Board of Selectmen  
Town of Suffield  
83 Mountain Road  
Suffield, CT 06078  
 
Board of Selectmen,  
 
The purpose of this letter is to express our support for the reappointment of Jim Irwin, Claire Kawalec, Despina Tartsinis, and the appointment of Tess McCool, Rick Stromoski,  and Aaron Marcavitch to the Kent Memorial Library Commission (KMLC). We believe that they are the best candidates for these appointments for the following reasons:  
 
Jim Irwin has served on the KMLC since 2023 and as a Director of the Friends of the Kent Memorial Library for over 6 years.  He works on the annual book sale to fund most of the library programming and has consulted with the DPW on numerous library renovation projects. Jim looks forward to continuing his service to the library on the KMLC. 

Claire Kawalec has been serving on the KMLC for 8 years and previously served as treasurer. Her experience in managing the investments of the Commission has proven invaluable.  Claire’s background as a municipal human resources professional has enabled her to serve on numerous search committees for the Commission as well as addressing personnel management issues affecting the library staff.   

Despina Tartsinis has been serving on the KMLC for 5 years and brings more than two decades of legal experience to the commission. She brings a moderate voice of reason to the group, working towards compromise within the parameters of the bylaws, with an eye towards the overall legality of our policies.  This calm demeanor has been valuable to the KMLC in the past and will continue to be in the future.

 
As an experienced librarian, Tess McCool has a comprehensive understanding of library operations, budgeting, collection development, and the evolving needs of library users. She firmly believes libraries are cornerstones of communities because they foster lifelong learning, provide equitable access to information, and create opportunities for connection and enrichment. 

Rick Stromoski is a published author and has contributed to children’s programming that has been used in hundreds of public libraries across the country. He wants to find ways to expand library programming and take an active role in securing funds for that purpose.  

Aaron Marcavitch would bring his background in community development, historic preservation, and education to the KMLC. He believes that the mission of public libraries should be to preserve knowledge, foster lifelong learning, and ensure open access to information.  
 
It is our belief that Jim Irwin, Claire Kawalec, Despina Tartsinis, Tess McCool, Rick Stromoski, and Aaron Marcavitch are the candidates best suited to make a positive contribution to our community if they are appointed to the KMLC. We appreciate your time and consideration in this matter.  
 
Sincerely,