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State rules allow supervised volunteer pesticide application, Commission hears; training planned
Summary
A Commission member reported that a meeting with the Maine Board of Pesticides Control confirmed volunteers may manually apply pesticides on town property under supervision of a licensed applicator; licensed applicator Steve Brook will conduct training for volunteers.
At the May 4 meeting, Conservation Commission member Lee Sullivan reported that a visit to Augusta clarified state pesticide rules relevant to volunteer invasive‑plant work on town property. Sullivan said the Board of Pesticides Control confirmed regulations already permit volunteers to manually apply pesticides while under the supervision of a licensed applicator.
Commission members noted this allows expanded volunteer activity for invasive plant control, subject to licensed oversight. Minutes record that licensed applicator Steve Brook, who has worked with the Commission, will conduct a training session for volunteers in the near future.
Commissioners discussed the regulatory clarification only as it pertains to supervised volunteer work; the minutes do not record details of the Board of Pesticides Control guidance text nor do they record a formal town policy change. The Commission assigned follow‑up to schedule training and to ensure volunteers operate under the licensed applicator’s procedures.
