Officials discuss five-year capital plan

KENT — The five-year capital plan was discussed and explained at the town meeting on Jan. 19. Presenting information to the approximately 30 people in the audience were meeting moderator Paul Dooley; First Selectman Bruce Adams; and Board of Finance Chairman Chris Garrity.The meeting was held to give the Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen a chance to present voters with a draft of a proposed new five-year capital plan. Adams explained this was only an informational presentation, not something to be voted on. Normally the draft is not presented to voters until it is finalized. The Board of Finance usually presents the plan to the selectmen. If the selectmen approve, then the plan is presented to the townspeople. This year, the boards decided it was better to present the draft to the townspeople so they could have an opportunity to voice their opinions early in the process.The capital plan covers only budget items costing more than $20,000 each, Dooley noted. Expenditures for less costly items are approved by the Board of Selectmen. It covers many infrastructure and equipment costs and maintenance. Items included in the plan include: a new roof for Kent Center School; road and bridge repairs; tennis courts; the update of the state-mandated Town Plan of Conservation and Development, and the state-mandated revaluation of properties in town plan.Adams explained the five-year capital plan is funded in one-fifth increments. For example, if there is a $100,000 expenditure anticipated for year six, one fifth of that amount is appropriated into the capital plan in each of the five preceding fiscal years.Garrity gave the example of the fire company’s new ladder truck.“In the new fiscal year there is an appropriation of $125,000 for the fire department to use toward the purchase of a new ladder truck. The same amount will be appropriated in each of the following years.” Kent resident Ed Epstein said, “People should understand that money set aside in the capital plan may not end up being spent. In those cases, the unspent allocated money is plowed back into the capital plan to be used for other projects.”There were four items discussed and voted upon at the town meeting. Voters accepted the town report and the audited financial statements for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2011. Adams announced that a new auditor had been retained, Blum Shapiro of West Hartford, which is a major accounting firm and experienced in working with towns.Lynn Harrington and Mark Lenz were appointed to three year terms, which expire on Jan. 15, 2015, to the Kent Park and Recreation Commission. Dave Dunleavy and Brian Hastings were appointed to one year alternate seats on the commission which expire on Jan. 17, 2013.An ordinance was repealed that had let the town oversee the repair and renovation of the Kent Community House. With that work completed, day to day management of the venue will now be overseen by the selectmen.Two items that were on the agenda for the town meeting were deferred to a special town meeting that will be called in March. One concerned adoption of an ordinance permitting deferral of real property taxes for certain elderly and disabled homeowners. The second deferred item was presentation and discussion of the Land Acquisition Committee’s report.