Enfield council OKs
$480,700 for tipper barrels
By Anne Pallivathuckal
Journal Inquirer
ENFIELD - The Town Council on Monday approved $480,700 for the purchase of tipper barrels for a townwide program that makes the barrels mandatory for trash collection.
The council voted 7-2 for the purchase, with Councilman-at-large David Kiner and District 2 Councilman William "Red" Edgar, both Democrats, voting against the measure.
The funds will be used to purchase about 8,300 tipper barrels, according to a memo from Town Manager Matthew W. Coppler to the council.
Tipper barrels are large, wheeled trashcans that are lifted by a mechanical arm and dumped into a truck.
The program's implementation schedule, which the council agreed upon by consensus last month, calls for tipper barrel collection to begin in July.
It also requires that the town purchase 6,800 96-gallon tipper barrels and 1,500 48-gallon barrels. The larger barrels will cost the town $59 each and smaller barrels will cost $53 each.
Coppler told the council Monday that the town will purchase the barrels through a contract with the city of Bridgeport, which had put the item out to bid.
This way the town will receive the barrels as early as possible, about four weeks after placing the order, to meet the implementation schedule, he said.
Coppler added that the town would sell the barrels to residents at discounted rates, $50 each for the 96-gallon barrels and $45 each for the 48-gallon barrels.
Residents also can purchase their barrels from retail stores, as long as they meet town standards.
The council reached a majority consensus last month requiring residents to pay for their tipper trash barrels, with Republicans in favor of the measure and Democrats opposed at that time.
Kiner said Monday that he voted against the purchase because it would be the first step toward charging families for the barrels. Edgar said today that he voted against the purchase for the same reason.
Democratic Councilwoman-at-large Cynthia Mangini said that although she voted for the purchase, she is still opposed to making residents pay for the barrels.
The council's decision to charge residents for the barrels came despite a recommendation from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee that the town provide the barrels to residents for free since the program is mandatory.
20 comments:
"The Town Council on Monday approved $480,700 for the purchase of tipper barrels for a townwide program that makes the barrels mandatory for trash collection."
If Enfield Council has decided to
purchase these, then they should give residents "a barrel" @ no cost. If a resident needs more, then they can pay for these barrels.
Clearly the Council already has to money to spend on this program, and if they want residents to "buy into the program", the barrels should be free.
The Town of Ellington is also considering using tipper barrel
(article was in Tuesday's Courant). Article stated it will save Ellington taxpayers money because "its less labor intensive." Ellington's
First Selectman said "the less people you need to do the job, the less it is going to cost." Ellington residents will not have to pay for their barrels.
How is it Ellington is willing to
not only give their residents a barrel, but they're also talking about saving $$$ by requiring less people to pick up the trash?
Is Enfield going to let some town trash collectors "go" because these new barrels require only one person to do the job? I don't recall seeing anything like that mentioned in Enfield article. How much would Enfield save if 1/2 the Town's trash collectors were no longer needed?
> How much would Enfield save if 1/2 the Town's trash collectors were no longer needed?
If the Town of Enfield can save enough money by cutting half their trash staff, Enfield residents certainly shouldn't have to buy these barrels. That cost savings would more than pay for these tipper barrels.
Exactly how does the Town of Enfield go about "releasing" their trash collectors because the Council opted to go with a program, who's claim to fame is that less people are needed to pick up the trash now?
Good for David Kiner and Red Edger. Atleast someone on the council is willing to stand up for the residents of Enfield. Rumors have it a young guy from Enfield may be challenging for the nomination in the 7th against Kissel. Is it Kiner?
Am getting very tired of all this tipper barrel "talk". Enfield officials should give every taxpayer a barrel if the Town wants/needs everyone to participate, and for the program to succeed. Taxpayers didn't have any say in this vote, and we're already paying out more in taxes than most comparable communities.
How about foregoing the $1 million bike path to the Town dump? Or the Council not pick up the electric tab for some little league's field light? Or not creating another Scantic River park (heck, there's already a paved road off Simon Rd to the Scantic River, that's never been "opened" to the public).
