Commentary: Contradictory policies
By Nancy Bryant/ Guest Commentary
Thursday, June 2, 2005
The positions of the Conservation Commission on Mt. Misery have become a complex web of contradictions: Dog poop must be picked up but horse droppings are OK; ecology is their concern, yet the snowmelt situation in the parking lot was knowingly allowed to pollute the stream; safety is their concern yet nothing was done when dogs were poisoned and cars were (and are still) being vandalized; Mt. Misery is "overused" yet the ratio of land to cars is a whopping 14 acres per parking space; all dogs are required to follow the new rules but the local farm dogs are exempt; outsiders are "welcome" to visit Lincoln's conservation land, yet most of the land is inaccessible because there is no place to park.
It is important to understand that rules are being made at Mt. Misery based on a very small number of complaints and absolutely no proof of any ecological damage. The Conservation Commission finally admitted that they have NO data on which to prove their assertion of environmental harm.
The Conservation Commission has changed its rules little as a result of two public hearings. The final outcome requires dogs to be leashed on the majority of the property; no one in the audience at the public hearings ever recommended this as a solution. So what good did the public hearings do, other than allowing the Conservation Commission to escape public censure at Lincoln's Town Meeting?
Biologically, the commission's new rules do not favor the land. The rules will confine leash-free dogs to a limited set of trails which in the long term may indeed result in "overuse" and "crowding," since all dog owners not wishing to be restricted to a leash will walk only there. However, time or day restriction rules would favorably spread out use. A reasonable suggestion that would benefit the land and both the dog and non-dog people might be: Leash restriction in the field during the growing season, leash restriction on entry to facilitate poop pick-up, and leash restrictions during the weekend peak hours, which is the only time the small parking lot is ever full. In fact, there seemed to be a consensus towards this recommendation by those attending the two public hearings. Yet the Conservation Commission chose to implement trail restrictions instead.
Several town citizens have stated at these hearings that they are concerned about their town's philosophy and future, given the Conservation Commission's heavy hand at Mt. Misery.
But alas, Mt. Misery is now appropriately named - the wonderful dog walking community of trusting, caring individuals has been shattered, freedom has been shackled, the powerful have prevailed, the daily dog walking stewards have been unduly shamed and driven away - this is indeed a miserable time for people and their dogs.
Nancy Bryant is a Lexington resident, a former Lincoln resident and a 21-year veteran of Mt. Misery.
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