Governor’s uncertainty comes as Somerset is pressing him to act
Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker unsure about state ownership of Brayton Point land
By BRUCE MOHL Commonwealth
“We’re currently working through all of the various legal and administrative issues about who owns what,” Baker said during an interview after an event about summer programming for youths at a park in Mattapan.
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER says he is not sure whether the state actually owns a key chunk of land at Brayton Point in Somerset, as several town officials have insisted.
Asked if he was saying he is not convinced the state owns the deep-water pier and 12.5 adjacent acres on the 308-acre Brayton Point property, Baker said: “I am not – not yet.”
The Select Board in Somerset is preparing to send a letter to Baker asking him to step in and help resolve a dispute between the town and the current owner of the property, Commercial Development Inc. of St. Louis.
Members of the Select Board say documents they have received from the state under a public records request indicate the state Department of Conservation and Recreation owns the pier and the adjacent land. A title search also indicates the state leased the pier and adjacent land to the original power plant owner in the 1950s, a provision that was contingent on a power plant being located on the property.
If you liked this post you’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.
