Enfield Town Council Reviews Budget, Discusses Athletic Facility Concerns

ENFIELD, CT — Enfield’s budget season moved forward Tuesday night as the Town Council heard Town Manager Matthew Coppler’s proposed spending plan, set a public hearing, and handled a broad mix of other business.

The biggest item of the night was Coppler’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 general fund budget. The plan totals about $168.2 million, including about $84.6 million on the town side, and represents a 4.95 percent increase over the current revised budget.

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Coppler said the proposal is built around maintaining reliable town services, making targeted investments where demand is growing and starting to address long-delayed maintenance and equipment needs. “Deferred maintenance ultimately costs more,” he said.

He also made clear the budget does not solve every large problem facing the town. “The budget that I put together does not deliver on those big things that we’ve put off,” Coppler said.

Coppler described the challenge as balancing town needs with what residents can afford. “The balance that we have to strike is how to get a lot of stuff done that the residents want and need, versus keeping it affordable for people to want to live and remain here,” he said.

He also pointed to debt service as a continuing strain on town finances. “We don’t have a debt problem,” Coppler said. “But the debt we have is causing an impact on our ability to provide our level of services that I think people need and people want.”

Coppler said the proposed budget is being driven by wage increases, insurance, pension costs and other operating pressures. He also said the town is proposing to use about $5 million from fund balance as part of the spending plan.

The council later voted to set the formal public hearing on the budget for April 22. The town must adopt a final budget before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

Outside the budget, the council approved several spending and administrative items. Members voted to approve $15,000 to support Enfield’s America 250 celebrations and another $10,000 for Fourth of July fireworks tied to the anniversary year.

The council also approved a $30,000 transfer to the town attorney legal account, a motor vehicle tax abatement for 44 Marion Place and a lease agreement with Collins Powder Hill Farm.

Town officials also recognized Pam Townsend and Earl Provencher during the meeting.

Townsend was honored for her work supporting veterans in Enfield, including service connected to the American Legion, the Enfield Veterans Council and Wreaths Across America. “I can’t do what I do without the support of so many people,” she said.

Provencher was recognized for 50 years of fire service. In his remarks, he shifted the focus to others who serve the community. “It’s really not about me, it’s about them,” Provencher said. “It’s about all of the first responders in the town of Enfield.”

The meeting also included discussion about several town facility issues, with Assistant Town Manager Steve Bielenda addressing bathroom accessibility and Coppler speaking more broadly about concerns tied to the annex track and synthetic turf fields.

Bielenda said town staff, the town attorney and the public works director had reviewed bathroom access at athletic fields and related facilities. He said additional handicap-accessible portable toilets had been ordered for Brainerd Park and Powder Hollow, but had not yet been installed because of delays by the vendor.

Councilor Carol Hall said that when games are held at Enfield High School, the building bathrooms should be opened instead of relying only on portable toilets.

Coppler later discussed the annex track, saying its condition has deteriorated to the point that it may need to be shut down. He also raised concerns about synthetic turf at the annex and Fermi, saying those fields face annual testing and may not pass.