Town Council Approves $4,448 Donation to Joshua's Trust

At Tuesday’s meeting, the town council approved a payment of $4,448 to the Joshua’s Tract Conservation & Historic Trust, Inc. to maintain a parcel of open space, even though the town has not, and most likely never will, own the land, which is associated with the “Lemek Acres” subdivision. 

According to the agenda, Joshua’s Trust came to the town council for money after taking possession of the land and learning that the owner chose to not pay a donation. While open space land is generally given to the town, the “Lemek Acres” owner decided to entrust the land to Joshua’s Trust.

According to the town council agenda, Joshua’s Trust is required to receive a certain amount of capital when taking on donated land, in order to meet the standards of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

Tolland Conservation Corps head steward Ken Hankinson expressed frustration that the hefty donation will be placed in a large, communal fund at the trust, as opposed to being set aside for the maintenance of the Lemek open space property.

“It could have been earmarked for that property,” he said. “I think they [the council] could have gotten more bang for their buck.” Hankinson said he has reasonable knowledge of how Joshua’s Trust finances work, since he said that he has also been a member of that organization for 14 years.

Hankinson went on to say that the Tolland Conservation Corp, which is group of volunteer land stewards supervised by the Tolland Conservation Commission, has been maintaining the commission’s 637 acres using only $1,670 in funds since 2004. The Lemek open space property consists of just less than 27 acres, according to the agenda.

Joshua’s Trust member John Pagini assured the council that the town’s money would ensure the property’s protection and maintenance for years to come.

“If there were to be a problem,” he said, “we would go to this one stewardship fund to remedy the situation. This is a one-time installment that will ensure the perpetual maintenance of the property.”

Several town council members did not support the donation. Council member Craig Nussbaum said that he did not understand why the town should pay for land it never owned.

“The town is not the donor of this land,” he said. “Joshua’s Trust is coming to the wrong entity.”

Nussbaum also said that the issue brings his attention to funding the Conservation Commission, which has a significantly smaller budget.

“We fund the commission about $250 a year for all of their properties,” he said. “That might be my biggest concern.”

Other council members pointed out that town residents would still have access to the property and enjoy the natural beauty that Joshua’s Trust will be maintaining.

“We are benefitting from having that piece of property in the town,” Vice-chairperson MaryAnn Delaney Tuttle said. She went on to say that two ground-breeding species of concern can be found on the property.

The town council decided to approve the $4,448 donation, with two members opposed.

The council also approved an application for a $2.5 million Surface Transportation Program grant that would be used redesign the Tolland Green roads. It approved a bid waiver to sign a contract with Willimantic Waste Paper Company, Inc. for solid waste disposal.

The town also held a public hearing on and approved a resolution for buying an excavator so the town could save money and avoid contracting heavy equipment for certain jobs.

The next town council meeting will take place on September 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the Hicks Memorial Municipal Building.