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Budget board backs buyout offer for Blue Street flood-prone properties; town to cover 25% of estimated $2.8M cost
Summary
The board approved allocating $700,000 — 25% of a $2.8 million estimated acquisition package — toward a grant-funded buyout of repeatedly flooded Blue Street properties, with the town to fund its share from the open-space capital fund.
The Lincoln Budget Board voted to move forward with a municipal contribution toward a multi-property buyout on Blue Street, authorizing a $700,000 town share as the local (25%) match to a grant-funded program that totals approximately $2.8 million.
Board members described the stretch of Blue Street as repeatedly flooded and said the administration’s estimate for acquisition of the affected parcels was $2.8 million, with the town responsible for a 25 percent local match. Members discussed fund-source options and agreed to treat the town contribution as capital expenditure eligible for the town’s open-space capital fund (Fund 11). A motion to fund the $700,000 from Fund 11 passed by voice vote; the transcript shows an approving vote without a roll-call tally.
Board members debated the buyout approach and the practicalities of persuading multiple property owners to participate: the board heard that the program requires either unanimous agreement among the targeted parcel owners or the offer otherwise cannot proceed. Members said the buyout would convert acquired properties to open space (pond, trail, or similar), and that the town’s plan would be written so the total project cost and the town match are explicit in a future resolution.
Some members said the buyout merited prioritization because of recurring flood damage and the opportunity to leverage outside grant funding for the majority of the cost. Concerns expressed in the discussion included how to structure an offer if a single owner declines and how to handle a vacant parcel owner seeking a higher price.
The board additionally flagged the flood-study funding proposals as complementary to property acquisitions and said it will track available fund balances in the capital and open-space funds before approving further projects.
With the vote, the board directed staff to prepare the formal resolution and to confirm grant conditions and the proposed fund appropriation language for a subsequent meeting and final authorization.
