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Commission approves abutters’ continued service on Warner Pond committee after disclosure
Summary
The Natural Resources Commission found no disqualifying conflict for two Warner Pond management committee members who disclosed they are abutters, approved their continued service, and directed staff to record the finding for the town file.
The Natural Resources Commission voted to allow two committee members who disclosed abutter status to remain on the Warner Pond management committee after reviewing written disclosures and the committee’s charge.
Chair Jim Smith explained that Phil Brewer of 132 Wright Road and Christine Dinaro of 189 Commonwealth Avenue filed statements describing their abutter status and why they did not believe a conflict existed. Smith said the pond management effort has townwide implications and that the committee’s charge anticipated participation by people directly involved with or adjacent to the resource.
Commissioners discussed the appearance-of-conflict issue and whether the committee’s terms of reference should explicitly allow abutters. One commissioner urged clarifying the terms so future appointments are not perceived as improper; others said the committee was designed to include locally involved stakeholders and that prior task-force work had similarly included abutters.
After discussion the commission moved to record a finding that the disclosures do not create a disqualifying conflict in this case and to approve continued membership for the two disclosed members. The motion passed by voice vote; the commission asked staff to include the finding and the submitted statements in the public record and file copy.
The commission did not change the committee charge at the meeting; commissioners recommended that staff consider revising the terms of reference to state the intended role of abutters on the committee.
