Tolland Legislators Issue Joint Statement Calling for Halt to Deal to Bring Juvenile Detention Center to Tolland

HARTFORD – State Representative Tammy Nuccio, Senator Jeff Gordon, and Rep. Tim Ackert issued the following statement in response to a proposal to open a juvenile detention center in Tolland.

“Tolland will not be railroaded. We are unequivocally opposed to the proposed placement of a juvenile detention facility in the currently proposed location in our community. It is our understanding that the purchase agreement for this property has not yet been signed, and it must not be signed. Moving forward under these circumstances would be reckless and a complete disrespect to the community.

Judicial officials have described this proposal as the result of a ‘multi-year’ search. If that is true, there was more than enough time to properly inform local officials, legislators, and the public before moving toward a major purchase. Instead, residents and town leaders first learned about this proposal this week, a complete failure of transparency and accountability.

The Judicial Branch has admitted that communication ‘was not as strong as we would have wished.’ That is a massive understatement. The reality is that the state advanced a proposal of enormous consequence without consulting the people most affected. There were no public hearings, no information relayed, no details given in advance. This lack of transparency has caused confusion and alarm in Tolland, and residents are outraged that they were completely left out of the process.

We demand that the Governor and the Office of Policy and Management immediately halt any action on this purchase. Until a fully transparent process takes place, including direct meetings with town officials, legislators, and residents, this agreement should not move forward.

Tolland residents deserve better than backroom deals and last-minute press notices. Their voices, their concerns, and their rights as a community must be respected. We will continue to fight to ensure that any proposal affecting Tolland is handled openly, responsibly, and with the seriousness it deserves.”