LYNN — After receiving letters from the mayor and city councilors, the Water & Sewer Commission voted unanimously to support the city’s conservation restriction for Lynn Woods on Monday evening.
Daniel O’Neill, executive director of Lynn Water & Sewer Commission (LWSC), said at the meeting that he received letters from the Mayor Thomas M. McGee and 10 city councilors (except Councilor Richard Colucci, who is one of the LWSC commissioners), respectfully requesting a favorable vote on the conservation restriction and Article 97 as written, voted and approved by the City Council on Oct. 26.
“Staff is on board,” said O’Neill, adding that they have worked with the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) and the Essex County Greenbelt Associates, Inc. on this project because they support the protection of Lynn Woods, but were previously concerned that the document might restrict their ability to work on the dams, piping systems, and pump stations contained within the area.
However, LWSC was assured that their rights won’t be hindered by the conservation restriction and O’Neill said they are comfortable enough to support it.
“The protection of the watershed is a very important matter,” said Richard Dawe, superintendent of water supply. “Everyone on staff agrees that it is very important that that land will be protected forever.”
Dawe said there was some language that they had been hoping to get into the document before the City Council voted on it, but they trusted the assurances they were provided with.
“Time will tell,” said Dawe.
Lynn Woods Reservation is the second-largest municipal park in the United States, according to the Essex National Heritage Area website. The reservation was founded in 1881 and offers 30 miles of trails that run through more than 2,000 acres of diverse forest, wetlands, ponds and streams. The ponds of Lynn Woods provide residents of the city and neighboring communities with fresh drinking water.
Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was adopted in 1972. It grants people the right to a clean environment and authorizes the commonwealth to acquire conservation easements. Invoking Article 97 means that conservation will never be reverted
