The South Bristol Board of Selectmen has invited Department of Transportation project manager Stephen Bodge to attend a meeting to discuss The Bridge House.
Bodge and Bridge House owner Dianne Haas have confirmed talks are ongoing regarding the possible state acquisition and subsequent removal of the structure by eminent domain.
The DOT plans to start construction to replace The Gut bridge in summer 2012. The Bridge House abuts the bridge.
Haas, the selectmen and some South Bristol residents have said they oppose the taking of the house. Bodge has said “all options are not off the table,” including alternatives to removal.
“We feel it would be beneficial if you could arrange to attend a selectmen’s meeting here at the town office in the near future,” the selectmen wrote in their letter to Bodge. “We and our citizens have a number of questions regarding the project concerning eminent domain.”
The selectmen, in their letter, expressed support for Haas’ right to decide whether to sell the property.
“Had Ms. Haas wished to sell her property to the state or anyone else for that matter we certainly would not have interfered. Nor would we interfere if she chose not to,” they wrote.
