Trumbull Councilwoman Thankful for Land Transfer

To the Editor:

As a member of the Trumbull Town Council from the new District 4, I
would like to take this opportunity to thank our First Selectman and
his administration for their collective efforts in negotiating a final
resolution to the land transfer agreement with the City of Bridgeport.
The end resolution has proved beneficial to the taxpayers of Trumbull
as we secure an appreciable asset that will add immeasurable value to
our renowned park system.  More than three years ago, the City of
Bridgeport sought to build a magnet school on state owned property that
happened to be located within the territorial confines of the Town of
Trumbull.  The magnet school that was proposed would have primarily
benefited the City of Bridgeport, with the State of Connecticut
covering more than 95% of the construction costs.  Without the land
transfer being approved, the Town of Trumbull would have incurred
substantial cost with respect to police, fire and EMS.  In addition,
there was a legitimate question concerning the issue of liability - -
whose responsibility would the school really be?

The land transfer negotiated by the Herbst administration addressed
all of these issues.  Originally, the Town negotiated for 20 acres of
property but ultimately secured 40 acres and building facilities that
will be utilized by the Trumbull Parks Department.  This parcel will
be located along the regional Rails to Trails, the Town’s greatest
natural resource that is used by almost 6,000 residents on a weekly
basis to walk, run and bicycle.  Further, by negotiating the land
transfer, all issues of secondary liability to the Town of Trumbull
(and the concurrent cost to Trumbull taxpayers) is eliminated by the
fact that the school is now in the city limits of Bridgeport.  And, if
any of our students choose to enroll in the magnet school, we will
still have an adequate number of allocated seats to allow them to do
so.

As a wife, mother of three and former PTA president, what made me and
my husband move to Trumbull was the strong quality of life and strong
school system.  Trumbull's quality of life is truly defined by our
park system.  We have more open space per capita of any other
community of similar size in the state of Connecticut and the efforts
of the Herbst administration to secure an additional 40 acres of open
space only enhances our already stellar reputation.  40 acres of open
space valued at anywhere from $8,000,000-$9,000,000, that will go to
the Town of Trumbull for the next 75 years for the bargain price of
$1.00 total is, in my opinion, an excellent deal for our Town.  My
sincere thanks to Tim Herbst and his administration in holding firm at
the bargaining table and negotiating a land transfer that will
positively benefit the Town of Trumbull for generations to come.

Ann Marie Evangelista