Enfield police, EMS open houses set before referendum

Oct. 20—ENFIELD — The police and emergency medical services departments will each host an open house and guided tour of their facilities for residents who have questions about the Nov. 8 referendum on the proposed expanded public safety complex.

The open houses are scheduled for Nov. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Voters will be asked on Election Day whether to expand the current police station into a regional public safety complex that would allow police and emergency medical service training with nearby departments, which officials say is much-needed space.

The ballot question will ask whether to appropriate $15.1 million for building an addition to the town's public safety complex to provide space for the emergency medical services and police departments, and authorize going to bond for no more than the town's portion of $2.3 million. The remaining $12.8 million would be funded by the state, at 84% of the entire price.

The State Bond Commission approved $12.8 million for the expansion but the town has to approve the proposed project at referendum before the funds will be allocated. Should the proposal fail at referendum, the state money will go to another community.

The proposed expansion failed at referendum last November by a vote of 4,451 to 2,958.

At the time, former Town Manager Christopher Bromson said he didn't think residents had enough information about the expansion, and many may have assumed that they were being asked to pay the full cost of the project.

This past August, the town released videos of police and emergency medical staff talking about their buildings and the need for an expanded complex.

For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.