NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
(2 seats available - 3 year term)
The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission oversees the use, preservation and protection of the town’s parks and conservation areas, serves as tree warden, sets policies for insect control and pesticide use, and protects the town watershed areas. The Commission also appoints the Wetlands Protection Committee and Trails Committee.
Q1. The Town has a Climate Action Plan that includes goals for our natural resources, some of which have been achieved. What ideas do you have for advancing the remaining goals and what new goals would you like to see the Town adopt when the plan is updated?
Melinda Arias-Voci
A1 - Some of my ideas are very practical and easy to implement, such as improving communication about the Town’s climate goals with the broader community. For example, very few people in town know about the free buses that are available to residents in town. I would like to increase public awareness and ridership on our public transportation options. Another example is energy coaches - I found that most residents do not know that this service exists and is available free of charge to residents.
Joe Schott
A1) The Town has a Climate Action Plan that includes goals for our natural resources, some of which have been achieved. What ideas do you have for advancing the remaining goals and what new goals would you like to see the Town adopt when the plan is updated?
The Town’s helpful Climate Action Plan dashboard shows that 13 of the 16 natural resources action items in the Plan remain in progress, with one fully implemented, and two not started. As a new member of the NRC, I’d like to better understand the status of the in progress items and get the perspective of NRC staff on timing and potential challenges to implementation. I think it’s also important to receive feedback from the community on the outstanding items it feels should be prioritized.
Q2. Wellesley residents are concerned about the loss of mature trees during redevelopment and the growing impacts of climate change such as flooding, heat, and biodiversity loss. What specific changes would you support to strengthen tree protection and replacement requirements, and how should the NRC prioritize land conservation and restoration to address these challenges locally?
Melinda Arias-Voci
A2 I am a fierce advocate for our trees.
If elected, I will find ways to create and strengthen bylaws aimed at reducing the number of trees that get cut down every time there is a new construction project. I would advocate for planting more trees to restore our town’s canopy. I will also develop programs to educate our children about the importance of trees and plants, and how they support our mental and physical health. I have experience leading such efforts; for example, a few years ago I served as the Sustainability chair at my children’s elementary school. In this role, I created a budget to plant fruit trees and bushes around the school yard. The children participated in taking care of the new plants and learned the importance of protecting our green spaces for future generations.
Joe Schott
A2. Wellesley residents are concerned about the loss of mature trees during redevelopment and the growing impacts of climate change such as flooding, heat, and biodiversity loss. What specific changes would you support to strengthen tree protection and replacement requirements, and how should the NRC prioritize land conservation and restoration to address these challenges locally?
It’s essential the NRC work collaboratively with Town leaders on strategies that protect trees while permitting responsible housing development. This is particularly urgent in light of the state’s misguided designation of the Mass Bay forest as “surplus” public land, thereby making it subject to private redevelopment, as if the forest is no different from a shuttered state prison. The fact is the Mass Bay forest is a vibrant, irreplaceable public asset that not only benefits the people of Wellesley but is also essential to the state’s goals on climate and environment. Instead, the state is effectively holding this forest hostage for concessions from the Town on redevelopment. This has put the Town in a very challenging position, and I would hope the NRC can help Town leaders convey to state leaders the true value of the forest and why it should be excluded from the formula used by the state in asserting its redevelopment rights.
As for land conservation issues more generally, the NRC in recent years has engaged the public on the development of a land conservation plan, which offers potential strategies for identifying conservation opportunities more proactively as opposed to when it’s too late. The implementation of this plan could help us address some of our land conservation challenges, and as a new member of the NRC, I’d like to better understand the plan and the perspectives of NRC staff and the public on its implementation.
(2 seats available - 3 year term)
The Wellesley Natural Resources Commission oversees the use, preservation and protection of the town’s parks and conservation areas, serves as tree warden, sets policies for insect control and pesticide use, and protects the town watershed areas. The Commission also appoints the Wetlands Protection Committee and Trails Committee.
Q1. The Town has a Climate Action Plan that includes goals for our natural resources, some of which have been achieved. What ideas do you have for advancing the remaining goals and what new goals would you like to see the Town adopt when the plan is updated?
Melinda Arias-Voci
A1 - Some of my ideas are very practical and easy to implement, such as improving communication about the Town’s climate goals with the broader community. For example, very few people in town know about the free buses that are available to residents in town. I would like to increase public awareness and ridership on our public transportation options. Another example is energy coaches - I found that most residents do not know that this service exists and is available free of charge to residents.
Joe Schott
A1) The Town has a Climate Action Plan that includes goals for our natural resources, some of which have been achieved. What ideas do you have for advancing the remaining goals and what new goals would you like to see the Town adopt when the plan is updated?
The Town’s helpful Climate Action Plan dashboard shows that 13 of the 16 natural resources action items in the Plan remain in progress, with one fully implemented, and two not started. As a new member of the NRC, I’d like to better understand the status of the in progress items and get the perspective of NRC staff on timing and potential challenges to implementation. I think it’s also important to receive feedback from the community on the outstanding items it feels should be prioritized.
Q2. Wellesley residents are concerned about the loss of mature trees during redevelopment and the growing impacts of climate change such as flooding, heat, and biodiversity loss. What specific changes would you support to strengthen tree protection and replacement requirements, and how should the NRC prioritize land conservation and restoration to address these challenges locally?
Melinda Arias-Voci
A2 I am a fierce advocate for our trees.
If elected, I will find ways to create and strengthen bylaws aimed at reducing the number of trees that get cut down every time there is a new construction project. I would advocate for planting more trees to restore our town’s canopy. I will also develop programs to educate our children about the importance of trees and plants, and how they support our mental and physical health. I have experience leading such efforts; for example, a few years ago I served as the Sustainability chair at my children’s elementary school. In this role, I created a budget to plant fruit trees and bushes around the school yard. The children participated in taking care of the new plants and learned the importance of protecting our green spaces for future generations.
Joe Schott
A2. Wellesley residents are concerned about the loss of mature trees during redevelopment and the growing impacts of climate change such as flooding, heat, and biodiversity loss. What specific changes would you support to strengthen tree protection and replacement requirements, and how should the NRC prioritize land conservation and restoration to address these challenges locally?
It’s essential the NRC work collaboratively with Town leaders on strategies that protect trees while permitting responsible housing development. This is particularly urgent in light of the state’s misguided designation of the Mass Bay forest as “surplus” public land, thereby making it subject to private redevelopment, as if the forest is no different from a shuttered state prison. The fact is the Mass Bay forest is a vibrant, irreplaceable public asset that not only benefits the people of Wellesley but is also essential to the state’s goals on climate and environment. Instead, the state is effectively holding this forest hostage for concessions from the Town on redevelopment. This has put the Town in a very challenging position, and I would hope the NRC can help Town leaders convey to state leaders the true value of the forest and why it should be excluded from the formula used by the state in asserting its redevelopment rights.
As for land conservation issues more generally, the NRC in recent years has engaged the public on the development of a land conservation plan, which offers potential strategies for identifying conservation opportunities more proactively as opposed to when it’s too late. The implementation of this plan could help us address some of our land conservation challenges, and as a new member of the NRC, I’d like to better understand the plan and the perspectives of NRC staff and the public on its implementation.