As city officials celebrated filling the new volunteer Conservation Commission partner role, outgoing Commissioner Phillip LaCroix received an official citation for his 20 years of service at last week’s City Council meeting.
“This is the first time we have conservation partners, who will help do the work that the conservation commission just can’t get to, or do some digging on things that are upcoming for them,” Mayor Melinda E. Barrett said.
In February, as WHAV reported, city councilors considered creating the partner role to help the board keep up with its growing responsibilities, particularly guiding the city on how to use its open spaces.
“It is not a commission post that you mail in,” Barrett said of LaCroix’s job. “It is a lot of work, a lot of study and a lot of effort, and Phil has exhibited all during his 20 years, and the city is grateful for his work and efforts.”
Environmental Health Technician Robert E. Moore Jr., who works closely with the commission, said it usually takes three years to train new commissioners due to the complexity of the regulations they navigate. “Doing that for 20 years is quite the undertaking,” he said of LaCroix’s service.
In his brief remarks, LaCroix said the city is “blessed” to have Moore. After eight years, Neil Frasca also resigned. Councilor Ralph T. Basiliere said Frasca had a good nose for “BS.” In expanding its operations, Basiliere commended the commission for its work in the face of climate change.
“We are not going to experience climate change,” Basiliere said. “We are experiencing it… I’m not going to enumerate the dozen or two dozen things that have happened in the last six months all over the city with rain.”
“As a conservation commission and as an administration and as a council, for us to know what’s coming and to do nothing, is the height of immorality,” he added.
Current commissioners Harmony Wilson, Jennifer Rubera, Evan Barman, Lisa DeMeo and chairman Frederick J. Clark IV were all reappointed.