Dudley selectmen wrangle with resident over land taking for road near Nichols College
“Selectmen Monday night formally accepted 23 donated construction easements and took by eminent domain a 24th property to begin a $2.8 million road improvement project on the Nichols College campus portion of Center Road.
Nichols and Dudley officials began working on the project to rework about 2,700 feet of the public road in 2006. Since then, the college has contributed more than $400,000 for the design work.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is heading the project, in which Dudley officials were to acquire two permanent and 22 temporary construction easements from abutting property owners.
Twenty-three of the 24 abutters donated easements without compensation, with the lone holdout being Raymond L. Sullivan of 122 Center Road. Mr. Sullivan was given until Monday to comply, or face a land taking by eminent domain.
At the selectmen’s meeting Monday, Mr. Sullivan said he would sign the five-year easement if town officials promised to draw the college into a payment in lieu of taxes program, known as PILOT. “
LaPlaca, Debbie. News Telegram 8 September 2014.