Regular Meeting 09/16/2019 Page 1 of 18 ENFIELD
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ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 Before the Regular Meeting was called to order, Chairman Ludwick read a proclamation designating September 15 through September 21, 2019 as Constitution Week in the Town of Enfield. The Regular Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairman Ludwick in the Council Chambers of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, September 16, 2019. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. PRAYER – The Prayer was given by Councilor Szewczak. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. ROLL-CALL - Present were Councilors Cekala, Cressotti, Davis, Deni, Ludwick, Muller, Sferrazza, Szewczak, and Unghire. Councilors Bosco and Kiner were absent. Also present were Town Manager, Christopher Bromson; Assistant Town Manager, Kasia Purciello; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Town Attorney, Maria Elsden; Chief Technology Officer, Paul Russell; Director of Finance, John Wilcox and Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development, Nelson Tereso FIRE EVACUATION ANNOUNCEMENT Chairman Ludwick made the fire evacuation announcement. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETINGS MOTION #5169 by Councilor Deni seconded by Councilor Muller to accept the minutes of the September 3, 2019 Special Meeting. Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5169 adopted 9-0-0. MOTION #5170 by Councilor Muller, seconded by Councilor Cressotti to accept the minutes of the September 3, 2019 Regular Meeting. Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5170 adopted 8-0-1, with Councilor Cekala abstaining. Regular Meeting 09/16/2019 Page 1 of 18 SPECIAL GUESTS There were no special guests on this evening’s agenda. PUBLIC COMMUNICATINS & PETITIONS George Young, 8 Holly Lane Thanked everyone for the proposed 2020 Roads Project and including such streets as Holly Lane and the completion of Ridge Road. He stated his hope voters will approve this when it goes to referendum in November. He noted there have been 20 good years of road improvement, and everyone should strive continuing this into the future. He expressed his appreciation for the work being done on St. James Avenue. Mr. Young referred to items that appear in the current Projects and Activities Report. He noted the Adult Day Care Center seems to have gotten a lot of progress and attention with limited or no funding. He noted he was startled to read that according to the Alzheimer’s Association one out of ten people 65 and older has Alzheimer/Dementia. He noted PAR states that statistically speaking, there are at least 697 town residents and their families effected by and in need of Alzheimer/Dementia support services and care. He referred to an article published in the August AARP bulletin, which talks about the importance of respite care relating to caregivers of people with Alzheimer/Dementia. He acknowledged funding is limited for the Adult Day Center, but perhaps someone could write an article, which could serve as a low cost or no cost informative article about the value that is here in Enfield and ask AARP to publish it. He noted this may bring about more participation in the program. Mr. Young questioned why there isn’t shredding at the Town DPW at the same time as the oil program is done. He noted he did read there will be a free shredding event at the Town Hall on September 21st from 8:30 a.m. to noon. He thanked 360 Credit Union for doing this, and it illustrates good cooperation between the Town and a local business. He stated it’s almost time for personal property declarations to be mailed to the local businesses for the October 1st assessment date for the next grand list. Mr. Young stated he previously had some suggestions regarding unregistered motor vehicles in Enfield, and he questioned whether there’s been any consideration in doing something in this area in the future. He noted in the September 2019 AARP bulletin, it stated there are 10,618 residents 65 and older that moved out of Connecticut in 2016, but it dropped to 7,005 in 2017. He stated he’s not sure of the reason for the decrease, but the Legislature did recognize this and beginning this year, they implemented certain tax cuts for many with a six-year phase out of the state income tax on pension and annuity earnings for the residents making $75,000 or less and $100,000 in the case of joint Regular Meeting 09/16/2019 Page 2 of 18 filers. He noted they also expanded the deduction for social security income by raising the income threshold from $50,000 to $75,000, and from $60,000 to $100,000 for joint filers. He stated the article also mentioned that seniors have a lot to offer because they put in a lot of volunteer hours in their communities and spend a lot of their retirement years giving back. He noted Enfield should strive to retain seniors, and one way to do this is to either increase the amount of exemption they are allowed at age 65 or older, or an increase in the dollar amount to reduce their property taxes. He pointed out it’s far cheaper to keep a senior in Enfield than it is to bring in a family of five school-aged children. Jack Sheridan, 7 Buchanan Road Stated he agrees with the previous speaker’s comments about keeping seniors in town. Mr. Sheridan stated Enfield is still spending $800,000 a year on substitute teachers, and he does not know why. He noted even though schools are being closed, the budget goes up. He stated state statute allows the town to cut the budget per student if the students meet the SAT scores, however, they do not. He feels this should be pondered. COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS Councilor Cressotti requested 255 Pearl Street be looked at for blight issues such as high grass and trash bags piling up. He noted this home previously had a fire, and it is a big eyesore. He requested DPW provide an update concerning sidewalk and road work on College Street. He noted this project was supposed to be completed in August, and he’s not seeing much progress. Councilor Cressotti thanked Amilcar Cordova for organizing a great Mexican Independence Day celebration event that was recently held at the banquet facility on Alden Avenue. He thanked all the groups that worked on the Family Day event on the Town Green. He noted they had a great turnout and entertainment was awesome. Councilor Cressotti stated he would like Officer Dufresne to attend a Council meeting to discuss his program and the vehicle that they have for the canines and the importance of that vehicle. He stated he is very impressed with the accomplishments of the Opera House Players. He noted they put on high-quality productions. Councilor Szewczak agreed the Opera House Players put on great performances. She announced the Source to Sea Cleanup for the Connecticut River is scheduled for October 26th, and it starts at the Barnes Boat Launch at 9:00 a.m. She encouraged people to participate in this effort. Regular Meeting 09/16/2019 Page 3 of 18 Councilor Szewczak stated the new map for the Magic Carpet routes is available on the Town’s website. She questioned if this goes by the Stowe building, and she was informed that it does. She questioned who is running the flu clinic for the Town. Councilor Szewczak referred to the CRCOG Corridor Study, and she very much wants to see that study extend all the way to Scitico. She questioned if the Historic Preservation survey mentioned in the PAR is only for Enfield Street, and was informed its town wide. Councilor Szewczak stated Newburyport encourages people, who have historic homes, to include information in front of their property about the history of that property. She noted the PAR also includes a boiler maintenance plan, water treatment plan and an RFP is going out. She noted the PAR also includes a roof study. Councilor Szewczak stated Gardens Dream and Spazzarini did a great job in putting down millings in the driveway, which cuts down on the dust in that neighborhood. She acknowledged it’s cheaper to have elderly citizens, but she believes it’s important to have an all-inclusive, diverse community. MOTION #5171 by Councilor Szewczak, seconded by Councilor Muller to suspend the rules to address under Miscellaneous this evening Items 14 E, F, G, H, I, J, and K. Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5171 adopted 9-0-0. Councilor Unghire announced there will be Narcan training this Wednesday at Calvary Presbyterian Church at 6:00 p.m. She stated her belief that every person attending this training will get a dispenser of the Narcan. She noted on Wednesday at the Senior Center, the firemen are having a picnic, and all the seniors are invited to attend. Councilor Unghire commended the Enfield police officers who rappelled down the building at Mohegan Sun, and they raised money for Special Olympics. Councilor Muller stated Asnuntuck Community College has a new wellness center, and the ACC Pantry will be launching this fall. He noted this project was made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation. He stated this center will be in the former Freshwater Regular Meeting 09/16/2019 Page 4 of 18 Commons across from the business office, and it will be a one-stop location for wrap-around health and social services. He noted they’re partners with the Enfield Department of Social Services, CHC and CHR for on-campus services.