Malloy Signs Bill Preserving Southbury Training School Farmland

With the sound of tractors in the air and the rolling hills of the Southbury Training School behind him, Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed a bill that will preserve one of the largest parcels of farmland in state history.

Malloy, joined by state and local officials, held a bill signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon in Southbury to celebrate the final approval of legislation that will preserve the state-owned farmland at the Southbury Training School solely for agriculture purposes. 

The legislation allows the Department of Developmental Services to focus specifically on assisting individuals in the service system, and transfers the responsibility of the parcel to the Department of Agriculture, which Malloy said can better preserve the mission of the farmland.

Malloy thanked State Representative Arthur O’Neill for guiding the legislation through the general assembly and Southbury First Selectman Ed Edelson for his consistent work on behalf of the town and its overwhelming desire to preserve the parcel.

“The First Selectman has been a strong advocate on behalf of this land,” said Malloy. “He’s been passionate about it and is responsible for getting us to where we are today, and I thank him for his time and attention.”

Edelson said he first spoke with Malloy in 2006 about the importance of preserving the farmland. When they spoke again following Edelson’s appointment to Southbury’s top office in 2011 he said the Governor still remembered his commitment to the town and the training school.

“The governor and the whole executive branch kept me involved throughout this entire process and always kept the town’s interest at the top of their mind,” said Edelson.