The Town of Enfield has plenty of "pork barrel projects" that could be eliminated to cover the cost of this trash program.
If Town official want stakeholders to embrace this plan, they gotta give residents the barrels, and figure out how to recoup the start up costs (again, can be done by eliminating other Town sponsored "waste").
"Or not creating another Scantic River park (heck, there's already a paved road off Simon Rd to the Scantic River, that's never been "opened" to the public)."
There's already a number of public access points to the Scantic River. Stop by the Powder Hollow Mill area on any given summer day, and the lot is filled (and with a number of MA cars). There's also another "new" access point on Enfield/Somers line.
The Suffield/Windsor Locks canal bike path is a great example of why Enfield should NOT build a parking area off the beaten path. That canal parking lot is a known "pick up" spot (not to mention what else goes on down there). Suffield police have their hands filled policing that secluded parking area. Enfield residents certainly doesn't need anything like that.
Why not use that $$$$ to defray the cost of the tipper barrel program?
More people throw out trash on a daily basis, than visit the Scantic River.
"heck, there's already a paved road off Simon Rd to the Scantic River, that's never been "opened" to the public)."
yeah, what the heck is the story with that paved road to the Scantic River? I notice it every time I travel Simon Rd. Has an "official looking" crate across the road, but bikers/walkers could certainly get through w/o any problem.
Someone said it was the Town's unsuccessful earlier attempt to give access to the Scantic River? Too much access to any river is likely to cause environmental problems in the long run.
"Rumors have it a young guy from Enfield may be challenging for the nomination in the 7th against Kissel. Is it Kiner?"
Hope not. Would take far more than a free trash barrel to convince Enfield voters to oust Kissel.
"The Suffield/Windsor Locks canal bike path is a great example of why Enfield should NOT build a parking area off the beaten path. That canal parking lot is a known "pick up" spot (not to mention what else goes on down there)."
The story there is that Suffield canal parking location is actually a wellknown "solicitation" spot
among gay men. Law enforcement has conducted sting operations down there, and undercover police have made arrests for solicting for sex and public indecency.
> Residents also can purchase their barrels from retail stores, as long as they meet town standards.
What retail stores sells these tipper barrels? Just curious as to their prices. I called Enfield
Public Works, and they couldn't tell me anything about this program.
> Residents also can purchase their barrels from retail stores, as long as they meet town standards.
What retail stores sells these tipper barrels? Just curious as to their prices. I called Enfield
Public Works, and they couldn't tell me anything about this program.
> "The Town Council on Monday approved $480,700 for the purchase of tipper barrels for a townwide program that makes the barrels mandatory for trash collection."
The State just purchased the Asnuntuck Community College property from Town of Enfield for
$2 million. While that was a steal
for the State, why can't Enfield officials use part of that $2 million to fund these tipper barrels for residents?
Passing the barrel costs onto residents, who didn't have a say in this matter, is ridiculous. Especially when the Town clearly
has to money to buy these barrels.
We already pay too much in taxes.
Plus, I don't recall being made to purchase the recycle bins I'm asked to use every 2 weeks.
According to JI article,
http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19271634&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569380&rfi=8
the Town of Enfield is owed $2.7 million from some 225 delinquent taxpayers. Collecting that $2.7
million would pay for a lot of tipper barrels.
Instead of bleeding the 97% who pay their taxes, Town officials should concentrate on those who don't pay their taxes, yet reap all the Town benefits.
>"heck, there's already a paved road off Simon Rd to the Scantic River, that's never been "opened" to the public)." >
That paved road leads down to the river through an old cleaned up superfund site. Here is the kicker, the land at the end of the road was donated to Enfield as a park to commemorate veterans. It was actually called Veterans Park. The story is that a mother donated the land where the pump station is in memory of her son who was killed during one of the wars. The intent was to allow people to sit and reflect while watching the river. Enfield then built a pump station. Nice tribute.
How did the town get away with that one? Does anyone know?
"How did the town get away with that one? Does anyone know?"
That's a good one for our Enfield Council members and other town officials (many do "lurk" on this blog) to look into and explain to
taxpayers.
