Partnership for Public Safety


Imagine coming home from work one night after a day of busy schedules and exhausting work expecting to get home and put your feet up and relax. As you drive you turn the radio on and listen to some good music to settle your mind from a long day of meetings, people, and customers.

Imagine getting off the highway at the exit you have taken for years and heading toward your subdivision and finally home for a night of watching your favorite show or sports team.

Imagine as you drive down your street and the darkness of the night turns into a rich bright, glow as you get closer to your home. Then you notice the lights from emergency vehicles sitting in front of your home with water shooting into the family home from fire hoses, gurneys with EMT’s standing by, and the police keeping spectators away. Then you realize your house is burning to the ground and a relative has been injured…

At this point you really don’t care about the workings of Public Safety Department in your town. You don’t care what political party worked out the details. You don’t really care who is doing what and who got there first. All you care about is that your house is collapsing under the heat and someone you love may be fighting for his or her life.

In the town of Enfield we are blessed with a group of people that you may only meet when an emergency arises. They are the Personnel of the Fire Departments, Police Department, and Enfield EMS. You will not remember everyone’s name, but you will remember what they do.

“Public Safety” is the unifying term for those who work to protect us and come to our aid when life hits a problem.

Recently, the Enfield Town Council met with Town Manager Matt Coppler, Public Safety Director Christopher Bromson, Acting Chief of the Thompsonville Fire Department Frank Alaimo, and Enfield EMS Director Art Groux, to discuss a plan to have the Thompsonville Fire Department partner with Enfield EMS to do one basic thing and that is to provide the citizens of Enfield the best emergency care around.

The proposal, although having some small details to work out, was praised by all who make decisions in town. The theme for the evening was not about who gets the credit or who is more important; it was about what is best for Enfield and the publics’ welfare. Public Safety Director Chris Bromson use the term “seamless” to describe how it can work and that term was repeated by others in the course of the meeting. Seamless describes how you as citizens will not notice the how things work…you will just be given great care when an emergency strikes your family.

I asked Republican Council Leader Scott Kaupin to share with me his thoughts on this new arrangement to be implemented in the coming weeks. Here is some of what he had to say:


“For some time the Town Council has been asking the Town Manager and the Director of Public Safety to begin involving the fire departments with staffing the Enfield EMS (EEMS). Concerns had been raised about proper staffing levels during some shifts. Discussions had been held with the fire departments as a whole, but consistent staffing commitments continued to be an issue. I had been urging the Town Manager and Director of Public Safety to consider approaching the Thompsonville Fire Department (TFD), because it has full time firefighters working around the clock. In late November or early December the Town Manager approached Town Council Leadership with a plan to approach the TFD to see if they were interested in working with the town to draft an agreement for staffing EEMS. Negotiations began between the TFD and the town and a proposed agreement was reached late last week.”

Scott went on to say:
I have always felt that the fire departments could play a significant role. The original plan first adopted by the Town Council in October 2003, which I supported, had the fire departments staffing the ambulances. I referred to the plan as the "Hybrid Plan" because the town managed the service and the fire departments staffed the service. Circumstances changed due to the election in November 2003 and the rest is history not worth repeating. It appears though that we are now developing a "hybrid of the hybrid plan" that finally gets firefighters involved with the staffing of EEMS. I hope our efforts are successful and that all departments will soon be assisting EEMS so that we can continue to provide excellent patient care around the clock.”


Going back to my opening scenario. When emergency comes to your home you may not notice the name of each person saving your property or even saving your life. You may not remember what uniform the person giving you oxygen or putting a dressing on a wound was wearing.

You will just be thankful the leaders in town, the public safety department, the fire fighters and EMS came together to make your safety and welfare number one. Great job to all involved.
Greg Stokes

IN SEARCH OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT


Believe it or not the 2008 presidential campaign is about to begin. Already there has been some unknown names begin to announce their desire for the highest office in the land. These people are so unknown that they have to announce now trying to get early press coverage. We will allow them to remain unknown for the sake of this article.

However, over the next few weeks there will be prearranged settings for the major players in both parties to announce their candidacy for president. Some will use the backdrop of the elementary school they attended as a child, some will use the unsightly scene of a river that they will clean up if elected, and there will be the popular setting in front of the family home with children and grand children standing along side. But be sure it’s coming sooner then we may be ready.

What names should we be looking for in the weeks ahead? Well, on the Republican side look for John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani.

On the Democrat side look for John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama to stand before a crowd of prepared followers to proclaim, “I am running for President of the United States.”

