ORDER-2023-9 : Appointment of Craig Molway, 58 Gross Ave, to the Melrose Conservation Commission, for a two-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2024.

Transcript (~9 min @ 45:45)

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▶ 45:35 Robb Stewart: We have one order before us tonight order 2023-9 and while I read this order, what I will do is without objection. I will move to Suspend the rules 37a I believe it is. Okay, no objection. So the rules are now suspended so we have order 2023-9 the appointment of Craig Mall Way of 58 gross Ave. The Melrose conservation committee for two-year term said term to expire on the last day of February 2024. so we are under suspension of rules Mr. Mayor.

▶ 46:17 Paul Brodeur: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good to continue to see you all this evening delighted to present for your consideration Craig mallway. I will say his appointment is to replace Gwendolyn Orford. You will call sheba's a fairly recent appointment was a terrific appointment. However is relocating to Spain and as let us know she does not think she can be a productive member given her giving her new location and we would certainly welcome her back upon her return from her. So John to Europe, but ultimate small way who will be a fantastic addition. Should you see it in your wisdom to approve his appointment He's finding nois for 16 years and during that time has been a real kind of Explorer and Steward of some of our trails that makes I hope you will explain exactly what you did because it was it's really incredible yeoman's work and What we are trying in a in a commission that is definitely full of folks that have a certain amount of technical expertise. What we also need is that that passion and that Devotion to our natural resources and that is really where where Mr. Small way comes in through his through his thoughts and through again through his his elbow grease the the war key and his family have done to help us with some of our conservation spaces is remarkable and I think makes him uniquely qualified to serve on the commission and I hope you will act on a favorably thank you. Thank you Mr. Wayne Mr. Molly if you'd like to share a few words for the community, um sure so as Mr. Mayor said, you know, I've been in here in Melrose for the last 16 years and I've done my part to step up and get involved in a variety of community LED initiatives, you know from coaching Sports. to Knocking on people's doors for you know

▶ 48:22 Speaker 4: to help educate community on ballot initiatives to rolling up my sleeves and helping build out the parklets with the bicycle pedestrian committee and actually worked with them for a couple of years on with that group. I believe that making Community better is everyone's responsibility into enact change one must first get involved. So with that spirit in mind, I'm putting my forward my canancy to join the Conservation Commission. So like Mr. Mayor said I have spent I live up on Goss Ave, which a butts some conservation land and I've spent many many hours exploring. The Open Spaces at malware has to offer that's up which are steps in my house and others without the city in the past few years. I volunteered as a trail Steward from the city. I found out about the trail Steward program inadvertently by running into a trail Steward on the trail asking what they were doing found out that you know, this was an opportunity to get involved and with that I go out. Spring we do we cut back Trails. I organized cleanup events. I've helped Eagle Scouts plan projects. We helped connect a new trail behind Swain's pond last year. There's been some drainage issues and trails that the the conservation agent has reached out to me. I'm a certified Trail Builder with the New England mountain bike Association. So I've I've actually been I've worked with DCR and other towns as well to work on conservation and Trail maintenance. So it's kind of something that I've always done as as a hobby and I've and as a sense of volunteer opportunities something I've always looked to find Opportunities to improve our green spaces as we all know the last few years have been we've had some Rough go with some of our challenges with some of our conservation spaces and I do feel that you know, increasing access and conservation can go hand in hand and by doing so can help conserve those spaces. We so much want to protect. So this is why I think joining the Conservation Commission will allow me to do more than just bring a pair of Clippers to the trail and maybe a shovel and work on small projects. But this help for a more comprehensive plan with the commission going forward. So that is my thoughts. Just you know, he's Severely under-selling the Swain's Pond effort.

▶ 50:54 Speaker 3: It's a great challenge you go out and see it.

▶ 50:56 Robb Stewart: Thank you, Mr. Moley.

▶ 50:58 Speaker 4: Absol Williams

▶ 51:00 Ryan Williams: Hello, Mr. Mallway. Ward 7 resident friend of mine love to see you here getting involved in the Conservation Commission. You said everything that I would want to hear from somebody joining the Conservation Commission is it's a group that very often gets mired down and then you know should this driveway be X feet wide because the water will flow down here, but the trail Steward program is one that in the meetings I've been to as you note. They have sometimes struggled to recruit for so I think having you there as a person with energy that wants to participate in that work is is extremely important. I'm really thrilled to see on the other side of the table. I would note in the minutes. It says that you live on Gross Avenue. In fact you

▶ 51:46 Speaker 4: live on Goss Avenue. No R that's not an editorial comment. I know made the cut

▶ 51:51 Ryan Williams: from the word seven six shake up thankful for that personally because you live on the right side of the the other side of each of the right side of each. Excuse me.

▶ 52:01 Ryan Williams: and yeah with that if if there are any other if there are no other no, never mind, I'll just shut up.

▶ 52:10 Robb Stewart: That's what you can't well.

▶ 52:13 Manjula Karamcheti: I'm not sure how to frame my question, but it just piqued my curiosity a little bit particularly in word one. We have some housing proposals that a butt Conservation Area and myself and the residents in the area are concerned about preserving the conservation area and the impact of blasting and how that might impact sort of the environment the conservation area Wildlife. There are trails that go into those conservation areas that are used by word one residence but also others as well. so you just sort of peaked my curiosity I think with this Wayne's Pond piece and I so my question is how might you as a member of the conservation committee support residents in learning and advocating for preserving conservation space.

▶ 53:09 Speaker 4: A good question. I think this there's more than one part to that. I mean, I guess the first part would be to be engaging those residents that but conservation land into understand their problems the sea where the solutions lie and what the were the barriers are whether it be pre-existing permits or or pushback from from contractors and things to get things done like we've seen in the past I think most importantly is I think a lot of our conservation land is very underutilized and I think that is not Anyone's fault, you know, you say there's trails in Ward one. There are Trails up in Ward 7 there but there's no kind there is a map somewhere that you see like when you go to the community event system my hands out a map. But you know, there's there's not any kind of Citywide like volunteer effort to preserve our spaces. Right? So people only get involved when there's a problem and I think by advocating for more Community involvement in our green spaces, we'll we'll help to address these problems before they become problems, right because it's hard to get people to get on board with something after the train is left the station.

▶ 54:28 Speaker 5: So thank you so much appreciate that. Sure.

▶ 54:32 Robb Stewart: Any other questions, what is the will of the committee? I'll make

▶ 54:34 Speaker 1: a motion to approve second.

▶ 54:36 Robb Stewart: We have a motion to recommend made by Council Williams seconded by Council karmchetti all in favor. Aye.

▶ 54:45 Speaker 2: opposed

▶ 54:46 Robb Stewart: Mr. Molly this will be brought to the full council with the recommended approach. So we will be voting on that. You don't need to show up for that and thank

▶ 54:58 Speaker 3: you for being here for tonight. I appreciate your consideration. Thank