Town treasurer Besmer resigns

KENT — One week after residents at a special town meeting decided that the town’s treasurer position should be an appointed and not an elected position, Town Treasurer Fremont Besmer has resigned.

The selectmen reviewed Besmer’s resignation letter at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Besmer cited the vote by residents at the special town meeting on Oct. 1, which was 90 to 36, as his primary reason for stepping down.

“The vote indicated that residents think the town’s needs would be best served by an appointed treasurer and a new financial management plan,†First Selectman Ruth Epstein said, reading from Besmer’s letter of resignation. “The timetable and conditions set by the selectmen in this process has already undermined trust in the elected treasurer’s position. A prolonged transition between now and November 2009 [when Besmer’s elected term was set to expire] might cause further loss of confidence in the treasurer’s office.â€

The selectmen unanimously voted to accept Besmer’s resignation with regret. It is effective Saturday, Nov. 1.

After the meeting, Besmer said that he is “absolutely disappointed†with residents voting to make the town treasurer an appointed position.

“I only did what the [town meeting] vote implied that I should do,†Besmer said. “To me, it was a vote of no confidence in the current elected treasurer. An elected treasurer is part of what we call democracy, where people make their own decisions. The town could have kept an elected treasurer position while offering the treasurer occasional professional oversight. However, the town decided not to go in that direction.â€

Epstein said she appreciated Besmer’s work as the town’s treasurer.

“He worked very hard at his job,†Epstein said. “We appreciate all of the hard work that he has done.â€

At the meeting, Epstein said the town would be looking to hire a temporary replacement for Besmer immediately and that she already had a person in mind. She would not reveal who that person is.

Besmer said he will help the town “as requested and as needed†with the transition.

At the beginning of the meeting, during public comments, Tony DiPentima, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, told the selectmen that there were technical errors in the ordinance that voters approved at the town meeting.

The ordinance refers to a nonexistent chapter number in the town’s code, he said. It also contains contradictory language: one paragraph states that the selectmen would appoint a treasurer, while another part of the ordinance states the first selectman would appoint the treasurer.

“It would be a shame if we had to go to another special town meeting in order to correct these errors,†he said.

DiPentima also criticized the selectmen for the way they handled the situation.

“I think it’s about the time we work together instead of dividing ourselves based on partisanship,†he said.

Epstein told DiPentima that she consulted with Town Attorney Jeffrey Sienkiewicz before the meeting; he said the ordinance can go into effect despite the errors. Any corrections will be made during the annual town meeting, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 3.

Recycle old books and magazines through origami

 KENT — Revitalize an old magazine or book through origami — the ancient Japanese art of paper folding — to create new art forms. Learn how at a workshop at Kent Memorial Library Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

E. Barrie Kavasch, who volunteers at the library in many capacities, will run the workshop. She will show how to fold many shapes — flaring diamonds, trees, flowers, spaceships, hourglasses, fans and modern art, to name a few.

This program is free and open to the public; however, reservations are required by calling the library at 860-927-3761, e-mailing kmlinfo@biblio.org or stopping by to sign up in person.