Letter: 'Lincolns of Lincoln' to leave
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
For 18 years, my family have been "the Lincolns of Lincoln." Next month we will abandon that appellation, for we are relocating to a Cambridge condo in order to free us up to spend more time at our mountain home in New Hampshire.
For nearly six years I have served as a conservation commissioner, and as the commission's chairman for the last four. My term would expire in March 2006, however as I will no longer be a resident, I must submit my resignation from the commission effective Dec. 14, 2005.
Thus there will be three vacancies on the Conservation Commission for the selectmen to fill. I encourage any resident who is interested in serving as a conservation commissioner to attend a few meetings of the commission, and to speak with our Conservation Director Tom Gumbart or new co-chairmen, Jim Meadors and Peter von Mertens.
People from many different backgrounds and with different areas of expertise serve on the commission, but now we would particularly welcome a new commissioner with a legal background. This is not a requirement, however. More important is the ability and willingness to "dig in" and learn about the commission's permitting authority under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the town's Wetlands Protection Bylaw.
Candidates should be able to commit to attending meetings the first and third Wednesdays of each month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and often lasting until 11 p.m. In between our meetings, there are often site visits and meetings of groups made up of representatives of various town boards. Additional time is spent reviewing applications and studying issues. The time commitment varies from week to week, but five to 10 hours a week is a good estimate.
Serving on the commission has been for me not just a way of giving back to the town whose 70 miles of trails I have enjoyed so much for the last 18 years, but a rewarding and fulfilling experience in its own right. It has provided me with an opportunity to meet and work with some incredibly smart, dedicated people, and to learn about environmental laws, wetland science, land stewardship, town politics, and human relations. It has also been a lot of fun, and I will miss it. Now it's someone else's turn!
Mary Lincoln
Minebrook Road | | |
