ROCHESTER — It seemed that a disagreement on the price of a plot of land would stop the First Congregational Church from selling two acres to the town, but in the end it was an environmental concern that shot the deal down. 

Selectman Ciaburri walked the property with conservation agent Laurell Farinon on Aug. 31 prior to the Sept. 1 meeting Selectmen’s meeting, and he came to the conclusion after the walkthrough that it was not in the town’s best interest to purchase the property adjacent to Town Hall because there was a vernal pool that bordered the lot and may spill onto the property. 

Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that serve as habitat to a wide variety of species. 

The church is looking to sell two acres to fund $150,000 of repair work to its ceiling and vestry bell tower. Selectmen heard of the plan and asked the church to consider selling a lot adjacent to Town Hall. 

The two parties disagreed on the property’s appraised value, with the church saying the parcel was worth $160,000, while Selectmen said it was worth $125,000. As a result, Selectmen offered the church $150,000 of the $160,000 that Town Meeting had appropriated for the sale. 

The Chairman of the church’s Board of Trustees, Richard Cutler said that amount was “not enough.”

Speaking on Aug. 13, Cutler said that if the deal did not go through, the church would look to sell a parcel of land of an undetermined size 800 or 900 feet up Rounseville Road from the plot near Town Hall.

Selectmen voted unanimously to reject the land deal.