Adams Conservation Commission Concerned About Disinterest in Local Government
 The Conservation Commission is having trouble finding interested citizens for its two unfilled seats, which is making a quorum difficult. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Conservation Commission is worried about the lack of interest from residents in joining the commission and other boards.
The Selectmen's voted last Wednesday to endorse an article to decrease the appointed commission's size from seven members to five at its request because of difficulties filling the two open seats and holding quorum.
Commissioner Thomas Robinson on Thursday said environmentally minded people would enjoy serving on the committee, and felt it hard to believe no one was interested.
"We have everyone running around hugging trees, but we don't have anyone that wants to sit on the Conservation Commission," Robinson said. "We are the ultimate tree huggers."
He added that the Conservation Commission is a difficult board to serve on because of the amount of knowledge members need to have. It is not a board people can just join, he said.
"It takes long time to get your feet on the ground on this board. You just don't walk in the door because there is so much involved and so many details," he said. "The concern I would have for the town would be if all of the sudden they are facing a situation where they have only a small group that is not large enough to handle the work load and are not knowledgeable."
Robinson worried that if the quorum requirement continued to pressure the commission it may dissolve and the selectmen might have to take on the job, as they do in Cheshire.
Robinson said the town should be concerned that residents have little interest in joining any of the boards.
"If the town isn't concerned about having the people available to serve the town and ... if the selectmen can't go out and find some people in this town that are as concerned about the town as we have been, then we all have a problem," he said.
Selectman Richard Blanchard, who attended the meeting, said he personally has announced unopposed open seats at public meetings, but no one seems to be interested. He said the board plans to discuss this issue at its next workshop meeting.
Commissioner Corey Bishop said citizens should want to be involved and the boards should not have to go out and plead with people to join.
"I say it's shame on the citizens of our town ... for not being here," Bishop said. "I take pride in the fact that I serve ... people need to want to serve."
Bishop said the lack of younger people in town may make filling out the boards difficult, too.
Commissioner James Fassell said the commission does have to be careful and should not just bring anyone onto the board. He said difficult members have been a problem in the past.
"If you pick the wrong person you could destroy a balance that is needed," Fassell said. "We had one individual who wanted to do it his way and it was incredible. It got to the point where he said 'I'm coming across the table after you Fassell' and I said 'make sure your first punch is your best.' "
Robinson suggested regionalizing and hiring a consultant for a few towns if the commission began to really shrink. He added it may be beneficial to add alternates to the board so that when a member is ready to leave there is someone ready to go.
"You come off of the bench and you are able to play," he said. "You know the game; an alternate would be great."
Commissioner Anthony McBride asked if the commission could bring on Selectman Joseph Nowak when needed. Nowak served on the commission for more than 30 years but had to leave when he became a selectman.
The Selectmen may be able to appoint him as a special municipal employee.
The board also reorganized. Jason Krzanowski will remain chairman and James Fassell will be vice chairman.
Tags: board vacancies, conservation commission,
