Honoring the open space overseers

May 08, 2008 05:30 am

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The work of Andover people who take care of the town's open space will be highlighted at Memorial Hall Library next week.

"One of the great things about living in Andover is the town's commitment to enhancing its citizens' quality of life through the protection of open space," says Commissioner Gail Ralston, overseer coordinator for the Andover Conservation Commission.

This open space currently includes nearly 2,000 acres of town-owned conservation land, managed by the commission. Critical to this land maintenance is the special group of Conservation Overseers, headed by Commissioner Al French, who are clearly the eyes and ears of the Commission, she said.

Ranging in size from 0.1 acres to more than 70 acres, conservation land has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Conservation Commission for the protection of its natural and scenic values. This land provides a variety of benefits to Andover, including water resource protection, flood control, areas for passive recreation, scenic landscape protection and protection of wildlife habitats, according to Ralston.

The work that the overseers do will be a focus at the group's annual meeting to be held Monday, May 12, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Memorial Hall Library, said Ralston.

Members of the Conservation Commission will be present to discuss their work and to explain how overseers are critical to supporting the Commission's land management goals, established in 1985, and monitoring the rules and regulations that apply to these parcels.

In addition, members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting to find out more about volunteering. Information will be available on conservation parcels not currently assigned an overseer. as well as application packets describing duties and responsibilities.

Topics at the annual meeting will also include a discussion and advice on enforcement of the rules and regulations for each parcel. Finally, a special presentation on "Living With the Beaver in Massachusetts" will be shown.

For further information or an application, please contact Al French at frencha@fusemail.com or Gail Ralston, at gralston@andover.edu.