Protecting Holliston’s Environment

by Lisa Kaplan 1/8/12

Holliston Democratic Town Committee is hosting a discussion of the who, what, where, when and how of preserving Holliston’s environment. The event will take place Saturday, January 21, at 11 a.m. in the Gilman Room at the Holliston Town Library and is open to the public.

Holliston Democratic Town Committee is hosting a discussion of the who, what, where, when and how of preserving Holliston’s environment. The event will take place Saturday, January 21, at 11 a.m. in the Gilman Room at the Holliston Town Library and is open to the public. 

The discussion is the brain-child of DTC member Megan O’Brien. O’Brien said, “From my many conversations with friends and neighbors who live in Holliston, I learned that we share many common values. What seems to be a central value is protecting Holliston’s environment. We enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of Holliston’s numerous acres of conservation land and parks. We delight in the fresh air and sunshine that expansive areas of natural surroundings can offer. Everywhere we go in Holliston, we can see tall trees and clear sunsets and sunrises.” 

She further stated, “Another value we share is a strong desire to be involved in our town. We go to sports events, school open houses and plays at our local theaters. We volunteer on many levels, and shop and dine here as well.“ In an effort to bring together people who share these values, O’Brien said everyone is invited to attend this open conversation on protecting Holliston’s environment, led by some of the people directly involved in the process. 

Ann Marie Pilch, a member of the Holliston Open Space Committee and the Conservation Commission will talk about Holliston’s open space and recreation plan. This will include the vision for the town and how the plan reflects values in a practical way. She will describe what open space is and why we want to protect it, the mechanisms for that, as well as what parcels have been chosen to protect and why. She will also talk about the Community Preservation Act. 

Allen Rutberg, also a member of the Conservation Commission, will talk about local involvement in keeping with the vision for the town and how the plan is central to what’s important. He will describe who gets involved in the plan as far as committees, as well as planning board members and selectmen. He will also talk about how information is communicated to residents so they can participate in the process. 

State Representative Carolyn Dykema will wrap up the panel discussion by describing how the state facilitates the process. This includes working with towns and regional planning agencies to identify parcels to protect. She will also discuss how the state works with the town to implement the plan, including providing mechanisms for funding (Community Preservation Act) and putting in place legal protections (conservation restrictions) to ensure the property is permanently protected.

An open conversation and question and answer period will follow the panel discussion. Refreshments will be served.
 

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