Community Land and Water Coalition’s second forum in the series tackles the difficult question of how residents can build grassroots support for local land conservation.
On July 16, 2024, Community Land and Water Coalition (CLWC) hosted a public forum about the importance of land conservation to protect drinking quality in the context of overdevelopment. The goal of the forum was for residents to come together, express their concerns, make connections, and learn how to take action. About 50 people were in attendance.
The forum began with Meg Sheehan, environmental attorney at CLWC, welcoming the attendees to the forum. She spoke about the structure of local government, and gave examples of which boards and committees were responsible for land use decisions. She then gave an overview of the State’s Open Public Meeting Law and Public Records Law, important tools for the public to use in the quest for open and fair government.
The evening’s speakers ranged from public officials to land conservation stewards to board members of local non-profit organizations. The diversity of the backgrounds and approaches of the speakers was one of the highlights of the event. Overall the theme of the conversation was that land conservation was key to protecting our drinking water quality in Southeastern Massachusetts, due to the delicate and permeable matrix of the Sole-Source Aquifer. Both residents and speakers discussed concerns about the loss of open space, the increase in sand and gravel mining, and rapid development. Some residents expressed concerns that local politicians and committee members were unwilling to listen to the public.
John Mahoney Jr., Select Board Member of the Town of Plymouth, spoke about the role of towns in protecting the region’s drinking water. “The most important thing this community can do is arrive at buildout with sustainable freshwater resources for our future. At our current rate that’s not going to happen and we’ll be looking at desalinization. It would be a failure of epic proportions.”
Bill Keohan, long-time community leader in Plymouth, spoke to the need of residents to become involved in the decisions their towns make, “”If you would like to make a change in Plymouth, get involved in local government. Join a Town board or committee, especially those responsible for local conservation or the environment.”
Howard Randall, a Plympton Resident, encouraged residents to continue to regularly attend more meetings so that they can advocate for change, “In my nearly 30 years of experience holding public office, the most effective results come from a room full of people urging our politicians to do the right thing in the best interest of the community. If you can’t be on a board or committee, show up for the meetings. Show the public officials, by your presence, that you care about the results of their decisions.”
Watch the full recording of the forum here.
Speaker Bios
JOHN MAHONEY JR.
John Mahoney Jr. is a 16-year member of the Plymouth Select Board, who has also served as the Select Board designee to the Community Preservation Committee and the state Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel. As a Select Board member, he has consistently advocated for a disciplined, long term approach to town finances.
JOSEPH FALCONIERI
After a career in wealth management in Boston, Joe turned to his true passion, land conservation. In his years with Northeast Wilderness Trust he has stewarded all over New England while also serving as a Ranger and Naturalist Interpreter with Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. He continues to pursue his mission to help people, institutions, and organizations become more keenly aware and connected to the cultural, social, economic, and environmental benefits land conservation brings to our lives.
EMILY TOMPKINS
Emily Tompkins is a lifelong resident of the Town of Plymouth and is a board member of Sustainable Plymouth and the Plymouth Area League of Women Voters, and serves on the Town’s Advisory and Finance Committee. Communication is her passion – through her volunteerism, Emily’s goal is to improve community outreach and engagement on the local level. Emily started getting involved in the community because she was curious about all the development happening around Town and wanted to help preserve our unique eco-region and water supply.
BILL KEOHAN
Bill Keohan served on Plymouth’s Community Preservation Committee for over two decades. Under his leadership, the committee recommended funding for hundreds of affordable housing units, the preservation of thousands of acres of open space, and the restoration of recreational areas and many town buildings, including the Spire Center, the Center for the Arts, and the 1820 Courthouse, now a part of Town Hall. In addition to the Community Preservation Committee, Bill has also served on Plymouth’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
KATHERINE HARRELSON
After an eighteen year career in the environmental industry, Katherine turned to her true passion, conserving and protecting the sensitive and unique land and water resources of Southeastern Mass. As an Environmental Analyst for Community Land and Water Coalition, she helps community members advocate for greater protections of natural resources through the process of public advocacy. Katherine holds numerous professional certifications and a Masters degree in Applied GeoSciences from the University of Pennsylvania.
MEG SHEEHAN
Meg Sheehan is a public interest environmental lawyer and coordinator of Community Land and Water Coalition, based in Plymouth MA. The coalition aims to use civic engagement and the municipal level in Southeastern Massachusetts to protect, preserve and steward land and water resources.
Resources
Mass Audubon’s Losing Ground Report: https://www.massaudubon.org/our-work/publications-resources/losing-ground
Plymouth Carver Aquifer Action Plan: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/12/08/Action%20plan.pdf
Plymouth’s Online Calendar of Meetings: https://www.plymouth-ma.gov/#ccdf06b8b9-1147-43a4-a66b-362453db55af
Massachusetts Open Meeting Law: https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law
Massachusetts Public Records Law: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/public-records/download/guide.pdf
Community Planning for Conservation: https://youtu.be/rYkEVI51Uik?si=gsjskoNUxCOzy9O0