10/05/11 Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella Budkins Has Been Saving Archives

To the editor:

Carmella Budkins has been in the forefront of technology and preserving our archival records.

When she was elected in 1991, some concerned citizens and myself went to Carmella and showed her the tattered, handwritten land records from 1640 through 1899. The town officials were not too happy with having to spend monies to preserve and restore these records. The original deed of the purchase of Greenwich was contained in the 1640 town land record. It soon would disappear if left in this condition.

Mrs. Budkins immediately took action and appointed our committee the Town Archival Preservation Program. She contacted Eunice DiBella, then the state librarian. We all met and she could not believe the condition of these records. She was the one who visited all the other town halls in Connecticut and created the grant money for the individual towns to bring the records up to the standards of the new technology. We hope our town had something to do with the creation of the state grant money law.

We worked closely with Ms. DiBella to encourage our town to restore our maps and old land records. We succeeded and are almost finished with the preservation of our books and will begin to restore our town maps. We are starting to digitize our land records. This has been done partially with state grant money and a line item that the town has established. Carmella encouraged the BET officials to do this.

We purchase archival shelving and restore books, maps and archival material. There is an enormous amount of town historic records. We are placing them in archival material to preserve for future generations.

Carmella Budkins dared to do what no town clerk predecessor would do. She has brought her office into the 21st century. Her programs continue. She is aware there is always change. However, change comes slowly and not all change is good for all town clerks' offices. It must be tested and then implemented.

Jo Conboy
Greenwich

===============================
Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com