Erving Select Board approves Rural Development Inc. land deal after year of talks

ERVING -- August 1, 2024, Erving Select Board unanimously approves Care Drive development deal with Rural Development Inc. Chair Jacob Smith and Member William Bembury voted 2-0 Thursday, Member James Loynd recused for a conflict of interest, to approve the development agreement and option to lease with Rural Development Inc., effective August 1, 2024, nearly a year to the day after the original RFP was issued July 26, 2023. The board also reviewed an 11-article draft warrant for a special town meeting, deferring final approval to an August 12 joint session with the Finance Committee; key open items include whether to raise the senior citizen property tax work-off abatement from $1,500 to the newly state-authorized maximum of $2,000 per participant, and the restructuring of Church Street bridge easement takings into individual articles for each affected property owner, a change recommended by town counsel. The prior-year invoice article added to the warrant carries a total value of $4,734.