A Few Minutes In Enfield With...

Enfield Patch (EP) publishes this periodic series in interview format with a resident or small business owner in town. We recently sat down with former mayor Scott Kaupin (SK), who opted not to seek re-election to the town council after serving for 24 years, including the last 10 as mayor.

EP: What prompted you to get involved in politics initially?

SK: Throughout my high school and college years, I served in various roles in student government including Class President for the Enrico Fermi High School Class of 1983, the Student Representative to the Enfield Board of Education, and as a Vice President of the Student Senate at the University of New Hampshire. When I returned home to Enfield I got involved with the Enfield Republican Town Committee, and was appointed by the Town Council to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Solid Waste Task Force. The task force was the local body that implemented recycling here in Enfield. In 1991 I was actually asked by two friends of mine, both Democrats, to run for the Town Council District 3 seat as a Republican. I lost that first election, but continued my involvement and decided to give it another shot in 1993. The positive results of that election led to my twelve consecutive terms on the Town Council. Serving on the Town Council was an extension of my service to the community.

EP: What do you feel are the top accomplishments of the council during your entire 24 year tenure, and particularly during your 10 as mayor?

SK: I first want to begin by stating that every accomplishment is shared with the many elected and appointed officials, and our hard working staff, who have served over the years, and the voters who approved of the projects if a referendum was required. Back in the mid to late 1990's there was a need to implement a program to rebuild and maintain our many roads, sidewalks, and drainage systems across town. Roads 2000 was the first successful five-year program, followed by Roads 2005, Roads 2010, and now Roads 2015. The community has supported a new Senior Center, renovations and expansions at our elementary schools and middle school, new athletic fields at our high schools, an upgraded water pollution control plant and town-wide system, an energy performance contract, and a renovated and expanded Enfield High School. Although work will always need to be done, Enfield has supported large-scale infrastructure projects that improve our community.

1. Increased communications with residents and businesses to bring local government closer to the people. E-TV carrying meetings live and available on YouTube, additional opportunities for public communications at Town Council Meetings, quarterly Public Informational Meetings, the use of social media, and an active Mayor's Advisory Council are all good examples of this.
2. In the wake of three very tragic youth suicides, the Town of Enfield and Enfield Public Schools rallied to understand the complex issues facing our youth, and built a very successful initiative that is a model that other communities across the nation are following. The Suicide Prevention Steering Committee is a collaboration of stake holders from local government, education, social service agencies, law enforcement, etc. that has led to a more positive and supportive school environment, training for students and staff, new services for those in need, and an expansion of the initiative to focus on the community as a whole. Out of tragedy something really positive continues to happen.
3. Over the past ten years the Town of Enfield and Enfield Public Schools has worked together to right size the school district and upgrade the facilities. I remember speaking very passionately at a joint budget meeting with the Board of Education at the beginning of my first term as Mayor. Those comments led to action that eventually led to the reconfiguration of the elementary schools to K-2 and 3-5 buildings, grade 6 moving to the middle school, and the one renovated and expanded high school at Enfield High.

EP: Similarly, what are the biggest disappointments of those time periods?

1. Over the ten years that I have served as Mayor, the financial condition of the state and nation challenges those in local government more and more each year. A nation-wide recession, a state with huge financial issues resulting in reductions in state aid, and the piling on of mandates from these entities that drive up the cost of local government. While all of this was happening, little relief was given by the state to allow local governments to address these concerns. Municipalities are limited on ways to raise revenue, namely the very regressive property tax. State government needs to get out of the way of the local governments to allow towns to be less dependent on state aid.
2. School security continues to be a major concern, and I believe Enfield really made a big mistake by eliminating the School Security Officer (SSO) program in our public and private schools. We built a very successful security program that led to safer schools. Unfortunately we do not live in "Mayberry" and school security is one of the new realities we all face due to our society. I still feel that the investment in SSO's was a wise one and added one additional level of security in a very comprehensive and complex plan.
3. There are two facilities that I believe Enfield really needs, and they are a larger library and a real community center that can meet the needs of a large community like Enfield. These are "must have" facilities, no matter the location, for a community to continue to attract people and families to live here.

EP: How has the town changed from your first term to your last?

SK: The visual changes are the most obvious, but there are also projects in motion that will have far greater impact on the town as it relates to change. Enfield is home to many new businesses, both large and small, across town. Over the years this expansion has moved eastward across town. Enfield has a very large retail district that services the needs of the region. Enfield is also a hub for medical services, which is a huge benefit to our residents. Access to quality healthcare as close to home as possible is best for those needing the services.

Concerning projects in motion, one of the biggest impacts, and I believe it will be a very positive impact, is the opening of the Hartford Line in 2018. This commuter rail initiative, linking New Haven to Springfield, will have a rail stop in Thompsonville section of Enfield during the second phase of station openings in 2020. The transit oriented development that results from such a stop has the potential to finally revitalize Thompsonville and benefit the town as a whole. Also, the future re-purposing of the Enfield Square Mall into a mixed use type of development will reverse the decline of that retail property. Ironically, Enfield has a very healthy retail and commercial sector surrounding the mall. Imagine the mall property becoming the economic engine that it can be and once was.

EP: What does the future hold for you, and would you ever consider a return to politics at either the local or state level?

SK: While I served on the Town Council, I also volunteered with various local civic organizations and non-profit agencies, and I plan to continue to do so. I serve as Chairman of the Fourth of July Town Celebration Committee, and we are already beginning to plan the 2018 Celebration to be held on July 6th - 8th. I have been a member of the Rotary Club of Enfield for 10+ years and will serve as Club President for one year beginning in July 2018. I have been a member of Board of Directors of Enfield Loaves & Fishes for 5+ years, and recently joined the Board of Directors of Educational Resources for Children (ERfC). I am a member of the Enfield Republican Town Committee and will stay involved with local and state campaigns involving Enfield. I am willing to assist our local leaders in any way I can. I seem to be one of those volunteers that has a hard time saying no.

I am very fortunate to have a family home in Wellfleet, MA on Cape Cod, so I plan to spend as much time there on weekends and during the summer. I have an awesome family and a great group of friends, and I look forward to spending more time with them. I also have projects to do around the house and yard, so I don't see myself getting bored any time soon.

As for a return to local or state elected politics, I do not have plans to do so, but I guess one should never say never. After twenty-four years of service, I feel it's time for me to pursue other interests in life though, and let others take on the responsibilities and do the heavy lifting. It's been an honor and privilege to serve, so thank you Enfield for giving me the opportunity to contribute to my hometown.

If you would like your small business considered for this column, or have a suggestion about an interesting person in Enfield to interview, email tim.jensen@patch.com.