Selectmen spar over document
Published on November 13th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - A proclamation promising to protect and preserve the Middlesex Fells Reservation has once again stoked up the embers of the Guitierrez Project at the former Boston Regional Medical Center. The Board of Selectmen voted to indefinitely table the proclamation; this move effectively relegated the proclamation to amendment Siberia with no hope of a return ticket
“We’re asking the Board of Selectmen to be stewards for the Fells, and to look out for the historical, cultural and environmental value that this beautiful park provides,” said Miriam Regan-Fiore, spokesperson for the Committee for Fells Preservation and a Ravine Road resident. “We would like to ask the Board to sign to this proclamation, and affirm that they will do everything within their power to protect and preserve the Fells.”
Members of the Committee for Fells Preservation and the Conservation Commission presented the Stoneham Board of Selectmen with the Wright Proclamation Amendment.
According to a letter from Conservation Commission Chairman Robert Conway that introduced the proclamation, “the endorsement is intended to promote preservation of public parkland and environmental awareness, rather than to restrict or eliminate development of private property.”
Conway also questioned the “stewardship that the MDC has displayed over the last five years in proposing commercial ventures on public parkland.”
According to Regan-Fiore, the towns of Medford, Melrose and Winchester have all approved the proclamation. Regan-Fiore expressed strong concern about the potential construction of a 20 million gallon covered reservoir adjacent to the Fells property, the Guitierrez project on Woodland Road, and other projects farther down the road.
“This proclamation has no legal binding,” said Regan-Fiore. “It just clearly states your intentions to protect an integral part of the nation’s oldest regional park system.”
Regan-Fiore also said that endorsing the proclamation would not be in conflict with their past approval of the Guitierrez project.
Town Counsel William Solomon advised the Board that endorsing the proclamation could result in a “misinterpretation” of their stance toward both the covered reservoir and the Guitierrez project. Solomon created an imaginary scenario to explain his stance toward the Wright Proclamation.
“Imagine there was a terrible example of police brutality in the city of Atlanta,” said Solomon. “A group of concerned citizens approached the city officials in Atlanta, and wanted them to adopt a proclamation that said that all people should be treated fairly and reasonably in Atlanta. It’s something that should already be happening in Atlanta, and there’d be no real strength behind the proclamation.”
“I suggest that, rather than trying to have a document accomplish your goals, you continue to fight the fight with the MEPA process and the other avenues of protest.”
Board of Selectmen Chairman Anthony Kennedy put it to the concerned residents in a more succinct way.
“If the Board has always taken on the role of looking out for the Fells, then why do we need to sign such a proclamation,” said Kennedy. “I don’t understand why it would be necessary.”
“The Board’s actions are unfortunately fighting against the ideas brought up in the proclamation,” responded Regan-Fiore. “I want the Fells and the Stone Zoo to be there for my children and their children, as it always was here for our generation.”
“There are cases of suburban sprawl taking over green space all over the state,” added Regan-Fiore. “I don’t want the Big Dig coming to Stoneham.”
Regan-Fiore continued to plead with the Board of Selectmen to avoid giving the sun and stars to developers when they ask, and instead force them to scale down projects affecting pristine areas.
The discussion inevitably turned to the Guitierrez project, and its effect on the Fells.
The Board did not seem enthused to rehash the Guitierrez discussion, and continued an oft-repeated stance.
“We had 13 meetings about the development during the site review process,” said Select-man Cosmo Ciccarello. “There are more people in the town that were for the project than against it...It’s already been endorsed by this Board.”
The Board voted 4-1 to table the proclamation with little chance of the subject being broached again.
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