Newtown's Land Use Office has accelerated efforts to establish a preliminary pilot management program at the High Meadow to help facilitate short-term restoration and preservation of native wildlife across the picturesque expanse on the northeastern corner of Fairfield Hills.

Director of Planning George Benson originally was charged with delivering a draft management proposal to selectmen on August 1, but received permission from the Board of Selectmen, June 6, to restrict scheduled midsummer hay mowing on five acres of the parcel to help jump-start what Mr Benson labeled as the minimum amount of land needed to conduct such a preservation "experiment."

Since Mr Benson's office does not have a budget to develop either short- or long-term meadow restoration programs for the entire parcel, he opted to compromise on the pilot plan, which will require minimum personnel involvement.

Mr Benson did request the pilot be supported by a small ad-hoc committee appointed either by selectmen or the local Conservation Commission. He suggested that residents Ann Astarita, Mary Gaudet-Wilson, Joe Hovious, Holly Kocet and Karlyn Sturmer be considered for the committee.

"The most concerned people should be appointed to manage it," he told selectmen.

Ms Sturmer is a member of the Conservation Commission; others have served on that commission in the past.

In his memo, Mr Benson said he and the land use staff are supportive of a High Meadow restoration, and in lieu of staff and budget to help manage it, he suggested the ad hoc committee members be the ones reporting back to selectmen on a quarterly basis as the pilot project moves forward.

The land use director said that a five-acre plot is large enough to maintain and protect bobolink populations that live and nest in the meadow.

That pilot should run for a minimum of three years, after which a comprehensive evaluation of the test parcel will be conducted to determine future restoration strategies for the entire High Meadow as well as the East Meadow.

Mr Benson said he wants to keep the current agricultural partner involved in the hay mowing of the meadows, since a portion of that hay is donated to the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard.

That test parcel will be maintained adjacent to the water tower.

Selectman Will Rodgers said he wanted it on the record that plans for this preservation project both predate, and have nothing to do with separate deliberations that are happening regarding a permanent Sandy Hook memorial.

In endorsing the pilot, First Selectman Pat Llodra urged those participating to "do it carefully and do it well."

Following the meeting, Mrs Llodra said she appreciated Mr Benson's quick turnaround of a workable plan.

"Five acres is enough to accomplish what we're setting out to do," she said. "This has been a hay field for 150 years, maybe longer. You can't convert a hayfield to a meadow without real consequences, and you better know what you're doing."

The first selectman, who grew up on a farm, said she was concerned that moving forward too quickly or converting too much of the field would provide a foothold for invasive plants to take root.

"We don't want to lose our beautiful hay field," Mrs Llodra said. "My husband and I walk the trails all the time and we look at that beautiful hay field. It has a beauty, a purpose and a relevance right now in the bigger picture.

"Let's try to do this piece for now," she added, "and see what we learn."