Since there's already a paved road to Scantic River, on land that was donated to Town for a park (the fact that its a Veterans' Park is really sweet) than why isn't the Town opening this park to Enfield residents? Why is the road gated off? Why is the Town looking to create additional access to Scantic (there's access off Bailey Rd - was an organized hike via that path earlier in year).
Isn't this paved road off Simon near where the "PattyTat & Freddie-Rick" group were looking to build condos?
According to the "North Central News", the Towns of Enfield and Ellington contract with the CT Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA) to handle the towns' trash.
Ellington is currently pondering whether to go to a tipper barrel program (to help save on labor costs). Their Public Works Director is recommending that Town of Ellington use the money ($200,000) received in a CRRA settlement to purchase barrels for their residents.
This settlement is the results of a class action suit filed against
the CRRA.
Since Enfield is also using CRRA
as is Ellington, what did Enfield receive for a settlement? And why can't that money also be used by Enfield officials to pay for tipper barrels for Enfield residents?
"How did the town get away with that one? Does anyone know?"
Lurking councilmembers could add this to the old to do list. A donator was dissed and yet another tribute to vets forgotten. Where could one get info? Funny how that road goes thru Starr land. Is it a town road or just access? Looks like just access from GPIS on town website.
How about the dog park on that land. Perhaps Starr will consider a few acre donation. The dogs will only bark when freddierick and tatarita come round. Dogs have great instincts
" Lurking councilmembers could add this to the old to do list. "
The Enfield council members postings seem to have vanished from the blog. After the Nov elections, some were very quick to appear and reply here. But now that the honeymoon period is over, they've seemingly gone silent.
But don't think for minute that they don't regularly log in to
read what's going on here. Its just that they don't have the answers to all the great questions and concerns posted here.
I for one would love to see that Simon Rd Scantic River "area" developed into a Enfield's Veterans/Dog Park/Scantic Park since the paved access road is already there, its not in an overly populated area, and that the land was donated.
"And why can't that money also be used by Enfield officials to pay for tipper barrels for Enfield residents?"
This really is #!&&@% rich behavior.
The answer: Because there are even bigger bills coming down the road. Maybe you aren't aware of this, but Enfield Schools, Fire, Police and EMS are gonna have to get on new frequencies soon. If they don't, they could get Joe's Plumbing or Moe's HVAC cutting into the middle of a police dispatch.
The FCC auctioned off the frequencies they currently use for fire-sale prices. This is why we all have to get digital TVs. What's next- should the government buy us new TVs because they auctioned off the frequency?
It's expected that the bill for this is gonna be $5 million dollars. Enfield needs to save up the CRRA money and the ACC money to pay this down without raising taxes. A one-time charge of $50 that you can pay off over a year is much better than a tax increase. As you know, taxes go up but never come down.
"This is why we all have to get digital TVs. What's next- should the government buy us new TVs because they auctioned off the frequency?"
Because the entire country is going
digital (not just lil'ol'Enfield)
the federal government is also issuing $40 coupons to help those consumers who need to buy special boxes to receive digital on their analog set. Not everyone has to go out and buy a digital TV.
So what's Enfield "doing" for residents because some town official believes going to a tipper barrel program might save some $$$ down the road? They're doing "nothin", but passing along more costs to taxpayers.
There's a big difference here between country going digital, and Enfield's petty "wants".
And don't think for a minute that Enfield taxes aren't gonna rise, regardless of how Enfield uses their CRRA and Asnuntuck $$$. They will.
Tab for Enfield High water damage ain't gonna be cheap & its not the residents "fault" that happened.
But we'll have to pick up the costs that insurance doesn't cover.
"Spend, spend, spend", that's all Enfield knows how to do.
At least the federal government is helping to pay for the converter boxes that should save residents' analog TV sets from becoming obsolete. In fact, the $40 coupons are in the mail according to
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004188336_apdigitaltvcoupons18.html
But don't hold your breathe for Enfield officials to assist their residents with purchasing these tipper barrels.
The two programs (digital TV vs
tipper barrels) have nothing in common at all.
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