LYNN — During Tuesday’s meeting of the Lynn Conservation Commission, Chairman Mike Toomey once again stepped aside from his official role to speak as a concerned citizen about ongoing issues stemming from the Town of Lynnfield’s work near Judge Road. The area, which borders the Nells Pond/Cedar Creek wetlands, has been the focus of an enforcement order under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA).
Toomey detailed the ongoing environmental impacts, saying, “…this has been going on for almost 2.5 years. I’ve been on this commission for 25 plus years, and I’ve never had a violator basically… just ignore everything that has gone on.”
He criticized Lynnfield officials for failing to follow through on commitments to correct the damage, noting, “The representatives of the Town of Lynnfield have made commitments that they were going to move forward… and they just haven’t done anything at all in regard to the enforcement order.”
The chairman highlighted the potential public health risks, saying, “The concern is that spring rains would bring flooding, and the flooding now, because of the actions of the Town of Lynnfield, is going to bring polluted water that’s loaded with human waste into an area and land that never had that problem. I’m concerned about the possibility of having to deal with that in my own neighborhood.”
Toomey also raised concerns about the structural impacts of the breach in drainage control, explaining, “They’ve made the breach… now it’s about 2.5 feet wide, and the pipe has dropped out… and all of that stuff is now going into Lynn, where it did not go out before. It shouldn’t be getting flooded at all.”
In addition, he questioned the Commission’s legal strategy, suggesting, “I would like to ask the Commission… to consider hiring an attorney skilled in wetlands issues to represent the Commission, as the enforcement is totally ignored by the Town.”
Toomey emphasized the importance of acting promptly, adding, “I think that if we continue to play this softball game, they’re not going to actually remedy that… ultimately, that’s what I’m looking for, not necessarily the payout, but for them to remediate the situation.”
He concluded by requesting that the Commission continue the public hearing until a follow-up meeting with Lynnfield officials could be scheduled, and asked that he be allowed to attend as a resident.
The Conservation Commission continues to push forward with enforcement actions against Lynnfield, though attempts to schedule meetings with town officials have repeatedly been delayed.
