Legislators Express Disappointment With State Facility Closings In Enfield

A trio of state legislators representing Enfield joined with Mayor Scott Kaupin in expressing disappointment and concern over the imminent closing of three state facilities in town.

Sen. John Kissel emailed Enfield Patch Friday with information that Enfield Superior Court is "definitely on the closure list." That disclosure came on the heels of recent announcements that the Enfield Correctional Institution and the Enfield office of the Department of Motor Vehicles would also be closing their doors, as part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's plan to reduce the budget deficit by $1.6 billion.

“In less than a week, the Malloy administration has announced the closing of three of our major state facilities: Enfield Correctional Institution, the Enfield DMV, and the Enfield Courthouse," Kissel said.  "The shuttering of these facilities comes as a one, two, three punch to our part of the state and will no doubt have a negative impact on our local economy.  I trust that Enfield is not the only area of the state taking these multiple targeted hits, but these closures will certainly make taxpayers’ lives even more difficult here in north central Connecticut.”

Rep. Kathy Tallarita said, "It’s crippling to our community as well as surrounding towns and our good neighbors in bordering Massachusetts. Closing Enfield’s DMV office will make transactions slower, longer and probably more costly. Connecticut residents will now face longer lines, longer waits, longer commutes equating to more traffic on our roads and highways. I certainly hope the Department is looking at ways to make online DMV transactions more efficient and user friendly, as well as the possibility of utilizing AAA with greater capacity as other states do."

"My first concern has been and will continue to be public safety," said Rep. David Kiner, whose district includes the corrrectional facilities. "Our residents must be protected regardless of cost, and I think many in my district would agree that the close relationship between the prisons and the town has certainly added to a sense of a safe community. 

"But while we try and solve the budget crisis, we need to take a hard look at how our decisions will affect our state's economy," Kiner continued. "I cannot justify closing the DMV in Enfield, a town with so many businesses that depend on the services that the DMV provides.  By closing this DMV, the nearest alternative for my constituents and for these businesses would now be Wethersfield.  That's over 50 miles and an hour round trip - and that's before you stand in line!"

"My initial reaction is a sense that Enfield and north central Connecticut are being dumped on," Kaupin said. "There has been speculation about the prison all along, considering its condition and what needs to be done to bring it up to par. Closing the DMV and the court building seems to be more than just a "shared sacrifice." I'm starting to wonder if Gov. Malloy thinks Enfield is in Massachusetts."

Kaupin said he wasn't sure, but believes there will be no cut to local funding this year. "We'll have to see about next year," he said.

The DMV issued a release Friday afternoon stating that the Enfield office would close by August 11, as will offices in Old Saybrook, New Britain and Danbury. The Putnam satellite office and photo license centers in Derby, Middletown and Milford will also close by that date.

Enfield Correctional Institution is slated to shut down by October. No timetable has been announced for the closing of the court building.

Manchester will also be affected by the cuts, as Malloy's plan would close the Manchester Armory and transfer any units stationed there to a newly constructed readiness center in Middletown. The closing is estimated to save the state $32,560.