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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Sue:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>I’m not thinking escrow is the right place to go. I’d look at Chapter 44, Section 53G. <b>Employment of outside consultants</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Jeff Lacy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Rural Planning Associates<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>(413) 230-9693<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='mso-ligatures:none'> MassPlanners <massplanners-bounces@masscptc.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Town Planner via MassPlanners<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, December 7, 2023 10:27 AM<br><b>To:</b> MassPlanners@masscptc.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Massplanners] developer funded escrow accounts - allowed use<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A simple question, I think….<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Can developer funded escrow account funds be used to pay a municipalities Legal Counsel for services related to “permitting” the project? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For example, if the Planning Board seeks advice of Legal Counsel during the permitting review process, can the cost of that legal service be charged to the Applicant and paid from the escrow account? <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What section of MGL covers this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks so much.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Segoe Script"'>Sue Brown</span>, RLA<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Town Planner<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>West Newbury<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:townplanner@wnewbury.org">townplanner@wnewbury.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(978) 363-1100 x125<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>