SOUTHWICK – The Town of Southwick is currently seeking residents to fill open positions on the Conservation Commission to fill a vacancy, up for reappointment in 2015. Duties of the Conservation Commission include attendance at meetings and administering the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. A letter of interest and resume must be submitted to the Board of Selectmen by August 1, 2014, by close of business.
Selectmen Administrative Assistant Sondra Pendleton said once letters are received, they are forwarded to the commission.
“They will make their recommendation, which is sent to the board for appointment,” said Pendleton.
“If there are a number of applicants, the board generally asks the commission to narrow them down and they would make a determination to do interviews,” she added.
The Conservation Office personnel consists of part-time Coordinator Dennis Clark, who holds an annually appointed position by the Board of Selectmen.
The commission is comprised of seven members who are appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a three-year term to oversee the requirements of the Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, and other activities that potentially impact the environment.
The Southwick Conservation Commission’s mission is to serve as the conservation conscience of the town, providing leadership for natural resources planning. The commission works to protect, and where possible enhance plant and wildlife habitat to maintain Southwick’s natural resources.
The commission, governed by Open Meeting Law, meets on the first and third Monday of each month in the second floor Land Use Meeting Room of the Town Hall. The Commission, together with the Mass Department of Environmental Protection, reviews applications for work to be undertaken in or near a wetland. The commission is entrusted with the application of the Wetland Protection Act, the Rivers Protection Act, CMR Wetlands Regulations, Storm Water Management Policy and Southwick Local Wetlands Bylaws.
The Selectmen and Planning Board will hold a joint meeting July 28 to interview candidates for the Planning Board associate member position.
Planing Board Chairman Douglas Moglin said the associate’s main duty is to fill-in for members during special permit votes when a regular member is unable to vote.
“I call the associate a strong associate,” Moglin added. “We encourage them to attend all meetings. This is a good position for someone who may want to run for a full position in the future and wants to gain an understanding of the process.”
