Editor’s note: The below article has been modified following comments from Town Council President Donald Fox. Although the existence of the second trust was not explicitly mentioned at the April 10 meeting, a public trust was technically created 25 years ago with enabling legislation, but has never been active.
BURRILLVILLE – One month after an effort to strip the Burrillville Land Trust of its tax-exempt status died in a split vote before the Town Council, a new initiative is underway to explore the idea of activating a second publicly-run land trust created decades ago.
Councilor Stephen Rawson proposed sending the idea of formation of the Burrillville Land Conservancy to the town’s Ordinance Subcommittee at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, April 10 as listed on the agenda.
“There are many towns that have multiple land trusts within their jurisdiction,” said Rawson. “This isn’t anything new.”
The effort follows a separate initiative proposed by Council President Don Fox to strip the group, a private trust now in its 25th year, of tax exempt status. Members and supporters of the volunteer organization voiced opposition to that plan in March, which came in reaction to the trust’s alleged involvement in resident Roberta Lacey’s lawsuit against the town.
Lacey, who serves as co-vice president of the trust, obtained a restraining order halting installation of a synthetic turf field at Burrillville High School last fall in a suit that remains ongoing. Fox’s proposal ultimately died in a 4-3 vote.
The active private nonprofit land trust, which aims to preserve and protect the rural character of Burrillville through education, advocacy and acquisition, currently manages 14 properties in Burrillville totaling 291 acres, including ten in the Farm, Forest and Open Space program.
According to Rawson, that Burrillville Land Trust could continue to operate, while the separate, public Burrillville Land Conservancy could formally go into use – and might be eligible for other forms of funding.
“There’s no reason we can’t work another one in, in the town of Burrillville,” he said, pointing to the Glocester Land Trust as an example of a successful public trust. “They have the advantage of a private land trust due to the fact that their funding is given to them by the town in different ways. They’re a good example to follow.”
But Town Manager Michael Wood questioned if it would be constructive to have a public trust competing with a private one for the same objectives. Wood noted he was serving as town manager when the authority to establish a public land trust was created 25 years ago. The legislation, passed in 2000 by the General Assembly, dictates that management, administration and organization of the trust shall take place by ordinance adopted by the Town Council, and trustees shall be electors of the town.
The council, it states, shall have the authority to change or modify the public trust’s rules and regulations, and all of the group’s revenue, income and property will be used for public purposes.
That act refers to the public group as the “Burrillville Land Trust.”
But around the same time, a private trust formed in Burrillville and used that same name.
“Because the private group formed itself we decided not to pursue this at the time, so now it’s just a matter of what’s happened over the years, and whether or not you want to pursue the avenue that Steve is recommending,” Wood said. “I still don’t think its in our interest to compete for the same resources.”
Rawson argued that two trusts could eventually work together on combined projects.
“The preservation of Burrillville is of the utmost importance and we really should look into that,” Rawson said. “We’re not taking the place of anything. We’re all neighbors here.”
Rawson said the Ordinance Subcommittee will rely on state law and guidance from Town Solicitor William Demetri, and will look at other towns’ ordinances to craft a proposal. The council, he noted, will still get a chance to approve or deny their plan.
“We did a 20 plus year experiment with the private land trust,” he said. “I think the public land trust would be open to more funding that they probably can’t get.”
The council voted unanimously to send the topic to the Ordinance Subcommittee.
Asked to comment on the initiative, Land Trust President Paul Roselli responded with a letter citing all that the organization has done for the community, and the respect and recognition the trust has garnered across the state.
Seems like if the private land trust is already doing a great job in preserving and saving open space, the Town should let it be. As a resident of Burrillville, I say let it be.
I also say it’s time for the Town council to listen to those opposed to the artificial turf, and find another way. Even a small amount of PFAS over time will do more harm than good.
AMEN Judy and Larry!!!
While some towns in Rhode Island do have multiple land trusts they are focused on a part of the town, not the entire town. For example the Narrow River Land Trust in Narragansett works to preserve land in that watershed, not the entire town. As for a municipal land trust being eligible for funding that a private non-profit could not get I can’t think of an example, in fact some federal money is not available to municipal land trusts. Reference is made to the Glocester Land Trust which is a municipal land trust and was established by state law to be semi autonomous and not under the direct control of the Town Council. That was done to keep town politics and political influence out of land preservation decisions. By the town charter the Glocester Land Trust receives 75% of the towns portion of the Real Estate Conveyance Tax. The Foster Land Trust has a similar funding arrangement.
The Burrillville ordinance creates a land trust that is completely under town control and that can lead to the problems I alluded to.
Remember all this next election. Vote accordingly.
Maybe the Burrillville town council should focus their efforts on fixing the town’s failing dams and the school system’s impending financial disaster.
Instead they are taking out loan after loan to pay for broken stuff, covering up for the financial folly of a field whose money could have better spent elsewhere, and now they are trying to attack then burrillville land trust to try and get back at them.
Pathetic humans in town council, all of them