Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commission Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burrillville council tells conservation commission to coordinate with town before contacting state agencies
Summary
Councilors and staff criticized the conservation commission for acting independently in matters involving state agencies, and the council directed that the commission coordinate with the council and town administration or face removal from agendas.
A tense exchange at the Sept. 24 Burrillville Town Council meeting focused on the relationship between the council and the conservation commission. Council members and the town manager said the commission had taken steps without coordinating with the council and urged the commission to confer with the council before contacting state agencies.
"This council does not want the conservation commission acting on its own with any state agencies unless you confer with this council," the council president said during deliberations. Commission members and the vice president of the council pushed back that the commission's work is largely advisory and that members routinely monitor planning and zoning agendas to identify conservation concerns and protect habitat areas. The town manager said communication has been insufficient and that unilateral activity must stop.
Council reiterated that the conservation commission serves at the pleasure of the council and should focus on objectives aligned with council goals; council members asked the commission to sign the provided handbook and coordinate future outreach with town staff. The exchange included references to past conflict over a power-plant proposal and a caution that continued unilateral action had previously led to community friction; the council asked the commission to research the state law provisions cited in the meeting and return with clarifications if needed.
