Conservation commission endorses ordinance language to clarify care, custody and prohibited uses of city conservation lands

The Newburyport Conservation Commission voted July 7 to endorse draft ordinance language sent to the City Council that would add several conservation parcels to a city inventory, clarify which agency has care and custody, and list prohibited activities such as overnight camping.

The move, advanced by a commission member and seconded during the meeting, followed a staff presentation explaining the draft ordinance (sponsored at the council level by Councilor Medina Smith) and a discussion about maintenance, enforcement and signage. Staff told the commission the draft is primarily codifying existing assignments and does not appropriate funds for new maintenance.

"This isn't assigning any additional funds," said the staff member who presented the draft, explaining that budgetary or operational changes would be handled later by the administration or council if needed. Commissioners pressed staff for clarity on how maintenance responsibility would be interpreted and whether the ordinance would create new costs for the commission; staff said maintenance has historically been handled on an ad‑hoc basis, sometimes by DPS or volunteer efforts, and that the ordinance itself would not change that funding status.

Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement paths for violations such as hunting, firearms, off‑leash dogs, camping and fireworks. The commission agreed that in many cases the police would be the practical first responder and that animal control or the health director could address specific issues. The staff member proposed placing short, entry‑point signs and kiosks with a QR code linking to the ordinance text so visitors would be forewarned of the rules.

One commissioner noted the penalty language in the draft follows typical statutory structures. "So it's $300 per day per offense," the commissioner said, adding that the fine can compound over multiple days depending on duration.

After discussion, a commission member moved to adopt the ordinance language as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with all present voting in favor. The chair and staff said they would communicate the commission's endorsement to the City Council committee handling the item and would follow the committee process.

In brief business before and after the ordinance discussion, the commission approved the minutes of its June 2 meeting and granted continuances for two pending notices of intent: John Spellman (12 Pheasant Run Drive) and Mark Ritchie of Ritchie Properties (40 Parker Street), both continued to the commission's August 18 meeting.

The meeting concluded after brief personnel updates from staff about ongoing interviews for open positions; the commission adjourned.