Resident trooper program discussed more than budget at hearing

KENT — It was supposed to be a hearing on the proposed fiscal 2010-11 fiscal budget for both the town and the Board of Education on Friday, May 7, at Town Hall.

Instead, a sizeable portion of the 27-minute meeting ended up being a discussion about whether or not the town should reinstate the resident trooper program, which was eliminated last year as a way to save $100,260.

There were approximately 30 Kent residents at the hearing, with many empty seats in the audience area.

In addition, at the front of the room were seated more than 25 members of the town government, including members of the Board of Finance and Planning and Zoning Commission and other departments, as well as the town treasurer. They were all on hand to answer any potential audience questions about their budget requests.

However, questions were only directed at Board of Finance Chairman Chris Garrity, First Selectman Bruce Adams and Selectman Karren Garrity (who is the finance chairman’s wife).

Instead of giving a full budget presentation at the beginning of the meeting, Chris Garrity began with a brief introduction.

“With the economy the way it is, there have been many changes,� he said. “I think people [in town government] have worked extremely hard to bring to the town a reasonable budget. There is good thought, good analysis and a good product for all in this budget.�

He then asked for questions.

Money for trooper program

The first person to speak from the audience was Andy Ocif, who asked that approximately $100,000 be put in the budget to restart the resident trooper program.

Ocif, a former resident trooper himself, has led the charge to reinstate the program over the past few months. He has even started a petition.

“I think we really need one,� Ocif said. “Since 1966, we had a trooper program. You are not getting the continuity that we are used to having. Crime isn’t going to go away.�

Adams restated what he said at a hearing about the program in March — that if the town wanted to employ a senior trooper with more than 11 years’ experience, it would cost a total of $144,898, with the town paying 70 percent of the program, or approximately $101,429. The other 30 percent would be paid by the state.

Another option for the town would be to hire a trooper with six years’ experience, which would cost a total of $107,296, with the town paying 70 percent of the program, or approximately $75,107. Again, the state would pay the other 30 percent.

More police presence now

Dennis DePaul, who is also a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, asked First Selectman Adams how the crime rate has been since the program was discontinued last year.

“The police activity reports show a fairly steady line of relatively minor crimes, mostly motor vehicle incidents,� Adams said.

“There is more of a police presence in Kent now than there was when the resident trooper was here,� he added.

“I continue to believe that at some point we will go back to the program, but I don’t think we have been without it long enough to see if we need it again. I have not seen much of a change in crime. The only change I see is a positive one and that is the ever-present police cars.�

Peter Pecora told Adams that it doesn’t matter whether people saw more of a police presence. What really matters is whether the police are doing their job.

“Crime that happens at around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. where everyone is home safely sleeping, has been on the rise,� Pecora said. “Whether it’s reported crime or minor crime, these are all crimes that take place. You have one trooper covering three towns [Kent, Washington and Warren]. So in the event of something happening that’s crucial, if the trooper is not actually here, you have to hope that they get here from those two communities.�

Chris Garrity asked the audience how the town should fund the program if it is reinstated.

“Is this going to be an add on, or will something else go out from the budget?� Garrity said.

John Mauer, editor and writer of the Stoneforge Chronicles blog, which covers Kent events, suggested that $100,000 could be reduced in the budget and the Board of Selectmen should be allowed to determine how to achieve that.

DePaul disagreed with Mauer.

“I know it sounds like a good idea, but who is going to bell the cat?� DePaul said. “I think this Board of Finance and Board of Selectmen have worked hard to put together a reasonable budget. To say it should be increased by $100,000 and someone else should figure out how is irresponsible.�

Kent Tax proposed

Toward the end of the meeting, Pecora suggested a Kent Tax, which would be an extra 1.5-percent sales tax that businesses could charge customers. That tax revenue would go to the town.

Both Adams and Karren Garrity said the idea had previously been looked at and they both were opposed to the idea.

“The Chamber of Commerce was very vocal in saying they did not want to have an additional tax,� Garrity said. “They felt people will go elsewhere. Why buy a cup of coffee in Kent if they have to pay an extra 10 cents on it?�

Adams added that, if a Kent Tax were ever levied, a portion of it would also go to the state.

Next up for the budget is the annual town meeting, when residents will vote on the proposed budget. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 21, at 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

The proposed budget for fiscal 2010-11 proposed by the Board of Selectmen is $2,645,477, a 1.4-percent increase over this year’s budget.

The total budget for fiscal 2010-11 proposed by the Board of Education is $6,220,339, a 0.15-percent increase.