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ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING
JANUARY 5, 2004
A Public Hearing of the Enfield Town Council was held on Monday, January 5, 2004 in the Council Chambers of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut. Chairman Tallarita called the Hearing to order at 7:35 p.m.
ROLL-CALL - Present were Councilmen Crowley, Dodd, Edgar, Egan, Fiore, Kaupin, Mangini, Peruta, Tait and Tallarita. Councilman Reveruzzi was absent. Also present were Town Manager, Scott Shanley; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Senior Assistant Town Attorney, Maria Stavropoulos; Director of Planning & Community Development, Jose Giner
Chairman Tallarita read the notice of Public Hearing which was published in the Journal Inquirer on Friday, December 26, 2003 as follows:
TOWN OF ENFIELD
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC HEARING
JANUARY 5, 2004
The Enfield Town Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Enfield Town Hall Council Chambers, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, January 5, 2004 at 7:15 p.m. to allow interested citizens an opportunity to express their opinions regarding proposed commercial vehicle ordinance. Copies of the ordinance are available for public inspection in the office of the Town Clerk, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chairman Tallarita then announced the ground rules for the Public Hearing.
Patrick Colca, 70 Fairview Avenue
Stated that although the truck he had a problem with parking on his street has not returned in about four months, Enfield still is open to this practice by tractor trailer trucks. He stated his belief this is an unsafe practice and opens the town to liability. He added this practice also cheapens the town. He stated the town has to take action regarding this issue.
John Mihalick, 30 Litchfield Drive
Stated he has two tractor trailers which he houses at Enfield Builders. He noted he does not have water or electricity at Enfield Builders, therefore, he occasionally brings his truck to his home on a Saturday to clean it. He pointed out he does not keep it at his house all night. He referred to Zoning Law 11-67c and noted it's legal to park it at his home during normal business hours.
Mr. Mihalick questioned if it becomes illegal to take his truck home, will he be compensated for something that's being taken away from his business.
Jack Sheridan, 7 Buchanan Road
Stated his belief the word, "highway" needs to be defined.
Mary Ann Turner, 7 Meadow Road
Agreed the word, "highway" needs to be defined. She stated a 14' box truck has been parked on her street for almost 60 days, and this ordinance will address that issue. She questioned how soon this ordinance would go into action if passed. She feels a $50 fine may be a little low.
Donald Christmas, 25 Lincoln Street
Noted there are a lot of "no parking" signs in Thompsonville. He questioned where people in Thompsonville can park their trucks.
Margaret Jedziniak, 232 Abbe Road
Voiced her concern about the tractor training school in Somers using Enfield's streets to train drivers. She added her belief this is just as dangerous as tractor trailer trucks parking on streets.
John Petrucelli, 36 Litchfield Drive
Noted his neighbor's truck isn't parked just two hours in front of his home, but rather it can be parked there from four to seven hours. He went on to note he contacted the surrounding towns - Windsor Locks, Suffield, Somers, Ellington, and Windsor and spoke with a person in the zoning department. He pointed out tractor trailers cannot be garaged in the driveway or in the street in Windsor Locks; tractor trailers are not allowed to be parked anywhere in a residential area, driveway or street in Suffield or Somers. In Ellington they have no prohibition on the books, however, when a complaint comes in about a tractor trailer, it goes to the Public Works Department and they simply tell the owner to move the truck. He stated in Windsor tractor trailers are allowed to park one hour only and only if it's making a delivery.
Patrick Colca, 70 Fairview Avenue
Stated although Enfield is termed a blue collar town, there are homes selling for $200,000 and $300,000. He feels it's discriminating to allow tractor trailers to park on his street if his street is considered a blue collar street.
Mr. Colca stated if there is an accident as a result of a tractor trailer parking on a residential street, the truck driver or his company could be put out of business as a result of a lawsuit, and the Town could suffer tremendously as a result of such a lawsuit.
John Mihalick, 30 Litchfield Drive
Stated there are laws on the books concerning trucks causing a visibility problem. He disagreed he has his truck parked in front of his home for prolonged periods. He pointed out he hasn't brought his truck home in two to three weeks. He noted his truck has only been there during daylight hours and only for the purpose of cleaning out the truck.
As no others wished to speak, Chairman Tallarita closed the Public Hearing at 7:52 p.m.
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