When a public highway is laid out and damages are assessed to the owners of the land or rights acquired and the highway is legally discontinued before being worked or opened, the assessment of damages shall become void. Damages from the laying out, less actual damages accrued before discontinuance, shall be returned to the town. Actual damages before discontinuance shall be established by the selectmen using the procedure in section 923 of this title. Thereafter, title to the land shall be returned to the original landowner or his or her assigns. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)