of people calling him for their own personal needs. The exceptions to this form are the tax collector and the assessor because of their specialized needs.â€

 Adams said he has also requested that Wither stop by his office whenever he is in Town Hall.

 â€œHe has a habit of coming into Town Hall, fixing whatever needs to be fixed, then leaving,†Adams said. “I would like it if he would just pop in and say he had been here today.â€

 Wither designed the town’s original Web site in 2003.

 He owns domain name kentct.org, which he has refused to give or sell to the town.

 Instead, the Web site address now directs visitors to the town’s new Web site at townofkentct.org.