Herbst Pitches Community Center as Smart Investment

TRUMBULL, CT —First Selectman Tim Herbst pitched the proposed community center as a long-term investment that would free-up the town to sell other properties and increase the tax roll.

“Some in the community have raised the question of whether such a project should go forward given the fiscal challenges of our State and the implications locally,” Herbst said. "I maintain that borrowing remains at record low levels and communities that are well managed and fiscally stable cannot stop investing in their future.”

Trumbull stands to effectively lose $5.6 million due to changes in state funding and a proposal for towns to fund one-third of teacher pensions.

The Community Center Building Committee voted to recommend the recently-acquired Church Hill Road site for the center.

A traffic study review has to be done by the Police Commission and the project would also need Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council approval. If bonding for the project is more than $15 million it will be put to a referendum. If it is less then the Board of Finance and Town Council will approve funding.

Three other facilities would be largely vacated if the project goes through, including the senior center on Priscilla Place. The town is also considering relocating the nature center on Route 25 and opening it up for private development.

The town is also looking into what to do with the Board of Education Administrative Building on Main Street as staff and town officials are considering moving the central offices. The Board of Education Facilities Department will move into the new Public Works building soon.

Trumbull Democrats expressed concern about moving Board of Education offices.

"This is another land use issue about which the town has an obligation to be open and up front with Trumbull residents," Trumbull Democrats said in a statement.

Herbst predicted that the town could get between $8.5 and $9.5 million or more to sell six town properties including the senior center, VFW Hall and nature center. Annual tax revenues could grow by $600,000.

Read Herbst’s full letter to the community below.