by Frank Schroth
At the 12/21 Board of Selectmen’s meeting, Linda Palmer, President of the Milton Animal League shared with the board a letter she had received from Cody & Cody, the law firm retained by the Copeland Family Foundation. Christmas came a little early to the league in the form of a grant from the foundation of $1,000,000 to fund the building of a new shelter on the Governor Stoughton land.
The full text of the letter, which can be found below, demonstrates that good things can happen to good people. The league is a band of folks who work tirelessly on behalf of animals that for whatever reason have no home. Their facility is in terrible repair and they have been fundraising for some time to collect the capital needed to build a new structure.
The town recently entered into an agreement with Pulte Homes for the Stoughton land. However, Pulte agreed to leave 4 acres of the parcel which currently contains the animal shelter and other structures to the town. The Copeland grant is contingent on the structure being on the Stoughton land.
The original budget the shelter developed for a building was more than a million. Palmer noted that they would scale back the facility but M.s Barsani noted that this would mean reduced office and meeting space and would not adversely impact state of the art requirements that would ensure noise reduction and control of odors. Pulte stipulated that the new structure be “state of the art.”
Chairman Sweeney sought to make a motion to put the shelter on the probate request; but Shields and Hurley expressed concern on that. They did not want to jeopardize the request as it stands and put it at risk. They agreed to consult with town counsel regarding including this in the request.
In announcing the grant Ms. Palmer stated that the Animal League was “ecstatic and grateful. Chairman Sweeney remarked that it was an “amazing gift” and “a blessing to the town . . . Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.”
Here is the letter sent to Ms. Palmer:
Dear Ms. Palmer:
As you know, our firm represents the Copeland Family foundation, Inc. The Foundation has recently voted to grant the sum of $1,000,000 to the Milton Animal League to fund the construction of a new animal shelter on the Governor Stoughton Trust property. The Foundation will make its grant within 30 days of the award of the contract for construction by the Milton Animal League.
This project is of particular importance, as the Copeland Family has always been committed to the protection of animals. The Foundation’s grant will enable the Milton Animal League to provide a permanent, state of the art facility to shelter and care for Milton’s homeless animals. The Copeland Family Foundation is proud to be a part of this exciting and worthy endeavor.
Sincerely,
Michael T. Cody, Esquire, CPA
Cody & Cody, LLC