Enfield Things

  Water-stained ceiling tiles in an office at Hazardville Memorial School I've been researching hazardous materials in Enfield's elementary schools and reading the inspection reports that federal law requires. Every school with asbestos must get a full inspection every three years and a check every six months. Enfield's last full inspection was in 2024. The last six-month check was in June. I went to the school department and looked at the records to gain a better understanding of what's involved. I did not realize, until I looked at the material, how much effort the school system has to take to ensure the children are safe. I'm planning to write something in greater detail, but for now the opposition has to understand the real implications of a "no" vote. Asbestos may sit in old floor tile and glue, pipe insulation and ceiling material. Asbestos materials that are sealed or in good condition do not put fibers in the air. They become a problem when they ar...

  The Enfield Town Council voted unanimously to approve a $511 million school project, supported by an $89 million town share. Voters will have final say in November.  The Town Council voted Wednesday unanimously to send a $511 million plan to Enfield voters to rebuild the town's elementary school system. The town's cost is $89 million, and that's what voters will be asked to approve in November. The plan builds four new PK-5 schools on the sites of Hazardville Memorial, Prudence Crandall, Edgar H. Parkman and Henry Barnard, and converts Eli Whitney into a new home for Eagle Academy. Work runs in two phases. The entire project will take seven to eight years. Mayor Gina Cekala said Enfield doesn't have much choice. "$89 million is a lot of money. It sounds like a lot of money. It is a lot of money," she said. But she put the town's share in proportion. Of the $511 million, "Enfield is going to be responsible for a maximum of 17% of this project."...

Campaign signs, South Road at Freshwater Blvd.  State Rep. John Santanella won his Democratic primary with 83% of the vote in an unofficial count, a 5-to-1 landslide. That's an extraordinary margin, and it matters beyond this race because of his dual role at the Capitol and on the Town Council. His challenger, Tom Tyler, the former town attorney, has the qualifications and experience to be an effective lawmaker. But he did not persuade Democratic primary voters that they should replace Santanella. Santanella emerges considerably stronger from this primary than he entered it. The results demonstrated that the Democrats are more unified than divided. The result does not predict November. But it tells Republicans that Santanella enters the general election with Democratic primary voters firmly behind him. The Republicans have selected Kelly Hemmeler as their candidate. Beyond Santanella's showing, Hemmeler may not get much help from the top of the ticket. Republican gubernatorial ...

A new state law allows towns to cut assessments for owner-occupied homes from 5% to 35%. East Windsor just approved a 15% reduction.  A decrease in homeowner assessments may cut tax burdens on owner-occupied properties but raise them on commercial properties. East Windsor is the second town to approve this assessment reduction, now allowed under state law. Photo: Former Macy's building.  East Windsor is lowering assessed value on owner-occupied homes by 15%. It is the second town in the state to take advantage of a new state law that allows local communities to lower assessments anywhere from 5% to 35% on an owner-occupied primary residence — single and two-family homes, as well as condos. New Milford went first, and set a 10% assessment reduction. If East Windsor's 15% reduction were adopted by Enfield, it might work like this: A home with a market value of $300,000 has an assessed value of $210,000. A 15% reduction would lower the assessment on this home to $178,500. The tax...

The Connecticut Superior Court ruling Tuesday validated State Rep. John Santanella's complaint. This is a clear win, and allows him to avoid an August 11 Democratic primary against his challenger, former town attorney Tom Tyler. Tyler can appeal, but absent that, Santanella can shift his focus to November. But a winning legal outcome is not the same as a winning narrative outcome. This was an honest mistake by the Tyler campaign, a consequence of some flawed official guidance and a decision to rely on that guidance. The court found that the Democratic registrar provided petition sheets four days before state law allowed, and that the state-supplied forms lacked a legally required statement from circulators on the number of signatures gathered — a defect that invalidated all of Tyler's petitions. The ruling also notes that there was no evidence the Tyler campaign exercised due diligence to confirm the official guidance. Connecticut election law doesn't allow for honest mista...

Town Council members tour the Annex's infrastructure, peering inside utility closets. The former Fermi High School -- which closed in 2016 and is now known as the Enfield Annex -- has become a deep part of the community. Whether it's the swimming pool, space for wrestling, the student robotics competition team Buzz Robotics, summer camp or its many other uses, the building has a broad base of support. Last week, some of those supporters turned out to urge Town Council members to preserve the facility. The future of the former Fermi High School has lingered on the periphery of town discussions for years. No longer. The Town Council tour of the Annex was intended to help members see firsthand the remedial infrastructure work needed, from utility closets to the boiler room and roof. But residents saw it as a chance to show the council how important the building is to the town. A large crowd turned out, some with signs urging support for the Annex. Among those at the school was Jef...