Town will cover seller’s legal fees for expropriated land

By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Paradise is clueing up an easement deal on Adam’s Pond Road that’s been ongoing since 2019.

At a public council meeting earlier this month, councillor Deborah Quilty explained the Town extended water and sewer mains through undeveloped land in the Powers Pond area to make recommended system improvements.

“To protect its interests in the infrastructure, the Town set about acquiring easement rights to the land it passed through,” she said.

The land was successfully expropriated and a deal was reached for compensation in June of 2022. Council agreed to pay the landowners’ legal fees to Bennett Law in the amount of $14,375.

Quilty noted the decision was not discussed at the infrastructure and engineering committee, but instead during a privileged meeting of council.

Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street was concerned she might be in a conflict of interest on the motion but was deemed not so by a vote of council.