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Showing posts from April, 2018

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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An impossible bicycle and pedestrian crossing in Enfield

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Enfield's central shopping area is not pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The Phoenix Ave and Hazard Ave. intersection is especially difficult. There are no crosswalks. There is no sidewalk on the Southeast side of Phoenix. The sidewalk on the Southwest side of Phoenix ends abruptly. There is no crosswalk for reaching the "Push button for green light" walk light. This traffic crossing -- absent the standard walk/don't walk signage -- is difficult to deal with. This intersection was not designed to help pedestrians or bicyclists. It is a hazard to them. It's fair to call it hostile to walkers.
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Thompsonville will never become Enfield's downtown, but something else might

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Freshwater Pond, Thompsonville, Connecticut Middletown is everything Enfield ought to be. That city's main street is a destination for Central Connecticut. It's filled with restaurants and shops. There's a movie theater. It’s a perfect place to spend an evening. Type "Enfield, Connecticut" in WalkScore.com and you get a "0" – "almost all errands require a car." Middletown scores 30, and that's because of its downtown. Where did Enfield go wrong? Enfield had a walkable area: Thompsonville. But that era began fading in the 1950s. It had no hope of recovery once Bigelow-Sanford Mill closed its doors in 1971. Enfield has toyed with the idea of re-making Thompsonville into a walkable area. Walkable means a place with shops, restaurants and stores. The town spent $2 million to restore the Freshwater Pond area. It created a village green space. On Enfield's radar is a plan to restore the Enfield Station to serve the new CT Ra
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