Conservation Member: Protect Wetlands & Lands

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There is One (1) Conservation Commission Member seat available. Appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

The mission of the Conservation Commission is to protect the Town's natural resources under the Conservation Commission Act (M.G.L. Chapter 40 § 8C (1957)) and the Town's wetland resources under the Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. Chapter 131 § 40 (1972)), as well as the Wetlands Protection By‑Law (G.L. Chapter 13 (1978)).

Under the Conservation Commission Act, the Commission plans for natural resource protection, acquires important land and water areas, and manages open space for conservation as well as passive recreation. The Commission encourages, reviews, and monitors conservation restrictions on privately held lands. In addition, the Commission assists the Open Space Committee with revisions to and implementation of the Kingston Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) and the Kingston Wetlands Protection Regulations/By‑Law (KWPR), the Commission is responsible for reviewing and permitting work proposed within, or in close proximity to, inland and coastal wetlands including: floodplains, rivers, ponds, beaches, banks, bays, or other surface waters. The Commission is charged with protecting the following interests under both the Act and By‑Law:
1) protection of public and private water supply;
2) protection of groundwater supply;
3) flood control;
4) storm damage prevention;
5) prevention of pollution;
6) protection of land containing shellfish;
7) protection of fisheries; and
8) protection of wildlife habitat (KWPR protects several additional interests beyond those protected by the WPA, see the full text in pdf in the links to the left of this text). The Commission ensures that work proposed within their jurisdiction protects these interests in both the permitting and construction phases. Both the WPA and KWPR contain provisions for enforcement which the Commission undertakes when violations to regulations/permits occur.

The Commission regularly conducts education and outreach to other municipal boards and the general public. The Commission accomplishes this outreach by: providing regular comment to other regulatory boards on natural resource/wetland issues; distributing brochures; posting important information on their webpage; conducting site visits upon request; accepting invitations to speak at community events; communicating with the media; advocating on behalf of the environment;

as well as conducting business in an educational rather than confrontational manner.

ATM 3/16/63, Article 27; ATM 4/13/92, Article 33.