Wayne select board moves to commission appraisal, warns of cost to retain 100 Acre Wood

The Town of Wayne select board on June 24 authorized the town manager to solicit proposals from licensed real‑estate appraisers to produce a market appraisal of the foreclosed “100 Acre Wood” property, a step officials said is needed to calculate the amount the town would have to pay prior owners if it retains the parcel for conservation.

The appraisal is “the first step” to determine the town’s financial exposure under recent changes in state law and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that officials said limit a municipality’s ability to retain excess proceeds from tax‑foreclosed property. Town select board member Henry, summarizing legal background, said, “I believe it’s around a $140,000, with interest,” when asked about the current tax and interest total associated with the parcel.

Why it matters: Wayne voters in 2019 passed a warrant article directing the select board to manage the tract for long‑term conservation and recreation. Under the law described to the board, if the town keeps a tax‑acquired property for a…