By mid-summer the major television News channels such as CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC will introduce new “News Shows” with titles like “Campaign 2008”, The Road to 2008” and “The Campaign Map.” (If they use any of these, I will request royalties for the idea).

Then we will be bombarded with the Candidates fighting for a chance to appear on the evening talk shows, like Larry King and Jay Leno, to make their case to people. This will be an attempt to show themselves as everyday people who know what we as citizens deal with on a daily basis.

Of course they will stay at the Ritz Hotel and be driven over in a Limo, but they know what average people live with every day.

Then there will be the television political ad’s displaying the virtue of the candidate while unknown groups using “soft money” make sure we know that the opposing candidate hates his or her mother, hits babies, and was a spy for the old Soviet Union. Hmmmm I can’t wait!

Okay, I sound a little harsh in my view of the 2008 campaign season, but to be honest I am a bit exhausted by the current pattern of selecting a President by choosing the less damaged person after the campaign. I want the best person for the job and I want to know what they really plan to do.

I will be looking for as the candidates make the rounds over the next 20 months three basic qualities. These are not comprehensive, but this is where I begin.

One, I will look for “Character.” The person sitting in the White House needs to have the trust of the American people. Their character creates trust as they go into the Oval Office, and their actions from then on maintain that trust. Nevertheless, it begins with character.

Two, I will look for “Experience.” This is not the time for America to have a President who requires metaphorical “training wheels.” We need the person who understands the world we live in and the dangers that exist. We a need a President that understands domestic and foreign policy and can handle both.

Three, I will look for “Vision.” Simply put, I want the President to inspire people with what he or she sees as the future of America. The next President will have to be a true person of the people and not hidden behind walls.

After all that I said in this article you might think that I am not looking forward to the 2008 campaign, but actually I am. But, I am hoping and praying that we see the best in campaigning without the mud slinging and personal attacks. I hope we hear ideas that actually can work. Last, I am looking for the candidate that makes me feel like it’s great to be an American and that my grand kids “future” will be better then my “present.”

Greg Stokes

A VOICE IN HARTFORD


Last week at the Enfield Town Council meeting the Council approved a resolution to join and support the Connecticut Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility.

The Connecticut Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility is a broad and growing alliance of municipal boards, ranging from Town and City Councils, to Boards of Selectmen, Aldermen, Education, and Finance - who think that more focus needs to be placed on strengthening the ability of locally elected leaders to effectively manage their towns own fiscal affairs.

To date 200 boards representing over 100 towns and cities across the state have joined in endorsing the Consortium - a bipartisan and grassroots cost-management initiative whose platform focuses on three fiscal reforms that are common to the three legislative agendas of COST, CABE, and CCM. There is strength in numbers as they grow in their ranks and prepare to weigh in against powerful special interests that seem able to run the legislature.

One of their self-defined objectives is to lobby against unfunded mandates, an issue I have spoken about more then once. These mandates put overwhelming strain on local budgets by forcing town leaders to fund items that were created in Hartford.

I asked Scott Kaupin, Enfield’s Republican Council Leader about Enfield joining the Consortium. Here is what Councilman Kaupin had to say:

"By supporting the efforts of the consortium, Enfield joins a growing list of municipal leaders from across the state in this grass-roots lobbying effort. Town Councils, Boards of Selectmen, Boards of Education, and Boards of Finance from over 100 cities and towns are working together to stop costly unfunded state mandates and to seek changes in the binding arbitration and prevailing wage laws. The goal is to return control of municipal budgets to the local elected leaders. Enfield's support of the consortium is an important milestone for the lobbying group and I look forward to working with municipal leaders from across the state on these efforts."

It comes down to the power of numbers in the game of lobbying. The elected official sent to Hartford need to know the burden that “unfunded mandates” have on the local taxpayer.

Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) had this to say about “unfunded mandates.”

“Both state and local officials believe that municipal mandates are a growing problem that must be addressed if Connecticut is to remain a desirable place in which to live and conduct business.
Local officials in Connecticut agree on the most basic aspect of municipal mandates: Fully funded mandates are acceptable, but unfunded and under funded mandates are not.
Partially funded and unfunded mandates are problematic and unfair, because they create significant fiscal and administrative burdens on municipalities. Unbudgeted mandates constantly cause cities and towns to determine whether to increase taxes and fees, or cut programs and services, in order to fund them. Sometimes the local government must do both.
When local taxes rise or programs change, taxpayers often respond by pressing their municipal officials to do a better job of controlling spending. The fact is, local officials are unable to control expenses related to state-mandated legislation. It’s a situation that has led several officials to claim that unfunded and under funded mandates are simply a form of “taxation without representation.”

