Comments on Eminent Domain

For ten years, I served on the local level as a member of the Litchfield Board of Selectmen. From time to time, we were asked to consider the idea of using eminent domain to take someone's property for town or other use. Each and every time, our BOS soundly rejected that idea. Everyone has a basic right to expect that other than in extraordinary circumstances for great public benefit should any town have the right to take someone's property, especially for profit.
Taking land for a school or highway is one thing. Taking land for personal corporate profit is an entirely different issue that generally is not right. I support the efforts of the legislature to examine this issue and introduce legal protections for Connecticut citizens similar to those laws of protection passed in other states. It's somewhat ironic that on one hand here in CT we just passed a wonderful bill to fund and protect open space, yet on the other hand we are faced with a public taking for private development use.
Sincerely,
Audrey Blondin