(A) The town may hire any consultant and/or expert necessary to assist the town in reviewing, analyzing and evaluating the application, including the construction and modification of the site, once permitted, and any requests for re-certification.
(B) An applicant shall deposit with the town funds sufficient to reimburse the town for all reasonable costs of a consultant and any expert evaluation and consultation to the town in connection with the review of any application, including the construction and modification of the site, once permitted. The initial deposit shall be $7,500, which deposit is not a fee. The placement of the $7,500 with the town shall precede the pre-application site visit and meeting. The town will maintain a separate escrow account for all such funds. Consultants shall invoice the town for services in reviewing the application, including the construction and modification of the site, once permitted, and the town shall use this escrow to pay the consultant.
(C) If at any time during the process the escrow account has a balance less than $2,500, the applicant shall immediately, upon notification by the town, replenish said escrow account so that it has a balance of at least $5,000. Such additional escrow funds shall be deposited with the town before any further action or consideration is taken on the application. In the event that the amount held in escrow by the town is more than the amount of the actual invoicing at the conclusion of the project, the remaining balance shall be promptly refunded to the applicant.
(D) The total amount of the funds needed as set forth in division (B) above may vary with the scope and complexity of the project, the completeness of the application and other information as may be needed to complete the necessary review, analysis and inspection of any construction or modification.
(Ord. passed 4-5-2010; Ord. passed 5-3-2021)