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Showing posts from November, 2024

The Public Deserves to See the Trash Outsourcing Report

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Art generated by AI following author's prompt: Report locked in safe The Enfield Town Council is considering a consequential issue: outsourcing our public works trash removal service. However, the town has not released the consultant's report, which likely examines the pros and cons of such a move, even as the Council begins its budget deliberations. The town council authorized the hiring of the consultants in November, 2024. On April 7, 2025, the Town Council discussed the report in executive session. I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for a report copy this week. The Town Manager's office responded that the report is still in draft format and is not eligible for public disclosure under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. I was also told: "The contract has not provided us a completion date at this time." That means the report could be withheld from the public indefinitely. Draft is not an automatic exemption This was my response: "My un...
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Is Enfield considering privatizing trash removal? Let's discuss.

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  Recent discussions in the Enfield CT Open Forum have sparked concerns about a potential plan to privatize the town's trash removal services. This originated from a union post suggesting this idea might be under consideration. While details remain incomplete, the implications could be significant for our community, and we need clarity before any decisions are made. Current service excellence Enfield’s municipal trash pickup has long been a model of reliability and quality. Our town’s workers know the community, understand our unique needs, and deliver consistent, dependable service week after week. These relationships and local knowledge are assets that cannot be easily replaced. Questions that need answers Financial impact and analysis Has the town conducted a thorough cost-benefit analysis of privatization? Are there multi-year projections to show the expected return on investment? How would privatization affect long-term cost stability for residents? What will happen to the to...
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The drought is taking a toll on St. Martha's Pond

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  St. Martha's Pond, Enfield Conn. on Nov. 16, 2024. Impact of drought. If it keeps up water may disappear until the rains return.  
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Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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Fewer kids, fewer costumes: What declining school enrollment means for trick-or-treating

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Enfield has experienced a significant and ongoing decline in public school enrollment over an 18 year period. When compared to four nearby towns of similar population size, Enfield and Middletown show the steepest declines. Many factors may be contributing to this trend. These include smaller family sizes, lower fertility rates, job market, cost of living including housing costs, an aging population across the state, and an increase in families choosing alternative education options, such as homeschooling. The data is available at EdSight . The enrollment data only covers the last 18 years. Update : After reading some of the insightful Facebook comments , more data is needed to show how population changes are contributing to the school population decline. The comments about an increase in homeschooling were thought-provoking. I wish there was a way to quantify that shift; I suspect the school district may have some estimates. Enfield has experienced an approximate 8.76% decline in ...
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
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