(a) The secretary may take all or a portion of the real property comprising the Adriaen’s Landing site, and such off-site real property as may be determined by the secretary to be necessary to implement related infrastructure improvements. The owner or owners of such real property shall be paid by the state for all damages, and the state shall receive from such owner the amount or value of all benefits, resulting from such taking or development of the Adriaen’s Landing site, including related site preparation and infrastructure improvements. The assessment of such damages and of such benefits shall be made by the secretary and filed by the secretary with the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which the real property is located. The assessment shall include the name and address of each person having an interest of record in the property. The clerk shall give notice of such assessment to each person having an interest of record in the property by mailing to each a copy of the same, postage prepaid. No entry fee shall be charged for the filing of such assessments. At any time after such assessment has been made by the secretary, the physical construction of the convention center, the related parking facilities, the on-site related private development and related site preparation and infrastructure improvements may be started.

(b) If notice cannot be given to any person entitled to such notice because such person’s whereabouts or existence is unknown, notice may be given by publishing a notice at least twice in a newspaper published in said judicial district and having a daily or weekly circulation in the town and city of Hartford. Any such published notice shall state that it is a notice to the last owner of record or such person’s surviving spouse, heirs, administrators, assigns, representatives or creditors, if such person is deceased, and shall contain a brief description of the property taken. Notice shall also be given by mailing to each such person at such person’s last-known address, by registered or certified mail, a copy of such notice. If, after a search of the land and probate records, the address of any interested party cannot be found, an affidavit stating such facts and reciting the steps taken to establish the address of any such person shall be filed with the clerk of the superior court and accepted in lieu of service of such notice by mailing the same to the last-known address of such person.

(c) Upon filing an assessment with the clerk of the superior court, the secretary shall forthwith sign and file for record with the town clerk of the town and city of Hartford, a certificate setting forth the fact of such taking, a description of the real property so taken and the names and residences of the owners from whom it was taken. Upon the filing of such certificate, title to such real property in fee simple shall vest in the state, except that, if it is so specified in such certificate, a lesser estate, interest or right shall vest in the state. The secretary shall permit the last owner of record of such real property upon which a residence is situated to remain in such residence, rent free, for a period of one hundred twenty days after the filing of such certificate.

(d) The assessment of such damages or such benefits may, and any reassessment thereof by the trial referee shall, take into account any evidence of environmental condition and required environmental remediation.

(e) The secretary may take or purchase real property abutting or near the Adriaen’s Landing site or any related infrastructure improvements for the purpose of protecting the functional characteristics of the convention center, the related parking facilities or the on-site related private development or such infrastructure improvements or to protect public safety or to implement such infrastructure improvements and may take or purchase any public service facility on or off the Adriaen’s Landing site to the extent determined by the secretary to be necessary in the public interest to insure that no interruption in service results from any removal or relocation from the Adriaen’s Landing site of any generation plant or other integral component of any such public service facility, in each case without regard to any other existing public use of such property. Such taking or purchase shall be in the same manner and with like powers as authorized and exercised by the secretary in taking or purchasing real property for the Adriaen’s Landing site. In the event of any such taking or purchase of a public service facility, the secretary may sell such public service facility to, or make such other arrangements for the use and operation of such public service facility by, any qualified private or public entity, including the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority, on such terms as the secretary determines to be in the public interest.

