The Marion Conservation Commission is seeking additional funds to maintain overgrown brush at Sprague’s Cove, located behind Silvershell Beach.

But, the Selectmen and Town Administrator Paul Dawson say the Commission must first rectify possible financial errors made during the permitting process.

During Tuesday night’s meeting with the Selectmen, Dawson said the commission did not receive the Selectmen’s approval to use private funds for removing the brush and large willow trees from the property, as required by state procurement laws.

“There are a number of permits that were required and those were not done,” Dawson said.

While town officials investigate if any state laws were broken, Dawson suggested that the commission wait to pay the contractor who completed the work.

Sherman Briggs, Chair of the commission, said that the only reason the commission went forward with the work at Sprague’s Cove was to fulfill an agreement with the town made in 2008 to maintain the land.

The main problem being the large willow trees, which have disrupted the surrounding wildlife habitat and could possibly have caused damage to an existing dike.

“You could be in the $60,000 to $100,000 range to repair what was caused by the trees growing so large,” Briggs said.

The damage to the cove is under question. Dawson provided the Selectmen with a letter from John Rockwell, a member of the Marion Open Space Acquisition Commission.

Rockwell said he had visited the cove and reported back that there was no damage to the dike.

“He said that the property is functioning appropriately and that everything is working just fine,” Dawson said.

Dawson said that he has also received several complaints from residents about the work being done to the property.

Briggs said he was hopeful the issues could be resolved soon so the commission can continue with the clean up of the land.

“I just hope these efforts don’t fall aside and in two years we are back to where we started,” Briggs said.

The Selectmen agreed.

“I believe there was no malicious intent at all,” said Selectman Jody Dickerson. “We need to get back on track.”

Selectmen Chair Stephen Cushing said that the cove is in need of better upkeep.

“I agree that something needs to be done to prevent the overgrowth,” Cushing said.

The commission is also waiting on the results of several studies of the land and its surrounding habitat, which Briggs said, should provide better insight on how to proceed with the clean up.

The reports, he said, should be completed within the next month.