Commission approves FY27 mowing and herbicide contracts totaling $20,200

After staff reported the FY26 deadline was missed, the Conservation Commission authorized using FY27 funds to pay for conservation-land mowing and herbicide treatment. Megan said the proposed contract totals $20,200: "the mowing contract would be for $15,600 and the herbicide for $4,600." Commissioners discussed prioritization of sites (Benfield and Toll recommended as starters), whether to split mowing into one or two passes this season, and options to use additional restricted bog maintenance funds for cranberry-bog-related work.

The commission voted to authorize staff to finalize contracts using FY27 funds, with direction to staff to bring a more detailed schedule and recommendations for which properties to treat and whether to split mowings across seasons. Commissioners also asked staff to circulate the relevant budget lines and the previously appropriated cranberry-bog maintenance funds for planning purposes.