Debt Exclusion Approved for Red Gate Farm

At a special election on Monday, Oct. 21, voters approved a debt exclusion to fund the purchase of 30 acres of Red Gate Farm. 

The vote was 1,022 in favor of, and 514 opposed to, the borrowing of approximately $1.4 million, plus $500,000 in interest, to buy the land.  

Town officials said the voter turnout was high (1,536 people) for a special election which approved the purchase by a 2:1 margin. 

Selectman Richard DeSorgher said he was pleased with the vote, calling it the right thing for the town. 

"Down the road, people will look at this as a 'wisdom vote,' just like they did with Noon Hill in 1975," DeSorgher said. "I think people will look back and say that the people in 2013 made a wise decision. It really is just pristine land."

"This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the land for way below market value...about $45,000 an acre," he said.

DeSorgher thanked the Kenny family for offering the land at an exceptional price, and he thanked potential buyer Sean McEntee for presenting a conservation-friendly development plan. 

McEntee could not be reached for comment after the vote.