Castle Hill Municipal Officers direct manager to continue right-of-way easement talks after public plea

The Castle Hill Municipal Officers on Feb. 12 directed Town Manager Sandra Fournier to continue negotiations with the town's legal representative on a right-of-way easement with property owners Andrew Dugan and Shawn Pelletier.

Rick Solomon and Andrew Dugan addressed the Officers during old-business public comment, arguing the town should not take the road that runs across Dugan and Pelletier property by eminent domain and should instead accept an easement to preserve access for timber operations by consultant Prentiss & Carlisle. Solomon said the requested easement would allow continued access to wood lots while avoiding a condemnation process.

The board entered executive session under MRSA 405(6)(E) at 8:15 p.m. and emerged at 8:44 p.m. After the session, Shari Cheney moved that the Town Manager continue negotiations with the town's legal representative on a right-of-way easement option with Andrew Dugan and Shawn Pelletier; Scott Cheney seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

The minutes record that the road is used to access wood lots managed by Prentiss & Carlisle, and that public participants asked the Municipal Officers to prefer an easement over eminent domain. The action taken — continued negotiation rather than immediate condemnation or formal acceptance of an easement — leaves the dispute unresolved pending further legal work and any agreement reached by the parties.

Next steps recorded in the minutes: the Town Manager will continue negotiations with legal counsel and the property owners; no timetable or deadline for a final agreement was recorded.