Townsend committee approves Habitat Management Plan, establishes $9,999 escrow

The Townsend Conservation Restriction Committee voted to approve the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) with one editorial change and to include a $9,999 escrow to implement the plan. Chair moved the measure and it was seconded; roll-call votes were recorded in favor.

The committee discussed edits requested by Natural Heritage and confirmed prescribed fire will be managed through the state permit rather than written directly into the HMP. Chair noted that Dan’s update "included that there is a fund of $9,999, being put to implement the HMP," and that the money comes from a grant and will be held in escrow for implementation. After the committee approved the HMP, the Chair said the committee will forward the approved documents to town council as the next procedural step before state submission.

The committee recorded that the HMP and the Conservation Restriction (CR) application will be a joint responsibility between the town and MESA. The motion to approve the HMP with the indicated change (removing the phrase "by email" from the HMP communication requirement) was moved by the Chair, seconded, and passed by roll call.