KENT—The Sewer Commission decided at its Dec. 11 meeting to refer two local business owners who are greatly in arrears on their sewer charges to town counsel.
Both businesses, one of which owes at least $10,000 and the other about $2,000, have ignored registered letters sent earlier.
Commission Chairman Elissa Potts said that at a previous meeting the commission agreed to remove an amount equivalent to the interest on the Kent Laundromat’s bill and that a payment plan was offered. A certified letter was sent to owner Caralee Rochovansky.
“Ten thousand dollars is not a small amount,” Potts said, “but she could have paid her current and back bill over several months. This is an obscenely large bill and must be paid.”
The bill is the responsibility of the business and not the building’s owner, Potts said.
Roger Jackson has also been sent a certified letter by Tax Collector Debbie Devaux for his Kent Center property. “If you are going to the lawyer to do one, it might make sense to do them both at the same time,” she said.
Devaux did not have exact figures on what Jackson owes but said “it’s significant.” He, too, has not acknowledged a certified letter.
Cozzy DeBernardo, who is moving his restaurant to 24 Main St. in the site vacated by Kent Wine and Spirits, received approval for a change of sewer service from retail to restaurant. He has three small changes to make to the service to make it compliant. All provisions have been cleared with the Torrington Area Health District.
In other news, Potts reported that the new roof is almost complete at the sewer plant. Plant operator Lyle Sommers reported that two million gallons flowed through the plant last month with 802,000 gallons coming from Kent School.
