LISBON – A landowner challenged the town’s ownership of 23 acres of land as the Lisbon Town Council prepares to sign contracts with realtors who will market the land.

Kenneth L. Putney, Lisbon, challenged the Council’s ownership of 23 acres of land located on Sparrowhawk Point at Wednesday’s meeting stating that, as adjoining landowner, NYPA should have initially offered him the land.

“It’s my understanding that landowners who did not own the land originally, but who owned land nearby would have first offer of that land,” said Mr. Putney.

The land in question was first acquired by the New York Power Authority through eminent domain in 1957 for the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project. The surplus land, which has no known original owner, was to be offered for sale by NYPA to adjoining landowners for a period of two years. If a sale was not completed, the town would have the opportunity to purchase the land. Mr. Putney, whose family owns over 150 acres of land adjacent to Sparrowhawk Point, says family members were never given an offer or an appraisal of the land.

“Many landowners in town were able to purchase land that was not originally owned by them, and yet the New York Power Authority ignored us and sold it to the town,” said Mr. Putney.

Mr. Putney said the land is crucial to the use of his farm and offered to buy the land at the meeting for $300 an acre.

Town Supervisor Jim Armstrong said that Mr. Putney is welcome to make an offer for the land once it is for sale, but said he would not back out signing the contracts with America 1 Reality, which intends to market the land at full market value.

“I know in his eyes, it’s his land, but according to the state and the law, it’s ours,” said Council member Alan D. Dailey.

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