Norwood Conservation Commission Seeks Expert Associates-July 31, 1975

The Norwood Conservation Commission is looking for help. According to commission Chairman Bettina Cottrell, the board is combing the community for scientists, engineers, and lawyers interested in helping with commission work in open space and wetlands management. She stated that the group is trying to build up a team of associates—experts in various aspects of conservation—to participate in meetings and serve as resource personnel for the seven regular voting members of the commission. The associates would be appointed by the commission itself and would be prime candidates for appointment to the regular board when vacancies occur, she explained.

Conservation commission members have been going through the town street list, which lists residents’ occupations, in search of geologists, hydrologists, and others who might have specialized knowledge of conservation matters. Although no one has been approached as yet by the commission, Bettina Cottrell said that their search has turned up the names of two self-described ecologists and one person who lists his occupation as conservation. Most of the commission’s voting members are working people without specialized backgrounds in conservation, she noted, and the associates would fill a long-felt need as the commission’s responsibilities increase. The commission this month acquired control over the thirty-seven-acre Endean Farm property off Mylod Street, for example. The board would also like to find civil engineers to serve as associates, Bettina Cottrell said, but cautioned that these could not be people who work for local engineering firms because of potential conflicts of interest, as the commission commonly deals with local engineering firms in wetlands act matters.

Currently, the commission has two vacancies caused by the recent resignations of John Kinnaly and Thomas McGuire. The board has submitted two nominations to the selectmen—Paul Pezwick and Edward Kelliher—though neither has yet received official approval for membership. The appointment of members to the conservation commission, like those of other boards, is legally up to the selectmen, Bettina Cottrell explained. However, the selectmen have delegated this responsibility to Town Manager John P. Mogan. As with other boards, the selectmen retain final veto power over appointees. Both Paul Pezwick and Edward Kelliher previously served as conservation commission associates.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger