Resident Sends Letter of Intent to Sue Enfield Fire District

ENFIELD, CT — A vote conducted by Enfield Fire District No. 1 on Sept. 30, at which residents overwhelmingly approved purchase of a new aerial platform truck to replace a 32-year-old model which is breaking down, is being challenged by a citizen claiming the district's Board of Commissioners "failed to give proper and timely notice of the meeting."

In a certified letter dated Oct. 1 and addressed to Board of Commissioners President Vincent Grady, John Santanella of 1204 Enfield Street outlined his intention to file suit against the district and the commission, claiming they "misled the voting public as to the time and date of the voting," and they also "failed to give proper and timely notice of the meeting in violation of the District’s bylaws 3.2 and Section 7-327 of the Connecticut General Statute."

During voting, 119 of 138 district residents cast ballots in favor of the purchase, which is estimated between $1 million and $1.6 million.

Santanella is asking the commission to "remedy this action by determining at any point that proper legal notice was not issued and that the voting results from Special Meeting of the District September 30, 2020 be set aside."

In the meantime, Santanella's letter states the action is seeking to:

• "prohibit the District, Fire Commission President and/or Treasurer from entering into any contract, agreement, or negotiation of any sort, for the purchase of a new aerial/ladder."

• "prohibit either the District and its Board, the Board or the Fire Commission President, Treasurer, officer or any member of the Commission, to transfer any money whatsoever from the District’s general fund for payment on a new aerial/ladder or any other purpose that would otherwise require the consent of voters."

Grady told Patch the commissioners distributed plenty of information to district voters, including:

• Publishing legal notices in the Journal Inquirer on Sept. 22 and 23, and on the district website on Sept. 22
• Conducting an informational meeting about the proposal and voting procedures via a Zoom Video Chat platform on Sept. 29, which was published Sept. 23 on the website
• Posting changes to standard voting procedures on the website
• Posting information about the special meeting at the fire station on Phoenix Ave. and at Town Hall