Town staff told the Select Board that the condemnation matter for 73 North Main Street was resolved at the eleventh hour after negotiations between the state and the property owner. The town manager reported that "the state ended up granting the property owner, pretty much the amount they were asking for in the tune of 30 I don't know. So around 37,000 is near it," and said the state justified the increase by factoring in business losses and sign relocation and storage costs.

The manager said VTrans (Vermont Agency of Transportation) can now finalize construction plans and put the project out to bid on schedule. Gary LaRoche, the project engineer from VTrans, plans to present final construction plans and a revised cost estimate to the Select Board at the next meeting.

Board members and staff noted the state was reluctant to agree to the higher payment because it did not want to create a precedent; federal oversight for projects using federal funds requires detailed justification. The manager said the settlement removed a key obstacle so VTrans can proceed with bidding and scheduling.

Why it matters: The settlement clears the way for the highway project to move forward, letting VTrans finalize designs and advertise for construction contracts. The raised compensation to the property owner affects the project's final cost estimate that will be presented to the board.

Background: The condemnation hearing that had been scheduled was not held because a resolution was reached; the manager said he learned of the agreement late in the process. VTrans must still present a revised cost estimate, which the manager cautioned will likely be higher than earlier figures.

Next steps: VTrans will present final plans and a revised cost estimate to the Select Board at the next meeting.