Enfield Town Council Approves Land Sale to Thompsonville Fire District

A public hearing over a controversial proposal by the town to sell a piece of property to the Thompsonville Fire District became contentious and even hostile at times Monday, but ended with the town council voting to authorize the transaction.

Passage of the proposal means the town will sell a 1.07-acre parcel on Lincoln Street to the fire district for $160,000. Fire officials have confirmed they seek to build a new $3 million firehouse on the property.

Fifteen residents spoke at the 53-minute public hearing, which was held just prior to the council's regularly scheduled meeting.

At the outset of the hearing, Mayor Scott Kaupin reminded residents they were solely to comment on the land sale. Numerous times, the mayor interrupted speakers who were straying off that subject in order to comment on the process by which the fire district has conducted the proposed purchase.

Many residents of the district said they were upset that officials did not put the matter of building a new fire station to a referendum, as has been done with major projects in the past.

"I'm wary of selling the land without a firehouse being approved," resident Karen LaPlante said.

Arthur Usher said he remembers the town giving "a couple of schools away for a dollar; we should be giving them the land." Conversely, Bart Giustina said he "would like the land sold to a taxpayer, who will increase the grand list."

State Rep. David Alexander, whose 58th District includes the Thompsonville Fire District, asked the council to postpone their decision on the sale until the fire district residents have voted in a referendum. An exchange with Kaupin got extremely heated, with the mayor telling Alexander  he was out of line, and the audience responded, "No he's not."

Town Manager Matt Coppler responded to some of the points and questions brought up by speakers, saying:

• If a firehouse is not built on the site, the land will come back to the town;
• The piece of property to be sold is separate from the A.D. Higgins School, which is scheduled for demolition;
• The policy of the town council is this property has value, which is why it will be sold.

During the regular council meeting, more than a dozen residents spoke during public communication, mostly against the sale. Council members were clearly divided on the issue during councilmen's comments.

"We have no say on what the Thompsonville Fire District does with it," Councilman Joe Bosco said. "We have property we don't need, and can get money we can use."

Council member Carol Hall said this "is one of the tougher decisions" she's had to make.

"The taxpayers have had a say, and they've voted it down twice," Hall said. "I think you could sell the district on this firehouse, but I will be voting no, though I know it will probably bring me political repercussions."

Patrick Crowley, the only council member who lives in the fire district, said, "We need a new firehouse, so I will be supporting this." District 2 Councilman William "Red" Edgar, whose constituency includes a large portion of the Thompsonville district, countered, "I believe you're entitled to a referendum, so my vote will be no."

Kaupin began his comments by expressing his disappointment with Alexander, stating, "I don't think we've ever been treated by an elected official the way you treated us tonight." He then chided the audience for the outburst of catcalls from the earlier hearing.

In a roll call vote, the measure passed 7-4, with Edgar, Hall, Cindy Mangini and Tom Arnone dissenting.