At a Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting on April 9, the board unanimously voted to fund a $3,600 appraisal of the Boggio Property, paving the way for the town to potentially purchase the property.

At the BOS meeting, First Selectmen John Hall said the town’s Conservation Commission may be interested in purchasing the property eventually. Hall said the appraisal would be used to determine a sale price for the property. The appraisal money would come from the Conservation Commission budget, which has enough to cover the cost.

Heidi Wallace, the town’s Environmental Planner, explained that the property is 29 acres located off the undeveloped portion of Toby Hill Road, near Toby Hill VIII.

“The property would be a valuable addition to the Toby Hill VIII trails. It would continue the corridor of protected forested open space from the Town of Westbrook into Essex,” Wallace said.

Just because the BOS approved the appraisal does not mean the purchase of the property is a done deal. Wallace said that once the appraisal is complete and the property’s value is known, the Conservation Commission will have to make a decision on how to proceed.

“After the appraisal is done, the Town will have a better sense of the monetary value of the property and can make the decision to apply for grants. At this point, we have the authorization from the Board of Selectmen to continue researching the property, which is sufficient for the Conservation Commission to move forward, Wallace said.

Should the Town move ahead and acquire the property, Wallace noted there are several features which make the property unique.

“The property is home to pristine vernal pools hosting a rich diversity of wildlife and the headwaters of Trout Brook,” Wallace said.

If the commission agrees to pursue purchasing the property after the appraisal comes in, further BOS approval would be needed. Any purchase will also have to be approved by residents at a town meeting.