PRESS RELEASE

March 22, 2006

GREGORY E. MEISTER NAMED

CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Sharon Conservation Administrator, Gregory E. Meister, was presented with the

Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions’ (MACC’s)

prestigious Environmental Service Award

at the MACC Annual Environmental Conference on March 4, 2006 at Holy Cross College in Worcester.

Celebrating 16 years of service to the Sharon Conservation Commission, Greg is prized for significant achievements - a wetlands bylaw, revisions, and regulations; a town development review policy, and a management policy for Lake Massapoag, one of the state’s cleanest lakes.  Most significantly, his tenure has resulted in the town’s acquiring conservation ownership of over 925 acres, with another 620 acres protected through conservation restrictions.  Greg’s latest achievement is the saving of 92% of Rattlesnake Hill, the highest point between Cape Cod and Blue Hill, and the largest remaining expanse of almost unbroken natural landscape in the Neponset River watershed.  Lacking state funding, the Commission had to sacrifice part of the hill, but came away with a significant victory.

The MACC Annual Environmental Conference is the largest gathering of municipal environmental officials in Massachusetts.  The 2006 conference on March 4 drew approximately 1000 people.  Events included: an inspiring keynote address by longtime wetland protection activist Alexandra Dawson, J.D.; over 30 workshops; 50 environmental exhibits; and the presentation of MACC’s Environmental Service Awards. 

MACC Awards recognize Conservation Commissions, Commissioners and their staff, government officials, citizen activists and others for important and long standing efforts in protecting in the Commonwealth’s natural resources.  Friends and families joined recipients at the presentation. 

MACC, a coalition of the municipal Conservation Commissions of Massachusetts, is a non-profit, membership-based environmental organization founded in 1961.  MACC’s mission is to foster environmental quality and the protection of wetlands, watersheds, open space and other natural resources.  MACC provides educational and informational services to Conservation Commissions and the public, and advocates for strong environmental protection.

All 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth have Conservation Commissions.  Commissions administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and local environmental bylaws, acquire and manage open space, work to preserve agricultural lands, and provide local conservation education.  Commissions also participate in local recycling programs, regional growth and planning commissions, and preservation efforts.  In meeting their charge to administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, Conservation Commissions review and make decisions on over 9000 wetland permit applications each year.                                                                                                                                                                            

For additional information contact Ken Pruitt, Executive Director at (617) 489-3930.