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Warrant articles would let South Thomaston accept revised deed for forest preserve, expand native-species authority
Summary
The commission reviewed three warrant articles asking that the town consolidate parcels, grant access easements and accept a revised deed from Jeff Smith to clarify forest-management permissions, including explicit authority to restore or introduce native species.
Commissioners examined three warrant articles the select board circulated for the upcoming public hearing on the town forest preserve. The articles would: consolidate five parcels into a single legal parcel, allow the town to accept an easement for access, and correct an inadvertent drafting error in the deed that had removed language about preventing invasive species.
The chair said the deed "read a little awkwardly" in draft form and that earlier versions had inadvertently dropped the word "prevention" from forest-management restrictions. That omission, commissioners said, created ambiguity about whether the town had authority to restore or introduce native species.
One warrant article would specifically authorize the select board to accept a new deed from Jeff Smith that expands permissions for forest management to include native-species restoration. Commissioners noted the select board intends to address related deed and warrant revisions sequentially rather than simultaneously.
Members agreed to monitor the select board’s drafting and to prepare comment for the required public hearing prior to town meeting.