It comes down to fairness to the taxpayer. When the legislature approves mandates that have no money attached to implement the new directive it causes local town leaders to dig once again in the pockets of property owners.

The Enfield Town Council took a wise step in joining this consortium. It gives the town of Enfield a louder voice in Hartford.

The Enfield Town Council has a tough job ahead in the year 2007, especially with the new evaluation of properties that was just completed. The budget process will take a great amount of work to hold down taxes this year, while continuing the great services we all enjoy.

Joining this group shows that the leadership of Enfield has vision and is willing to do what is necessary to address one of most costly issues called “unfunded mandates”. Not a bad way to begin the new year.
Greg Stokes

ACLU….Here they go again

Enfield School Board is now faced with the decision whether to keep the plan for graduation at First Cathedral or look for another arena.

A few months ago the Enfield Board of Education formed a committee to look at possible sites for the 2007 graduation for Fermi High School. The committee did a great job in researching many possible locations but decided to recommend First Cathedral for many good reasons.

At First Cathedral the graduation would have enough room for all the families and friends to attend. This had to be the top priority and the over 3000 seating at the church proved to be the right choice.

Parking also had to be taken into account and once again First Cathedral fulfilled that need.

Now the ACLU wants to interfere with a local decision and force the graduation somewhere else.

Their reasoning is the fact that the chosen location is a church and promotes one religion over another. They could not be more wrong!

Although First Cathedral is a religious institution the selection was based on the need for seating and parking.

Here are my questions. Is there a chance that people attending the graduation will be converted to that church’s beliefs? Are the people of Enfield so weak in their own faith that walking into First Cathedral will cause spiritual confusion? Will students raised Catholic, Jewish, or even Muslim all of a sudden come to a new awakening that they have been wrong all their lives?

I don’t think so.

All that will happen is that the graduation class of 2007 will walk the platform and receive their much-earned Diplomas. Parents, families, and friends will enjoy the ceremony sitting in comfortable seats and watching their children on the stage and on the close circuit televisions throughout the auditorium.

We will park on sight and if it is raining will not have to relocate or even walk through puddles of water and mud.

It comes down to one thing….location!

So why is the ACLU so upset? Why do they think it is their right to impose their beliefs on our community?

They believe that the founders of our nation thought that any combining of government and religion would be to our detriment. The hold to the false reality that a nation is weakened by even the appearance of promoting faith.

I agree that America should not endorse a certain belief. I also agree that politics should not be promoted in the pulpit.

However, our nation was founded in a belief in God. Our Congress opens with the acknowledgement of His existence with a daily prayer. Our money has inscribed on it “in God we Trust.” In times of war our people are encouraged to seek the wisdom of a power beyond ourselves.

This is not promoting a national religion, but a national agreement that we are better when God is involved in the affairs of men and women.

Having a graduation at a church will not convert people to that faith. It will simply celebrate the hard work of the students and honor them with a ceremony that is held in the best place possible.

The School Board has a choice to make now and it will not be an easy one. The ACLU will cause our district to either drop the idea of graduation at First Cathedral or spend money to defend the choice.

The question is simply is the location they chose the best? If it is then stand by what is best for the graduates and celebrate their achievement at First Cathedral.
Greg Stokes

Mary Lou Strom…First Lady Of Enfield


Mary Lou Strom, our former mayor, died Tuesday December 26 at home surrounded by her family. She was 63.

Mary Lou will be remembered as a town leader, a generous person, and a friend to many of us. She was laid to rest this past Saturday after a very emotional funeral at St. Patrick’s Church in Enfield.

Although this was a sad occasion for her family and friends to attend, it was truly a celebration of a life that affected so many in Enfield, as well as, the entire State of Connecticut.

Mary Lou served as Town Assessor in Granby until her retirement in 1992. It was while she was working there that she won the Massachusetts Megabucks lottery. The amount of money she won would have changed most of us, but Mary Lou never allowed her good fortune to change her, it just brought out her giving nature.

The list of charities, civic groups, and educational organizations are just too many to mention to where Mary Lou had an impact. Whether it was the Forth of July Celebration, the After School program, or a golf outing to raise money to help abused women, Mary Lou was there to assist.

One of the greatest qualities that Mary Lou had was here ability to make even a new acquaintance feel like a close friend. I experienced this eleven years ago when I first arrived in Enfield. Like many I was drawn to her loving smile and genuine appreciation for people.

Others also have had the same experience with Mary Lou. Here is what people had to say about Enfields best friend.

Alice Egan, former town council member, said, “Mary Lou was kind, caring, and compassionate.” Alice also added that “Mary Lou had a gift for politics” and “she believed that every opinion counted.”

