By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON — The town board has passed a resolution authorizing payment of $23,695 to the Village of Canton for redevelopment of the 30 Riverside Drive property, formerly M.R. Bell’s service station.

The village, as the lead agency, has been negotiating a deal with the town, the county and the state Department of Environmental Conservation for cleanup and rehabilitation of the property, which is in tax foreclosure.

While the deal is still in negotiations, once finalized, the municipalities would be charged with the demolition and cleanup of the above ground structures at the lot, and the DEC would initiate an environmental cleanup below grade.

The former service station is the site of a suspected brownfield. The municipalities expect to find some below-grade contamination.

An inspection of the above-ground structures at the lot last fall turned up small amounts of asbestos which would need to be properly disposed of.

In negotiations between the parties involved, the state has said if the municipalities take ownership of the property for $7,500, they could be held harmless from any potential liabilities regarding environmental issues which may be uncovered there.

With the village serving as lead agency, the town’s only contribution to the project would be supplying the $23,695 to the village to purchase of the land and the above-ground work.

“The town has no liability whatsoever,” said town attorney Charlie Nash. “The town is not in the chain of title.”

Nash said many attorneys who were confident in outcomes of certain issues would advise their clients with “100 percent” assurance. “I’ll go 110 percent,” said Nash.

Nash credited village attorney Gerald Dusharme for his work handling the negotiations with the county and DEC on the matter.

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley signed the resolution authorizing the payment to the village.