The Rangely selectboard voted to begin closing on 50 Pleasant Street, contingent on a positive title search and completion of an environmental review, and authorized up to $6,000 from the town contingency fund for a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.

The motion, made after an executive session, directed staff to expend up to $6,000 from the contingency line of town meeting Article B16 to start the ESA and to proceed with closing if title results are favorable. The vote was recorded in open session as passing by a 4–1 margin.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment and board discussion focused on possible soil and groundwater contamination related to a previously reported oil spill. Local commenters and at least one selectboard member urged caution. Chris, a public commenter, pressed the board to secure environmental protections before purchase, saying the town had “no knowledge of how that can go” and urging the board to require indemnity or a b-wrap before closing.

Board members who supported the purchase argued the lot is strategically located and that the adjacent parcel had been donated to the town, while those urging caution cited uncertainty about how far contaminant residues may have migrated into soils and sewer lines. One participant summarized technical concerns: tests such as Phase I/II assessments or a ‘‘b-wrap’’ (an indemnity mechanism) could quantify liability and limit the town’s exposure.

According to staff, the diligence period and title search are in progress; the motion conditions the purchase on a positive title result and the completion of the ESA funding. The board said it would take any further contract negotiations or follow-up work in executive session where appropriate under MRSA provisions for real‑property acquisition.

Next steps: staff will commission the Phase I ESA and report back to the board with the title search results and the consultant’s findings before any final closing. Any additional remediation needs or budget requests would be brought to a future meeting.