Boxborough conservation commission backs Home Rule petition and recommends single-use plastic ban for Town Meeting

The Boxborough Conservation Commission voted to recommend a Home Rule Petition to the state that would permit the town to later adopt an ESCARP bylaw, and approved recommending a separate bylaw banning certain single-use plastic bags and polystyrene at the upcoming town meeting.

Town planner (speaker 3) briefed members on legal counsel's advice to pursue a Home Rule Petition first and then bring a local ESCARP bylaw to a future town meeting if the state grants permission. "We will petition the state," the town planner said, framing the approach as joining other communities seeking the same authorization.

Commissioners agreed the Home Rule path is more likely to be acceptable to legal counsel and to avoid submitting overlapping measures. The commission moved to recommend the article to the warrant and unanimously authorized the chair to draft the commission's recommendation for publication in the town meeting warrant.

On a related article, members reviewed draft language banning certain single-use plastic bags, polystyrene and disposable plastic items. Commissioners said the proposed bylaw drew on language other towns have adopted and is intended to be a modest local restriction. The commission voted to recommend that article as well and authorized the chair to draft the recommendation.

The actions will be recorded in the warrant and the chair is expected to present the commission's recommendation at town meeting. The commission asked staff to circulate the final draft language to members for last-minute review before printing.