Selectmen Discuss Health Of Town Workers, Area Lake

KENT— The Board of Selectmen heard from the first selectmen of Washington and Warren on the question of boating access at Lake Waramaug, and agreed to schedule a town meeting to vote on an appropriation for repairing windows at Kent Center School, during the regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Protecting Lake Waramaug

Dick Sears of Washington and Jack Travers of Warren were on hand to recap the process whereby officials from those towns (plus Kent) were able to dissuade the state from its plans for a large boating access facility at Lake Waramaug State Park, a process that began in the mid-1990s.

Sears displayed a 1995 design for the park, with 44 parking places and no provision for inspection of boats. This last is a particularly sensitive point, as it was just last year that the first invasive plant species was found in the lake.

"This was the Big Stick presented to the towns" by the state, said Sears. The state mandates motorboat access on public waters.

The Lake Waramaug Agreement, signed by representatives of the three towns, calls for expanding the existing boat ramp in Washington, with limited parking and a system that allows 20 non-resident boats on the lake per day.

And 13 of those must be registered at the state park, which means a minimum two-day stay. The vehicles and trailers must return to the park after the boat is in the water.

Residents of the three towns have unlimited access.

Travers chimed in, saying the plan "is about the best thing we can do to keep the lake healthy. Having a boat launch at the state park would be a disaster."

Kent’s share of implementing the Lake Waramaug Agreement is $10,000.

"We hope you’ll stand with us," concluded Sears.

New Windows on Education

Board of Education member Norman Vandervoort appeared to explain the need for a special appropriation of some $70,000 to replace 1950s-vintage windows at Kent Center School.

"Four years ago we asked for a quarter-million. The Board of Finance offered $60,000 a year for three years. We took it."

But when the project went out to bid in December the quoted prices were higher than expected. Even the lowest bidder’s price "left us about $70,000 short of what’s needed," said Vandervoort.

In the interest of time and money, he argued, it would be wise to take the matter to a town meeting for a vote rather than incorporate the request into the new budget. "That budget won’t be passed until May, too late for the contractor to order the windows," said Vandervoort.

The repair work could conceivably be split into two phases — the part of the building that houses the art room, and the gym and adjacent classrooms — but that would end up costing more, he added.

"It’s the practical thing to do it now. It’s just the facts of life."

On a motion from Selectman Vince LaFontan, the board voted 2-0 to put the matter on the agenda for the next town meeting. Selectman Nancy O’Dea-Wyrick recused herself from the discussion and vote. Her husband is a contractor involved with the window work.

Old Stone Road

Also slated for the town meeting (date and time to be determined) is the question of changing the name of Old Stone Road to Golf Club Road at the request of the Bull’s Bridge Golf Club and its lone neighbor on the short stretch of road. This time it was LaFontan who abstained from voting, saying he had taught too many children to make maple syrup along Old Stone Road to easily accept the name change.

However, he added, he would not stand in the way of the change.Budget Debated

The selectmen then turned their attention to their budget, mostly questioning specific increases in various departments and asking First Selectman Ruth Epstein for more information.

But as the discussion turned to salaries for town employees, an old, thorny problem resurfaced: What to do when Kent Center School employees get one set of benefits, and the remaining town employees another?

The benefit in question is health insurance for part-time employees. Part-time teachers have a health plan, with their contributions varying based on the number of hours worked.

Town Clerk Darlene Brady asked the selectmen if they would support at least the concept of offering some form of coverage for part-timers. O’Dea-Wyrick asked for information about the cost without speaking to the concept, and LaFontan said he was against the idea.

Epstein said she thought all town employees should get the same benefits deal, but offered no specifics.

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