Local elections can be an opportunity to discuss the issues. If I were running for Town Council, here are some issues that would make up my platform. In no particular order:
It's time to revisit Enfield's flooding risks
Are we prepared for storms that can deliver 5-plus inches of rain in an hour or a day? Climate change is increasing rainfall intensity generally in the Northeast. West Point, NY, recently saw as much as 10 inches of rain over 24 hours in July, and that same storm delivered three to nine inches of rain in Vermont, causing massive damage.
The proposal: Hold a public information session in the JFK Auditorium on flooding risk in Enfield. Invite people to speak and share their experience with overflowing streams and flooded basements. The hearing will begin with a presentation by town officials reviewing flood maps and risks. It could include scenario discussion. What would happen if we saw 5" or more rain in 24 hours? Let's find out how prepared we are for climate risks.
Rethink our commercial district
There's nothing pleasurable about shopping in Enfield. You need your car for everything. We've designed a commercial area with grossly inadequate pedestrian crossings, missing sidewalks and crosswalks, and inadequate or missing pedestrian walk signals. It represents 50 years of planning. Even back in the 1970s, people realized that some of the things the town was doing were a problem. That includes allowing Enfield Square to build the "interceptor" entrance off Hazard without connecting the two malls. Why is there no sidewalk on the east side of Enfield Square? Why is there no crosswalk between the Stop & Shop and ShopRite plazas? This list goes on. Overall, we've created one of the most miserable shopping areas imaginable.
The proposal: Enfield can redesign the commercial area to guide and encourage future development and zoning decisions. This includes creating housing in the commercial district to steady business for retailers and help anchor smaller businesses. Instead of shopping centers, focus on development along the roads to make it more walkable. The town has done some good planning work in this area with the help of the Capitol Region Council of Governments, but we need a more inclusive plan that includes the entire retail area, from Big Y plaza to I-91. So next time a candidate knocks on your door, ask them to explain their vision.
Create a community for pedestrians and bicyclists
Why must the experience for pedestrians and bicyclists in this town be utterly miserable? A successful bicycling plan will require routes connecting all the major neighborhoods to the commercial area and from there to the train station. In many cases, the painted bike lanes that we have don't take you anywhere. Many communities are working in this direction, especially as e-bikes make bicycling a real option for shopping and work.
The proposal: If elected, I would urge my fellow council members to create a committee to advocate for pedestrians and bicyclists. It would have a unique mandate of providing feedback to the PZC on significant planning issues and zoning change requests. Such a committee is needed because the PZC has demonstrated over the decades that it is incapable of considering anything other than the needs of drivers. The proof is everywhere.
Economic development and the budget
As a candidate, I won't mislead: Cutting the budget won't do much to reduce taxes. By my count, and I hope this is correct, the town has about 350 full-time employees, not including schools. For instance, nearly a third of the town's employees, 110, are full-time police department employees. The balance comprises public works, sanitation, health, and administration, including building. Wages make up the bulk of the budget. If you start cutting the budget and laying off employees, you are cutting services. The same is true for our schools. The town's workload stays the same, with declining services and increased overtime costs. If you want to hold and lower taxes, the town has to increase the value of the commercial grand list.
The proposal: If elected, I propose adding people in marketing and planning to our economic development staff. Economic development is an area I would spend money on. There's so much work to do in our retail and industrial areas. Apart from changing our commercial areas, we have to consider how to capture future industries, 3D manufacturing in particular. Are we doing enough with our community college to create a skills pipeline for local businesses?
Set term limits for the PZC
Our Planning and Zoning Commission sets our town's future, but these are appointed positions. Apart from the council, it's the town's most important and impactful role.
The proposal: Limit the time any PZC member can serve to four years. There's a lot of expertise, experience, and good ideas in our community. Let's ensure that we have a good turnover. Also, let's give the PZC a budget to send its members to conferences and educational sessions on planning trends.
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