Trivia Question
What is the importance of the date December 15?
A) The Constitution was signed on that date
B) It is when the first ten amendments to the Constitution were ratified
C) Connecticut’s charter was hidden in an Oak tree to prevent the British from confiscating it on that date
Answer: B
On Dec. 15, 1791, Virginia became the 10th state to ratify the proposed Amendments to the Constitution known as “The Bill of Rights.” With Virginia’s vote, the requirement for ratification was met and the first 10 amendments were added to the Constitution as protections for individuals and states from government overreach.
A little history about Kent’s form of government
Before beginning the series on how Kent’s government operates today, a little history lesson is in order regarding the town’s origin and why Kent has the form of government it does.
The area now known as Kent was different when the land was auctioned off in Windham, Conn., in 1738. At that time, Kent encompassed what is now the town of Warren and ended at the Housatonic River. The west side of the river was reserved for the Schaghticoke Reservation, the area’s indigenous tribe.
Like many of the towns in Northwest Connecticut, Kent was rich in iron ore (South Kent ore beds), had abundant forests for making charcoal, and had limestone for the flux needed for making iron. Although farms, grist mills and lumber mills dotted the area, iron was king. Many made their fortunes in the iron business.
Kent was quickly incorporated as a town the following year, on Oct. 13, 1739. At the time, the prevailing form of government in New England was the town meeting where all voting members of the town formed the legislative body. A meeting was held at least once a year to vote on budgets and laws, with individuals handling the day-to-day business of the town.
When a town became too big for individuals to handle the day-to-day operations, they elected an executive board of Selected Men (a.k.a. Board of Selectmen). This form of government varied from state to state and town to town.
Kent chose to have a three-person Board of Selectmen/Town Meeting form of government with a first selectman, who is in some ways, equivalent to a mayor. This form of government is a modified form of direct democracy (the town meeting being the purest form).
In Kent, the first selectman was originally a part-time, unpaid position but has since become a more-than-full-time, paid position. The government has also grown, adding volunteer unpaid boards and commissions to oversee certain government functions.
Some board and commission members are appointed by the selectman and approved at a town meeting, while some are nominated by the political parties and elected by machine vote during municipal elections. Municipal elections are ways the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd years; election day this year will be Nov. 4, 2025.
There are also a number of paid positions that were created. These are overseen by the full board of selectmen.
Next month, this column will start to delve into what appointed boards and commissions do, and some of the paid positions within the town government.
After that, the column will include the budget processes for the town government, Kent Center School, and the Region 1 budget. The Region 1 budget includes Housatonic Valley Regional High School, the administration for the six schools in the region, and Pupil Services, which includes special education services.
After the budget series, there will be a series on the elected boards and commissions. The civics lessons will end with the Board of Selectmen in time for the election in November.
The mission of this column is to provide you with the information needed to understand how local government works so you can become an informed voter and an engaged citizen.
Previous Remembering Civics columns can be found here:
- Constitution Day (September 2024)
- Electoral College (October 2024)
- Introduction to Kent’s Government (November 2024)
Please send any ideas, corrections or additions to editor@kentgtd.org with the subject line “Remembering Civics.”
