Enfield raises taxes, but the bigger fight is just beginning

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  The budget fight Monday was sharply partisan and along familiar lines: cuts versus spending, and tax rates versus services. But the debate is also being shaped by forces that have little to do with party politics. The Enfield Town Council adopted a budget that set the mill rate at 33.11, a 1.61 mill increase, or about 5.1%, for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Republicans opposed it and lost every vote to amend the majority proposal. The final vote was 7-4. The approaches could not have been more different. Carol Hall, a Republican councilor and state representative, said Republicans were aiming for roughly a quarter-mill increase, which she said would add about $3.85 a month to the tax bill of a $300,000 home. The adopted budget adds about $338 annually — roughly $28 a month — to the tax bill of a $300,000 home assessed at 70%. The biggest point of contention was a Republican proposal to reduce the Board of Education increase by about $1.9 million and instead use school reserve...
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Enfield's park and jogging track options are now pretty good

Former Fermi High School athletic field and jogging track now used as a park

Enfield residents have gained a great park with the closing of Fermi High School in 2016.

Now that it is no longer a school, the town is maintaining its excellent athletic facilities for public use. This includes baseball fields, tennis courts, a handball court along with a football/soccer field and its jogging track.

The former Fermi High School on North Maple Street, which is now called the Enfield Annex, is a park. Fermi opened in 1971 because of the baby boom. Enfield High School was so crowded that it had to go double sessions for a short period prior to the opening of Fermi.

The use of Fermi as a park is one of the best things to ever happen to Enfield.

The town has never had good park options. Enfield's Brainard Park in the north part of town is a fine neighborhood park, but fairly useless otherwise. Fermi, however, is a real gem, and all you need to do is visit to see why.

I have a special interest in jogging tracks. Running on sidewalks, stepping on an off curbs, is not good for me. I've hurt myself too many times and the hard surface foot injuries seem to add up. Your mileage may vary. But jogging tracks, whether they are a synthetic or ground gravel, really do help avoid injury. You can also maintain a steady pace and run sprints.

Enfield High School's track is first rate, and can be used by the public. But you have to work around the high school's schedule.

Weekday mornings during the summer and weekend mornings otherwise seem to the best time to use the Enfield High track.

Enfield once had a third jogging track at Asnuntuck Community College. It dated from the late1960s when it opened middle school. It was soft gravel and always open for adult use. The college never seemed to use it. But it was removed two years ago when the college expanded its facilities.

But Fermi is generally open from what I can tell, and that makes it a real plus.

A welcoming sign with rules of use at the former Fermi High School. Note track rule prohibiting use of lanes 1 & 2. That's likely due to the amount of wear/damage on those two lanes.
I don't know what the town's long-term plans are for Fermi, but I do hope it remains a park. That seems to be an open question. That area is available for light industrial use.

The town -- relatively to some other communities -- was really lacking in outdoor recreation options until Fermi opened up for general use. It's strong selling point for the town and the type of thing that makes the community an attractive place to live.

I hope Fermi remains a park. Perhaps the town's Central Library can relocate to the school. It would get more space and bigger meeting areas. The town, as well, ought to consider relocating its town hall to Fermi. This type of consolidation might be cost effective, and the existing town hall would likely find a new use for professional offices.





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