Debate Continues on Fate of Scitico School Building

Mayor Scott Kaupin chided members of two related historical organizations at a public hearing prior to Monday night's Town Council meeting, pleading with them to stop fighting and work together to continue preserving Enfield's historic buildings.

The longstanding dispute between the Martha A. Parsons Memorial Trust and the Enfield Historical Society is currently in litigation involving the state Attorney General's office.

Monday's public hearing related to the decision made by the council in April to accept a proposal by the Parsons Trust to take over the former Scitico School building at 2 Broad Brook Road. The trust plans to convert the building into a museum dedicated to the village of Scitico.

The building had been inhabited most recently by the Enfield Grange, but reverted back to the town when the Grange lost its nonprofit status and could not afford to pay taxes on the building.

Questions about the feasibility of the Parsons Trust proposal arose from members of the Historical Society, who contended the trust would not have the necessary assets to do much-needed restoration work on the structure, which was built in 1854.

At the beginning of the hearing, Town Attorney Kevin Deneen said he had discussed the situation with both sides of the issue, and recommended the council not transfer the property to the trust. "There really is no good reason for the town to insert itself into this discussion or this dispute until it is resolved," he said.

About a dozen people spoke at the hearing, including some former Scitico School students who now live out of town.  They were allowed the chance to speak only after a suspension of the normal rules, which permit only current town residents to make comments at public hearings.

Speakers offered differing opinions as to whether the transfer to the Parsons Trust should be completed, but most agreed that the building is in dire need of repairs immediately.

Art Enderle of South George Washington Road, a member of both the Historical Society and the Parsons Trust, urged the council to complete the transfer right away. "The building probably can't withstand another winter like we just had," he said.

Margaret Jedziniak of Abbe Road, who attended the Scitico School, said, "The town has never spent a nickel in Scitico, and I think they should." Her daughter, who now resides in Windsor, said she also attended school there, and would like the historic building preserved.

During council members' comments at the conclusion of the hearing, District 2 Councilman Red Edgar asked the town manager's office to come up with an estimated cost to provide protection against further damage to the structure until a resolution can be achieved.

Kaupin then urged the Parsons Trust and the Historical Society to go back to their charge - preserving historic buildings and artifacts. "Both groups have fantastic track records," he said. "If we delay this, we'll have another building like the Brainard School and Higgins. You let it all show tonight in front of the entire town, that this is a battle over money and power. Let's end the turf war and work together."

At the regular Town Council meeting, the council took no action, but Kaupin said discussion on the issue would be placed on the agenda for the May 16 meeting.