(f) As used in sections 32-650 to 32-668, inclusive, “public service facility” means all privately, publicly or cooperatively owned lines, facilities and systems, and related real property interests, for producing, transmitting or distributing communications, cable television, power, electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, water, including heated or chilled water, steam, waste, storm water not connected with highway drainage and any other similar commodities, including fire and police signal systems and street lighting systems which directly or indirectly serve the public. Whenever the secretary determines that the construction or reconstruction of the convention center, the related parking facilities or the on-site related private development or related site preparation and infrastructure improvements necessitates the readjustment or relocation of any public service facility located within, on, along, over or under any land comprising the right-of-way of a state highway or any other public highway within, or removal of any such public service facility from, such right-of-way, the secretary shall issue an appropriate order to the company, corporation or municipality owning or operating such facility, and such company, corporation or municipality shall readjust, relocate or remove the same promptly in accordance with such order; provided an equitable share of the cost of such readjustment, relocation or removal, including the cost of installing and constructing a facility of equal capacity in a new location, shall be borne by the state. Such equitable share, in the case of or in connection with the construction or reconstruction of the convention center; or the related parking facilities shall be the entire cost, less the deductions as provided in this subsection. In establishing the equitable share of the cost to be borne by the state, there shall be deducted from the cost of the readjusted, relocated or removed public service facilities a sum based on a consideration of the value of materials salvaged from existing installations, the cost of the original installation, the life expectancy of the original public service facility and the unexpired term of such life use. When any public service facility is removed from the right-of-way of a public highway to a private right-of-way, the state shall not pay for such private right-of-way, provided, when a municipally-owned public service facility is thus removed from a municipally-owned highway, the state shall pay for the private right-of-way needed by the municipality for such relocation. If the secretary and the company, corporation or municipality owning or operating such public service facility cannot agree upon the share of the cost to be borne by the state, either may apply to the superior court for the judicial district within which such facility is situated for a determination of the cost to be borne by the state, and said court or such judge, after causing notice of the pendency of such application to be given to the other party, shall appoint a trial referee to make such determination. Such trial referee, having given at least ten days’ notice to the parties interested of the time and place of the hearing, shall hear both parties, shall view such facility, shall take such testimony as such trial referee deems material and shall thereupon determine the amount of the cost to be borne by the state. Such determination shall, subject to right of appeal as in civil actions, be conclusive upon both parties.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, when the secretary finds it necessary that real property, the title to which is in the state or any municipality, political subdivision, public authority, district, quasi-public agency or other governmental entity and which is under the custody and control of any state department, commission or institution, municipality, political subdivision, public authority, district, quasi-public agency or other governmental entity, be taken for the purpose of constructing the convention center, the related parking facilities, the on-site related private development or related site preparation and infrastructure improvements, the secretary shall present a petition to such an entity having custody and control of such real property that custody of the real property be transferred to the secretary or the authority and such entity shall transfer the custody and control of such real property to the secretary or the authority for the purposes required.

(h) The secretary or an agent may enter upon private real property for the purpose of conducting surveys, inspections, appraisals, or environmental and geological investigations for the location or construction of the convention center, the related parking facilities, the on-site related private development or related site preparation and infrastructure improvements. After giving reasonable notice to the real property owner or owners affected, the secretary or an agent may also enter such property for the purpose of performing borings, soundings or other tests required to accomplish any of the foregoing objectives with respect to the convention center, the related parking facilities, the on-site related private development or related site preparation or infrastructure improvements. The secretary or an agent shall use care so that no unnecessary damage shall result and the state shall pay damages to the owner of any real property for any damage or injury the secretary causes such owner by such entrance and use. If entry to any real property for the purpose of performing borings, soundings or other tests is refused to the secretary or an agent after the secretary has given reasonable notice to the owner or owners thereof, the secretary shall assess damages in the manner provided by this section and, at any time after such assessment has been made by said secretary, may enter said property for the purpose of performing borings, soundings or other tests. If the real property owner accepts such assessment of damages, such owner shall notify the secretary in writing, and said secretary shall pay such sum to said real property owner within thirty days or, after the expiration of said thirty days, shall pay such sum with interest at six per cent. If the real property owner is aggrieved by such assessment such owner shall notify the secretary in writing and may appeal to any court within its jurisdiction for a reassessment of such damages within six months from the date said secretary forwarded such assessment to such owner. This section shall not limit or modify rights of entry upon property otherwise provided for by the general statutes.