By Young Joon Lim

TRENTON -- With a population of less than 450, the town hall used to be available only when the City Council met on the first Thursday of every month -- unless residents made a reservation and paid for using it.

But Trenton has renovated the hall, and brought it nearer to city residents. The new city clerk, Kelly Campbell, said it is open every Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

"I am here at the designated time to receive water, garbage and 911 service bills," Campbell said. "Trenton people are much easier to pay their bills."

Campbell said the town hall opened only a few weeks ago, on Sept. 1.

Her mother was also a clerk for the town, but she stayed and handled her job at her house. And just before Campbell, the former city clerk, Anne Spackman, also answered phone calls about town business at her house.

"I am still trying to figure out what to do in here, it's kind of a revolution," Campbell said.

Her office has a copy machine, a printer and a computer that isn't hooked up to the Internet.

"I can use the Internet at my home and we are going to hook up an official phone soon, but I have to use my cell phone now," she said.

She said Trenton doesn't have many things to look at or enjoy, but it has no problems with basic living facilities such as a post office and a fire department.

"We have three fire engines that town volunteers operate, and a post office right next to the town hall," she said. "The Smithfield police station is the nearest to town."

Campbell said Trenton would try to find more what the residents want and what the town can do for them as the town hall started.

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