Enfield Republican Town Committee Chairwoman, Mary Ann Turner, had these remarks, “Mary Lou was a true asset to the community, and she used her wisdom to guidethings in town for the betterment of all. She will be sorely missed andremembered for years to come, as one of the good ones.

Scott Kaupin, current town council Minority leader said of Mary Lou “"There wasn't one civic organization in town that didn't benefit in some shape or form through Mary Lou," said Scott Kaupin, who served on the town council with Strom, "She had the funds, and she reinvested them back into the community."

State Senator John Kissel remembers Mary Lou for never forgetting her roots and always giving back to her community. Senator Kissel called Mary Lou “selfless, gentle and a woman of the people.” In my conversation with the State Senator he spoke of the special blessing it was to have Mary Lou attend his and Cindy’s wedding and just a few weeks ago to attend his victory celebration as he won another term as our State Senator. “Mary Lou had her finger on the pulse of Enfield, a town she loved dearly” John stated.

Mary Lou is also remembered by the Republican delegation to the United State Congress. Nancy Johnson, a long time friend, shared her thoughts about Enfield’s First Lady. Mary Lou “never lost perspective of being one of the people” Congresswoman Johnson said. She was “inclusive” and “fair” in her approach to government and “she loved politics and defined it as building consensus to better our community.”

Rob Simmons remarked, “when she won the lottery she used it as an opportunity to increase her service to her community.” Congressman Simmons went on to say that she was an example of “civic responsibility and devotion to community.”

However, Republicans were not the only ones that had words of praise for Mary Lou. Enfield Mayor Pat Tallarita called Mary Lou “a model in Public service” and that “Enfield has lost a good and trusted friend.

Former Mayor Bill Vayda stated that Mary Lou “cared deeply for the people of Enfield and always had the town’s interest at heart.” “She did not promote herself and will leave Enfield a better place to live.”

In preparing this article I heard from many who shared how Mary Lou touched their lives. Former councilwoman Carol Hall expressed these thoughts. “It would be difficult, if not impossible, to describe the depth ofloss that I feel at Mary Lou's passing. And, I know I am not alone.In the time that I had the privilege of knowing thisnoble woman, I saw her touch countless lives. She did this in manyways; Personally, Professionally, Financially but always quietly andalways graciously.

Heaven is a brighter place now that Mary Louis home. Hopefully, we can honor her legacy by treating one another asshe treated us and in so doing, keep her memory alive.”

I sat down this afternoon with one of Mary Lou’s dearest friends, Monica Ryan. Monica and Mary Lou had a friendship only God could create. Over the years Mary Lou and Monica would travel together and enjoy some of our world’s most beautiful places. They traveled to Australia, Hawaii, and Bermuda. All that was required was the ocean and their friendship to make the trip complete. Mary Lou even convinced Monica to try parasailing.

Monica added one more word to describe Mary Lou and that word was “fun.” Mary Lou enjoyed life, had fun and loved being around people.

As I prepared to leave Monica shared this final thought. “She, Mary Lou, made everyone feel special because she believed everyone has something special about them.”

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lisa Strom of Enfield; her son, Christian Strom and his wife, Eileen of Portland; and the joys of her life, her grand children, Peter, William, Claire and Teddy. Mary Lou also leaves her brother, Joseph Mistretta and sister-in-law, Gerry; her three sisters, Ann Burnham and husband, Stephen of Stoneham, MA, Margaret Perry and husband, Sherwood of Enfield, Lynn Cade and husband, Keith of Middlefield; and an uncle, Albert Siranni and his wife, Rosalie of Thoms River, NJ; and many nieces, nephews and beloved cousins. One more member of the family that Mary Lou loved was “Crazy Gracie” her dog who Lisa brought home because she was abandoned.

In closing let me say that 2007 will seem a little emptier without Mary Lou Strom.

When the 4th of July rolls around and we are all on the green celebrating our nation and town, the absence of Mary Lou will be felt.

When the Enfield Rotary Club stretches out its banner for a parade, Mary Lou’s presence will be missed walking along side.

When election season comes upon us it will not seem the same without the Mary Lou rooting on her team.

When a year has past and we go to the town green to watch the Christmas tree lighting and sing songs of the season it will seem emptier because Mary Lou is not with us.

But, is she truly gone? Not at all! She will live on in every organization that she contributed to, every public servant she mentored, and every friend she made. Enfield is filled with the touch of Mary Lou, a town she loved and a community she made better.

Jason Jones summed it up by saying "She was my Friend." Jason, she was a friend to all of us. Mary Lou....we love you!

Greg Stokes