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Commission approves $6,500 Oxbow management‑plan invoice; $1,800 herbicide task to be scoped and monitored
Summary
The commission approved payment of an Oxbow invasive‑species management plan that arrived about $1,500 over estimate, agreed to require advance notice for over‑budget invoices, and directed staff to secure an explicit $1,800 herbicide scope with area references and monitoring.
The Boxborough Conservation Commission voted to pay an Oxbow invoice of roughly $6,500 for a multi‑season invasive‑species management plan, after members discussed deliverables, monitoring, and long‑term funding needs.
Staff told the commission the original scope of services was estimated at $5,000; the final invoice arrived at about $6,500. Commissioners noted the commission had approved the original $5,000 scope and that an additional $1,800 grant had been secured for a selective herbicide application (task two). Commissioners asked staff to require Oxbow to identify the exact treatment areas and include monitoring and reporting in the $1,800 herbicide proposal.
Members emphasized the need for periodic, concise progress reports from the volunteer coordinator (Dave Barnett) after each management event, with dates and referenced area numbers, so trustees and staff can track results and future budget needs. Commissioners also agreed staff should ask Oxbow for a heads‑up when projects will exceed initial estimates.
Commissioners discussed treatment priorities. Some members said weed‑warrior work and invasive shrubs (bittersweet, burning bush, multiflora rose, knotweed) in areas two and four should remain the initial focus; others raised Norway maple removal as a mechanical task DPW could accommodate over multiple seasons. The commission suggested coordinating mechanical tree removals with DPW and reserving selective herbicide application for lower‑growing invasives in the late season.
The commission approved the $6,500 payment after members said the plan met the commission’s needs and confirmed the town has the funds to cover the overrun. Staff will ask Oxbow to provide a detailed $1,800 proposal that lists the areas to be treated and monitoring/reporting deliverables before the treatment contract is finalized.
No herbicide application has been billed or performed yet; commissioners instructed staff to review the $1,800 proposal before work begins.
