CABOT — At the February 18 meeting of the Cabot Select Board, Gary Gulka updated the board on the progress of the Cabot Garage buyout. He reminded the board a grant will finance the buyout, and if the owner agrees, the town will become the owner of the property.
Gulka said the property will go through environmental site inspection to reduce the liability. He suggested the town go through the Brown Site program, for which he has filled out the application. The application fee of $500 is covered by the grant.
He noted that there were underground storage tanks, and the state had required monitoring wells. He cautioned that once further inspection is done, other things might be found. He said the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would make a determination from the sampling if any cleanup was warranted before demolition goes forward.
Select board member Mike Hogan states the reason for buying the building was to facilitate replacing the culvert with a bridge. Board member R.D. Eno said the board is in discussion with Greg Moore, the owner, and want him to be included in the relocation site selection, as well as the architectural design process. Eno said the board has an appraisal of the property, and added that if Moore is to be relocated in the village, he will have to make an investment, along with whatever financial help the town can provide. He said the buyout grant has a time limit: demolition has to be completed by March 2026. He said that unless the town can guarantee Moore a continuity of business, he is not going to accept the buyout, or he might take his business elsewhere.
Gulka said the grant will pay Moore the appraised value of the garage, $160,000. He added that they have the funds to demolish it and to turn it into a green space, but does not cover relocation of the business. Board member Karen Larson noted the town would probably have to fund the relocation planning.
Eno said the board is looking at nine different possible relocation sites, but there is no guarantee that any will be suitable, large enough, environmentally sound, or even if they could acquire them.
At the March 11 select board meeting, Gulka returned with a contract recommendation for the phase 1 assessment of the Cabot Garage site. He told the board they received five bids, and he had a draft contract for the winning bidder. He told the board they were hoping the work would be completed by May 15, with assurances from the contractor it probably will be completed before April 30. He added that the firm has extensive experience in environmental site assessments. The board approved the contract.
