Town Meeting Article 13 – Voters to consider adding alternate members to Conservation Commission
The primary role of the Conservation Commission is the administration and enforcement of the Wetlands Protection Act (MGL c.131, &40) and Lynnfield's Environmental Bylaw.
Unlike some Town boards, the Wetlands Protection Act does not allow for alternates to serve on the Commission. Currently, Lynnfield’s Conservation Commission is a seven-member volunteer board appointed by the Select Board.
Conservation Commission meetings must have a quorum of board members to conduct its business and to make decisions in its service to the public. Further, the Wetlands Protection provides strict time limits for these decisions to be rendered.
In order to best service our residents the Commission is seeking a positive vote on Warrant Article 13 at Town Meeting on November 14, 2022. Passage of this article would allow the appointment of two alternate board members who would be able to sit on the Commission and vote on the business at hand in the cases of a board member’s absence, a temporary board vacancy, or the inability for a member to act, such a conflict of interest. Many Massachusetts Towns have already put this practice into place.
Alternates would be appointed by the Select Board and serve in staggered terms not to exceed 3 years.
The specific wording of Article 13 is as follows:
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to petition the Massachusetts General Court to enact the following special act: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ALTERNATE MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: Section 1: Notwithstanding section 8C of chapter 40 of the General Laws, the select board of the town of Lynnfield may appoint not more than 2 alternate members to the conservation commission of the town to serve staggered terms not to exceed 3 years. The chair of the conservation commission may designate an alternate member to sit on the commission in the case of absence, inability to act or conflict of interest on the part of a member of the commission or, if there is a vacancy on the commission, until the vacancy is filled pursuant to said section 8C of said chapter 40. Section 2: This act shall take effect upon its passage. provided, that the General Court may reasonably vary the form and substance of the requested legislation within the scope of the general public objectives of this petition; or to take any other action in connection therewith.
c:\Lynnfield\Special Legislation – ConCom Alternates