ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL

MINUTES OF A GOAL SETTING MEETING

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2008

A Goal Setting Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairman Kaupin in the Training Room at Asnuntuck Community College, 170 Elm Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Saturday, January 12, 2008. Chairman Kaupin called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

ROLL-CALL – Present were Councilmen Bosco, Crowley, Dumont, Edgar, Jones, Kaupin, Kiner, Lee, Mangini and Nelson. Councilman Ragno entered at 9:05 a.m. Also present were Town Manager, Matthew Coppler; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Director of Public Safety, Christopher Bromson; Director of Social Services, Pamela Brown; Director of Libraries, Henry Dutcher; Director of Planning, Jose Giner; EMS Director, Art Groux; Director of Human Resources, William Mahoney; Director of Finance, Lynn Nenni; Director of Public Works, Piya Hawkes; Chief Technology Officer, Paul Russell; Chief of Police, Carl Sferrazza; Sr. Assistant Town Attorney, Elsden; Director of Economic Development, Ray Warren

The Facilitator for this goal setting meeting was Rod Brook, in partnership with Asnuntuck Community College.

GOAL SETTING

After several hours of discussion, the Town Council arrived at the following list of goals:

GOAL: DEVELOP NEW REVENUE STREAMS TO OFFSET THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES

Examples:

• Surplus auction
• Pay-for-use model – WPC
• Landfill fees
• Social Services Department fees – self-supporting
• Review sell off – Town properties
• Investigate grant funding sources:

State/Federal grants

Energy savings

Thompsonville renewal

• State and Federal lobbying and legislative efforts

GOAL: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE HIGGINS BUILDING THAT WILL MAKE IT A POSITIVE ASSET FOR THE TOWN OF ENFIELD

• Stabilize in 2008
• Determine use (public vs private)

• Public plan to referendum 2008
• Private – plan to sell

GOAL: DEVELOP SHORT AND LONG-RANGE STRATEGY FOR TOWN FACILITIES

• Immediate Needs

HVAC, Pearl Street Library, 2008

Parks

Building Security

• Long Term (Long Range Plan)

Community Center/Swimming Pool/Library

Regional Public Safety

GOAL: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TOWN-WIDE COMPREHENSIVE TECHNOLOGY. USE STRATEGY TO ENHANCE SERVICES AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OPERATION

Short Term by 2010

• Update Communications System

Radio System EPD

Town-wide communications

EMS, Schools, BOE, Fire, etc.

• Replace Town Financial System

Payroll/HRIS

• Develop Information Technology Plan

Tracking of application and permit

GOAL: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT CREATES A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR GROWTH OF THE TOWN’S COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

• Industrial, Businesses, Recreational

Gateway Train Station

Route 5

CT River Park Area

GOAL: DEVELOP STRATEGY THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFFORDABLE OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING

GOAL: DEVELOP A RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN THAT PRESERVES COMMUNITY’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROVIDES FOR GREATER RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS

• Scantic River Park
• Suffield Hike and Bike Trail
• Community Health and Wellness Programs
• Community Center
• Regional Sports Complex

GOAL: IMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THE THOMPSONVILLE REVITALIZATION STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE A SUSTAINABLE AND LIVABLE COMMUNITY

• Open Market
• Parking
• Train Station
• Higgins
• Strand

GOAL: CREATE A CUSTOMER-CENTRIC TOWN HALL OPERATION THAT PROVIDES A POSITIVE AND COST-EFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES

• Design a “one-stop” development service center

Forms, guidelines online

• Limited evening hours for Town Hall services

Create a customer-centric Town Hall (Continued)

• Use the Town’s website and TV-16 to deliver information and facilitate services

Internal and external users

• Define customer service performance criteria. Measure and act upon results.

GOAL: COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS OPERATION TO CREATE HIGHER OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES AND PERFORMANCE AND PROVIDE FOR A GREATER IN-HOUSE ABILITY TO COMPLETE NECESSARY PROJECTS

• TO (Table of Org)
• Capital planning
• Recycling
• In-house services (Engineering, etc.)
• Town vehicle replacement program/fleet management

GOAL: DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A BUDGETING PROCESS THAT ASSURES RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS OF NECESSARY SERVICES WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

• Zero-based budget
• Two-year plan Dept/Council
• Performance based budget
• Lower competitive bid amount

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Councilman Mangini and seconded by Councilman Lee to adjourn.

Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote, the motion was passed unanimously, and the Goal Setting meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.