Date: Fri 17-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

DeVestern-Cascella-resignation

Full Text:

What Ever Happened To Newtown's Assessor?

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

What ever happened to the town's tax assessor Mark DeVestern who hasn't been

at work since late December? It all depends on who you ask.

If you stop by the assessors office these days, where Mr Devestern's

assistants are busy completing the town's grand list, they will probably tell

you he is on vacation and is expected back at the end of the month.

Officially, that's what they've been told.

However, First Selectman Bob Cascella last week produced a copy of Mr

DeVestern's January 2 letter of resignation, in which he says he his leaving

"in order to pursue other opportunities."

Sharon Bowman, the town's deputy assessor, appeared unaware of an official

letter of resignation from Mr DeVestern earlier this week. When Mrs Bowman

heard that a letter from her former boss was on a file, she responded, "If he

did give them the letter then I guess it's definite that he's left to take

another job."

However, Mrs Bowman added that as long as Mr DeVestern is on vacation, "he's

still my boss."

Mr Cascella said Mr DeVestern is still on the local payroll until later this

month, using up his leftover vacation time.

Other town employees at Edmond Town Hall say they don't know where Mr

DeVestern is. They hadn't heard any explanation about his sudden departure.

They said he never said "goodbye" or gave any indication that he was

departing.

"We don't have a clue where he is. We haven't been told anything," one town

employee said earlier this week.

Mr DeVestern, a New Milford resident, had been employed by the town since

1989. His four-year contract was scheduled to expire in March of this year.

The town's former assessor was out of town this week on his vacation and could

not be reached for comment.