MILFORD – Milford selectmen have decided to allow the natural gas pipeline company, Kinder Morgan, to survey town-owned land.

Last winter the board voted to deny permission, but at their April 13 meeting Town Administrator Mark Bender read something written by an attorney that presented a counter argument.

“If you deny it the company will just use the best information available or, instead of surveying, make assumptions,” Bender said.

The vote was unanimous, 4-0. Chairman Mark Fougere was absent. Kathy Bauer said she still opposes the pipeline, but allowing surveying seems to be best for the community. Gary Daniels said the wording of the permission could say that the decision does not in any way mean that the town supports, or opposes, the pipeline.

Kinder Morgan and its subsidiary, the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, have proposed a 36-inch gas transmission line through 17 towns in southern New Hampshire, including about four miles through the southern portion of Milford.

– KATHY CLEVELAND